They say dogs are our best friends - and in Rachel Stratton’s case, they’re right.

Her New Zealand heading dog, Jane, is her workmate and support system.

Jane might also be the world’s most travelled sheepdog, having touched down in 23 countries to herd sheep, cattle, reindeer and goats around the world.

Stratton bought Jane in during a short New Zealand stay in 2018, eventually taking her home to England.

Stratton had told herself it was time to “settle down,” and picked up an office job.

But by 2020 she was over corporate life, and wanted to do something spontaneous.

“I discovered that I wasn't happy, and the people that I was surrounded by weren’t positive.”

The pandemic hit and she took it as a sign to start a new chapter.

She had everything she needed to be a freelance shearer - She’d learnt the skills while in England, and had Jane, literally born for the job.

So off they went. A shearer, a sheepdog and the world ahead of them.

They first made their way through the United Kingdom, working through England and on remote islands off of Scotland.

After that, the ball kept rolling - Norway, Germany, Italy, Austria, France, Poland, Canada.

Including stopovers, Jane has been to 23 countries.

Each year, Stratton would buy a van and kit it out as a mobile home. It meant she could pack up shop whenever she wanted.

“In Europe it would take me five hours to leave the country, as in, get packed up and get on the road.

“And within those five hours of travelling, I’d’ve gotten a job sorted. It used to become a challenge.”

She said freelance shearing paid pretty well.

“When I was earning good money, [expenses] didn’t matter so much, especially in Europe because accommodation’s like 20 euros a night.

“Quite often I’d [want] a bed, so I’d get one and pay extra so Jane could come in the room with me. It was a massive safety thing too.”

Stratton and Jane had dealt with their fair share of danger. Van break in attempts, wolves in Italy, bears in Canada, even hordes of pigs.

“We’ve had some crazy times,” she said, realising just how often they’d been at risk.

And that, once again, Jane had been there for her.

“She doesn’t bark, but if she needs to she will. A couple of times her growl scared [intruders] off.”

While Jane made a good guard dog, she was on the trip to work.

Stratton said Jane is a rare talent, not just in her eyes, but in the eyes of the farmers they worked for.

“Whenever you’d go to a different country and say, “She’s a New Zealand dog,” immediately they went, ‘oh’.”

She said the calibre of dogs in Europe was “pretty poor,” with Rakaia Gorge-born Jane doing the work of six English dogs without breaking a sweat.

“Farmers would let sheep out on purpose just to watch her catch them.”

Jane worked hard, and Stratton did too - that’s something farmers across the globe appreciated.

“Farmers are, to me, the best people.

“Because it doesn’t matter who you are, if you work hard, you’re respected.”

As the years of freelancing went on, Stratton and Jane developed a rhythm, and were ready to hit the ground running when they arrived at a farm.

“On a personal level, the biggest thing for me is not being useless. I can’t stand not having a purpose.”

“Even if it’s ‘there’s a broom, and the shed needs sweeping’, there’s always a job to do.”

Jane was the same; if she noticed an injured sheep, she’d let Stratton know.

“It surpassed language, it surpassed countries, any of the other barriers, I could go and be useful straight away because I had my teammate.

“She’s also a great leveller.”

When Stratton first got Jane, she’d fallen off a horse and suffered a brain bleed. Jane grounded her when she became lost, dizzy or scared.

“I couldn’t leave the house without her for a couple of months, and it really became a case of, ‘I can’t sell her’.”

On the flipside, Stratton helped Jane come out of her shell after a rough start at life.

For a while, Jane wouldn’t interact with men, and won’t go near men with tools in hand.

“I’m just really lucky to have such an adaptable dog, who’s useful, but equally as great in pet life.”

Oh - and Jane had pups while they were on the road. Four of them.

“They’re now in Switzerland, Norway and England.”

Stratton and Jane have since settled back into Methven, where she works for an earthmoving company and has some casual shepherding arrangements on the side

Despite her adventures abroad, Stratton said New Zealand takes her top spot.

“Everyone used to ask me, “what’s your favourite, what country’s the best?’ and it’s always been New Zealand.”

She loves the farming life, how our country is built around agriculture, and the work ethic our farmers have.

“It’s changed a lot in the six years since I’d left, but I’m really happy.”

She and Jane have taken to the countryside, going out for horse treks and long walks and enjoying the sights of Mid Canterbury.

And for now, Jane’s happy living the Kiwi rural life.

“She’s a lot more than just a working dog. So yeah, she’s pretty special.”

By Anisha Satya