Steepside

Gilly is an integral part of our small homesteading operation and the nature-based homeschool enrichment program on our property. He is responsible for keeping our chickens in their pastured enclosure, and will herd them back toward their fence if they are out. If they do not fly back in on their own, he will collect and 'hold' any wayward chickens with a gentle paw until a human comes to place them back where they belong or gives the command to leave it. He accompanies the children on their adventures throughout the land, and is quick to tell on them when they engage in something he has perceived or learned is not appropriate (he used to bark when our youngest headed toward our house construction zone without shoes!). He guards the yard and garden from intruders, and alerts us when something is out of the ordinary. Our neighbor's bull crashed through our pasture fence and Gilly was a great help, both in alerting us and helping keep him contained and herded back. He is an avid sky-watcher and developing rodent hunter. He is calm, gentle, and extremely biddable and intuitive. An incredible working and family dog.