I
didn't get my first Australian Shepherd thinking that I was going to be
a sheep farmer, and have a working farm. We got Abi, because we had met
several other Aussies prior to getting her, and I was just incredibly
impressed with their level of intelligence. It wasn't until Boomer got
ill, that I started to seek other outlets for Boomers energy.
Boomer,
although heavily bred from working lines, didn't take as naturally to
herding as I expected him to. He tended to be nervous and worried a
fair amount around the stock, and I grew concerned that his anxiety
level would induce additional seizure activity. Considering his health,
I stopped training Boomer within 2 months of starting him.
At
the time I decided to stop herding with Boomer, I was fostering this
Cattle/Collie named Gracie, so since I had paid for a winter of herding
sessions, I figured I would give Gracie a try, and see how she did.
Sticking Gracie into the herding arena, was like putting a fish in
water. It was absolutely amazing to watch, and I quickly decided that I
need to pursue herding as another activity with the dogs.
Through
that winter I continued to take lessons with Matt Mason, had the
privilege of training with Jim Hartinagle, and was introduced to Cindi
Hayden, (my own personal working dog mentor). I continued to work with
Gracie, started Margo, and also started to work work with other
canine residents of the farm.
I wasn't sure I would ever compete with my dogs,
but I sure wanted to train them to be working dogs. In the spring of
2009, I attended the Jim Hartinagle clinic hosted by Matt Mason. Gracie
and I received the "Most Promising" award handed out by Jim, along with a
gorgeous handmade leather collar. The words of encouragement I
received from Jim, Cindi and Matt were enough to get me to enter my
first herding competition. Gracie and I walked away with first places and qualifying scores on ducks, cattle and sheep, and also received the high in trial award......she is amazing, and I can't thank the people who have helped me along the way enough for opening my eyes to the possibility of training an actual working dog.