Who are you? And what have you done with Bet?????

I think it is a pretty well known fact that Bet came here to live at NorthWapiti because she was a flunk-out at Alta-Pete Stock Dogs.

Her former Mom has made it clear over the years that Bet did work, but she didn't particularly enjoy it and was not at the level they needed - much like sled dogs we might place!

That was fine by me.

My neighbour and friend Lisa is the one that helped me find Bet. She has some very competitive border collies and a bunch of sheep. Every time Bet has been over there - which is many times over the 6 years we have owned her - she has shown ZERO interest in Lisa's sheep. Less than zero, to be honest.

This morning I headed over to Lisa's for a visit and Bet tagged along for a bit of 'Border Collie Face Time'. You know, catch up on what's going on in the herding world, who named their latest puppy Laddie the 320th, etc., etc.

When we arrived Lisa was out doing some sheep chores so Bet and I headed out to visit. When it occurred to Bet that we were in a paddock with sheep she stopped dead in her tracks and refused to look at the sheep. I called her over to me and she skulked by the sheep without looking at them.

She plastered herself between my legs and a fence and wished she was invisible.

Lisa finished up her task and called on one of her dogs, Becca, to move the sheep for her. As Becca set about her job Bet left my legs and went over to see what Becca was up to. She was sniffing Becca (who was working and therefore ignoring Bet) when Becca got the sheep moving. All of a sudden a switch flipped. My freaky little Border Collie's ears shot up and her eyes got dark.

Lisa raised her eyebrows at me and let Bet into the pen with Becca and the sheep.

Lisa and I exchanged a number of expressions of shock. After a few minutes Lisa took Becca out and left Bet on her own.

You could have knocked me over with a stick when my BFF - who is scared of flies, flyswatters, hummingbirds, horses, and most other critters that aren't dogs or cats - started working sheep.

And not just working sheep - but enthusiastically working sheep. Like REALLY enthusiastically. 

When we insisted she stop, my little bath HATING dog had one more surprise up her little black and white sleeve.....

But Bet - you HATE water!!!!!


Now, don't get me wrong - I'm not by any stretch thinking that Bet is going to take up a new career and we are going to set the herding world on fire - but it was fantastic to watch her have such fun. I've been grinning all afternoon.  So has she!

We will definitely be setting aside time for Bet to 'get her herding dog on' this summer!