Friday, July 28, 2017

Montreal. Sheep. And Beatrix Potter.



Ok.  So who do I complain to in the sheepdog union? We don't HAVE a union?  Well I guess we need one...

There was an article in the paper yesterday about an eco-friendly lawn mowing service in the city of Montreal.  The service included sheep - 6 ewes and 4 lambs who were mowing the grass in several city parks.  Seems like a great idea.  With one obvious flaw that I saw.  To move the sheep along city streets and from park to park, they used volunteers .  Human volunteers.  And I guess a shepherd or two.  But excuse me - what was missing?! Sheepdogs!  No PON or Picard or Old English or Bouvier or Sheltie or Border Collie or Australian shepherd or German Shepherd or or or.....ANY herding dog!!!! Those humans looked pretty silly holding up orange barricades to move the sheep along. I'm telling you, they just needed a sheepdog.  Now mind you, not me or Einstein. Personally, I would prefer to eat the grass with the sheep, rather than herd them.  Einstein was a BIT of a herder in his younger days,  but not so sure he would move them along city streets.  And heaven knows WHAT the FG would do- can't wait to see him with sheep some day.  Anyway, I still think those sheep in Montreal need a DOG.

And speaking of sheep – today is the birthday of Beatrix Potter – the British writer, illustrator and conservationist – famous in part for her children’s books – like Peter Rabbit.  But did you know that Beatrix was a sheep breeder and farmer AND she had an affection for sheepdogs?!  Yes – she had a number of “working collies.”  Kep was her first working dog – and he was later featured in one of her books the Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.  Although the story was about a duck, the hero of the story was Kep.  Kep was Beatrix’s “heart dog” and after he was gone she had a dog by the name of Fleet who was a “bobtail.” After Fleet came another collie by the name of Nip.  There were others after that – and Beatrix truly appreciated the skills of a good working dog.  Bet HER dogs could have moved those sheep around Montreal!

Anyway it's official- it's Friday and IF my human finishes all her work today - PARTEEEEEEE.  She will be OFFFFFFF. And we will be SURE that she is never bored!! For even a second. So we'll be sure to wake her up early every day and we'll play fetch at least 10 times a day.  Make that 15 times. How do you spell H-A-P-P-Y?!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up!

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