HERDING WITH WHITE SHEPHERDS

VON TASZ HERDING

Hi, Everyone.

Kyla and I entered a Herding Capability Test (with sheep) yesterday. Kyla was the very last dog to run prior to the announcement of the HCT qualifiers that day so everyone came to watch her. There were even people that were leaving (non-qualifiers) that decided to watch when they heard it was White Shepherd’s turn. 

Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive because she was so clam watching the other dogs herd. I started thinking, “Is she not feeling well?” (In the past, when she has seen Pebbles herding in the arena, she starts barking like crazy!)

Pebbles in below photo herding.

Prior to actually starting the test, you must demonstrate some control. I was asked to enter the test area, tell Kyla to Sit, walk away from her and call her to me. Once this was done, it was time to remove the leash and herd some sheep. And, that is when she came to life.

She moved effortlessly back and forth behind the stock, keeping them close to both me and the judge. (For the first leg of this test, you can ask the judge to assist you.) This enabled us to walk freely about the test area – left and then right – while Kyla kept the sheep calmly walking behind us. The primary reason for this success is that Kyla seems to instinctively understand what the subtle shepherd staff movements mean.

The judge then asked me to take the sheep to a corner and have Kyla stop (sit) about 6 feet out. I then walked to her and, without pausing, patted my leg as I headed towards the exit gate and said “Here, good girl”! She bounded along my side like the puppy that she is and had the biggest smile on her face. The judge called for “Time”. Amazingly, Kyla had performed the entire test and passed in under 3 minutes!

I was instantly bombarded with questions like “How old is she?” (18 months) “Wow, she’s really good, how long have you been doing this?” (We’ve had 2 lessons.) Above the instant wave of murmur, I heard over and over, “She’s really good”. It was a moment of not only being very proud of my White Shepherd but a moment of being very proud of a herding dog (that apparently has lots of potential).

I want to thank Becky & Luna for motivating me and hooking me up with an awesome instructor. We are now taking weekly lessons in Nova, OH. 

I want to thank my instructor, Kelly Malone, for being a darn good teacher. After just 2 lessons, there’s something about the way she teaches that “clicks” with me so I hope to have many upcoming years under her wing.

I also want to thank Judy Huston & Kyra for getting the American Herding Breed Association to recognize the “White Shepherd” as an eligible herding breed.

I also want to thank Kyla and Pebbles for earning their first of two HCT legs and inspiring me to continue by giving them a job that they love and can excel at. I am looking forward to earning their second HCT legs & title in 2006.

Diana
www.vontasz.com