Finn the Cowdog
- January 27, 2025
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- Anna Foulger
Posted in: Featured, Ranch Life

A brisk early morning of twelve degrees as I put on my shotguns (chaps) and gloves, getting ready to bring the heifers in to do Bang-s vaccines this afternoon. Finn, my handy little border collie, is waiting by the door ready to go out, anxious to work some cows today. Working cow dogs are a great asset to working ranches, they can go where a cowboy and horse can’t, sweet talk a mama and calf to move along and get a nasty bull out of the way when he’s on the fight. Lately, good little Finn has been the most helpful in the snow. With slick snow I don’t love to run my horses, where I can’t go, I can usually send Finn!
Putting a bit in my sorrel gelding’s mouth I climb on and we head out to bring in the ninety seven head of heifers that need gathered. This is a small pasture we have been keeping them in, so the gather is not a long one, but there is a solid layer of ice covering the ground. Carefully, I trot out to where the cattle are and sit, Finn on my heels, ready to work. I am waiting for my father-in-law to get the cake wagon ready, my job is to trail behind him and make sure all the heifers follow into the corral to be worked.
“Finn away to me,’ I say to my dog. To the right she runs around the main area of cattle. Down in her little crawl, tail low, she is a handsome looking border collie. Working silently back and forth, minimal nipping to move the young heifers where they need to go. She can feel the pressure of a heifer, long before I can see it. As she darts back to the left just as a gal leaves the herd. Pushing her back into the herd, Finn looks back at me, making sure she is doing a good job, a favorite part of her style of working. We start pushing the herd behind the feed pickup as they all gather into the group, following food. This is a very easy ride, but I am so glad to have my cowdog with me!
As we get near to the corral, I tell Finn, “Lay down.” She comes to a swift stop, laying flat, waiting for her next direction. I wait, watching to see if the heifers need extra encouragement or not. About ten head decide to dash left, looking around I see that I can’t get to them quickly, I send Finn.
“Come by,” I whisper, but Finn’s ears perk off as she runs around to the left towards the rebellious heifers. One heifer refuses to go and turns on Finn, but she holds her ground and bares her teeth for the first time this ride. A few nips later, the heifer is trotting into the coral with the rest of them. As we finish our job I tell Finn, “that’ll do, girl.” As she races back to me and I pet on her for a job well done.


Posted in: Featured, Ranch Life
About Anna Foulger
Hey there! My name is Anna Foulger, I am a young mom of soon to be two; a toddler daughter and little boy on the way! Me and my husband ranch in Eastern Montana with his family and we love every minute! My background is in...