syrinx

Maybe it's because there are only 5 of them, instead of 50. Maybe it's because we spent a lot of time with them when they first came to help acclimatize them to our two large dogs. Maybe it's because they can hang around the house where the dogs hang.

Whatever the reason, the fact is, we now appear to have 5 more 'dogs'. We started off with 5 sheep.

Yes, we named them. We name all our farm animals if they're not going to be eaten. So we have Orson, the main man, big, deep voice, a little pushy. Hamish is our Scottish highland, with silky fleece and a bleat that sounds like he is being strangled. Bjork is the original black sheep, and is cute as a button and loves to be scritched under her chin. Roxy is a big, black and exceptionally messy looking girl, with a puff of white on her forehead. She can leap tall buildings in a single bound. And finally is dear little Arwyn, a silver coated elf, who is the tiniest and shyest of the bunch.

All five of them are loose on the property and are free to graze wherever (see my other story about the destruction of my gardens).

One day, they were hanging around the back door when I went to let Willow and Angus in on a particularly hot day a few weeks ago. I think perhaps a bit of the cool air might have gusted out the door. Or maybe it was just a matter of curiosity. But Orson jumped up just as the dogs were going in and managed to push his way in past the dogs and into the mudroom. Of course, the other 4 were right behind and I couldn't close the door on them. I did manage to keep them from going into the kitchen while I yelled for Simon to come and help.

It took both of us to shove the sheep back out of the house. Since that day, they have taken to waiting around the door in the hopes of coming in again. We have to yell "Clear" when we're coming in these days, to indicate if there are any beasties hovering about.

The other day Simon opened the garage door, drove his car in, and when he opened his door to get out of the car, not only were Willow and Angus there to greet him (as is their custom), but so were all 5 sheep. They were jostling for attention and wanted to be patted and scritched just like the dogs.

Again, it took both of us to get them out of the garage.

A few weeks ago, Simon decided to go for a run, and when he started down the driveway, Orson came running from way across the field, bleating piteously, not wanting to be left behind. You may say this is just flock behaviour however it wasn't the whole flock. Just Orson. And he watched sadly through the gate as Simon continued down the road. He stayed by that gate for 5 minutes before returning to the flock.

Simon decided to take the dogs for a walk in the woods last week. Again, the sheep wanted to go too, and when he shut the gate, they all stood with their heads through the gate slats, bleating to be included.

Molly, a black lab that is owned by our friends, was visiting one day. After the initial nose to tail meeting with the sheep, she seemed quite at ease with them. Until Bjork decided she wanted to play. Bjork likes to bounce and jump and Molly was just her size (unlike Willow and Angus who are twice Bjork's size). It was quite a sight to see Bjork chasing poor Molly around the yard! Molly finally learned not to run and eventually Bjork got bored and let her alone.

But I think the most doglike behaviour to-date has got to be the fact that the sheep are now just as likely to be lying on the dog beds on the front porch, as a dog is. And no amount of barking or bouncing from Angus or Willow will get them off if they don't want to. As far as they're concerned, they have just as much right to be lying there as the other dogs.

I don't know how this is going to progress, but so far it has been a fascinating study in animal behaviour. But it certainly gives new meaning to the word "sheepdog".

tags: sheep farm animal dog behavour