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Post and photographs from facesofdog.com by Susan Rennie
Two engaging sets of herding trials. (view trial results)
The Pomona gallery has photographs taken on Saturday, Nov. 7th at the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) herding trials in Pomona. Open to all herding breeds, the dogs must herd cattle, sheep, and ducks. For each species the dog must herd the animals out of a small holding pen, through "gates," through a narrow passage, and into an enclosed pen. The very large Black Angus cattle pose a robust challenge through their feistiness and size. The sheep, elegant, goatlike Barbadans, with their skittishness and speed, are a much greater challenge to herd than the more docile merinos. The ducks are particularly difficult because they obviously believe the dog wants to hunt, not herd, them, which requires the dog to move with patience and subtlety.
One of the most charming aspects of herding trials is the intense interest the dogs take in watching the dog in the arena - sometimes in counterpoint to their owners.
Following Saturday's Cattle, Sheep, and Duck Herding at Pomona, I headed north on Sunday, Nov. 8th to the Bel Canto Ranch on the high desert near Lancaster. Here premium dogs showed their stuff, including renowned Border Collies, Nell and Lass, handled by Robin Elliot, herself an internationally famous breeder, trainer, handler of Border Collies (she's the herder in the plum blouse). Dogs moving the sheep including Belgian Sheep Dogs, Tervurens, and Corgis. I was captivated by the Corgis - who, although outclassed by the Border Collies - valiantly went after the sheep. Elliot, the black and white Cardigan Corgi, was a delight to watch.
Images 9 through 11 show the intrepid Lass at work. The last five images feature the incredible Nell, working soon after giving birth to a litter of puppies. |
