ROOK'S INTRODUCTION TO SHEEP - PART ONE!

September 2011

My awesome puppy boy, "Rook", definitely showed the instinct and drive that I hoped he would when introduced to his first exposure on stock. My good friend Donna and I had the opportunity to take a private lesson with my "Rook" and her BC "Ted" from Calvin Jones who is an internationl herding trainor and judge from Wales. Calvin, is here visiting in Airdrie, Alberta after recently judging the WORLD STOCKDOG TRIALS! 

Calvin was impressed with his first intro to a Canaan Dog. He really liked Rook's natural ability to head off the sheep, fetch the stock to us, and gather and hold them in place with confidence - Rook also showed the ram that a stock dog is in charge and was not afraid to put him back in line. Calvin commented that Rook's style reminded him of a Kelpie or NZ Heading dog that has the edge to work cattle - so, you can imagine how pleased I was!  Calvin was a great resource and I felt honoured to pick his brain for more training tips! 

Thanks to Donna for capturing pics and video of my young stockdog in training and to Leanne Huber for her great hospitality and allowing us to work her ewes and ram! And last, but not least, thanks to Leanne's Border Collie "Minne" who was on hand in case things got out of control - you never know what may happen when a young dog is first exposed to stock. Thankfully, all went well. Rook was so focused that he did not care who or what was watching him - he just wanted to drive, gather, and tend to those sheep!

Thanks to my friend Donna for this great video clip of pupster Rook's first exposure to the woolies! CICK HERE for the video.

Donna is also my awesome tracking instructor at

http://spiritdancedogs.blogspot.com/

CLICK HERE or on the bottom photo for PART TWO of ROOK's INTRO to SHEEP in the BIG Field with Calvin Jones from Wales.