I was born to do this
Just look at his face. When Wayne collected Patch from suburban St Albans this Easter, it was clear he was a working dog breed (or three) but I doubt his rescuers from Homeless Hounds would have envisaged this. Only problem is, he likes it too much.
It took me nearly half an hour to retrieve him from the yearling paddock and when he decided to round up Zoe yesterday, I decided something had to be done, and fast. You must not, cannot let a working dog get out of control, no matter what.
I called Paul Macphail of Beloka Kelpies for help and, 20 minutes later, Zoe, Alex, Patch and I were in training at his school in Welshpool. Paul quickly summed Patch up as a tad “arrogant” and swiftly put him in his place. I have not been a tough enough boss.
A litte while later, Patch, who had never seen a sheep before, was in the pen working a mob and then in the paddock masterfully bringing another (albeit rather tame) mob back to Paul. Just like Babe, really. Pig dog turns hero. “He’s a natural,” says the laconic Paul.
I am so impressed, I will be back at Paul’s with Patch in a week to see if I he will reach his calling as a semi-automatic dairy cow rounding up dog with the speed of a cheetah and the gentleness of a dove.
The Milk Maid Marian 
Wow, Go Patch! I love hearing your stories about Patch!
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Thanks for rescuing him for us, Gaye. Without you and the other volunteers at Homeless Hounds, Patch would quite literally not be here.
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If you can bring him around to work for you what an asset he will be! We miss our border collies every day.
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Yes, do you think he has some collie in him? I’m wondering if that’s where his white comes from.
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He’s a beauty!
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I was talking to my sister in law this morning and told her that I was doing a business essay on Australia (the place I most want to visit someday!) She is threecollie at Northview Diary and she told me to give you a shout and I am sure glad she did! I love your blog! I was wondering if you would be interested in answering some questions or giving me some ideas on where to get some information on the business infrastructure of Australia, I have gotten a lot information on the internet, but have had a hard time finding information on the Business Culture, the political environment,leading business products, cultural issues, economic issues, need I say more. If you can help, thank you so much and even if you can’t thank you for reading my mumbo,jumbo 🙂
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Thanks Lisa – and you’re at Southview Farm! Love the dichotomy. You and your sister in law must be like ying and yang. Will send you an email later this morning (after school rush is over and Alex gets a sleep).
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