FishinBC's Blog

Herder of sheep, trout, squirrels and now…
Aug 9, 2007 | 12:06 PM PST
Tags: Groundhogs , Critters , Border Collies , dogs

We came home last night to find Robdog working the fence around the veggie patch.  Something had his attention and he was not about to let it out of there.  When most border collies are working their front end is low to the ground, tail down, and they don’t make a sound.  Rob was in full BC crouch and strong eyeing something.  I asked hubby to go make sure it was not a snake, before I would go near.  Noticed one of the potted tomatoes was decimated.  Don’t think snakes like tomatoes.  We called Rob off and the culprit stuck his head around the raised bed, biggest ground hog I have ever seen. 

Mind the veggie patch is chain link all the way round, so Rob could not get to him.  I solved that problem by opening the gates to the patch and had Rob “come bye” around the bed and flush this big brown furry thing out of my garden!!  Don’t think the groundhog had ever been herded like a sheep before.  But it didn’t take him long to figure out that Rob was trying to push him out the gate and on to freedom.  He went on his way at a good clip and I hope never to return. 

Rob has taken up serious garden patrol.  “Mom, that was fun and a lot bigger than those puny squirrels.”  Had to give him a “That’ll Do” just to get him to come in and eat this morning, but right back out he went to take up his post by my tomatoes.  GOOD DOG!!  Rob herding and me grinning like a stupid idiot watching my dog do what he was meant to do.