However, few people realise that sheep, if treated with respect, can also make great pets on lifestyle blocks, say Grant and Valerie Davey, of Ashley.
Every afternoon, Grant and Valerie get a call from three Swedish friends. It is a reminder that they are waiting for their walk along the Ashley/Rakahuri River mountainbike trail.
They don't like walking in the rain, but on fine days their persistent bleating is impossible to ignore, and on some nights the trio also line up to go on the leash for a walk along the road. The couple's dog, Rolly, joins them for most of their walks.
Grant and Valerie have been walking their sheep most days for the last 17 years.
''Being shut up in a paddock is an insult to their intelligence,'' Grant says.
''Walking with sheep is quite different to walking a dog,'' he says. ''Dogs like to pee everywhere and chase rabbits.''
Sheep, on the other hand, are on the lookout for new things to nibble. Gorse flowers are a particular delicacy. They also like poplar leaves but willow leaves are their absolute favourite.
Thomas, Quentin and Viktor also take great interest in anything happening along the river's edge.
They used to join Grant when he was checking predator traps along the river, but he found competing with three woolly heads to look in a trap got a little trying.
Thomas is the natural leader of the group but doesn't force his authority. ''He is affectionate, intelligent, inquisitive and generally well behaved,'' Grant says.
Quentin has all those qualities, plus empathy for his fellow animals, but he lacks confidence. Twice he has been seen trying to help sick animals to stand, and he also looks after Viktor. Viktor is the youngest of the trio but is also the assertive one who likes to test the boundaries and try to dominate.
Although Grant takes a stick with him on their walks to ward off any dogs they may encounter, it has only been used to keep the sheep away from dogs. Their curiosity has intimidated huntaways, german shepherds, labradors and many other dogs.
Quentin once had a peaceful nose-to-nose encounter with a dobermann.
Grant grew up on a sheep farm in Waimate and finds walking with his sheep pleasant and relaxing. The best thing about it is gaining the trust of animals who have a well justified inbred fear of humans.
Some English tourists who recently joined Grant for a walk with the three sheep enjoyed the experience so much that one told him it was the highlight of his New Zealand trip.
