Herding Practice

In case I haven't mentioned it before... i don't particularly like sheep. My dogs however LOVE to move them around. Thus, I cross train in herding. I work very hard to convince myself that someday, just maybe, I might actually enjoy this sport more.

I have many dogs to train, but they all don't train on the same day (2 hours is about all I can take of sheep :). On this day we worked 4 dogs total. I start off with the more experienced dogs

and they herd...

more experienced sheep [gasp]. These three don't look too intimidated by me or my dog, or the fact that I have very little idea as to what Im actually doing :) The dog however... she knows exactly what she's doing. Still, Im not feeling the love from these three :)

First dog up is Frenzy, my oldest dog, who will be turning 10 years old next month! Frenzy amazes me in this sport. She knows so much more then I will ever understand in her lifetime. She has tons of patience with me and often ignores my commands totally because Im wrong :) I really do need to learn to trust the dog in this sport!

That'll Do... Good Girlie!

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Next up is Banshee, another amazing herding dog. Banshee however does like to throw in a cheap shot now and again with the sheep. So I have to stay on my toes... and for right now, carry a rattle paddle :).

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From there we move onto the baby dogs. This was Got'cha!'s first time on sheep!

He was immediately interested and never once ate sheep poop (yippee!)

These are the sheep we used for the baby dogs. Arent they pretty!

OK so he couldnt lie down on command while herding BUT he did call right off the sheep immediately! Good Boy!

What a great boy he is! An amazing first herding experience if I do say so myself!

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Even Jack, the non-border collie, got to work. This was Jack's first time on sheep too and he was great! Altho he did look like he was going to pass out with excitement a few times :)

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All in all it was a great training day and so nice to be herding in the nice weather! 

PS:  getting ALL the sheep AROUND the freakin' traffic cone...

PRICELESS!

Sometimes I really am easily entertained :)

Autumn is my favorite season

I look forward to breaking out the down jacket for the first time each year. 

I have this book with all kinds of places to go hiking with your dogs in New Jersey. Each week we go to a new park. 

This was Jack's first hike. 

He was a superstar and was SO HAPPY to be out in the woods! I normally take just one of my dogs with me at a time when I go hiking. It makes for great one on one time for us and it is easier when we go with a group of friends. Its also a great motivator each week to get out and hike more so each dog gets a chance. 

We brought Carolyn and Jive to collect ticks. Seriously, Jive is so low to the ground he collects all the ticks so there are no more for anyone else to get! Poor buddy - but is he a cute dog or WHAT?! I was never a sheltie fan until I got to know Jive. Now Im hooked.

Next to go for a hike was Got-cha! 

He was a mountain goat! Loving to climb on rocks and downed trees. His ears are in-between tapings (don't freak out Gayle... I wont leave them this way!)

LOTS of leaves in this park.

If you kiss your dog in the park and someone has a camera... its considered PUBLIC and that is mortifying :)

He's so cute I can't hardly stand it :)

Introducing Jack

This is Jack, a 3 year old GSD. He is the sweetest boy you would ever want to meet.

Jack meets Border Collies... Jack LOVES Border Collies :)

This is a picture I ALMOST got :) Got'cha! shows off his choppers to Diggity all the time, however...

NOT to the big GSD.

[grovel... grovel..]

Jack was rescued from living in a basement/garage with limited to no activity or interaction. Got'cha's new job is Jack's workout buddy.

Jack loves Got'cha - Got'cha loves Jack.

ooops... Jack tried to love Diggity a little TOO much. Remember the "Table = Base", Jack seems to understand this rule... must be some herding dog thing. The expression on Jack's face is about the funniest thing I've ever photographed.