Jedismom Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Well there I was just minding my own business searching through shelter listings for my next dog. Just a dog mind you...nothing special...I mean I've had dogs before and they never really changed my life. The word "border collie" hit the screen on the local spca website. Ok.. well I'll just drop on by and take a look....it's a collie right? Uhhh..Lassie? Then there he was..and if eyes could talk..what intensity. How could you not love a dog that looks at you calmly and through his eyes says "Ok mom, let's just go home because really this place is just not my thang I guess maybe some people would have preferred one of the squirrelly puppies that jump all over you and lick you but I liked the one that gave me the impression that you could go home with him and have a nice chat over coffee Well since then it's been an interesting and educational journey that keeps taking me to places I would never have considered. So this is where I am now. On Saturday morning I am actually going to a nearby farm that has sheep, for my little guy to get his first lesson. If you knew me you'd know how hilarious this is So please keep your fingers crossed for us around 10 am on Sat. and...thanks for being there. Georgia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurae Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Okay, it's a cliche, but welcome to the Dark Side. I used to be quite the internationally traveling city girl... So I finally got a facebook page and as a result have gotten back in touch with a bunch of old friends, many of whom I haven't really seen or spoken to in years. I was chatting with one of them who still lives in Manhattan the other day, and I told her I had to go because I was taking two of my dogs to go work stock. Now I'd already explained that my photo on the page was Taz herding sheep, but I guess she really didn't entirely understand what I was talking about because the following day, she asked me how the "Workstock event" was! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airbear Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 So this is where I am now. On Saturday morning I am actually going to a nearby farm that has sheep, for my little guy to get his first lesson. If you knew me you'd know how hilarious this is Well, Georgia, your first go can not be worse than mine. Perhaps RDM can corroborate, as she was there, but it went down something like this: Wick goes first, as she is a border collie. Wick eats poop. Looks briefly at sheep. Looks even more briefly at man holding stick. Decides that no amount of poop is worth facing man with stick (who is standing benignly near the sheep). End of Wick's turn. Bear goes in, more on a lark than anything else. Bear eyes sheep. Sheep move. Bear goes around sheep. Kristi sees sheep coming, realizes for the first time how NOT like petting zoo lambs these sheep are. Kristi attempts to scale fence to get away from sheep. Man with stick starts waving stick violently at Kristi. Bear brings sheep to spot where Kristi is perched on fence. People are laughing. Sadly, that was probably Bear's best gather. Fast forward 6 years, and life as we knew it is pretty much gone. Most every weekend, we are doing something dog-related. My co-workers call it the "dog races" as in "Are you driving somewhere this weekend for the dog races?" It seems that most IT people don't much care to learn the differences between agility, flyball and stockwork, but at least they are polite enough to enquire. They do draw a line at me practicing whistles in the server room, but that's ok. So good luck this weekend! I'm sure you'll have a ball! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tip's Mum Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 It seems that most IT people don't much care to learn the differences between agility, flyball and stockwork, but at least they are polite enough to enquire. They do draw a line at me practicing whistles in the server room, but that's ok. That is hilarious... Good luck Georgia - the cult is waiting for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShoresDog Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Have fun, Georgia! I can tell a similar story... I used to be a cat person! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedismom Posted April 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Laura and Kristi, and Donna, I'll just let you know about the cult after this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Enjoy! Speedy's first lesson was a great experience. It really deepened my understanding of him in a way I can't describe. Hope it's excellent for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 *claps hands* Oh, Georgia, you're gonna be sunk! Hey, if Kristi can make it through that, you'll definitely survive. (Thanks for the laugh, Kristi). Angie will take good care of you and Jedi. Can't wait to hear about it, and I'll echo Laura's "welcome to the Dark Side"! Did I mention the pictures someone should take, too? We love pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesney's Girl Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Welcome aboard I would like to see pictures too of your first exposure to a very strong addiction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 I guess maybe some people would have preferred one of the squirrelly puppies that jump all over you and lick you but I liked the one that gave me the impression that you could go home with him and have a nice chat over coffee Gotta love a dog like that! Hope things go great for you on Saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beach BCs Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 The first time I took Georgia it was like a flood light went on over her head. As soon as she realized she could make the stock move her expression said "Yes, this is it! Why have you waited so long to bring me here?!" The instructor started laughing and said he didn't know who was happier, me or Georgia. I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. Texi on the other hand wanted NOTHING to do with herding. He ate poop, he whined & cried and he climbed