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A black and white Border Collie stares at five yellow ducklings sitting in a row on a black iron tractor seat. 36 / 36

The Border Collie Locked Eyes With Five Ducklings on an Old Tractor Seat

AI imageborder collieducklingstractor seat

A black and white Border Collie stands at the edge of an old black tractor seat with his nose just a few inches from the five ducklings sitting on it. They are lined up in a row, bills pointing in different directions, and each one looks about as serious as the dog does. The room behind them is a warm, rustic jumble of coats on hooks, a basket of shoes and laundry, and a wooden chair by a bright window.

Border Collies are some of the smartest dogs, bred to gather sheep with a focused stare and careful movement. That intense attention is why a Border Collie may watch even a few ducklings as though they were a flock. It is a natural herding behavior, and with training it can be directed safely. These dogs need a lot of exercise and mental work, and without enough of it they may fixate on small animals. Ducklings should always be kept safe from a herding dog's attention. Your vet or a trainer can show you how to channel that herding drive.

The collie and the ducklings seem locked in a polite staring contest. The dog does not move a muscle, and the ducklings, perched on their iron stage, do not look away. It is a standoff made of curiosity, not tension. Whoever blinks first will be the one who loses, though nobody seems to care. The room is quiet, the light is warm, and a tractor seat has never held such a good audience.

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