by Marianne Dwight
Winter in New England is a tough time to raise a puppy but if you want that puppy to become a stock dog it is a good time to start. The pup can grow up during the cold, snowy months and by spring he is ready to begin helping with some simple tasks. And if you have a friend with a hayloft set up to do duck herding it is even better.
The cold and snow never seem to bother Edgar. He follows along happily as I feed the sheep and poultry. He is interested in everything, often coming nose to beak with a chicken and running up and down the paths the sheep have broken through the snow. This has given him a chance to see and be near the farm animals.
Edgar is now at a good age to begin with a simple introduction to learning to control stock. But with the snow up to my knees, and over his head, finding opportunities for him to start to learn that he can influence the stock hasn’t been possible. So when the opportunity presented itself to do a little herding in the upstairs of a friend’s barn I jumped at the chance.
Last Saturday I loaded up the car and drove an hour and a half to a big barn with a large hayloft. Part of the loft has been fenced off to hold in ducks and allow for some herding practice. It is dry and there is no snow but it is frigid, as the wind manages to find all the cracks. However once I stepped into the herding ring I didn’t notice the cold. All my focus was on the action of puppy and ducks taking place at my feet.
Call ducks are noisy as they constantly call to each other and can move surprisingly swiftly for their size. However none of this caused a problem for Edgar. He proceeded to show lots of interest in the three ducks. Following along after them and going back after one that split off from the group.
It was a simple start with not much finesse but it was wonderful to catch a glimpse of the instinct. Seeing the potential is exciting. Having this behavior to shape to eventually be able to control the movement of stock will allow Edgar to become a stock dog, the epitome of an English Shepherd. Not to mention a great helper on my farm.
So while we wait for spring, and the chance to do some more duck work, Edgar and I will continue to work on basic commands – sit, down, come, quiet, hold, leave it, go thru, etc. These are important not only as a foundation for daily life but also as possible life-savers when working stock. Plus we can work on these tasks indoors, out of the frigid New England weather.