Today is National Dog Day, and to celebrate I’ve written a little poem called “When Sheepdogs Dream” which I dedicate to all herding dogs around the world, and my own border collie, Oreo.
Oreo
To celebrate the dog days of summer and all our beloved canine companions the good folks at Personal Creations have posed a blogging challenge for dog lover’s like me.
They want to know what our dog’s dream vacation might be. Well let me think!
At first I thought Oreo might like to go to New York to check out some dino bones at the American Museum of Natural History, but then she does like a spin in a fast car. A few laps around the Kentucky Speedway with her head out the window might be her thing. Or how about chasing tennis balls at Wimbledon.
Oh let’s face it. Oreo’s dream vacation would be in Ireland, herding sheep through fields of green.
And so, today I dedicate this little poem to Oreo and all of her sheepdog dreams.
When Sheepdogs Dream
By Mairéad Geary
When sheepdogs dream, they dream of sheep
Circling around they sprint, then creep.
Masters in charge of wooly flocks,
They guide sheep home through fields and rocks.
Sheepdogs grow to be strong and brave,
While teaching sheep the way to behave.
When collies stare, those sheep stand still,
Then straight to the pen with herding skill.
When sheepdogs dream, they dream in green,
Skipping through fields near Skibbereen,
Hearing the farmer’s sharp, shrill whistle.
The hair on their neck begins to bristle.
Bounding through fields at breakneck speed,
A farmer’s signal they always heed.
Swirling around those errant sheep,
They steer them home with a barking sweep.
When sheepdogs dream, they dream of sticks,
Jumping through hoops and catching tricks.
Incredibly agile, they know how to balance,
Staying focused and sharp, they’ve many talents.
They listen for each shout and call,
Across tunnels and beams they quickly crawl.
With head held high they fear no ledge,
Confidently stepping to avoid the edge.
When sheepdogs dream, they dream of sand,
And leaping through surf on a windy strand.
They love the ocean’s white-capped waves,
And searching for crabs in shoreline caves.
They love splashing in puddles and muddy baths,
Forests and streams and woodland paths.
They race through valleys and over the hills,
Perfecting skills and herding drills.
When sheepdogs dream they dream of you,
And bones and shoes they love to chew.
Doggy treats for steadfast protection.
Their family pack shares deep affection.
Stubborn and fearless, loyal and true.
With faithful devotion, they stand by you.
So love your sheepdog through and through,
‘Cos when sheepdogs dream, they dream of YOU.
Happy National Dog Day to all our canine companions. Give them all an extra little hug today.
Slán agus beannacht!
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
P.S. A big thanks to all the wonderful pet owners and photographers who shared their fantastic photos through a Creative Commons license, thereby allowing me to use their images to illustrate my words. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Your imaginative images give life to my words.
Disclosure – Oreo received a personalized pet gift from Personal Creations for participating in this blogging challenge.
Here are some other ramblings and recipes about all things Irish and Irish American, which you might enjoy.
Ellis Island
Never Let The Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story
Our Irish Heritage
Aww, Mairead, that is a wonderful poem! I think you really captured the dreams of your beautiful dog perfectly! Give her a hug and a treat for giving you such inspiration!
Thanks Patricia. Glad you liked this little poem – I had fun writing it, and Oreo truly was a great inspiration.
All the best,
Mairéad
Lovely poem, and adore the pictures of Oreo!
Thanks Pat. I just love sheepdogs, so it was lovely to celebrate them with a little poem.
Take care,
Mairéad
Love your poem. My dog, Kelsey, a Shih Tzu is the love of my life. She is 8 and I am 77. I have her convinced she is Irish. ?. I have no talent for poem writing, but love my precious pup.
Hi Pat – Please give Kelsey, your Irish pooch, an extra hug from me today. Happy National Dog Day to her. It’s lovely to hear you have such a loyal and loving companion. Dogs truly are our best friends.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Nice Mairead, We definitely have different dogs.
My dogs a terrier not that bright
He just won’t learn as some dogs might
But he’s a good dogs with a bark not a bite
You pet him on his sturdy head
He’ll roll on his back as if he’s dead
But really a belly rub is his aim
And really who doesn’t he’s not to blame
But in the end he’s a good companion
Chasing squirrels with reckless abandon
His nam is Mickey we call him Mic
And when we walk it’s no great trick
He’s not so smart but we’d have no other
just one dumb mic being walked by another
Cheers,
Brian.
Love it, Brian. Give Mic a great big belly rub today. I can just see him chasing those squirrels with reckless abandon. My Oreo is just too sensitive sometimes. If I correct my kids for anything, she puts her head down and sneaks into her crate. She’s part of the pack and takes responsibility for all their craziness.
All the best, and thanks so much for this great little doggy ditty today.
