Herding Instinct Test

[hcelsa]

Thought I'd throw this information onto this forum as well...

Columbia River Rottweiler Club is holding a Herding Instinct Test (and fun day) October 9th at Ewetopia Herddog Training in Roy Washington.

No experience necessary, and no age limit (puppies are welcome and so are doggy senior citizens ).

For more information see my post in the Events Forum or email me for an entry form!

[hcelsa]

What a day!
We had 21 Rottweilers entered, and 21 PASSED with flying colors (what else can you expect though with such great dogs and owners involved).

A HUGE Congrats to those great dogs and owners, not only for being such potentially talented herding dogs, but also for being so well adjusted in general (a tribute to the training and socialization they have received prior to this day)

Even after all the Rottweilers and their families left and our regular training day started we couldn't stop talking about what a wonderfully talented group of dogs had been present!

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by hcelsa

What a day!
We had 21 Rottweilers entered, and 21 PASSED with flying colors (what else can you expect though with such great dogs and owners involved).

21 rottweilers??? Dang, I am impressed. My rottweiler club has hosted AHBA herding trial and tests and it is embarrassing the lack of rottweilers present, even for the HCT. This last year the reason given by many was that they thought herding would "break" their young dogs. If the dog is broken, then it couldn't do conformation. What a load of ...
So did any of the rotts "break" as a result of the instinct test?

[flyballmom]

Sounds like a blast, Becky! Wish I could have been there. Congrats to all who participated!!

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

Becky, I just posted this in the earlier thread but it deserves mentioning again.

I want to thank Becky and CRRC for the wonderful time we had. My husband hasn't stopped telling people how well Asa did with the sheep. What really impressed me was Becky and her dog. To watch you guys out there was truly awesome. What a team!!! To watch this big, powerful dog carefully herd those ducks. It's very obvious that you spend alot of time with your dogs.

Thanks again we had a great time.

[MontanaRott]

Wow what a turn out! Congrats to the club! And to all the Rottweilers who passed.

[hcelsa]

Originally Posted by fbkeays

21 rottweilers??? Dang, I am impressed. My rottweiler club has hosted AHBA herding trial and tests and it is embarrassing the lack of rottweilers present, even for the HCT. This last year the reason given by many was that they thought herding would "break" their young dogs. If the dog is broken, then it couldn't do conformation. What a load of ...
So did any of the rotts "break" as a result of the instinct test?

Nope, no broken dogs, but I did hear that at least a couple slept pretty hard all the way home I had actually hoped to see a few more, but we were pretty happy with the turn-out

However, that said, I do strongly believe that an introduction to herding done inappropriately can definitely set dogs up for injury, and that injury can be physical or mental (heck, dogs can get hurt running around their own backyards herding is definitely more dangerous). I would be pretty picky about where I trained/who I trained with, and as far as AHBA trials and HCT's go I'd rather see people not entering than entering dogs at a level that they aren't thouroughly prepared for and then having a bad experience (for the dog, handler or stock---I've seen way too many trial-wise dogs created this way). I know nothing about the facility or stock being used in this case, but I'd like to give folks the benifit of the doubt and venture a guess that this may have an impact on your entries as well. I also believe that young dogs that are carrying adult weight (while they have the bulk of an adult they haven't built the muscle and bone strength yet) are more predisposed to injury (and people know when that is the case--and for some people where conformation is the priority I could definitely see them avoiding herding!).

[hcelsa]

Originally Posted by Diane Heller

I want to thank Becky and CRRC for the wonderful time we had. My husband hasn't stopped telling people how well Asa did with the sheep. What really impressed me was Becky and her dog. To watch you guys out there was truly awesome. What a team!!! To watch this big, powerful dog carefully herd those ducks. It's very obvious that you spend alot of time with your dogs.

Thanks again we had a great time.

So glad you enjoyed it Diane! It really was a fun day for everyone involved I think (though when Elsa and I put the round arena sheep away late Saturday night they looked like they were ready for bed--it may not have been quite as much fun for them ). And Asa did WONDERFULLY, your husband has every right in the world to be proud of the little guy

Thanks so much for your kind comments about Arnie, he's a pretty special dog and I do enjoy every minute I get to spend with him (so we spend a lot of time together )

[rms78645]

I am sooo sorry we couldnt come. My oldest had a game and my youngest had tryouts so we were busy all day. Deuce is totally facinated with my parents sheep so its somethiing that that I really need to expose him to. I bet he'd love it. It sounds like so much fun!

[work-n-show]

I too would like to thank Becky as well as Joe and Linda at Ewe-Topia for the excellent job they did at the herding event on Saturday. I was was one of the folks that came away with two tired dogs at the end of the day.

It was very satisfying to watch the 21 Rottweilers display such awesome instinct with the sheep. The evaluators had complete control of what was going on in the ring and the entire process.

The fun match that ensued was also a good experience and there were plenty of nice dogs to be shown.

Finally, it was fun knocking out an obedience routine and watching Becky and Arnie with their killer healing. They have a very special relationship and it shows.