Here in New England the snow is deep and the temperatures are dipping well below zero. However some of us herding enthusiasts will do just about anything for a chance to herd, especially when it involves watching a puppy begin to work stock.
My friend, Colleen, has a large barn with a loft upstairs that she has fenced off in order to allow for duck herding . I won’t say it is warm but it is snow free and a great set up for working ducks. Since Colleen has two puppies, I have two (Evie is here until we go to NC), and one of my puppy buyers is also interested in herding with her puppy, and Colleen knew of a couple other puppy owners we all got together for our first Puppy Herding class. 3 English Shepherds, 2 Aussies, and 2 Tervs. (Nice to see ES outnumber the other breeds)
Ducks were set into the pen and then each puppy took a turn “herding” the ducks. Edgar went right in and was immediately interested in moving those ducks. He responded nicely to my gentle guidance(pressure). Most of the time the ducks stayed hugging the outside edge of the fence but every now and then when Edgar moved more to the outside edge and less to the inside the ducks would come away from the fence and Edgar was able to get around them and bring them to me.
By applying gentle pressure (guidance) with a child’s plastic lawn rake I was able to help encourage Edgar into the correct position. The rake is used as a stock stick as it has more presence and is easier for a beginning dog to see. The rake does not touch Edgar but is moved towards his personal space. Edgar should respond by moving away from the pressure I am applying and thus move into the correct position. The rake can also be placed between the puppy and ducks to help protect the ducks if the puppy gets too zealous. The rake was also used to block the way if Edgar started to go in the wrong direction. The session was kept short so Edgar is still keen on moving the ducks and leaves wanting more.
It was really great to see three puppies from the same litter all show the drive and instinct that should be natural to the English Shepherd breed. (This natural drive and instinct is a key aspect of my breeding program so it is nice to see the verification of my thoughts, hopes, and planning.) Edgar and I can hardly wait for our next Puppy Herding class.
