Crossword Genius

One or two animals in the field? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sheepdog

'one or two' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'animals in the field?' is the wordplay.
'animals' becomes 'sheep' (I have seen 'Woolly animals ' mean 'sheep' so perhaps 'animals' could also mean 'sheep').
'in the field?' becomes 'dog' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'sheep'+'dog'='SHEEPDOG'

(Other definitions for sheepdog that I've seen before include "Canine trained to control flock" , "could it be Old English?" , "One drives over fields" , "Farmer's herding helper" , "Collie, for example" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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