Willie, Maggie and I spent the last three days in sheepdog heaven at a Patrick Shannahan clinic hosted by Laura Wentz. Imagine watching brilliant dogs work white wooly sheep framed by the reds and oranges of fall in the midwest. Sweet. (And okay, a tad chilly when the wind came up.)
I brought the camera along and got some good photos of Patti Summer’s Shay (fitting, since she is always taking great photos of other people’s dogs). This image is a great illustration that sheep herding is not just about your dog going to the right or left around the sheep, or walking up when told. It’s about communication between the dog and the sheep, and what the sheep learn from the dog’s behavior (and vice versa). Here, a balky ewe is evaluating Shay, and deciding how committed Shay is to taking charge. Shay is learning how to use her eye and her intention to convince the sheep to move away, without ever having to touch her.
Laura’s sheep were great for all of us: Fast and flighty one moment, stubborn and ‘heavy’ the next–perfect for teaching young dogs how to handle different situations.
Patti reciprocated and took some photos of Maggie working.
Jim and Tootsie came along too on Sunday, here’s a photo of Toots meeting Davey, a color coordinated new friend, who had never met a dog who looked anything like a Cav before. Davey is a real sweetheart, (pay no attention to his eyebrows!) and charmed everyone, Tootsie included.
We learned so much over the course of three days… lots for Maggie and I to work on together over the winter. Only sad note was that Willie was supposed to run, but his shoulder turned out not to be healed. I thought it might be good enough, but it was clear that he was only running at 60-70% speed, and I pulled him right away. Bummer. Back to UW to see his bone doc, and more restrictions and physical therapy no doubt. It just so damn hard to keep restricting him over and over again. I’ll keep you posted. Here’s a photo of Willie that Pattie took and converted to black and white. Sweet William she called him (Awww….): (This is the look I also tease him with by calling it his “Spaniel Face.”)
Thanks again to Patrick for his wise advice and benevolent approach, to Laura W for hosting, and to Patti, Donna, Rowie, Annie, Paul, Janet, Mary, Julie, Sandy & Laura for being such great company. It was heaven to spend the weekend with you all.
Mireille says
Oh wat a bummer about Willy’s shoulder… Yet another setback. i sympthathize, it is hard.. Spot has issues with his right back leg & back things are getting better but it is slow… Especially since his a dog with lots of nervous energy and drive drive drive..he feels like he is born to run, yet he isn’t really. I keep having to tell myself that yes, he is better than three years ago, that we will get somewhere with him but it takes time & patience, and oh, did I mention time an patience?
Paws crossed Willy will get better again soon!
And lovely pictures!
Jann Becker says
So today (Monday) the sheep are saying, “Thank heavens, they’re gone! Did you see the black and white [this describes all the dogs, of course] one with the wavy wool [likewise] that kept staring at us and chasing us?
Lacey says
Lovely photos of a lovely time! Hope Willie recovers well ASAP.
Clementine says
Lovely photos! I am considering getting involved with herding but not sure if I’d enjoy it. I love exercising with my dog: agility etc….. But the photos make it enticing.
Debby Gray says
Well I did pay attention to Davey’s eyebrows because they are the same color as Tootsie’s. Then I looked at the picture of Tootsie from last week’s post and realized they both have black under their eyes that transitions to brown and both have white around mouth. Amazing!
So sorry Willie’s not 100% yet.
Suzi Scholtz says
I have been to a couple of herding workshops with my rough collie, Divot. LOVED it. So sorry Divot is gone now and I no longer live where a Collie would be happy. If I could ever live where I could have Collies again, I would have one and go herding! Fascinating to watch the dogs learn to work sheep!
Bruce says
Your first picture captures the interaction between dog and sheep so well, and Willie looks very handsome in black and white. I hope he heals quickly and has a long stretch of long-awaited good health.
Most of our mutts have been houndy or sporty so seeing herding dogs work sheep always amazes me. I suppose herding shouldn’t be amazing because I see components of herding behavior every day. Red Dog loves to head off dogs that are trying to run, splits up dogs that are not interacting nicely by her standards, and usually freezes before chasing a critter (more of a pointer freeze than a BC freeze, but surely related).
Unfortunately Red Dog does not have the herding dog’s inhibition on finishing the predatory sequence, so her interaction with big wooly squirrels would probably not be beneficial. She did meet a small pet pig once, which confused her greatly because the pig acted like a dog, squealed like prey, and probably smelled like dog treats.
