She herd that (heh -- get it -- herd that. Heh, heh...)

Dirtman would love to work with Hokie in the herding ring, but right now it's just not in the budget. So, for now, we live vicariously through Zsa Zsa's puppies.

Or, rather, puppy -- Becca, to be specific. You remember Becca, the one lovely red-tri? The snake herder?

We traveled to Keepstone Farm in Berryville, Va., to watch Becca's first herding lesson. I might add, this is the first time I've seen Becca since saying goodbye to her over a year and a half ago.

As you can see, it was an emotional reunion.


Actually, she only had eyes for the sheep.

First Keepstone's owner and herding instructor Susan Rhodes runs her through the paces.


Then it was Becca's dad Tom's turn to work with her, no small feat considering it was their first time out.


Herding would certainly be my downfall because you have to have a strong knowledge of right and left and then call it something else. Tom did really well for his first time out. There's a lot to remember when you're out there that I'm sure, in time, becomes second nature. You've got your herding stick, you've got the dog going one way, you've got the sheep going the other way and you've got yourself to put somewhere.

And then, of course, there's the sheep that are, well -- sheep. They're not as dumb as you think and can be downright stubborn -- in a stupid way.

Zsa Zsa was very proud of Becca, though she denies being old enough to have had puppies and claims that Becca is her younger sister. She assures us that she would be equally as deft in the herding ring if it weren't for "all that panting and running. And really, Dah-ling -- just let the filthy beasts go where they want to go. Isn't it time for my facial?"