We need to have a serious conversation

[FlyingClayDisk]

That's interesting that the two breeds collaborate as you described. I guess dogs aren't solitary animals, they thrive as a pack. What's fascinating is that they take on a certain role, whilst the others are subordinated to other tasks.

I love both those breeds, especially their typical two-tone eyes. You're never quite sure where they're looking.

Yep, "Rhode" the Australian Shepard is indeed a 'Merle' (one blue, one brown, eye).  We call it..."Giving them the Blue Eye!".  He uses his blue eye to freak out the cows (and his brother).  He stares with his blue eye and nobody knows what to think.  He actually cocks his head so he's leading with his blue eye.

These two guys are an enigma of sorts.  They're more peers to each other than one being dominant over the other.  The ACD is the dominant one in the field, totally fearless.  But the ACD lets the Shepard eat first.  Otherwise, the ACD is in charge.  The only time there's ever a dispute about who's in charge is at a door or a gate (any door, or any gate).  Whomever gets there first guards it like it's their territory.  The two of them are inseparable like they're attached with velcro...right up until it comes to a door or gate, then they'll trade fur (every single time).  Another weird factoid is the ACD is always dominant if they're moving away from the house, but when they're moving toward the house the Shepard will try to exert dominance (again, like clockwork, every single time).  If they're moving parallel to the house, they're stuck together like glue.  It's crazy.

The attack vector routine I think they figured out because the ACD is so much faster than the Shepard.  The ACD would take off after a errant calf and look back at the shepard on the way like..."Are you just gonna' sit there, or what?"...and the shepard figured out he could cut the distance by cutting across the arc in a straight line.  Once they figured this out with the cattle, then they put it to use on the rabbits and other critters.  The cows kind of helped because cows (calves, steers and bulls) never run in a straight line, they run in an arc.  This is so they can see behind themselves.  (though a mad bull will charge in a straight line because he doesn't care what's behind him...UNLESS it's an ACD, and then he very much cares!).  The ACD will stop the biggest meanest bull in a NY second, and turn him around like a scalded cat.

edit - And the ACD is about 65% the size and weight of the Shepard.