Small Brag... - Page 1

Today we went on a 2 and a half hour drive to see what Qira thought about herding.



I think she liked it.

The trainer is an AKC judge, and said she passed her Instinct test with flying colors (but it wasn't an event, so no fancy little letters after her name yet). Really neat to watch those lights turn on though! It was pretty much an instant thing, like she's been doing it her whole life. He said she's already tons better than the dog he's had there for training for 3 weeks. So I think maybe this is a new venue we could have some fun in - just wish it was a little closer!

Yep, definitely looks like she's enjoying herself!    It really is a rush to see that flash of connectivity when they 'get' something you've just introduced them to, isn't it?  It never gets old...

Two & a half hours is a drive, but it's not like you'd be needing to do it every day, or even every week...if you can make it work, that would be a very cool way to spend the summer!

That looks like so much fun! I bet she slept the whole ride home. I've always wanted to take my GSDs herding but the nearest place is 1.5 hrs away and very expensive. However, they often herd the horses at the farm and it is really neat to watch... except for when I've got a big knot in my stomach because I'm worried one of the dogs is going to get kicked in the head lol. My male got completely trampled by a naughty pony not too long ago (in the pony's defense, he was crocodile snapping at his nose - bad dog) and got up and kept right on going like nothing happened.

Good for you . AS LONG AS you both were having fun, that's what matters.
Do you really need a title to know what a great dog you have, and how worthy of the breed she is .
I think FUN is the name of the game, and dogs really do just want to have fun.
When my horses get out, which is a regular event (I live on top of the mountain on a dirt road), sometimes 'we' have to hike for miles to find them.
My dogs track them down, round them up and bring them home.
I get back after the horses are in the fence, and some dogs are lying in the yard waiting for me, some come back to get me.
The dogs make that job so much easier . They love it.
It would be good if it was closer to you. Have fun with your dog.
THAT is priceless, and your dog loves it also. I am not one that believes a dog has to work for a living, or for his dinner!

Titles-schm-itles , as far as I'm concerned, to be honest. It's not like Qira is going to be bred or anything, she is just my buddy and its fun to get out there and well... have fun! If at the end of the day she's got a few extra letters tagged on to the end of her name, cool!  But I'm not going to fret if she doesn't have them.

I don't ever "expect" to title her in anything. We're just out to test the waters and have a good time. My main idea in going to do this was just to see if she could do it and if she had it in her. I think her ancestors would be proud.

Andhourspass, she's still sleeping, LOL! It was a good time, for sure. It was neat to watch her - and a few of the other dogs, for that matter. It was something I've never really seen dogs do before... up close anyway. You can just see those wheels turning, on the Border Collies especially. And the sheep made me laugh a bit too... each one has their own "baa" so the dogs separate some into one pen, and then you have this chorus of different "baa's" going on... I'm easily amused. LOL

It would definitely be nice if it was closer (particularly with gas prices!!)... I might have to try to get ahold of that other one that IS closer, but I did like that guy. He was very nice.

One picture???

I'm proud of her............and I know someone else is, too, looking down on her. 

That was the only one that really turned out. :( All the rest she had a stick being waved in her face, and she was doing this all very quickly, the poor trainer was having troubles keeping up.  

Had I been smart I would've just videoed it.

How would I go about find a facility like what you found Dawulf?   I know the Internet, but what is this kind of place called?

I only wish you took more pictures 

Here you go Fawn...

http://www.ahba-herding.org/MainPage.php?AreaName=FacilityDirectory

That list is what I used. There looks like there's 5 different ones in Texas, so hopefully one is close to you!! We are unlucky... Nebraska is a deadzone for anything it seems like. :( There are only two here and rarely any events of any kind.

Ibrahim, I know... I wished I would've gotten a few more... or at least the ones I did get would've turned out better. I was on the outside of the pen, so it seems like there is a bar going through most of the shots.