(4 minute read)

It was an early start for Herdy. Today was the village country show, and he was going with his best friend, Sheppy!

Still yawning, Herdy hurriedly gobbled a few sheep nuts for breakfast before packing his picnic basket. In went a big slab of lemon drizzle cake, a flask of piping hot tea, two delicious iced finger buns, some very posh triangular sandwiches and, of course, a snuggly picnic blanket to sit on.

Knock, knock!

It was Sheppy.

“All packed?” he asked, wagging his tail.

“Ready!” said Herdy.

The two friends trotted excitedly down the track towards the village.

The showground was already buzzing. Brightly coloured tents and stalls were selling everything from local honey and gingerbread to the most delicious looking cakes Herdy had ever seen.

“There’s even a cake tent!” gasped Herdy.

Sheppy was more interested in the doggy treat stall.

“Look, Herdy my favourite treats!” he barked excitedly. “Although you won’t catch me wearing one of those silly doggy outfits!”

Just then, the brass band struck up a very jolly tune.

“Toot! Toot! BANG! BANG!”

Herdy and Sheppy giggled at the strange sounds coming from the shiny instruments.

Then the announcer called, “The sheepdog trials are about to begin!”

“Are you going to have a go, Sheppy?” asked Herdy.

“I might!” Sheppy replied.

He put his name down, but when he saw the sheep he was going to round up, his tail stopped wagging.

They were a very troublesome bunch of rowdy crossbreeds.

“Hmm,” he thought. “This might be harder than I expected.”

After exploring the horticultural tent and laughing at the enormous carrots and funny-shaped vegetables, it was time for Sheppy’s trial.

Herdy found a good spot to watch, beside the fence.

“Good luck, Sheppy! Remember to stay calm!”

Sheppy nodded.

The judge blew his whistle.

PHEEEEP!

Off he went!

The unruly sheep stared at him, stamped their hooves and then suddenly dashed across the field.

But Sheppy didn't panic. He remembered everything he had learned from rounding up the cheeky Herdwicks back on the farm.

He stayed calm, watched carefully, and guided the sheep this way and that.

Slowly but surely he took them through every obstacle and finally brought them towards the pen.

One sheep tried to escape.

Sheppy calmly blocked its path.

Another ran the other way.

Sheppy was already there!

Finally, every single sheep was safely inside.

PHEEEEP!

The judge blew his whistle.

“Well done!” cried Herdy. “You did it!”

After all that running around, Sheppy was very hungry, so Herdy happily unpacked their picnic for them to share.

They munched on the sandwiches.

“This is the best picnic ever,” said Sheppy, licking butter from his nose.

But suddenly, before they’d even managed a nibble of an iced bun,

“BAAAAAA!”

They heard a terrible commotion.

A flock of sheep came racing past, followed by a very nervous young sheepdog.

“Oh no!” cried Herdy. “They’re heading straight for the cake tent!”

The two friends jumped up and ran after them.

Too late!

The sheep burst into the tent, knocking over tables and sending cakes wobbling in every direction.

Sheppy took a deep breath.

He remembered what he had learned in his trial.

Stay calm. Think carefully.

He gave one loud bark.

“WOOF!”

The sheep stopped.

Another bark.

“WOOF!”

Then Sheppy slowly walked towards them with a very serious look on his face. The sheep decided it wasn’t wise to argue with Sheppy, and slowly backed towards the door.

Before long, every sheep was safely back in the pen.

The crowd erupted into cheers!

“HOORAY FOR SHEPPY!”

The judge placed a huge red rosette on Sheppy’s glossy coat.

“You're the winner!” he announced.

Just then, Mrs ‘H’ from the cake tent hurried over.

“Thank you, Sheppy! You saved all my cakes. You’re the hero of the day!”

She looked at him and smiled.

“You can have a slice of anything you like.”

Sheppy’s eyes grew wide.

“Anything?”

“Anything!”

Sheppy thought for a moment.

“As long as my best friend can come too.”

So Herdy and Sheppy trotted happily into the cake tent.

Herdy chose coffee cake. Sheppy chose a strawberry slice covered in cream.

“This coffee cake is the best I've ever tasted,” said Herdy.

Sheppy licked the cream from his nose and closed his eyes.

“You know what, Herdy?”

“What?”

“This really has been the best day ever!”

And as the two friends shared their cake, Herdy smiled.

Sometimes the best way to solve a tricky problem is simply to stay calm, remember what you've learned, and always be there for friend when they need you.