Poor Indy didn’t do too well at our first stock dog training! Dave thinks she will get the hang of it, but Tracy thinks she may not be a herd dog after all.
We got to the class early, so she could watch! They had the most beautiful sheep, big and puffy, and sweet as could be. A Bouvier (also a beginner) was learning to chase them, while the trainer stayed in between the sheep and dog, giving her commands. It was exhausting! Then it was Indy’s turn. We got a new set of sheep, and I was to get Indy to chase them… unfortunately, it apparently was not second nature. Mostly, she slunk into the corner to watch the crazy lady chasing the sheep.
Back at home, we tried to get her to chase George (our one suffolk sheep) or the goats, but all she could get was to run into the middle and watch them scatter. Not good!
Plus, the goats are all pregnant, so we discouraged her from chasing them. As the babies arrived, Indy loved to chase them, but it’s a puppy thing, as soon as she catches them she turns around so they can chase her.
She has learned the word “Out” and takes it very seriously. If the goats go into the hay barn, I yell “out” and Indy is right there to help. She has taken that skill a step farther, if a goat is “nibbling” on one of the fruit trees or rose bushes, I yell their name and “out”. Now Indy doesn’t know which goat is which, but the goats do! Indy charges out and the goat flees. She does have skills and I will be sure she feels as useful as possible.
The way she protects the barn and the trees also translates to “her” porch and “her” pillow, “her” barn … which means the siberian husky cannot enter any of these areas, ever.