Mairéad
Oh, how lovely. Makes me miss our Lola, who was the most wonderful Irish puppy. So sweet, had a chance to play with the sheep once, and loved the cows as well. Way too smart, loved to herd the grandkids, my mother; well pretty much anyone she met.
Thank you for your lovely poem and pictures.
Hi Sharon – I’m glad this little poem brought back sweet memories of your Lola, and it’s lovely to know she once got the chance to run around with some sheep. Thanks so much for checking out my ramblings.
Mairéad
So, so cute. Love your poem and all those wonderful sheepdog photos.
Thanks so much Sinead.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mairéad, we used to have an Irish Wolfhound. We called him Madra Mor. Yes as you know that means Big Dog!!
Hi Ward – What a great name for your Irish Wolfhound – and without a doubt he was a Madra Mor. Took plenty of food to keep him happy I would say.
All the best,
Mairéad
Of COURSE you have a Border Collie! I expect nothing less from you! Great poem, Mairead! Terrific pictures! Happy National Dog Day to Oreo!
Thanks Claire – border collies were part of my childhood days on a Cork farm. I just love the breed. Highly intelligent and super active, but great fun too. My kids love their Oreo, even if she does round them up like sheep.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
When I was a lad growing up on the banks of the mighty Columbia River, one of the rituals of fall–aside from the apple harvest–was the autumn sheep drive. The sheep, in two flocks a thousand head or so each, had spent the summer in the meadows of the Okanogan high country.
Downriver one fall afternoon a cloud of dust would billow from the opposite bank. We knew what caused the dust: four thousand milling hooves. As the pulsing flock came into view, we’d marvel at the sheepdogs, three, maybe four, working the sheep. They seemed to do so by instinct; I can’t remember commands or whistles by the pair of drovers. The sheep would be everywhere: some atop boulders; others straying into orchards; a dozen or more slowpokes. The dogs seemed to come out of nowhere, rounding up the strays, flushing sheep from the orchard, driving them from the river’s edge. By late afternoon the flock was milling around across the river from our house. Flock, dogs, and drovers always camped for the night on the bank opposite our house.
At twilight we heard the shouts and whistles of the drovers and all the wandering nonsense came to an abrupt end. ” Whistles and commands from the shepherds set the dogs upon the sheep. Barking and nipping at the dumb beasts, they flanked and surrounded three acres of sheep into less than an acre, as if a well-flung canine lariat lassoed the entire flock into a near circle of wooly backs. Then it was dark and a campfire winked among the rocks; only voices and an occasional tolling bell marked the spot where a thousand cuds churned in the night.” (from “The Woolies of Fall,” Growing up Riparian: a Columbia River Boyhood.)
I remember the fall sheep drives lasting for only a few seasons when for expedience the flocks were trucked to their winter feed yards.
Thanks for the poem, Mairead…and for stirring up a wool-gathering memory or two from my riverbank days. TMJ
Hi T.M. – Your lyrical writing describing the sheep drives of your youth is poignant and beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing this precious memory with us here in the comment section. I always enjoy your responses to my ramblings. You bring my Irish tales full circle, reconnecting them to America and to days gone by. Thanks so much for following along, and enhancing these posts.
Take care,
Mairéad
Love it, Mairéad — what fun! And love your Oreo’s name, too 🙂
Thanks, Cheryl. Since Oreo is black and white like her namesake cookie, we thought the name fitted her perfectly.
All the best,
Mairéad
Dear Mairéad,
Thank you for the beautiful poem and great visual pictures. I grew up having dogs, but never a sheep dog. It was wonderful to hear about these wonderful intelligent dogs in pictures and poems. To all dog lovers and sheep dogs, have a wonderful day and thank you , dog lovers, for supporting all dogs.
Hi Ray – When I was a little girl, dogs were always our family pet. We had a Yorkie, and a cocker spaniel mix, but my uncle always had a few border collies on his farm. I loved his dogs and every time I was down on the farm in Cork I spent every minute I could out and about with the dogs.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mairead,
What a wonderful tribute to sheep dogs! As someone who is not a dog lover (I admit it), your creative poem gave me a true insight as to how special and intelligent these animals are. Thanks!
Debbie
Hi Debbie – I’m so glad you enjoyed this little verse about sheepdogs, and that it helped explain why we sheepdog owners love our talented dogs so much.
All the best,
Mairéad
A lovely poem.
I couldn’t help to thinkof my family in Ireland. They always had sheepdogs. I remember when I was younger their dog than, used to walk by my side and when I got close to the sheep. The dog was on alert doing its job.. Was such a good dog.We just saw my family about a month ago and when we pulled up in their drive way. Mommy and pups were at our door. So cute they are, ready to learn their job 🙂
Hi Sheila – So true – sheepdogs are always eager to learn – glad to hear you too have lovely memories of Irish sheepdogs.
All the best,
Mairéad