Watch the video of the adorable sheep below.
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Whenever you bring out a gorgeous-looking pet, you’re sure to turn heads. And when your pet is a Valais Blacknose sheep that is known as the cutest breed in the world, that attention is a given.
Twenty-one-year-old Liberty May says Wilbur her sheep is more like a dog who enjoys walks, playing fetch, asking for treats, and even snuggling with her on the sofa. Liberty, who is a farmer, got Wilbur as a birthday gift from her parents on her 21st birthday at their farm in Marwood, Devon.
At four months old, Wilbur makes people astounded not just by his looks but also by his behavior because people say he’s more like a Labrador than a lamb. No wonder Wilbur has become extremely popular among the locals.
Liberty said: “When we walk down through the village everyone comes over straight away.
“They can’t believe he’s a sheep, they can’t even believe he’s real – they all say he looks like a dog and they all want to take photos with him.
“He acts more like a dog than a sheep. He’s constantly smiling, he loves to sit on you like a big Labrador and he likes begging for food and being spoiled.
“We spend every day together, he follows me everywhere and he looks for me when I’m not there. He’s like a little best friend.
“I’m halter training him at the moment so I take him for walks every day and play with him on the farm.
“He loves running around and cuddling up and he lets you do anything to him, whether it’s putting flowers in his hair or tying up his fluffy coat in bunches.”
Wilbur is one of three sheep at Springfield Farm, the smallhold that Liberty’s parents Anna and Richard runs with her help. She had a tendency to become attached to the animals which made it difficult to let them go and that led her parents to gift her Wilbur as a pet.
Liberty said: “From a young age, my mum used to take me and my sisters out lambing with her. I can’t remember a time I didn’t help out on the farm.
“I did get attached very easily to the animals and I would be sad when it was time for them to leave the farm.
“My dad did let me get away with quite a lot really if there was ever an animal I really wanted to keep he would let me.
“I’ve always been interested in rare breeds and the Valais Blacknose is the cutest breed of sheep in the world – you look at them and you wouldn’t dream of eating them, they’re just so sweet and fluffy.”
Apart from Wilbur, Liberty has two Romney sheep named Penelope and Dumbo. She’s hoping Wilbur can finally join a competition next month.
She said: “I’ve set up an Instagram account for Wilbur and I’m quite keen to get him in some shows because I want to get more recognition for the breed.
“They’re so cute but they don’t even have their own class in a lot of shows and I don’t think that many people know that they exist.”
According to the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society, the rising popularity of the breed has seen a spike in demand for them to be kept as domestic animals.
Jenni McAllister, joint President of Valais Blacknose Sheep Society UK said: “There is now a strong presence of Valais Blacknose Sheep here in the UK, from Stornoway to the South of England, and we’ve certainly seen a rapid increase in both society members and breed popularity.
“Due to their inquisitive and friendly nature, Valais make for the perfect pets – and a strong growing market specifically for that purpose has emerged in recent years.”