[ SHOWGSD-L ] Sheep rancher and GSD breeder

From: Val Manning <terranorte@xxxxxxx>
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:17:34 -0400 (EDT)
Ok gang, I often wear many hats in order to keep a roof over my head, my dogs 
fed, vet bills paid, and support my habits. One of these is my "Rancher Val" 
hat - it is the one that goes out everyday to feed and tend my flock of 50 
sheep and dozen or so goats......... I have livestock to utilize when I have my 
"Herding Facility/training center manager" hat on. Unlike most ranchers - my 
everyday stock dog is a GSD, not a Border Collie or a Kelpie or even a cattle 
dog. This is because another of my hats - I wear as a GSD breeder and 
exhibitor. It is not that GSD's are the perfect herding dog for all operations 
- but instead that they are my passion. In truth, the best herding dog for a 
sheep operation is generally a sound stock fence and a feed bucket (just ask my 
husband, the sheep whisperer). Most ranchers, myself included, cannot afford to 
stand out in the middle of the field EVERYDAY for 2 hours in the morning and 
another 2 hours in the afternoon to allow the sheep to graze. My time is better 
spent wearing my "marketing consultant" and "herding instructor" and "officer" 
of a variety of organizations so I can afford to buy the hay to feed the 
livestock when there isn't enough grass to eat - because the sheep want to eat 
EVERYDAY.  


Why the tirade about hats? Mainly is it because real people with real farms and 
ranches are not interested in recreational herding. Most have invested in 
fencing to manage their stock without the constant supervision necessary in 
tending. Most have Border Collies to go make those grand outruns because they 
don't want to have to go walk to wherever the stock is standing. Most have day 
jobs in town to provide their families with health insurance and a pay check.  


This talk of structure and serious herding/working dogs is fine - but most of 
it is the product of breeders who are marketing to those looking for the best 
score at the herding, agility, schutzhund, fly ball score. I have American bred 
AKC Champion conformation dogs - who herd sheep on a daily basis as do many. 
Yes, they do have herding titles, but they have to work for a living as well. 


Too much of anything is too much. Remember whenever you go to a specialty show 
- whether it is GSDs, Arabian Horses, Lamborghini's.... you are going to see 
extremes. That is what makes them special. The true dog breeder looks at those 
extremes and decides where a little of this or that is going to enhance your 
program. 


Time to go out with Norah and see where my flock has disappeared to - this is 
what happens when the human shepherd is inside multi-tasking.


Val Manning
terranorte@xxxxxxx
www.ranchoterranorte.com


============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2012.  All material remains the property of the original 
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind 
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the 
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post.  This group and its 
administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in 
any post.

ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY 
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS 
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY 
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE 
PROSECUTED. 

For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx

VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org  
SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
============================================================================
[ SHOWGSD-L ] Sheep rancher and GSD breeder

Other related posts:
