Continuing the adventures of a lively, faithful, intelligent sheepdog and his family in the village of St. Florence.

DINO'S GIRLFRIEND

"Mum," I think Dino's got a girlfriend," said Declan. "What makes you think that?" she replied. "Well, he's sitting outside the farm at the bottom of the village and he won't come home. The farmer told me to take him home because he thinks Dino will give his sheepdog, Maggie, puppies, but he won't budge."

"Oh dear!" said mum. "What shall we do? Perhaps I'd better go down in the car and bring him home."

"I'll come with you," said Declan.

So off they went, down the village to the bottom of the hill, but when they arrived, there was no Dino. "He's run off with our Maggie," smiled the farmer. "They've gone courting. You won't see them for a bit."

And sure enough, they were gone all day and it was evening before Dino arrived home, thirsty and starving, but with a really pleased expression. The farmer telephoned to say his Maggie was home and he expected Dino was too.

"Well, thank you very much," said the farmer. "Now they've been courting I expect we'll have a fine litter of puppies in a few weeks." And sure enough, Maggie produced, a few weeks later, five little Dinos, all like their dad!

DINO IN THE SNOW

January was bitterly cold. There was frost and the weather lady on the television forecast heavy snow. "Let's make sure we have plenty of food, logs and coal, and that the central heating oil tank is full," said mum. "I think if we have a blizzard the village may be cut off for days!"

So, the gang, accompanied by Dino, made sure all the logs were neatly piled by the back door and that all the coal buckets were full, while mum went to do a big shop to ensure there was enough food to last a week.

That night, the wind gathered force from the north-east, and it started to snow heavily. The wind whipped the snow into huge drifts so that by morning it was 10 feet deep in places. The roads were blocked and everywhere was white and silent.

Mum answered the telephone. It was the local farmer. "Can you send Dino down to help me find my sheep and lambs, which are buried in the snow?" He's got a good nose and will find them." "Certainly," replied mum. "I'll send him down with the boys, as long as you keep an eye on them."

So, warmly wrapped, Sean and Declan made their way to the farm where the farmer was waiting. "Good dog," he exclaimed, patting Dino. "Now boys, put the dog on the lead, I'll get my shovel and we'll go and try to find the sheep. It shouldn't be too difficult, for they were all in the one field on the hillside. I must find them and dig them out and bring them home, for they are due to start lambing anytime."

So, off they went. Soon Dino was snuffling and straining at the lead. "Let him go," said the farmer. "He'll lead us to them." Sure enough Dino started to wag his tail and search through the snow. Carefully the farmer shovelled away the snow and there they were, warm and in good health. "The snow keeps them warm," he said. "They could last a day or two, but not with new born lambs."

Together they collected the sheep. "There should be 25 ewes," the farmer said, "and one ram."

After two hours Dino had found them all and they were safely led home to the cosy warm barn in the farmyard.

"Come on now," said the farmer, "into the kitchen, where my wife has a hot nourishing stew ready to warm you all up, and plenty for Dino too!"

The snow stopped for a week, with the village cut off, except for tractors which could break through the drifts.

"Well," said mum. "We've come to no harm and I am sure you'll all remember how Dino found all the sheep. The farmer didn't lose one!"

DINO AT THE RACES

It was the annual village sports day and gymkhana, which was to be held on the sports field. There was great excitement, for all would join in. There would be egg and spoon races, three-legged races, and the 100-yard sprint, long distance events and the annual dog race.

All the gang were looking forward to the events because they were all good at sport.

For weeks they had been practising, including Dino, who was entered for the dog race. This meant Sean holding him at one end of the field and Declan calling him from the finishing post. There was a medal for the winning dog, and of course for all the boys and girls who entered.

Mum was very pleased because all the family did well gaining medals for various events.

Last of all was the dog race. "I do hope Dino will win," she said, "for he's had plenty of practice. He's always been a good runner, especially when the family are close at hand!"

The starter cracked his pistol, and off they went. "Come on Dino," yelled Declan. "Come on boy." Dino was away to a good start. He zoomed ahead so that he was soon miles ahead of the others. He passed the winning post in the quickest time ever.

"There must be a bit of greyhound in him!" laughed the judge.

More adventures of Dino next week.