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A charming description of a GSD's first encounter with sheep as told by owners Bryan and Kathie Swopes |
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(You may recall seeing Buffy's photo and reading of her show wins on the "Congrats" page recently. Now she's investigating other fun things to do, and this was the first on her list. Bobbie)
VINCENT GRADE, CA, March 10, 2001.
It was cool but sunny this morning in the Angeles National Forest. Snow covered the higher elevations and puffy white clouds cast occasional shadows on the ground. At the Drummond Ranch, a 40-acre property at the edge of the high desert, the German Shepherd Dog, Mad River Peppermint Patti ("Buffy" as she is known to friends and family) was about to discover the meaning of the word "shepherd" in her breed's name.
AKC Herding Trials judge, Mr. Ted Ondrak, was present to conduct a "herding instinct test." As Buffy had never seen a sheep before, Ondrak cautioned Buffy's owners that one of three things was likely to happen. When placed in the pen with the sheep, a German Shepherd Dog would either revert to a predatory state and try to kill the sheep, herd them, or ignore them. Ondrak said that if the dog paid no attention to the sheep, "It's hopeless," and that would be it.
Ondrak and one of Buffy's owners, Mrs. Kathleen Swopes, went into the pen, a circular chain link enclosure about 50 feet in diameter. At the far side were three sheep and Ondrak's own Border Collie, Jake. Buffy looked at the sheep, then back at Mrs Swopes, as if to ask, "Are you sure this is OK?" Ondrak commanded Buffy, "Get the sheep," and Buffy ran toward the small herd and immediately started chasing them around the ring.
When a sheep would break away, Buffy made instantaneous direction changes to cut off the sheep's escape, and chased it back to the others.
Around and around they went, first one direction then the other. Buffy was having a really good time. Ondrak carried two fiberglass rods for use in directing the dog, but never had to use them. Buffy seemed to instinctively know how close to get to the sheep to make them run, and when to change direction to circle them. In Germany they say that "No sheep belongs outside the flock, and no dog belongs inside." Buffy appeared to understand exactly what to do and when to do it.
After two five-minute tries, Buffy took a break for some water. "That was fun!" she exclaimed.
Ondrak informed Buffy's owners that she had the necessary herding instinct to succeed in this type of work. If she would like, Buffy can sign up for an eight-week course to train for Herding Trials competition. "It would be something different than dog shows" said the young dog. "I mean, I like dog shows, but chasing sheep, that's really neat!" When Buffy got home, she went straight into the bath tub. She may not think chasing sheep is all that much fun now!