Border collies visit Naper Settlement to show how a look can move sheep
See sheep stand.
See Spot stare.
See sheep move at a sheepherding demonstration Sunday, July 18, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., featuring Spot the border collie pup and three of his friends.
Spot and the others from Heatherhope Farms in Sycamore will be in Naperville to demonstrate how they use a mere look of the eye to get sheep moving.
"Border collies have a strong eye," said the Rev. John Seraphine, who trains border collies and raises sheep at Heatherhope Farms. "They stare at the sheep and intimidate the sheep with the way they stare at them. They'll get behind the sheep and stare at the sheep and direct them in a straight line."
Sheep played an important role for early settlers and continued to do so until synthetic fibers lessened the need for sheep's wool.
"Sheep were plentiful in the 19th century in Naperville because they were easy to raise," said Donna DeFalco, Naper Settlement marketing coordinator.
The sheep's wool would be woven into yarn and used in the batting of quilts. Sheep also could be food as well.
But to be able to enjoy the benefits of sheep, shepherds needed a way to corral them when necessary.
"Literally, dogs made it possible to raise sheep all over the world," Seraphine said. "You could have your sheep grazing on the mountainside, but what would you do if you wanted to move them somewhere? One dog could move hundreds of sheep."
Throughout the years, dogs played an important roll in rounding up the sheep to bring them in to get their wool clipped or in moving them from field to field.
Sheep prefer to stay bunched together, and breaking an individual sheep away from the pack is difficult without a dog there to intimidate them with the evil eye.
Border collies are good sheepherders because of their versatility and agility. The breed is known to be able to run 100 miles in a single day, Seraphine said.
People seem to love a mischievous pup and Spot can get distracted at times.
"The audience seems to love it when they misbehave," he said. "When a little puppy runs around and you have a hard time stopping it, they think it's great. They think it's terrific."
So, more than likely, people will see Spot run, firsthand.
The herding demonstration is part of this year's Summer at the Settlement events that also include a demonstration of 19th-century soap-making, a presentation on birds of Illinois and a party for "Peter Rabbit" author Beatrix Potter.
At the sheepherding demonstration, Naper Settlement will have books from the Dick and Jane series that was popular from the 1930s to 1970s and included the famous phrase "See Spot run."
"Our visitors will be able to see the real Spot run and then be able to read about him in a book," DeFalco said.
The demonstration begins at 2 p.m. Sunday and is included with museum admission of $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6.50 for ages 4 to 17.
For information, visit napersettlement.museum or call (630) 420-6010.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>
<p class="News"><b>What:</b> Sheepherding Demonstration</p>
<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 2 p.m. Sunday, July 18</p>
<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville</p>
<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6.50 for ages 4 to 17</p>
<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 420-6010 or <a href="http://napersettlement.museum" target="new">napersettlement.museum</a></p>