Hunter, JHD
It's only 2 pm, but since I got up at 5:15 am, I feel like I've had a full day!
I took Hunter and Jubilee to an AHBA herding trial this weekend. We entered in the JHD (Junior Herding Dog) class both days. It is basic herding ability + control test--your dog has to work with you to move the sheep around some obstacles and has to stop at the end. It takes a bit of skill and instinct from the dog, a responsive dog, and a handler with a wee dram of know-how. Not hard--but not just a free pass either.
On Saturday, Jubilee gave me the middle paw pad and tried to take down a sheep. She didn't call off and let go until I went and convinced her. (And the judge leaned over and yelled at her too.) She failed. Oops! But Hunter passed. She was a bit more stressed than I'd like, but the guy in the test before us kept yelling at his dog "LIE DOWN! LIE DOWN! I SAID LIE DOWN!!!" And her ears kept twitching and falling with each yell until she was Ms. Sadface with her ears at half mast and off to the side. Hunter is a delicate flower!!!
Today, however, I got up earlier and arrived at the field in time to go to an empty area and play ball with Jubilee for about 20 minutes. I asked her for downs to throw the ball, downs to get the ball, downs while I walked around, etc. In general, playing with her, but also reinforcing obedience. To some degree, this worked. She was pretty good in the herding--until the very last bit where I ask her to lie down so I could open the gate and let my sheep out. Then she couldn't bear it any longer and tried to split a sheep off and chase it. But this time, I yelled at her and she quit and the sheep came back to me and I opened the gate and all 3 sheep were QUITE pleased at the prospect of getting away from this predator. And then I asked her to lie down and she did and I called her to me, and she came, and it was good and we passed. WHEW.
Hunter also did better today. I made sure that she wasn't following the yelling guy and I told her she was good and walked in happy and with a happier dog. And she did some nice things--picked up the stock smoothly and gently and at a nice trotting pace and when the stock did split, she chased the single but moved to his outside when I asked and pushed him back to the other sheep and she didn't bite--she did open her mouth and think about it though! She wasn't as "on" as I want her to be, but much improved and she also passed today!
So, she is Blackthorn's Hunter, JHD. Yay!
I took Hunter and Jubilee to an AHBA herding trial this weekend. We entered in the JHD (Junior Herding Dog) class both days. It is basic herding ability + control test--your dog has to work with you to move the sheep around some obstacles and has to stop at the end. It takes a bit of skill and instinct from the dog, a responsive dog, and a handler with a wee dram of know-how. Not hard--but not just a free pass either.
On Saturday, Jubilee gave me the middle paw pad and tried to take down a sheep. She didn't call off and let go until I went and convinced her. (And the judge leaned over and yelled at her too.) She failed. Oops! But Hunter passed. She was a bit more stressed than I'd like, but the guy in the test before us kept yelling at his dog "LIE DOWN! LIE DOWN! I SAID LIE DOWN!!!" And her ears kept twitching and falling with each yell until she was Ms. Sadface with her ears at half mast and off to the side. Hunter is a delicate flower!!!
Today, however, I got up earlier and arrived at the field in time to go to an empty area and play ball with Jubilee for about 20 minutes. I asked her for downs to throw the ball, downs to get the ball, downs while I walked around, etc. In general, playing with her, but also reinforcing obedience. To some degree, this worked. She was pretty good in the herding--until the very last bit where I ask her to lie down so I could open the gate and let my sheep out. Then she couldn't bear it any longer and tried to split a sheep off and chase it. But this time, I yelled at her and she quit and the sheep came back to me and I opened the gate and all 3 sheep were QUITE pleased at the prospect of getting away from this predator. And then I asked her to lie down and she did and I called her to me, and she came, and it was good and we passed. WHEW.
Hunter also did better today. I made sure that she wasn't following the yelling guy and I told her she was good and walked in happy and with a happier dog. And she did some nice things--picked up the stock smoothly and gently and at a nice trotting pace and when the stock did split, she chased the single but moved to his outside when I asked and pushed him back to the other sheep and she didn't bite--she did open her mouth and think about it though! She wasn't as "on" as I want her to be, but much improved and she also passed today!
So, she is Blackthorn's Hunter, JHD. Yay!