Chase is entered in Started A Course Ducks at our National Specialty (as well as Advanced Sheep) so he needed to practice on the birds. Today was overcast and cool — but not windy — perfect for herding. Ellen brought a set of her Call ducks to Claudia’s for Chase and Banjo. The past three weekends Chase has been working beautifully, taking direction when needed, but mostly paying attention to his stock and moving with them. It’s really lovely to watch. Here are stills of his duck adventure today. Unfortunately I did not bring the video camera — we certainly had a video moment when a rooster hopped the fence into the arena and Chase decided he should be moved with his ducks. It was a hoot. You have no idea how fast a rooster can run!
So, back to the ducks.
Here is today’s set of ducks. The light one is older and left the group frequently. Chase delighted in rounding him up.
Chase’s first outrun*
And he’s got ’em
Whoops! The old guy is breaking away
Steady does it
Going around to the pen entrance
All put away
Now let’s go between the panels
We had a great outing. The Chaseman is turning into a skilled stockdog.
* Note that on this first run, Chase is wearing his 10′ plether line. It’s a “just in case” he gets too carried away. Ducks are far more fragile than sheep, and Ellen would step on the line if the birds were in danger.
hello chase its dennis the vizsla dog oh hay wow i hav herd of herding cows and i hav herd of herding sheep and i hav eeven herd of herding cats but i hav never herd of herding ducks!!! gud job!!! ok bye
So awesome! He’s such a FUN dog!