Penny Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 The poster gave me permission to forward the following to these Boards: I am not making this up...names have been changed to protect the innocent (me). I was at the herding trial, watching the "B" course, trying to learn something, anything from the more experienced handlers. It was sunny, but cold and I needed some coffee to warm up and wake up. The coffee tent was over by the small pens and they were running a herding instinct test that day. This is were the big fluffy dogs hang out, not on the "B" course. I paused with my coffee to watch a big blue fluffy dog walk by, beautifully groomed, not a hair out of place. I was so glad my own dogs were in the van. They had run earlier and were a bit on the muddy, disheveled side. The big blue fluffy dog's handler was immaculate, expensive clothes, perfect hair. I looked a bit like my dogs. The big blue fluffy dog and his immaculate handler were entering the test pen. The big blue fluffy dog bounced around, grabbing his leash, playing tug. He hadn't seen the sheep yet, they were all of 20 feet away. The immaculate handler walked her dog toward the sheep til they moved, capturing the big blue fluffy dog's attention. "Woof" he said. The sheep were unimpressed. The immaculate handler was cool, she walked on, the dog bounced and woofed, the sheep moved away. "Drop the leash" the tester said. A shadow of concern crossed the face of the immaculate handler, but she checked it back, composed herself, dropped the leash and walked on. The dog bounced along, the sheep walked into the corner...and stopped. Now the big blue fluffy dog stopped. The sheep were not moving, not interesting...but the sheep poop was. The big blue fluffy dog dropped his head. It was at that exact moment the immaculate handler lost her composure. "NO!!!!" she shrieked, "NO! NO! NO!" She flew into action, racing in the big blue fluffy dog's direction, but, alias, the sheep were 'tween her and the big blue fluffy dog. Her shrieking alarmed them and the bolted out of their corner and right into the immaculate handler, knocking her flat into the dirt. "My knee" she moaned as 2 big burly guys came to help her off the field. The immaculate handler's equally immaculate friend ran into the pen to see how badly injured she was and to grab the leash of the big blue fluffy dog who was still eating sheep poop. The big burly men laid the immaculate handler on a picnic table, ice was fetched from the food tent, a jacket was offered to use as a pillow....and there she stayed, moaning, rotating the ice bags as her immaculate friend hovered in attendance, chain smoking, feeding her royal jelly. The only time I saw her move was when the sun lowered and the big burly men returned to move the picnic table to a new sunny spot. I did not see the immaculate handler and the big blue fluffy dog again until two days later. Running from obedience to agility, I had to pass the conformation rings. There she was, immaculate, expensive clothes, perfect hair, and a knee brace. She was holding the leash of the big blue fluffy dog, waiting to go in the ring, hobbling along slowly...using a shepherd's crook for a crutch. I had to go then. I needed a drink. Jack Daniels. Make it a double. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 Penny, Thanks for the laugh... While at the vets today I picked up a magazine..Dog Digest..Some kind of AKC brag mag..Flipped it open and there was a beautiful Bermese Mountain dog..5th in herding caught my eye. Didn't know these dogs herded..Ah it was a border collie..Sure didn't look like any of mine..even when their cleaned up. What is this world coming too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret M Wheeler Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 ROFL but I am scared that you just foretold my future, minus the immaculate grooming, blue fluffy dog and friend of course. Thanks! ------------------ Margaret retired terrierwoman, border collie newbie drumlins@adelphia.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikw Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 It is funny but I found out last week how important the "LOOKS" are. I was at a clinic,I let out one of the pup and he find his way to where the commotion was. He's a friendly sort of a pup,after watching sheep and all,he heard my whistles to call him back as I walked to grab him. Two separate ladies gave him a foot shove as he sat in front of them,one lady grabbed him and told him he was a good pup. Joe is a smooth coated pup with a floppy hound ears and lots of legs. I guess the "LOOKS" are important after all. I've had two other pups there,not a single person looked at Nani who's also smooth coated but almost all black and one other pup,Speck,which is rough coated with prick ears and all the trims on her but unfriendliest beast ever walked from the pike. She got noticed and someone suggested she may have been abused. What a laugh? ------------------ Inci Willard Clearville,PA 814-784-3414 ikw@pennswoods.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret M Wheeler Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 I can't tell you what a relief it is to me to have a prick eared dog after all those years in a breed where prick ears are verboten. I always loved prick ears and my second favorite was hound ears, where the first cant even be registered and the second is frowned upon to say the least. Free at last! Praise godalmighty I'm free at last! If I never hear the term correct again it will be too soon. Outside these circles, Nell is like some super great secret that only I know. It's funny though, I often catch people with some dog sense puzzling over her: "what can this interesting creature be?" *Grumble* They're dam lucky I wasn't there to catch them toeing Inci's pup.*growl* ------------------ Margaret retired terrierwoman, border collie newbie drumlins@adelphia.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikw Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 No need to growl Margaret. He knows better not to pester anyone for pats. In the meantime,I call him Joe Peski (after the actor Pesci)only because the actor plays the parts where he doesn't seem to have a serious bones in his body. What I don't understand,best part about having a litter is to see the variety of colours and markings. Why would anyone purposefully try to get an even looking litter by selective breeding? I wonder if the Border Collies bred for traditional markings needs the puppy identifier collars at birth? ------------------ Inci Willard Clearville,PA 814-784-3414 ikw@pennswoods.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaBluez Tess Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 So did the big fluffy dog pass the herding instinct test? Diane Pagel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fosher Posted October 25, 2002 Report Share Posted October 25, 2002 Sounds like it could have. I think the standard is that the dog must show sustained interest in livestock. Jumping and woofing would probably do it. ------------------ Bill Fosher Surry, NH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaBluez Tess Posted October 25, 2002 Report Share Posted October 25, 2002 Bill >>Sounds like it could have. I think the standard is that the dog must show sustained interest in livestock. Jumping and woofing would probably do it. He is pretty smart, I'll have to admit!! Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sea4th Posted October 29, 2002 Report Share Posted October 29, 2002 Big fluffy dog, from what I heard, passed his Herding Instinct test. I suppose now it's all systems go now in advertising a bench champion with herding instinct, just to show all the doubters you really can have it both ways. Right? Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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