out of the pen. He's a mama's boy. And that's ok. Seriously, I'm a city girl; but taking Georgia herding is probably one of the most enjoyable things I've ever taken part in. She loves it so I love it. Have a great time and wear rubber boots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahoops Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Have a great time on Saturday I have taken Gypsy twice to "the sheep man" as I call him.It was a strangely unexpectedly Very enjoyable time for both of us .Gypsy instantly looked like she had been doing it all her life (never having seen sheep before) talk about that floodlight going off !I, a sort of farm girl turned towny ,(no sheep just dairy cows) had a floodlight go off and sheep man also said he couldnt tell who was happier.So go forth and enjoy and be prepared to run backwards alot ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjk05 Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 My co-workers call it the "dog races" as in "Are you driving somewhere this weekend for the dog races?" It seems that most IT people don't much care to learn the differences between agility, flyball and stockwork ! I used to have similar conversations. Once I spent a good half hour explaining to an interested friend how I'd done at the weekend sheepdog trials, only to have her ask where how the dogs did on the weaving pole things. I told her they did great. Have a great day learning about sheepdogs, Jedismom, and maybe it will be a life changing episode. It was for me- I also met my first real sheepdog in a city shelter, took him to a lesson or two, then a trial or two just to spectate, and now I'm living with a farmer, on a commercial wool/lamb farm with 25 sheepdogs and spending every free weekend at trials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyoBC Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 There is nothing like it. When I first took Black Jack, or rather he took me It was an amazing moment. Seeing him work like that. So natural and so confident. There isn't anything like it. I hope you have fun. Get ready for lots and lots of stock lessons in the future. Let me know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airbear Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 ! I used to have similar conversations. Once I spent a good half hour explaining to an interested friend how I'd done at the weekend sheepdog trials, only to have her ask where how the dogs did on the weaving pole things. I told her they did great. At my last job, my office cubemate, bless her heart, did ask me to explain the different activities. Being an anal project manager, like me, she dutifully wrote down the following: Agility = Doggy Obstacle course Flyball = Doggy relay race Herding = like Babe, no pig Bear = Black dog, retired, sleeps Wick = Agility, crazy, blue eye Lou = Sheep, big head On Monday, she would ask how the dogs did, consult her cheat sheet, nod with some satisfaction, and then send me an appropriate YouTube link or similar. She was the best office cube mate EVAH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Oh, Kristi, your coworker was awesome! That story just made my day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiegirl Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 :D Welcome to the club my friend. You will never regret one ounce of your journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippin's person Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Have fun, Georgia! I can tell a similar story... I used to be a cat person! Ha ha--me too!! Georgia have fun and beware the path of no return (and it's a pretty fun path) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 My co-workers call it the "dog races" as in "Are you driving somewhere this weekend for the dog races?" It seems that most IT people don't much care to learn the differences between agility, flyball and stockwork, but at least they are polite enough to enquire. They do draw a line at me practicing whistles in the server room, but that's ok. Oh my. Well, my stepmother INSISTS on calling it "goin sheepin" which absolutely drives me bonkers. My boyfriend insists on calling it that too (complete with eye roll) - just because he knows how much it irks me. Cracks me up when he does it. Makes me want to claw her eyes out when she does it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Oh, and Georgia?? My condolences to your once quiet and predictable life. Muaaahahahaha! Seriously, though, enjoy every moment of it, OK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedismom Posted April 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Thanks for all your well wishes for the journey to the darkside Everyone I've mentioned this to today has given me a look like I'm off my rocker. Only one...my dear sister thought it sounded like fun. I'll definitely take pictures and if I can manage it..a video. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions for ya'll afterwards Georgia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthfieldNick Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 Well, I got sheep THEN the dog, so I think I'm even loonier... but what the hey! What's 100 sheep to mow the lawn?! You know it's only called the "dark side" because whatever you're wearing get's "dark"er when you fall in sheep poop while trying to maintain balance running backwards trying to stay in front of the sheep your over-exuberant pushy dog is trying to run over the top of you, right? Oh, wait. Is that just me? Have fun. Sheep are addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda-pop Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 You'll have fun. I am not full fledged on the darkside because ... well, I can't afford it! but I think a lot about getting some pet sheep for my dog and getting my very own well bred working dog... ah, I could go on! At the very least, you'll have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo Peep Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 you? pasture & sheep= me experience. exactly good dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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