The Secret Dog by Joe Friedman Read Free Book Online

too, her flock behind her. Clearly she had underestimated this dog. But Reggae wasn’t barking or being aggressive. Indeed, she just stood there, eyes alert. Josh saw the ewe’s posture change, from challenging to calm. Reggae stayed alert, and her eyes glanced sideways.
    Josh could hardly believe what he’d just witnessed. Reggae had known exactly what she needed to do to turn the threatening situation around!
    ‘Come by,’ he commanded.
    Reggae took a small step to her left. The big ewe took note, then began to turn. Her flock followed. Josh circled to his left so his dog was directly opposite.
    Reggae crept forward. One of the lambs started to dance away from her mother. Reggae immediately moved a few steps to the lamb’s right, to stop her from getting away. Josh’s heart swelled with pride. He clicked approvingly. He’d heard men talk about natural dogs but he’d never seen one before.
    Reggae took a step forward. The big ewe lifted her head. Keeping low, Reggae crept forward again.
    ‘Away.’
    Reggae crept to her right, and then forward again, her ears flat against her head. When a skittish lamb started to leave the flock, she quickly moved to her left and the big ewe and her group of sheep moved towards Josh.
    This was the crucial time. Once the group started moving, any one of them could head off in another direction. Josh and Reggae had to keep them together. Another ewe started off to the left. Reggae immediately backed up and circled to her left, still crouching, ready for action. The ewe rejoined the group.
    Together, they manoeuvred the group towards Josh. When they were just a metre away, Josh said, ‘That’ll do.’ He walked backwards. Reggae retreated too.
    The group of sheep relaxed and started to graze.
    ‘Come,’ Josh ordered. He stroked Reggae’s cheek. Reggae closed her eyes with pleasure. Then she rolledonto the ground and Josh rubbed her tummy. ‘That was brilliant. You’re brilliant!’
    They repeated the process once more. This time, it went more smoothly. From the books Josh had read, he knew he mustn’t work her too long this early in her training. Anyway, he had chores to do at home.
    ‘Kennel,’ he said. Reggae just sat there, avoiding Josh’s eyes and staring in the direction of the sheep. She wanted to keep working. Josh didn’t repeat himself; he knew that would just teach Reggae it was okay not to obey the first time he gave a command. He simply got up and started to jog towards home. Reggae followed immediately.
     
    * * *
    As Reggae noisily consumed her dinner that evening, Josh said, ‘I have to admit that when I saw you bite that ewe’s nose, I thought you’d lost it. But it was exactly the right thing! And you released her as soon as she got the message. I guess if you’re a wee dog you’ve got to have ways to make the sheep listen.’
    Reggae was finished and came over for a stroke. Josh bent over and blew into her ear. Reggae licked his face. ‘That big ewe could’ve trampled you.’
    Suddenly, Josh recalled his mother singing. ‘The harder they come, the harder they fall  . . . ’ Her lilting, slightly out-of-tune voice came back to him. He couldn’t remember who sang the song. He looked atReggae, surprised. Once again, she’d brought back memories of his mum.
    Josh embraced the black and white dog. It was starting to get dark beyond the shed door.
    It was then that he remembered the envelope in his rucksack. The one containing his school report. It was sealed and he hadn’t bothered opening it. He knew what was inside. Bad news. His uncle wouldn’t be happy.
    ‘I’ve got to go,’ he said. ‘I’ll be back later, to say goodnight.’
    Under his breath, Josh added, ‘I hope.’

 
    Chapter 10
    Josh scrubbed the carrots in the sink with the worn bristle brush. They were uneven and gnarled. He didn’t know how they got the ones in the Co-op in the town so straight. One out of ten from their garden looked like that. Surely they didn’t throw