Ten adorable border collie puppies are born at Winston Churchill’s birthplace Blenheim Palace

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Ten adorable border collie puppies are born at Winston Churchill’s birthplace Blenheim Palace – where their parents are in charge of rounding up a 1,000-strong flock of sheep

  • Adorable sheepdog pups were born to their mother Jazz at Blenheim Palace
  • Eight-week old border collies lined up on Wednesday for a photo in 4×4 truck
  • Puppies are being looked after by farm manager Charles Gerring
  • One of the puppies named Nell will join her parents working after training 

By Georgia Simcox For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

These 10 adorable sheepdog pups were born to their mother Jazz who has responsibility for rounding up more than 1,000 sheep at historic Blenheim Palace. 

The eight-week-old litter of border collie puppies lined up on Wednesday for a team photo, peering over the tailgate of farm manager Charles Gerring’s 4×4 truck. 

The puppies are being looked after by Mr Gerring, who looks after a 1,000 strong flock at the historic Palace’s Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The dogs are fourth-generation descendants of a sheepdog owned by a previous head shepherd which was given to Mr Gerring when he began working at Blenheim in 1993. 

The eight-week old litter of border collie puppies lined up on Wednesday for a team photo, peering over the tailgate of farm manager Charles Gerring’s 4×4 truck

The puppies are being looked after by Mr Gerring (pictured with puppy Nell), who looks after a 1,000 strong flock at the historic Palace's Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site

The puppies are being looked after by Mr Gerring (pictured with puppy Nell), who looks after a 1,000 strong flock at the historic Palace’s Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site

A Blenheim Palace spokesman said: ‘Both parents, mum Jazz and dad Ben, are working sheepdogs on the estate and Charles has chosen one of the puppies, named Nell, to join her parents once she has been fully trained.’

The remaining puppies are either going to working homes or becoming part of active families locally.

Mr Gerring said: ‘Nell’s dad Ben has proved to be an excellent sheepdog and I have got high hopes she’s going to follow his lead, she’s definitely got the right genes for it. 

The farm manager has chosen Nell to join her parents Jazz and Ben as a working sheepdog on the estate when she is fully trained

The farm manager has chosen Nell to join her parents Jazz and Ben as a working sheepdog on the estate when she is fully trained 

The remaining puppies are either going to working homes or becoming part of active families locally

The remaining puppies are either going to working homes or becoming part of active families locally

‘Initially she’ll stay at home with me and try out her herding skills on our flock of chickens in the back garden and I will start to bring her in at weekends to get used to the sheep.’ 

He added: ‘Proper training won’t begin for a few months yet but she’s already showing a keen interest in the sheep and will hopefully pick up a few tips from her parents.

‘The grassland of the “Capability” Brown parkland provides near ideal conditions for the extensive flock to graze throughout the year.’ 

Blenheim Estate allow their sheep to give birth outdoors, in order to give lambs the best spring grass and nutrients they need.  

The dogs are fourth-generation descendants of a sheepdog owned by a previous head shepherd which was given to Mr Gerring when he began working at Blenheim in 1993

The dogs are fourth-generation descendants of a sheepdog owned by a previous head shepherd which was given to Mr Gerring when he began working at Blenheim in 1993

Proper training for Nell won't begin for a few months but Mr Gerring said that Nell is 'already showing a keen interest in the sheep and will hopefully pick up a few tips from her parents'

Proper training for Nell won’t begin for a few months but Mr Gerring said that Nell is ‘already showing a keen interest in the sheep and will hopefully pick up a few tips from her parents’

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