….at least if you’re an English Shepherd.   Unlike us, “Jack“, owned by our friends Linda and Rich Maurer, can’t get enough of the stuff. We’ve noticed the same delight with our “Pokey”.  Normally ready to come in and join the humans, Pokey has been staying out for hours burrowing and jumping into snow banks.  We just can’t coax her inside.

….ok…it’s still only sheep…and if you make a mistake and praise her, she’ll break-off and come over for a pat….but these are even “new” sheep!  Pokey went to an adjacent field to find the flock…rounded-them up…moved them through the gate in the background…. and brought them to trainer Monroe Williams of Strasburg. Monroe has now decided to move his classroom to Thistle Hill to start working Pokey with the real thing:  cattle. Of course, Pokey idolizes Monroe.  She’s less impressed with us. Photo:  Duane Ard  

….”Pokey“, of course.  Our English shepherd puppy is now exactly a year old and showing great aptitude doing what English farm dogs do. This is her first time out working sheep with expert trainer Monroe Williams of Possum Hollow Farm near Strasburg, Virginia.  Hopefully, “graduating” to larger animals will be a breeze. Wooz reports that Pokey clearly was pleased with herself…knew when she had the hang of it to Monroe’s approval.  More lessons will follow but finding a training can be difficult so we thought you’d like to know about Monroe and Evelyne Williams school. We’re thinking of entering Pokey in their “long course”.  Wonder if we can loan them…

Our new English Shepherd…Pokey Two or Okie.  Just don’t expect her to come when you call using her real name, Bonnie.  For some reason she likes Pokey and Okie. This also seems to be her favorite place: the front steps of the library.  From here she can watch the driveway for intruders and the cows in the main pasture.  And, of course, watch for cats.  Pokey One thought cats belonged in the basement and would put them there.  Pokey Two thinks cats belong outside. Pokey/Okie barks when cars enter the driveway but she loves visitors and immediately decides where they belong as well.  She’s very well-behaved with company (mostly because…

Our little Pokey died a week ago during a procedure to have her spayed.  We’re not sure but apparently the cause of death was an aneurysm. Whatever, it was an unexpected and devastating loss.  In the few short months she was with us, she took over our home and our lives.  She was still learning how to handle the cows but she knew what to do instinctively and never backed down. She’ll always be in our hearts, riding along in the Gator, joyfully greeting each new adventure. We were warned that English Shepherds don’t know they’re dogs.  We pray that means that there’s a special place for Pokey in Heaven.

…slow down for a picture.  All except for our Lab, who was off chasing squirrels.  Pokey (Pocahontas) is now just over four months old and is as smart as she is beautiful.  Much the same could be said about Wooz. The highlight of Pokey’s day is to ride along on the Gator and supervise moving the cows to a new patch of grass.  Her other job is to take the handle on the far end of the electric wire and run it to me.  That takes a lot of the weight off the reel and makes it far easier and faster to crank. For those who are new to the…

It’s the twice-a-day routine.  Pokey sets out with Wooz to feed the pigs and check on the heifers.  (They share a pasture)  (I mean the pigs and heifers; not Wooz and Pokey.) We’ve not had a dog, certainly not a puppy, who is content simply trotting alongside, watching what needs to be done.  She won’t be distracted by our older dog racing off to investigate something or even a nearby cat or squirrel. Yesterday we strung a lot of electric wire to begin mob grazing.  There was a cold wind, and a lot of walking for a little dog, but she gamely trotted along for about an hour.  And that…

You can look at pictures of our great-grandson, our 14 grandchildren or our new hired hand.  She flew in from Oklahoma the other night, arriving in excellent condition and more than matching our expectations. Her name is Pocahontas, and that recommended her still further.  Pocahontas of course was the legendary Virginia Indian maiden.  However, before she even arrived, we had shortened it to “Pokey“. Pokey was bred by Elaine Reynolds of Cimmaron English Shepherds and that’s what Pokey is. The breed isn’t recognized by the AKC but is well-known in England as a typical farm dog.  Not instinctively a herder, though she can be trained, she does understand every animal has its…