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05.07.2005 :: Sheep + Katy = True Love
The Introduction to Herding Clinic was so much fun. Katy got to sniff her first sheep today and then spend two sessions working them. She did very nicely. She tried to bite the sheep a couple of times, but all in all she moved them quite well.
And the joy on her face after the first session was a beautiful thing to see. She loved working those sheep. L*O*V*E*D working those sheep!
We have the brave volunteers:
The adoring crowd (a pair of cattle dog pups):
Katy enters the practice paddock. She was handled by the lady who runs the clinics. I stood by and watched in amazement.
Each dog has a natural direction of travel around the sheep that feels most comfortable to them. Katy's was the "come bye" which is moving the sheep by traveling in the clockwise direction.
It's practically impossible to get a picture of her that's not a blur - her speed and intensity were such fun to watch.
Here the handler was slowing down the session (she was excellent in her handling of all of the dogs at the clinic - always being sure to end the session just as the dog had performed successfully):
And after a long hard day of herding, Katy sleeps and dreams of more sheep.
Posted by Mary on 05.07.2005 AT 10:53 PM
Comments
Ahhhhh....probably COUNTING sheep!! hahah...great pictures!
Posted by: PJ on 05.08.2005 AT 12:30 AM
What a star! The pics are great Mary. I especially love the "brave volunteers." Ha! Sounds like you really enjoyed yourself. What a great mother/daughter activity. Do you think Liv would want to give it a try? ;)
Posted by: Kerstin on 05.08.2005 AT 06:45 AM
OHMYGOD! She's a natural! Who knew? Now. NOW you can get sheep! :)
That looks like such a blast! I wonder if Fig would do something....nah. Nevermind. Even a mouse can stoll by him lately and he's roll over.
haha
Posted by: sandy on 05.08.2005 AT 09:23 AM
How fun! Thanks for sharing it - it's so much fun to see her in action and you are the best mom to give her this experience!
Posted by: Mary Beth on 05.08.2005 AT 09:36 AM
It's in her blood! How great to see. Maybe she can come down to the Highland games this summer to compete with other dogs? Or just hang out? I think it's your destiny that you live on a small farm with sheep and your dogs. Sounds heavenly, doesn't it?
Posted by: Annie on 05.08.2005 AT 10:40 AM
Here's a link ;)
http://www.gmhg.org/index.shtml
Posted by: Annie on 05.08.2005 AT 10:42 AM
How fun! I think our dogs would love something like that. Although, I would worry that the sheep would be mistaken for prey!
Posted by: Wendy on 05.08.2005 AT 11:50 AM
How proud you must have been! She's a natural!
Posted by: monica on 05.08.2005 AT 04:28 PM
That is SO COOL. I had no idea (perhaps I just never thought that far) that you could take your dogs to be trained like that.
Posted by: Jenn on 05.08.2005 AT 10:51 PM
Look at her go! I love the caption on that photo, "lamb chops for dinner!"
Posted by: Tracy on 05.09.2005 AT 05:14 AM
Good job, Katy! That looks like so much fun. I've always been interested in lure coursing.
Posted by: Mariko on 05.09.2005 AT 11:28 AM
Dogs are the best.
Posted by: Dianna on 05.09.2005 AT 11:51 AM
Katy is just the cutest. Perhaps someday we will see Katy in the sheepdog demo???
Posted by: claudia on 05.09.2005 AT 10:26 PM
Yay sheep! I'm glad Katy had a good time.
Posted by: Janice in GA on 05.08.2005 AT 12:20 AM