AKC: HIB HXB HXA;
AHBA: HRD I II III HTD I II III;
USBCHA: Open Dog
February 17, 2008 – January 16, 2023
If you ever brought your dog to Draxen Farms, you know Miss Mara and most likely you have never forgotten her. Stunning and intense, the diminutive, royal-magician sheep-ruler thrilled with her work ethic, instinct and power to control and move sheep.
Watching Mara and Mike work together was like viewing a live storybook of a lone bard and his harp, of one soul, one thought, spinning one song. It made your heart leap even if you didn’t know the first thing about sheepherding.
“He isn’t even talking to her or blowing the whistle – she just knows!” People whispered while they watched. Of course Mara knew – she knew every thought in Mike’s head. She knew the sheep like no other dog and had the impulse control of a saint. All who watched them knew they were observing way more than a guy working with his way cool, brilliant, beautiful dog in a field with stock. It wasn’t just the romantic visual – it was the emotional energy of their dance of work, love and trust – leaving all wistfully believing they, too, could develop this bond with a dog.
Though, could you really achieve this level of relationship – you and your dog? Knowing Mara inspired us to believe we could, by simply doing what she was born to do. In her stately and noble way, Mara provided a key, flipping the initial on switch to the ancient human-canine work desire in many souls.
Affectionately known as “The Queen,” she was a one-in-a-million dog. Coming upon her purpose when Mike was bringing her home, they stopped at a friend’s farm where the girl handled thirty head of sheep at eight weeks old. The pair went on to trial, winning at high levels, though Mara’s truest love was Mike and Mike alone – her calling to run her beloved Farm.
Like good Queens do, Mara worked alongside her subjects. She got dirty and wore a delicate, discreet brown “blush” line above her lips where her tongue bumped as she worked. She inspired owners and handlers and corrected, taught, trained and demanded respect from other dogs in a way humans could not.
Mara was the “perfect dog” in so many ways.
Thank you, Our Queen, for your graceful and significant presence in our present – having known you made us all better people.
For now, it is time to rest up for your next walkabout as you wait, eyes on the gate, for Mike.
That’ll do, good girl.