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Good dog

K

kelpies4me

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Messages
96
Location
NY
Haven't been able to do much work with the dogs lately. Too much snow, too much ice, and toes prone to frostbite, well- I know I am preachin' the choir here..

Anyway, I got together with some pals over the weekend. I was working some sheep (truth be told, training my dog), in one field and another girl in a small adjoining paddock. My group ran up the hill baaa-ing like nuts, wanting to be back together. I sent my Kelpie up the hill to peel their butts of the fence. She got up there, and was at first stumped- I don't want her running up into the middle, and splitting them- so I gave one more command, half heartedly- an "away", and hoped for the best. Then, I just waited. That's something dog folks gotta do. You gotta let your dog figure it out. You just cannot command these dogs every step of the way. They were born knowing how to do this, so let them just do it. Even IF there is an audience (as in my mentor) standing on the other side of the fence. So, then I see the sheep get pulled of that fence, and then they just wanted to split and say "scr%%" that dog, we are staying here". But, my little Kelpie covered well, and brought the little ingrates to my feet. That's sorta a mini story of why I like these Kelpies, and good working dogs. They know the bottom line, and they get it done. I think more often than not, the more I say, the worse she gets.

Thanks little girl- I can always count on you.
 
And just when ya start to go braggin'
On that cow-eatin wonder you're draggin'
The dog you admire
Wil pi$$ on a tire
Or go lick his nu+$ in the wagon


From a Baxter Black poem
 
I have a female Kelpie from Ledgerock Kennels......great dog! A Kelpie won Red Bluff this year! :wink:
 
About braggin'- weeell, I can say that my dog sure ain't perfect- not at all. But, it's sorta like a kid in school. They usually come home with okay grades, but then, when they bring home an A+, well, that's reason for celebration!

Didn't know about the win at Red Bluff, but, then again, those of us who know Kelpies, aren't surprised :D
 
Hee hee. Every week I make a nice sirloin steak- turns out extremely good, and there is always extra for the dogs. But, for this little gal, just working sheep MORE is her reward. So, we went back out the next day, and she got to do some nice forcing/pushing/holding which is exactly what she excels at. That night, she moaned a bit in her sleep- that's a sign that she's right proud of herself.

Kelpies are not big into reading directions. They are more "just show me once what you want done" kind of dogs. No need for repetitions- or they might get creative ;)
 

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