An excited bark comes from the kennels as the dogs hear the door slam and my boots scrape on the yard. They know their day is about to begin – a day full of stimulation. They bounce around their kennels with excitement as we get them out for their day’s work. Their life would be envied by most pet dogs.
Three border collies work at Croft Foot Farm, our 364-hectare property in Cumbria. My husband, Colin, does the bulk of the farm work, using the collies mainly as sheepdogs. The four of them make a formidable team in looking after our 1,200 breeding sheep.
At any one time, we tend to have a lead dog who does the main bulk of work. There will also often be a retired dog who potters around the yard and comes out
