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The Oregon Tail
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A day with Sheep -- |
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They are "Shepherds" for a ReasonWhat happens when you take a bunch of German Shepherd show dogs, obedience dogs, agility dogs and inexperienced pups to meet sheep? They turn into Herding Dogs! August 27th is a Red Letter day in the lives of many of our club members' dogs. They got to meet SHEEP for the first time. And many of them have already made out their wish lists for the rest of their lives -- sheep, sheep and more sheep! Many of our members were at Brigand's Hideout bright and early on a beautiful sunny morning wondering just what their dogs were going to do. Participants came from as far as Eugene and Richland and from north of Seattle to participate in the Instinct test or the Boundary clinic that took place at the same time. "I don't think he will do anything" was an oft repeated phrase as the nervous handlers watched the sheep. Instinct Test: Photos Page 1 · Page 2 · Page 3 A HUGE THANK YOU to Donna, Nancy, Dave and Carol for giving us this wonderful opportunity to test the dogs. Brigand's Hideout truly has the most fabulous facility, stock and people for herding and it is practically in our back yard. If you missed out, you REALLY missed out! If you were impressed with your dog's instincts and potential and want to do herding, contact Brigand's for class information. We are lucky to be in one of the best locations for herding. If you want more information about GSDs and how they like it - ask Izzy, Raika, Teva, and the newcomers Margo and Gordy. i |
I had forgotten ... ...the dogs' excitement when Wednesday morning came around. They knew Wednesday was Herding Day. Jib and Izzy would jump into the Suburban. The instant we neared the North Planes exit they were on their feet. If we didn't turn into the McDonalds for our breakfast Sausage McMuffin with Egg one or the other would poke the driver in the head -- gotta have breakfast and then up the road to the SHEEP. It was how it was done. Wednesdays meant herding for an hour followed by lots of time talking about dogs, sheep, training, breeding - and life. Everything else was scheduled around Wednesdays. That day was taken. ... how relaxing it is to stand there watching dogs work the sheep. Jib and Izzy could work well as a team, Jib more active as he loved to gait back and forth (how I loved to watch him gait!!) while Izzy would seemingly magically appear just where she needed to be to control the flock. She could look down the furrow, flex her muscles a little, and the whole flock would pay attention. As Izzy still demonstrates at her old age, attitude is everything! ...how much I enjoy sheep grazing. The munching, the breeze in the trees, the birds, the occasional raptor flying overhead looking for rodents. And you can do a lot of sharing with friends while sheep are grazing. I learned more about training from the herding experiences than from all of the seminars I have been to for the more than 35 years since the first one. I have understood the GSD standard better after watching the dogs tend the flock than from any dog show or lecture or book. And all the while the sheep are grazing and it is relaxing. ...the change that comes over a young dog as he starts to take control of the flock and of himself. Good herding develops confidence and self-control. It develops strong bodies that are better conditioned than any amount of roadwork can attain. It develops that look of eagles we all desire our dogs to have, but that is so hard to develop artificially. These dogs develop it to its fullest out there while working. ...the wonderful working relationship you develop with your dog as you become a functioning team. You know what each one of you needs to do and you know you each will do your part. It doesn't come instantly. As a matter of fact, good C-course skills takes time and work. But good partnerships are like that. You get from them what you are willing to put into them. ...just how much I missed it Ruth |
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Websites to check out: Have you seen the new
www.AKC.org
website? It has a face lift. Take a look. If you have good websites bookmarked for training, health issues, or other dog-related sites of interest, please share them with us. |
