Dutch Shepherd Forum

I've not been on here much lately... Been busy working, and keeping the brindle beast under control!

Koenig now gets to claim HCT after his name. LOL. We went herding yesterday, and it was AMAZING. Once he was let loose, true to DS form, he went straight for a hind leg. One good WHACK of a thin PVC pipe immediately in front of him had Koenig re-considering eating mutton for breakfast. In his first 3 min with the sheep he was giving the stockman a 'wait' and recalled to me, which are the 2 requirements to complete the 2d leg of the HCT. I was impressed. It was SO COOL to see a dog who'd never seen any sort of livestock just 'know' what to do!

I was nervous. I know the potential harm Koenig could do, and how quickly it could happen. I'd been assured that Joe could, and would handle my dog just fine. Still, most people don't 'know' DS's. I met him, and within 5 minutes of talking to him I was comfortable. This man can read a dog like no one I've met before in my life. Asses herding potential, along with a tons of other observations about the dog in less then 5 seconds! Koenig actually went first. (Yikes! I didn't really know what to expect!) I brought him up, Joe asked me if he was a Dutch, and how old. (he just turned 2) Said Ok, let him off. It was that simple. Away he went! The video below is the first run with sheep. Unfortunately, I didn't get any of the other runs video'd. Next time.

All in all, Koenig got 3 runs with the sheep. We're hooked, and going to try and make it out for weekly, or 2x weekly lessons.
Putting up the sheep




Here was one of the 'oh shit' moments he had with 'The Stick'. No, Joe will not allow you to maul his stock.

Recall


If you want to look at all of our pictures, they are here. http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/ ... th%20TCSC/

And, VIDEO! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6htY9RGplNs This is the unedited version, so you can hear the stockman's commands, and some comments he makes.

How awesome! I knew you would get hooked. Something so rewarding with watching or training a herding breed for what it was bred for. Especially when you see the light bulb come on and they do what comes natural. Herding exhibits a sport in which the dog and owner work so closely together as a team. It requires the ultimate constant in communication. There are so many variables involved so that each time you are in an arena, that it really is a true test of teamwork. Do please keep us posted.

That is awesome. I love the pics!! Congrats on making your first attempt a success!

That is soooo awesome.... I wish there was someplace local I could take Gwen..

Fantastic! Loved the story and the pics...so glad you both enjoyed it so much!

Thanks everyone! So far, the plan is to go out again for a lesson tomorrow. We'll see if my training buddies does is feeling better, she got into some plastic, so had a case of the pukes today. If she's not well, then my kids don't have a play-in-the-dirt buddy while I'm playing with sheep and dogs- so we'll just have to wait and see how the GSD feels. Regardless, we're going again. It's too much fun not too!

Who knows, maybe I'll end up with a dual titled DS. How cool would that be?!

Nice!!

nice vid!

Thanks everyone! If the stars align properly, we're going back out tonight for a lesson or 2.

Anyone with herding experience have any suggestions/critisizm? At this point I'm doing very little, besides following the stockman's instructions. (Praise him!, Don't move... call him, etc. ) I'm clueless, but having a blast.