I began herding when my first Sheltie, Pascha, was introduced to livestock at seven years of age and proved to have a natural desire and ability to work. I had learned of a trainer who gave classes about 1-1/2 hours' drive away, and signed up with Pascha, who at the same time was finishing his advanced AKC obedience degree.
Tricolor Sheltie Cailie soon followed in Pascha's footsteps. She went on to become HCh. WTCh. HTCh. Northlight Ceilidh, HTD III-s,d, HRD III-s.
Their daughter Shaela (HCh. WTCh. HTCh. Northlight Shaela, HTD III-s,d, HRD III-s) also proved to be a keen herder, as did their other daughters and sons -- Piper, Selkie, Penner, Molly, Banner, Ricky, and Tess.
Bi-black Mara and blue merle Minka (a daughter of Shaela), in addition to working sheep, have done some goose control work for the City of Fremont and in Foster City. All over the country growing numbers of Canada geese have decided to forego migrating and have made themselves at home on golf courses and the lawns of city and corporate parks. Herding dogs are being used to shoo the geese away from the parks and golf courses, which can be severely damaged by the grazing and wastes of such high numbers of geese.
 HTCh. Northlight Shadybrook Mara, HX, ATD-s, HRD III-s, HTD III-s |
 HTCH. HCh. Northlight Milenka, HTD III-s, HRD III-s, ATD-s |
Also helping out on the goose patrol was Border Collie, Tex (WTCh. HTCh. Sea-Lite Tex, HTD III-s,d, HRD III-s,c). Tex was owned by Pat and Leron Jensen, but I trained and handled him in herding.
My late tricolor Rough Collie, Chelsea -- Northlight Paragon Crystal, HX, HRD III-s (1986-1999) was also an experienced herder and is missed.
I also have had German Shepherds, who were wonderful companions although I wasn't involved with organized canine activities then. Richter accompanied me everywhere when I rode my Palomino mare, Queenie. Steppenwolf (Wolf for short), who came later also enjoyed the horses. He would help move them from field to field, and when we went riding, took the "point" position out front, leading the way. He loved water and would swim out into the middle of the pond to take a drink! My current GSD, Falcon, enjoys goose herding (herding domestic geese as opposed to shooing wild ones) and is also a keen scooter dog.
 Richter & Queenie |
 Wolf |
Another activity I enjoy is carriage driving with
my Welsh Section B Pony, Meadowlawn Penny. Pascha learned to be a "coach dog"
or carriage dog, as did my first Collie, Shasta.
I draw and paint pictures of animals. These drawings are of Cailie as a puppy and my Welsh Cob, Robyn, as a foal.
Off and on I have kept ducks for herding practice, and on occasion I have supplied
eggs for the creative people who are involved in the art of egg decorating.
Duck eggs have a sturdy shell suitable for carving and decorating. A sheltie
lover who also decorates eggs, whom I met via the internet, is Evelyn, who conducts
Muffy's website, the Shelty LUVR's Home Page. I've also sent eggs to Texas to be transformed
into Ukrainian pysanky.
I'm also a fan of foxes -- a favorite foxy site is Fox
Forest
And since I became involved with herding I've gotten to know a lot of sheep, including Lambie, a Suffolk ewe, who will steal your sandwich if you're not careful, opens gates and barn doors, and sometimes likes to turn the tables on the dogs and chase them. Lambie can also turn into the Invisible Sheep. The Invisible Sheep stands like a rock while the other sheep are being gathered, knowing that there are some dogs who come out for herding practice who don't want to tangle with the mighty Lambie so will go along with the ploy that she just isn't there, carefully rounding up all the other sheep but leaving the Invisible Sheep behind until the handler very emphatically points her out (she hasn't quite yet figured out how to make herself invisible to people).
