An idea that is based on clues from the story and what you already know.

I waited patiently for my dinner to be brought to the table. All of our food was carried over on a big, round tray. Lots of other families were eating dinner also. After dinner, dad left the waitress a tip. Where am I?

Sometimes we have to "read between the lines." Authors don't tell us everything. We need to use textual evidence and prior knowledge to understand the text better.

Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures, dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheep dogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness. Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:

Every day after work, Paul took off his muddy boots on the steps of the front porch. What can you INFER about the type of work that Paul does?