Possible Clues:

• Nana, for example, in non-speaking role
• Farmer's assistant
• Assistant in penning Aznavour song, say, including piano finish
• Herder: 'Say nothing terribly deep or grand, initially'
• So hedge built to keep in initially pugnacious farm animal
• Collie perhaps
• Field marshal whose targets are rather woolly?
• One put on trial, eg, hoped thus finally to reform
• Longhaired herder
• Farmer's animal