Its incredible watching the special bond between a sheep farmer and his working dogs. I have stood mesmerised for hours watching the dogs herd sheep only listening to the different tone of their owners whistle. While they all sound very similar to me, there are distinctive tones for ‘go left’ ‘turn right’ short step forward… etc.
Kids growing up on farms often have an incredible affinity with animals and as kids do, mimic their parents.
One Eastern Cape farmer’s daughter went to study in London and after a few months of her being there, her father decided he’d better go and check up on his girl and visit some of his old pals that have also immigrated.
Being used to a solitary farm life in the great Karoo, nothing could have prepared him for the masses of people in Europe.
When his daughter went to collect him from the airport, it was chaotic. The arrival hall was packed, so she climbed the stairway to get a bird’s eye view and saw her father in the distance, lost and unsure in the crowd. Her voice could'n’t carry across the large airport so she whistled him in towards her with the sharp sheep dog commands of her youth until he was standing right below her with a quick final whistle to “look up” and father and daughter were reunited again with a smile.
A friend of mine, Pete, runs a production company. One overseas client specifically asked for a shoot be be filmed on a game farm with specific animals.. Not having time to physically scout the farm itself, Pete arranged the shoot remotely and set everything up with the assurance of the farm owner that the wild game was tame and no, there has never ever before been any hunting on the farm ensuring the animals come right up to you. In fact, they will even eat of your hand if need be. Needless to say, when the big client flew out for the shoot from the UK, the game was nowhere to be found having long ago associated vehicles with guns. Disgusted, the client stormed off set and out of their books. When Pete confronted the owner in his messy office he saw a frightened looking dog peering up at him with large sad brown eyes. Pete told the farmer that he’s not paying him a cent and as further compensation is taking the dog with him and in one movement scooped the dog up and walked off.
I’ve never met such a loyal and happy dog as Charlie. This dog literally grins every time you look at him. Pleased as punch having landed quite unexpectedly in the lap of luxury. Looking at Charlie its somehow meant to be that the shoot never worked out as planned…
Harald lives in a small village in the black forest. A friend runs the local hotel. Being a close knit community, many a festive evening has been spent gathered round the Stammstich.
After an evening of socialising its best to go home by taxi to so a cab is often called and Harald and his faithful dog Goliath are driven the short distance home.
Goliath rightly sensed early on in his career that this trip by taxi is much quicker than walking home.
So when he went out wandering on his early morning rounds, when he realised the he would be late for his 09h00 breakfast, he would walk into the hotel and sit expectantly in front of the front desk. A taxi would then be despatched to take him home. Goliath blissfully unaware that the trip would cost his owner a few rounds when they next meet up at the Stammtich.
When Goliat passed away at a ripe old age, Harald realised he couldn’t be without a faithful companion. He went to a breeder and chose a Schnauzer puppy that came up to him tail wagging. When he went to fill out the paperwork he discovered the puppy’s name was listed as Jet Setter. And, as fate would have it; he has since flown more than 18 times intercontinental as Harald divides his time between Europe and Cape Town, never without his faithful Jet Setter.
If you enjoyed these stories and would like to read more of the same, I’ve published a book about a peculiar West Highland Terrier called Moritz. You can order your copies on this link for your e-reader.
If you prefer more serious writing download the Fall of the Crypto queen here.
As always, I love hearing from you so feel free to get in touch.