LisaW says
I love these photos. Such beautiful dogs and sheep and countryside. I’ve looked at the photos a few times and started to pay attention to how I was making assessments of the dogs based on their appearance. The dog with erect ears seemed much more alert and sharp, Maggie with one floppy ear looked very focused and playful, the dog sniffing Tootsie looked alarmed, although Tootsie looked serene, and Willie looked like a daydreamer. Interesting how an ear or color or eyebrow can bring up preconceived notions of a dog’s state of mind or personality.
I’m sorry to hear that Willie is not healed completely. I also have a dog that has had her share of physical injuries and isn’t as sound as many dogs. When I read that you had to pull Willie from the clinic it brought to mind a question I’ve asked myself a hundred times — how do you find that balance between doing what they love versus living a perhaps less risky life but one that is not as full or fun? Hypothetically, is 6 years of pure joy the same as 10 years of happiness? My dog is not in any way a competition dog but there are things she loves to do that she can’t or shouldn’t do anymore, and I tend to be conservative with managing her. She doesn’t have a BC’s drive, but she’s got terrier drive. Anyway, it’s tough and you have my empathetic sympathy.
Trisha says
LisaW: Ah, you bring up something I think about every days, such a good question. After I get a new assessment of Willie, I’m going to consider the options, including letting him play however he wants as long as it won’t make him a lot worse. That would mean, however, that most sheep herding would be out, because a dog simply can’t control the sheep if he can only run at 70%. Right now I can tell that he is hesitant even on the sheep at home, and I think he’s afraid that the sheep will hurt him even more (they are perfectly capable of badly hurting a dog who isn’t fast and agile). I so agree that we have to decide what’s best for our dog—long term pretty good life, or short term crappy life in hopes of a much better one later on. If only we had a crystal ball, and could predict how successful treatment would be… Good luck with your terrier and your own decisions (and love your eyebrow comments!)
Trisha says
Bruce: Your description of Red Dog meeting a ‘small, pet pig,’ cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh!
Mireille: Good luck with Spot!
Diane Kulak says
Wonderful pictures and insightful comments as always. Willie looks great in black and white (no kidding!!) I wish him well, and dog happiness.
My dog is aging, and I often find myself trying to balance keeping him off his arthritic legs, or letting him walk and sniff and do dog things that dogs need to do. Always upset with myself if allowing the extra steps in the walk proved to be too much for him. I would be more upset with myself if I didn’t give him some of what he needs. Balancing is very difficult! I wish I had half of the experience and observational skills that many of your readers have!
lak says
Just found your blog and love it. In response to your previous post and resilience, I have a rescue pitbull mix adopted at approx 6 months from humane society, they told me boxer collie. She is the smartest and best dog. She was a nightmare to train, all she wanted to do was play with the other dogs and was basically wild, and I took her to positive reinforcement obedience training and she now has her CGC. She is still frightened by things above her head (plastic bags and other things). I have to pick her up and place her in the car because she is afraid of that as well. Not knowing her background as she was picked up off the street starving with worms and fleas, I just encourage her to do the things we like to do like walking, fetching, and she loves people and other dogs. When she has to get in the car I pick her up, all 60 pounds. Is she resiliant, absolutely…and just about the best dog in the world!
Karen Brandson says
Hi Trish,
Have you watched the DVD ‘Away to Me’? It follows three handlers and their dogs, with some back ground story as well, at the Soldier Hollow trial. Faansie is one of them, with his dog Don(?). His dog had previously suffered a major tendon injury and appeared to me to run noticeably slower on the outrun, but seemed to manage the sheep just fine. So maybe speed isn’t quite a crucial as we might think? Just thought I’d through that out there, but then a shoulder probably takes more of a beating with the quick turns etc, than a hind leg.
Trisha says
Thanks Karen, I have seen the DVD (great footage, isn’t it!) I mentioned it in the blog and on Facebook when it came out. Speed on the outrun isn’t crucial, but speed heading fast moving sheep is, and I think you are right that a shoulder might be more of a problem than a hind leg (but a physical therapist would know the answer to that much better than I). I think with Willie that there is also a confidence issue. If he’s in pain or not 100%, I suspect it effects his overall confidence to work difficult sheep. Of course, just guessing… But good points, thanks for thinking of Willie!
debra_mickey@yahoo.com says
Thanks for sharing your weekend with us. I’ll have the pleasure and privilege to work again with Patrick after Thanksgiving with my youngster – always learn so much! I so want to me him when I grow up 🙂
So sorry about Willie; it’s so hard to watch and wait for their injuries to heal. I hope he heals quickly and fully so you both can once again enjoy the magical dance.