He kept watch over them in case wild animals attacked the smaller, weaker ones. He never left them alone. He ate his meals with them and probably passed the time by making music or talking to other shepherds.

Each evening he led them back to the safety of the sheep fold. Here he would fasten the gate securely so that they were safe for the night.

Because the shepherd spent so much time with his sheep he got to know them all really well - he could tell which was which easily, he knew them and they knew him. If they got mixed up with another flock of sheep, all the shepherd needed to do was to call and his own sheep came to him - they each knew his voice, then he could lead them away.