Jock the Sheepdog

By George Robinson

This is the story about a border collie puppy who is the sole survivor of a litter born in the wild in the hills above the Town of Drummond in the Scottish Highlands. He is found, reared and trained by a local hill farmer and becomes renowned for his intelligence, courage and endurance. His remarkable series of adventures eventually see him win the 'One Man and his Dog trophy' competition on television.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781398425880

George Robinson

George Robinson is the author of the critically acclaimed Essential Judaism, as well as Essential Torah: A Complete Guide to the Five Books of Moses (2006). The recipient of a Simon Rockower Award for excellence in Jewish journalism from the American Jewish Press Association, Robinson is a senior writer for The Jewish Week, the largest Jewish newspaper in North America. He is a contributor to the new edition of Encyclopedia Judaica and has written frequently for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday, and Hadassah Magazine.

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About the Author

A father of two, George Robinson served more than twenty years in the armed forces at home and overseas, including one of the atomic tests on Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean. This was followed by a long career as an administrator in local government in London until his retirement in 2000.

Dedication

My father was an enthralling storyteller with his never-ending bedtime stories and although I will never match his standard, I do hope this book will serve as a tribute to him.

Copyright Information ©

George Robinson 2021

The right of George Robinson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398425866 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398425873 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781398425880 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2021

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

My thanks to Pat Rowell who freely offered her time in editing the stories as they were produced.

Story 1

Jock the Sheepdog, the Beginning

It was late November and the weather had a decidedly winter feel. Sandy, a Border collie bitch, shook herself vigorously to get rid of the rainwater from her fur and shivered, for she was cold as well as wet. The persistent squally rain made her miserable but she had no alternative but to bear it for she was tied to a post in the garden of the house where she lived with her master Mr McAllister. Her only shelter was from a piece of corrugated iron sheeting which did nothing to protect her from the rain which was being driven by the wind into the space where she stood.

Only a few weeks ago life had been so different when Mrs McAllister and her two children had been there. The family was a happy one and the air was full of laughter every day. Sandy went for regular walks and was inseparable from the children. She slept inside the house in a basket and was never short of food. The family had always taken her with them when they went out and had even taken her to the North of England Sheepdog Championships. There she had got lost in the crowd and ended up in the entrant’s kennel area where she had met the ultimate winner of the Show’s top prize, a pedigree border collie called the King of Lochalsh, and, unknown to the McAllister family, become pregnant.

Two months later Mrs McAllister had taken the children with her to stay with her mother who was seriously ill. Alone, Mr McAllister began to spend more and more time at work and ate out leaving Sandy banished to the garden. She now received more food from the neighbours than her master. With her condition deteriorating fast and already four weeks pregnant she had resolved to break free and go into the hills surrounding the town to have her pups.

It was now 2 o’clock in the morning and for the last few hours, she had been chewing at the rope which held her captive to a ring on the wall, but to no avail. Then she tried to pull her head from out of her collar sensing that the rain had stretched the leather. Despite the increasing pressure on her neck and her ears she pulled and pulled until at last, she was free. She shook herself once again, took a last look around, and went through a hole in the garden fence into the street. It was deserted and she went eastwards at a steady lope towards the hills beyond the town. Soon she came to the local shop of Waddingham’s, a local butcher. She knew him well for he had always given her a meaty bone to chew every time she had gone there with Mrs McAllister and it was here that she stopped. Sniffing at the waste sacks that were piled up outside the shop for the Council’s overnight waste collection she quickly found the best waste, ripped the selected bag apart, and ate her fill from its contents. Then she was off again for there was a long way to go.

By 3 am she was on the outskirts of the town and had to cross a dangerous dual carriageway. Fortunately, at that time of the morning, few vehicles were around but she had seen many dead foxes in the past and was only too aware of the dangers of speeding cars and lorries. Standing at the kerbside she looked left and then right and shook with fright as a fast car came by with its lights blazing and splashed her with spray. The traffic was coming from her right and when it was clear she ran across the road to its central reservation and waited until it was safe to cross to the other side. Once there she sniffed the air and could smell the unmistakable scent of the heather on the hills. Changing direction to where the scent became strongest, she moved down a wide road lined with large houses. A dog fox coming out of a driveway gave a nervous bark as it saw her and hurriedly disappeared through a gap in the hedge. An owl out hunting called out twit twoo, twit twoo. The houses were becoming fewer now and she knew she was nearing the hills. By 4 am she had reached the fields at their base and was already climbing upwards through wet grass to the summit. As she climbed, she stood well clear of the many hill sheep she could hear calling to each other baa ba baaah. Sandy knew it was better not to disturb them for they were easily frightened. Moreover, a farmer alerted by their cries would not hesitate to shoot her. She now had no collar and he would feel sure she was a stray dog attacking the sheep.

At the summit, the wind was even stronger but the rain had stopped. She moved on down the other side of the hill, avoiding the many large rocks which had begun to appear and dried out as the wind ruffled her coat. But tired and shivering from the cold she urgently needed to find some shelter. A large fir tree provided the answer and making her way under its protective branches she rested up until midday.

Two days later and many miles travelled she was in the hills overlooking the town of Drummond. It was here she decided to have her pups. Already she had found a dry and cosy fissure in the rocks, well protected from the prevailing winds and she knew from the animals she had seen there was plenty of wildlife to keep her fed. Little did she know that her arrival in the area would bring immense fame to the town and make its name known throughout the United Kingdom!

The days passed swiftly by with Sandy preparing the den for the birth of her pups. She fed well and began to enjoy the wildlife she led. The days passed swiftly and as the weather grew colder there were sharp frosts in the mornings. The game remained plentiful however and she was never short of food. She excelled in her newfound freedom, regained weight, and became fit and healthy.

On the 63rd day of her pregnancy she had five pups and for the first two days rested up to keep them warm and feed them plenty of milk. She felt happy and needed as the pups snuggled up close to her. She left them frequently to hunt for their weaning made her very hungry. At the end of three weeks, they had begun to eat the regurgitated meat she brought to them and were wandering about the den playing boisterously. None ventured outside for it was too cold. Sandy had become familiar with the area now and the many creatures that lived there. The local foxes avoided her but were no longer afraid of