<P> Serta, an American mattress manufacturer has had their own herd of "Counting Sheep" used in advertisements for the company since at least 2000 and have even sold plush toys of the sheep . </P> <P> Shaun the Sheep entitled its 2012 series "Championsheeps" to celebrate the London Olympics . The episode "Steeplechase" featured Shaun and his fellow sheep participating in the steeplechase event . Blitzer the dog, who was referee, and the other sheep and farm animals, who were spectators, all fall asleep watching Shaun and the other sheep running around the track and jumping over the hurdles . </P>

Where did the saying counting sheep come from