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Truman's First Leg
Sue Mesa's Triumph
 7:50am Fri, November 12
I drove down gravel covered Beaverdam Bridge Road, the last road before
turning into Rolling Meadows Farm. At the corner where the stuffed
sheep once stood proudly announcing the herding clinics, it now lay on
it's side in the grass. I prayed this wasn't an omen of what was
to come.
The herding test was a pretty casual affair. We were a rag-tag
group. Most, if not all of the herding crowd who attended the clinic,
turned up for the test even though the agility seminar was taking place
at the same time in another location 20 minutes away. That was
unfortunate scheduling because I'm sure more of us would have like to
have been ringside @ agility too.
Anyway I realized I still wasn't exactly sure what was required in the
American Herding Breed Association test. If the test was for
instinct then I would have guessed that any Bouv who showed interest in
the sheep would pass. If control was involved, that would thin the
ranks by at least one (Truman). If skill was involved, I certainly
had none. And to tell the truth, I never asked what was expected
of us. So why was I doing this?
In hindsight the information was included in the NAWBA packet on a page
aptly entitled "Herding Test Program" & I should have read
it but I entered this test in wonder & ignorance.
For everyone's edification, Eligibility includes:
- all herding breeds
- dogs must be 6mos or older
- spayed bitches & neutered males can participate
- bitches in heat can participate after all dogs are finished
- dogs must have prior training to come reliably when called & to
down, sit or stand-stay
- it is highly recommended, though not mandatory, that dogs have had
prior supervised exposure to livestock.
- owners need not be members of any club or organization
- dogs which have not passed previous tests (Truman) shall be eligible
to be tested again another day.
Some of the Gen'l Requirements for tests:
- Tests should be held in the setting of a clinic
- Tests may be held on sheep, ducks, goats or geese; use of cattle is
not encouraged. Groups of at least 3 head of stock should be used
for each test.
- stock is to be rotated after every dog
- waiting dogs should be kept @ a sufficient distance from where a dog
is being tested.
- no other dog will be in the arena with the tested dog
- dogs may wear only plain buckle or snap-on collars, i.e. no choke
collars
And so the testing got under way, Sue Mesa judging. If necessary
Marc Mesa entered the ring with the inexperienced dogs & owners.
Each herding (instinct) test lasted 3 minutes. Some owners
actively participated with their dog, some didn't, leaving it to the
instructor.
I was about 7th in the testing order. Everyone had passed up to
this point & I wondered if anything had sunk into Truman's handsome
but thick skull. Who needs to have a dog fail the same test twice?
Was I worried about being embarrassed -- no. But I did want Truman
to demonstrate some progress, as much for Sue's sake as for his &
mine. Sue had worked so hard with him.
Then just before I went to retrieve Truman from the car, David Riser
arrived with his herding Bouv & tested @ a more advanced level.
Don't remember what it's called but this is the one where the dog herds
the sheep between two cones set @ either side of the ring. The sheep had
to be herded to each cone twice.
David entered the ring with great confidence, his Bouv @ his side.
Dressed immaculately in a starched blue work shirt over a light yellow
turtleneck, perfect jeans, the correct boots & a wonderful dark blue
Patagonia vest; he carried his own fiberglass rod. He presented
the perfect herding picture. And his Bouv's training matched his
look -- flawless to my eye. The Bouv started in a
"down", then calmly approached the sheep, moving them to one
cone, then to the other, "downing" on command, keeping a good
distance from the stock, circling with little correction. Of
course he passed the test; just like that, a veteran of the herding
wars.
With a sense of awe (not "awww, that was sometin' Dottie"), it
suddenly became our turn so, after congratulating David, I went to fetch
the gray fellow from the car who emerged straining at his lead --
"lemme at 'em, dad, oh boy, oh boy".
"Aw, hell"... here we go again.
I was determined to be involved in controlling Truman & Marc entered
the ring with me to make sure that happened. We started with a
"down" command. Then Truman went @ it -- the sheep that
is -- but Marc & I were able to keep him @ bay. Marc moved the
sheep off the fence & Truman circled them a bit & then went in
for a lamb chop. "One more like that & I'll have to fail
him" Sue yelled from the fence. I prayed silently.
Truman moved around the sheep, Marc in control. This went on for a
few minutes & I told Marc to let me know what he wanted Truman to
do. "Can you get him to down", he asked.
"I'll try." Stepping into Truman's face, in my best
imitation of Sue's confrontational style, I stomped my foot in front of
Truman & yelled "down". It took a couple of times
but he did. "Stay" I commanded & I walked over to him,
praised him & grabbed his collar before he had chance to change his
mind and we exited the ring.
Truman's Herding Capability Test Report from NAWBA read:
Jan & Truman
PASSED
FIRST LEG
5 SHEEP
STOCK - cooperative
STYLE - gathering
APPROACH - runs close
EYE - loose
WEARING - some circling
BARK - works silently
TEMPERAMENT - readily adjusts
INTEREST - very keep interest
POWER - forceful, appropriate
RESPONSIVENESS - somewhat responsive
GROUPING OF STOCK - very keen interest
BALANCING STOCK WITH HANDLER - some adjustment
COMMENTS: very keen powerful dog, harness this and you will go far
This was in in contrast to his first attempt @ this same test @ the
Specialty
DID NOT PASS
STOCK - cooperative
SHEEP - 5
STYLE - blank
APPROACH - blank
EYE - blank
WEARING - a little wearing
BARK - works silently
TEMPERAMENT - readily adjusts
INTEREST - very keen interest
POWER - excessive force
RESPONSIVENESS - unresponsive
GROUPING OF STOCK - does not regroup
BALANCING STOCK WITH HANDLER - no adjustment
COMMENTS: Do try again
Well, we did try again & apparently had made some progress, thanks
to Sue & Marc Mesa. We were ready to go back for more.
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NAWBA 99
