It's been suggested time to time - mainly by shepherd dog breeders - that I consider getting a herder. My sheep come to my ba-a-as, and I put them in different pastures each week, so we have our signals down. I rarely have trouble, except when I want them in before 5PM for some reason. This can produce bucket kicking and grumpy cuss talk from the usually calm shepherdess, but it usually works out in time...usually, unless it's really hot and then more cussing ensues.
But I also have a crew of very short statured, some slightly crippled, sheep herders. These unusual Pygmy Shepherd Dogs are handy in getting the flock in at night. Their technique is different than most dogs - rather than running behind the flock, they work them into a flowing rhythm by leaping and running in front of the flock, then prancing forward at full speed, making the sheep feel they must go that way too.
