Little Miss Pepper is on a vertical learning curve.

Although, utterly perfect, she has to learn what is acceptable and what is not.

I enjoy our daily walk in our fields  and I hope she does too.

I encourage Pepper to “look for the mousies” as hunting is part of her genetic make-up.

Although, we probably don’t have the kind of hunting she would like (foxes, badgers, rats. etc…)

When in doubt, Pepper sits down. I think she just met a frog!

But everything has to be investigated.

And off we race because a rabbit strolled past and went home, totally unaware of the small chasing thing behind it!

So Pepper sat down again to consider her options.

And I called her back to me with the help of a pocketful of Dreamies (small cheesey cat treats).

Pepper has a good leap on her.

But this can end up in a splat!

But, “never say never” is Pepper’s motto and she picks herself up and off she goes again.

A darling little girl who listens to her own voices, as my previous and much loved neighbour would’ve commented.

On the way home, Pepper talked to ‘Ster and then chased ‘Bert. We had words and I told her to “go home”.

So she did.

We don’t approve of the sheep chasing, even though they are my sheep. To be fair, Pepper did listen……. eventually.  So much learning to do.

This is the view from my bedroom window first thing.  Not too shabby really.

My morning routine consists of something like this….

I get all the sheep into the big stable for their breakfast (in case they need to stay there – it is a good habit to have).  7 bowls out for 6 sheep.

While Lambie has his own private speshul bowl – I have to stand guard for him against potential marauders like ‘Ster or ‘Bert.

Leaving the sheep in the shed, once Lambie has said he’s finished, I put together five buckets of food (all different except for the girls who get the same) and lug them over to their field where everyone is waiting.

I stand with Haakon (again guarding his bucket for him) listening to the quiet munching and admire the amazing scenery and light.

I have taken to popping 5 carrots in my pocket so that those with less (Sóley and Lilja who only get a smidge for the sake of it), don’t come and hassle Haakon who has more to eat. I see it as not dissimilar to protection money for the Mob.

Buckets finished, removed, carrot payments made, I walk back home, wash the buckets in the stream (think of the last scene of The Jungle Book and yes, I do hum the tune the girl sings).  Then off to find the sheep and to put them, horror of horrors, into a field!

If there is time, there may be sheep hugging.  As you can see, Harrel is almost a grown-up now and definitely one of the lads.

And I haven’t even had breakfast!

Daisy and I went up to the Minions’ field to “do feet”.  It is neverending for obvious reasons.

While Daisy worked her magic on Newt, I was in charge of the front end.  I also had to hold the bag of hoof trimming equipment to keep it out of the way of prying minds and teeth. They had already scattered the contents around the field once.

Storm, and his little friend, then proceeded to be very irritating.

One friend, Albie.

An eternal irritation.

Silver was “helpful”.  I won’t let them nibble or get in the way – that’s not fair on Daisy who is doing all the work.

Then it was Fivla’s turn for her hoof trim.

Of course, she was a stoic and a sweetheart.

She put up with a lot from Albie.

This time it was Newt’s turn to supervise – well, it’s always good to have an expert on hand or hoof, depending on your perspective.

I shoo’ed them all away and told them to “get a job”.

“Seriously, a job?”

So they annoyed each other instead.  Well, that’s a job, I guess!

I took Pepper in the car (as she has to learn to travel) to see the Minions.  They were fine and afterwards as her reward, I took her to the beach to explore.

She was keen as mustard.

And thought the beach was BRILLIANT!

To start with, I kept Pepper on the lead as I was not sure about her recall.

There were so many distractions.

Everything had to be explored.

We pretty much had the beach to ourselves.

The trouble is Pepper is almost totally invisible in any background (my next dog will be fluorescent, I have promised myself).

More exploring.  This was Pepper’s walk so I let her do what she wanted.

And then we met a friend.  They were my almost-neighbours and, after some consultation, we agreed to let our dogs of their leads to play.

Pepper was totally smitten but she behaved much better.  She had nice manners and, although besotted by a bigger dog, she didn’t annoy.  A small someone is going to sleep well tonight and probably me!

After supper, Daisy and I go outside in the almost dark with our wee “croft dug” to put the ducks to bed in their shed, and then going on to sort out Tiddles and Waffle in their stable.

Croft dug always comes too.

She loves it, following digilently in the near dark with a huge smile on her little puppy face.

We let her into the stable now so she can meet two trustworthy Shetland ponies – Tiddles and Waffle – who are both very good around dogs.  Others are less so.  Pepper won’t be meeting them until she is a bit bigger and quicker, if ever.

And because of this, Pepper is much calmer around the ponies now she has finally met them.  Far less idiot-puppy-bouncing so they don’t react either.  She was desparate to say hello while we were mucking out.

This is Pepper’s “good-girl” face.  Utterly enchanting.  We are all very smitten.

She is a very special little dog.