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On Saturday, June 10, 2007 Blast and I attended Bill Berhow's beginning herding dog clinic in Metamora, IL. This was Blast's third exposure to sheep. Unlike the prior opportunities, I was the one doing the handling - if you call what I did handling! Based on past observations of Blast, Bill suggested that I work Blast without a lead or long line because of his tractability and potential quick response to down while working sheep. I wasn't at all confident of that, but again I learned that Bill is pretty much always right. It was an astounding experience. Blast was quick and sheep-focused. At 17 months, unlike our earlier exposures, Blast's stays, downs while I moved relative to him and sheep, and willingness to detach from the sheep and leave the ring with me (that'll do - remember that from Babe?) were superb.
Herding is a befuddling activity. It's like playing chess, only the chess pieces move by themselves and have their own rules, while I lack a clear understanding of the game. In herding I aim to have an ultimate goal that I understand away from the pens, but much of what I think I should be doing disappears in the chaos of animal activity and action.
 The start. I downed Blast and walked confidently away (EEK!!!). I positioned myself behind the sheep before I released Blast. I was amazed that he stayed until I released him, but he did so consistently throughout the day, no matter where I was in the ring relative to him and the sheep. Good dog, Blast! |
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 That'll do! Each time he left the ring with me. No lead, though his head did swivel back toward the sheep several times as we left the ring. |
 OK, OK, it wasn't all like that. But our number of pedal to the metal situations was less that I anticipated. What you see above did happen several times throughout the day, but it occurred less often that I anticipated. |
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