Stupid Sheep - Part 2: Fence Gates Remain a Mystery

After yesterday's struggle getting my dumb sheep into the other pasture I figured today had to be easier. Surely, those two lambs who gave me the runaround would remember the simple concept of “follow the flock through the open gate,” maneuver, right?

Ha. Foolish me. I keep forgetting who I’m dealing with.

So I opened the gate, called to the sheep, and watched as the main flock hustled through into the lush pasture like it was opening night at the salad bar. All good so far. But then, as if on cue, those same two lambs decided they didn’t want to be left behind again.

Which sounds like progress—until they absolutely body-slammed the fence right next to the gate. Full speed. Zero hesitation. One of them hit it so hard he bounced back and landed square on his woolly little butt, blinking like he’d just met a force field.

Then, naturally, they ran along the fence line in the opposite direction from the actual opening.

At this point, I was no help. I was doubled over laughing, wheezing like an asthmatic donkey, tears in my eyes. I couldn’t even yell at them properly.

Maybe my hysterics triggered some sort of momentary sheep self-awareness, because they both came trotting back toward the gate—probably to investigate what ridiculous human behavior was happening this time.

And then, miracle of miracles, they noticed the open gate.

They looked at it. Looked at each other. Looked at me. And then, ever so casually, like they totally knew what they were doing all along, they walked through the opening. Calmly. Like dignified, rational creatures.

They even had the audacity to look surprised that it worked.

So maybe, maybe they can be taught.

Or maybe they’ll forget again tomorrow and try tunneling in from underground. Honestly, with these two, anything is possible.

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©2009 Sandy Davis | American Way Farm