'We train people and their dogs to herd sheep'

5 hours ago

Ollie SamuelsNorth West

News image — Farmers Thomas and Steven Longton, alongside dogs Gyp and Tiff

BBC Two men stand in a field, with two dogs in front of them. Behind them is a dry stone wall, and beyond that a farm house, rolling hills and power lines. — Farmers Thomas and Steven Longton, alongside dogs Gyp and Tiff

A farmer, who trains people how to handle sheepdogs, has said the animals are "very special" and intelligent, and they have a way of "calming" the sheep - so they "sort of caress them around the field".

Thomas Longton, from Quernmore, near Lancaster, was previously crowned International Sheep Dog Society Supreme Champion Herder, after following in his father's footsteps.

He said he enjoyed working with the talented dogs, adding: "They could send them half a mile, and they'd go and bring the sheep back with very little command."

Thomas is now passing the knowledge down to his son Steven, who has begun holding corporate event days, where he also teaches people how to herd ducks.

"They're very special animals, the Border Collies, they're very intelligent," Thomas said.

"It's a bit like watching Rory McIlroy play golf or Ronnie O'Sullivan play snooker - they sort of caress the sheep around the field.

"They just calm the sheep, instead of chasing them all over the place."

Steven Longton A man in a cream jumper and dark trousers, wearing glasses and a cap, holds his hands out to his sides as several ducks walks in front of him - and are being herded into a pen — Duck herding is shown on corporate event days

As well as winning the Supreme Championship, Thomas is also ten times Brace Champion, which involved competing with two dogs, at the English National Sheepdog Trials.

Steven said he was pleased to be "carrying on the Longton tradition of sheepdog trialling" like his father and grandfather.

Two men stand smiling towards the camera. The one on hte left is wearing a dark green coat, and an orange and black beanie, and hte man on the right a dark green jumper and black gilet. — The father and son duo are carrying on their family tradition of sheepdog handling

A field on a cloudy day. On the right, a dog lies in the grass, eyeing up the sheep. There are about a dozen sheep towards the left of the photo — One of the sheepdogs rounds up the sheep

Steven said he had fallen in love with herding after doing sheepdog demonstrations at county shows, fetes and galas.

Thomas said he felt it was a tradition which needed to be continued.

"It's important we encourage the young handlers and young farmers to take on this sport, rather than relying on modern technology like quad bikes," he said.

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