Video of Sheep Nuzzling Sheep Dog on English Hillside Is Downright Adorable

Though bears and wolves are no longer a threat to sheep across England, having been extinct on that island for generations, herding dogs are still popular in use in sheep farming communities, not so much to protect their flocks from predation, but rather to keep the wandering herds in line. Though herding dogs are tasked with controlling the sheep, it is clear the sheep don’t really fear their canine masters, as this one shows when it nuzzles the dog, seeming to whisper sweet nothings in his ear.

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What I love most about this video is the look on the dog’s face. It’s clear he’s trying to look very busy and attentive, with his stiff posture and stern expression saying “hey, I’m at work” while the sheep nibbles on his ear and softly bumps against him. Now, whether the dog is showing off for the camera or not, we’ll never know. But we do know that pup deserves a raise—or at the very least, a treat.

Related: English Sheepdog's Singing Duets with Dad Should Be a Hit Record

But it’s clear he is beloved by his herd of charges. And though sheep have a bit of a reputation for not being the brightest animal on the farm, they do actually recognize and remember the people and dogs who watch over them. Sheep can remember faces for over two years—and they’ve clearly decided that this dog is A-OK.

Herding Dog History

Dogs have been used in human livestock herding activities for over nine thousand years. Because of this long tradition, herding dogs have been bred for this specific purpose, and so now many herding instincts are inborn in these breeds. My parents, for example, had an Old English Sheepdog that used to get really upset when the family went on walks and strayed too far apart on the sidewalk. Their earlier Old English Sheepdog wouldn’t even let people go out for a jog unless they only ran toward home.

And this was a dog who was trained to do little more than sit on command and balance a Milk Bone on the end of his nose.

Originally, herding dogs served as a protection force, helping to ward off predators like wolves and bears, but in most of the UK today (England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand) those sorts of large predators do not exist.

The Skills of Herding Dogs

But although most herding dogs are born with it, careful training can bring their skills to enormously high levels.

Herding dogs know dozens of commands and are trained to guide their charges through complicated routines and into extremely narrow passages. They can hear and obey their master’s commands from up to half a mile away, which makes them essential when traversing remote terrain and trying to keep track of large herds of wandering animals like sheep.

Herding dogs and their handlers form a close bond, and work together as a beloved team. It’s vital that the livestock, too, feel safe around the dogs that care for them—even as they are properly intimidated by their efforts to get them going where they are supposed to go.

But I don’t know, guys…. Does this sheep look intimidated to you?

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