[ SHOWGSD-L ] Eukanuba/breed booth/herding (long)
- From: Binderhaus@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:16:41 EST
I was at the Eukanuba show on Saturday with my 9 year old GSD "Bala". We
had been invited to represent the GSD in the herding demo. Although I'd
been invited both days, I could only attend on Sat, so down we drove to Long
Beach in the pouring rain. Once there, we wandered around the booths, and
of course ended up at the German Shepherd Dog breed booth! Sheryl wasn't
there right when I got there, but came later. Carol was there tho, and
greeted me. The booth was very nice, but Bala decided it needed her help for
a
while, so we stayed at the booth for about 45 minutes while she helped
meet/greet the crowd, and invite everyone to come and see her during the
herding demo that was to take place from 2-3 pm. Bala is a certified therapy
dog as well, and charmed everyone. I think everyone was glad to see an older
dog looking so young and healthy as well.
Later we took our leave to go and participate in the herding demo.
As luck would have it, this was the ONLY venue that was outside and it
chose 2 pm exactly to start raining. Not sprinkling, but raining! After
having the AKC herding secretary explain what each of the various herding
breeds were designed for, we started the herding demo on geese. Bala has
mostly worked sheep, but has done ducks once, and never before has seen a
goose.
I noted upon arrival that the fencing surrounding our 'arena' had at
least a one foot gap at the bottom as well....
The geese were nice and calm, and were very nicely worked by a
Rottweiler, a ACD, a Belgian Terv, a Belgian sheepdog, both Corgis
(Cardigan and Pembroke), and then Bala. Bala is not overly fond of the rain,
but
she did a nice job of demonstrating both flanks, stops, walkups, etc. Then
they decided to put the geese into an exercise pen in the middle of the
arena so the beginner dogs could instinct test without getting to the geese.
The herding instructors border collie was the ONLY dog of the day to get
too strong with the geese and in trying to get them into the x-pen, first one
goose, then two, and then 3 of the 5 popped under the fence and took off
down the causeway!
Bala and I were huddled under the overhang, trying to not
get more drenched, so I quickly unleashed her, and sent her off after the
errant geese. I heard the announcer talking about "a real herding
application"! Bala quickly turned the geese back, and with the help of a
couple of
other herders and their dogs we marched them all back to the pen safely.
After the beginner dogs went, our announcer decided to have the ACD and the
Pembroke go again, and then called for Bala for one last demo. She said
Bala could herd the geese back into their crate! At this point the skies
really opened and a downpour started. The geese were at the far end of the
arena. I just told Bala to go get them, she shook the water out of her eyes,
and proceeded solo down the arena to bring the geese back to the crate at
which point the humans had to stuff them in as the geese LIKED the rain!
LOL.
At this point I, at least, was drenched to the bone. I
would've liked to spend more time helping at the GSD booth and watching the
show, but decided I'd better call it a day and dry off in the car. However I
had a lot of fun, and as the show will be held in Long Beach again next
year, will be happy to help with the booth both days next year, and possibly
the herding again as well!
Final score: GSD's 2, geese 1, Border Collie 0!!!
Cynthia Binder DVM
Binderhaus Shepherds
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