Diva was so happy last night to receive a request to help with a real sheep herding job, putting her training to good practical use.

She bounced out of the back of the car at the sheep field at Kirby Misperton and was woofing with eagerness as she circled the small flock, a mix of stubborn Swaledales and lively Shetlands.

She quickly had them penned and then the real work started as each sheep in turn received a routine injection.  Diva's job was first to push them into the race (a kind of crush pen) and then hold them there, tightly packed, for the necessary handling.  To say she has never done this kind of work, she seemed to grasp the concept fairly well, and held her position gently but firmly behind the rear sheep.

Finally, as the front of the race was opened, Diva needed to push the flock forwards and back out into their field again. They were reluctant to move as this involved a trot through a foot bath, so again a learning experience for our trainee sheepdog, but she got there in the end.

She was so proud of herself, and we were proud of her too, for so well living up to the ideal of a dog that "can do a day's work".  I just wish we had thought to take along the camera!!