flickr photo courtesy of Corrado Dearca

Anyone who has a Border Collie knows how driven they are to herd other animals and even kids. Sometimes, they even develop behavioral problems due to their natural instincts not being gratified.

Many folks opt to enroll their pooches who "need a job" into dog agility classes, which is a great thing, as it involves both dog and owner.

But one Border Collie owner in Washington State decided after her dog, Taff, was kicked out of puppy school for not suppressing his herding instincts, that she needed to do something. Listening to what the dog's needs were, she did something a little unorthodox — she rented sheep for him to channel his abilities.

And Sue Foster, Taff's owner — who is originally from England — couldn't be happier.

With three Border Collies' needs to meet now, Foster, along with her friend Karen Combs, own 48 sheep between them. They pay a few hundred dollars a year to rent 7 acres of grazing land, and they also have a llama to chase off the coyotes that spy the lambs that the pair sell to help offset the cost of the endeavor.

Thanks to this growing trend, sheep rentals are on the rise. Fido’s Farm, located outside Olympia, Washington sees about 18 customers a day, each paying $15 for a session with a 200-head flock of sheep.

Owner Chris Soderstrom says that business has grown substantially in the last 5 years.

Would you consider getting involved in an activity like this to fulfill your pets' natural instincts?

If you've never seen a Border Collie herding sheep, here's an opportunity. You can read more here.

Lorrie Shaw is a regular contributor to AnnArbor.com's pet section and owner of Professional Pet Sitting. Contact her by e-mail and follow her pet adventures on Twitter.