Sheep

Myrna's lambs

Sheep are not stupid.  Obstinate - yes. Infuriating - often.  But not stupid.  They know how to find their way around the mountains and how to get home again, they know where the best food is and they are accomplished escapologists.

We have spent most of the summer chasing around after a small flock who were particularly insistent that the grass is always greener on the other side, and that the grass at home is certainly greener than the grass up in the mountains...where they should have been!

But I suppose you can't blame them; they are just obeying their sheep instincts.  And this is where

Billie and her three lambs

the key lies.  Just because an animal doesn't do what we want it to, doesn't mean it is stupid.  Our demands are probably the exact opposite of what their instincts are telling them.  Perhaps if we tried to understand their behaviour and communicate in their language, life would be easier for all concerned.

Pretty ram lambs

This seems to be a popular approach with horses, dogs and even cats these days.  "But you're talking about sheep" I hear you say.  It did come as a surprise to me that sheep would follow you for a bucket of nuts and come when you whistled, but it's true.  Many of my sheep love to come for a cuddle and a good scratch under their chests.  They even wiggle their tails and close their eyes with pleasure.  Some of the cheekier ones even tap you with their front leg if they think you aren't giving them enough attention.  All true!

So you see, I get as much pleasure from being with my sheep as I do from being with any other domestic animal.  Well, most of the time.......