Meet Daphne! At 25cm tall, she's Britain's most unlikely sheepdog

Published: 00:32, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 00:52, 9 July 2026 A corgi reaching the height of 25cm has proved size doesn't matter when it comes to herding, as she takes the title as Britain's most unlikely sheepdog.  Daphne, seven, has been helping to move a flock of 1,200 sheep at a farm in South Lakes, Cumbria, for the past five years - gaining international social media fame. The tiny dog, who stands just 25cm from paw to shoulder, keeps behind the woolly flock, barking on command to ensure they continue moving in the right direction.  Her owner Heather Hodgson, 33, says her dog's little legs don't stop her from lending a helping paw during the busy lambing season, which reaches its peak in the spring. Now that summer has arrived, Daphne is helping move flocks between grazing pastures and assisting with the annual shearing process.  Ms Hodgson said the breed has been handed an unfair stereotype of 'spending all day lounging on cushions', due to being the late Queen Elizabeth II's favourite dogs. Countering the opinion, the mother-of-one said: 'They are high-energy, very intelligent and full of character. So when people find out about her driving sheep, they love it.  'Daphne is incredibly confident and loves getting involved. She is super keen. Daphne, seven, has been helping to move a flock of 1,200 sheep at a farm in South Lakes, Cumbria, for the past five years The tiny dog, who stands just 25cm from paw to shoulder, keeps behind the woolly flock, barking on command to ensure they continue moving in the right direction 'She is such a natural, especially with her ability to bark at command.' 'I'd say Daphne is calm about 90 per cent of the time, but the other 10 per cent, when she is driving the sheep, it is the most excited you'll ever see her. It's quite a novelty, really,' Ms Hodgson added.  Daphne was gifted to Ms Hodgson as a Christmas present from her husband Bertie, 33, in 2018 after she became obsessed with the breed. The corgi quickly became an integral member of the farm team.  According to the Welsh Corgi League, Corgis were originally bred to herd cattle and work alongside farmers.  Ms Hodgson described Daphne's love of rounding up sheep alongside Mr Hodgson and his Border Collies: Silver, Roxy, Molly and Panda.  Daphne's role is to stay behind the flock, pushing the sheep forward while barking as loudly as possible to keep them moving in the right direction.  Ms Hodgson said the little dog is particularly valuable during lambing season, when the family can be moving hundreds of sheep at a time. Her owner Heather Hodgson and her husband Bertie pose with Daphne, Britain's most unlikely sheepdog Daphne's role is to stay behind the flock, pushing the sheep forward while barking as loudly as possible to keep them moving in the right direction She said: 'She is really good at that time of year when the ewes have their lambs.  'They can often be really anxious, constantly looking around for where their offspring might be.  'Daphne stays behind them, barking on command and keeping them moving. 'It can be really noisy and disorientating with the quad bike, the whistle and Bertie shouting, so Daphne really helps drive the sheep in the direction they need to go.' Ms Hodgson, who works in environmental consultancy alongside helping on the family farm, set up a social media page for Daphne and says the hardworking pooch has built up a loyal international following. She said: 'Thousands of people have watched her videos. 'She has some really big fans in America, Norway and China, of all places, who regularly comment and send me messages saying how wonderful she is. 'I guess it's because it's so uncommon nowadays to see a Corgi working on a farm. Because of the stereotypes, people have just gone crazy over her.' Daphne was gifted to Ms Hodgson as a Christmas present from her husband Bertie, 33, in 2018 after she became obsessed with the breed Ms Hodgson says winter is Daphne's least glamorous season, as her short legs mean she often ends up covered in mud and needs frequent showers. Her favourite treats are cheddar cheese and steak fat. When she's not helping herd sheep, Daphne's favourite things to do are riding on the quad bike, racing the other dogs around the farm and, once she's back indoors, enjoying 'a good sleep or cuddle'.