Monday

Last Monday at the National Specialty :

We entered ND (SilverDust IndigoImage HSAs) in Properties -Altered Class. This class is for show quality dogs/bitches that are sexually altered (spayed/neutered) and usually have not had a show career.

Although I am pretty awkward these days, I tried to show her how to stack and be comfortable with a judge handling her. She would have none of it. As I would lean towards her, she would flip on her back for silly tummy rubs.

Junior handler Brianna Thompkins gamely showed ND who behaved surprising well. As long as she could see "Mom." She was relaxed and standing. The other bitch flipped for tummy rubs. ND was rewarded with a blue ribbon. Her dog competition knew how to stack (I think he had a CH title already) so good behavior and looks awarded him the Best In Show Altered Class. Anyway the entries all go to the International Committee fund and good works. It was all fun.

ND liked the snacks but prefers to retire permanently from showing. She is waiting for me to be well enough to take her herding.

Her eyes were examined and found to be perfect and healthy. We have not done the DNA testing for progressive rentinal atrophy, but she is likely a pattern B ( one gene carrier so never affected by the condition) at age 9 years.

Rosie (CH Riverforth's Red River Rosie HDAs) got nothing in best eye although she has very evil dark eyes. Her BAER test proves she can hear although how she interprets is a special ACD bitch thing. She was sort of good as Dr Freeman inserted the needles in her skin to measure the nerves response to sounds, but the alligator clips were a problem.

Rosie's brother Bixby tried ( or should we say his owner Noel tried?) for that last Qualifying score in obedience needed to get a title. It was not to be. Apparently our strategy to get him to focus on staying with Noel during off leash heeling worked so well he did not want to stay when told. Oh well.

Dash's sister Texanna was there too. Its so great to get to see the fur kids. Both Bixby and Texanna have stayed with me during their adult years. Bixby earned his Pre Trial title on sheep and we went to several herding clinics. He earned a Junior Herding Dog title in AHBA, but the paper work for that title was never completed.

Bixby is a powerful dog. Before the first JHD run famed herding judge Dana MacKenzie noted that the up right breeds (like ACDs would not be expected to hold the sheep off the pen like the eye breeds (Border Collies). We were not expected to lie the dog down, rather leave them standing. Bixby has a powerful eye. For him, lying him down was the right move. Dana agreed when questioned by another entrant if I was correctly following instructions from the judge.

I had the advantage of knowing the course better than the other entrants, too. It allowed us to qualify despite some glaring training weaknesses. Some good dogs could have qualified if their handler had just walked the course.

Watching the herding Calcutta that evening intensified my desire to start back training the dogs on cattle. Nice steady pressure from the dog resulted in the best runs. Our Calcutta winner says he moved and worked the cattle at least 60% to his inexperienced dog's 40% of work. Those cattle moved equally well off people or dogs, the dog could do all the work.

Of course I am always smarter watching outside the corral than I am inside with my dog. Apparently remembering to breath, walk and not walk through or into obstacles takes all of my brain during the trial.