In a Tale That Wags Dog Owners, They Rent Flocks for Bored Collies

Compulsive Sheep Herders Need a 'Job' to Entertain Them; 'That'll Do'

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
WSJ

BATTLE GROUND, Wash.—Sue Foster knew what she needed to do when her border collie, Taff, was expelled from puppy school for herding the black Labs into a corner.

She rented some sheep.

Then she bought another border collie and rented some grazing land. Then she bought some sheep of her own. And a third border collie. Now, like the old lady who swallowed the fly, Ms. Foster keeps a llama to chase off the coyotes that threaten the lambs that go to market to finance the sheep that entertain her dogs.
Border Collies Have a Herd of Their Own

Once upon a time, Americans got dogs for their sheep. Now they get sheep for their dogs. "I never dreamed it would go this far," says Ms. Foster, 56 years old.

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