Shetlands Herding Shetlands
(photo by Cheryl Greaney)
Terri Korthals brought her Teak up to give me a hand sorting sheep into breeding groups. Here is one of my favorite action shots. Teak is formally known as Can. Ch. U-Gr Ch. Terra's Teakwood HT, PT, HS A-s, HCT-s, JHD-s, HTD I-s, STD-s. Which translates into: AKC Herding Tested, Pre-Trial Tested, Herding Started Course A sheep, AHBA (American Herding Breeds Association) Herding Capability Tested sheep, Junior Herding Dog sheep, Herding Trial Dog I sheep, ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) Started Trial Dog sheep. He also has two legs toward his AKC CD, one towards his U-CD, and needs one more qualifiying score for his HRD I-s (Herding Ranch Dog I sheep) title. Teak is by Ch. Barwoods Entrepeneur ROM and out of A/C/S Ch. SKC Int. Ch. UKC Gr Ch U-CD Fanfair Timely Impact O'Terra A/C/S CD A/C TD.
A puppy's first exposure to stock
I have been asked many times why I have not attempted to train my own dogs to herd the sheep. Well, the sheep are not dog broke (just ask Teak!), the dogs are not sheep broke and I have no clue how to get them started, which sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. This does not mean that my guys are lacking in herding instinct. The bachelor ewes have been spending the winter penned in the dogs backyard. Peri, Gwen, Morgan and Isis have been endlessly entertained by their captive sheep audience. Isis in particular shows great tenacity and I have been hard pressed to keep her in good weight as she tirelessly wears around the sheep in their pen. Conner shows interest, but does not sustain it. He would much rather herd my ankles. I have worked with him more than the others as he was quite keen as a puppy, but is now showing more of a chasing behavior than true herding instinct. He does not back down when the ewes get uppity though. I will continue to expose him to sheep hoping that the little sheep herding light bulb will click on.
Gwen, Peri and I attended a herding clinic sponsored by the SSC of Greater Detroit. Gwen did quite well.
Herding Links
The American Herding Breeds Association
Herding on the Web
Herding with the Shetland Sheepdog
The Herders-L Home Page
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