On a sunny day in the rural Scottish countryside, 27-year-old shepherd and stockman Sean the Sheepman heads out to gather ewes of the hill with his smart and trusty sheepdog, a border collie named Storm.
At times, Storm is on her own, trusted by Sean at a great distance. Other times, Sean calls and whistles to Storm with authority and reassurance, making sure she’s directing the sheep properly or giving the sheep the time and space to move through gorse bushes and across the steep hills.
Some of the calls in the video include Away, Easy, Steady, and Lie Down. What sounds like “aloo” might be a variation of “that’ll do” as Sean calls “come-bye” just after.
Storm works with Sean, four other sheepdogs, 700 sheep, and 100 cows on a small farming estate. Sean’s YouTube channel documents the world of working sheepdogs, herding, and his everyday life. More about border collies from the American Kennel Club:
“A remarkably bright workaholic, the Border Collie is an amazing dog—maybe a bit too amazing for owners without the time, energy, or means to keep it occupied…”
“Borders are athletic, medium-sized herders standing 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder. The overall look is that of a muscular but nimble worker unspoiled by passing fads. Both the rough coat and the smooth coat come in a variety of colors and patterns. The almond eyes are the focus of an intelligent expression–an intense gaze, the Border’s famous ‘herding eye, is a breed hallmark.”
“On the move, Borders are among the canine kingdom’s most agile, balanced, and durable citizens. The intelligence, athleticism, and trainability of Borders have a perfect outlet in agility training. Having a job to perform, like agility—or herding or obedience work—is key to Border happiness.”
Find more of Sean’s adventures with his dogs on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Plus, enjoy a few more border collies:
• Chaser, the Border Collie that can understand 1022 words (or more)
• Sheep herding patterns as seen by a high-flying drone
• After the Rain: A shepherd and his dog turn wool into clouds
• The 2018 Crufts Dog Show Heelwork to Music winning performances
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