Post by robynsa on Nov 19, 2013 1:17:00 GMT -5
Here are some pics of my Belgian Shepherd (Malinois), Kite, helping me corral escaped cattle this morning. They pushed a fence down in the night. Our LGD had kept them out of the veggie garden (thank goodness!) and Kite was helping me get them back into their paddock, but first I wanted them brought back so I could get some pics of them as we have a couple going up for sale.
Kite is just over a year old and is bred from sport and detection lines. Her genetics are very popular with the police etc. Herding comes very naturally to her though. I don't know how to train herding dogs so we've been a bit like the blind leading the blind. But she can send them on and bring them back, and she's identified the herd queen so works her more, instinctively knowing that if the queen does things, the rest tend to follow. She keeps them in a group really well. She heads and heels and I have seen her trampled more times than I can count, but she just gets up and carries on. This same dog used to chase the horses and got her leg broken for her efforts. It didn't diminish her enthusiasm for cows though!
Kite is also an excellent "shepherd's companion" as well. She has taken on an ornery boar before, when it was attacking me, and she will take on anything if she thinks it is a threat to me. She is always with me and makes me feel safe.
And then there is Rio - that little black scruff. She is a Pug x Maltese x Dachshund. She is our Pinnochio dog. All she wants is to be a REAL working dog. She gets in the way more than she helps but I admire her tenacity and her bravery.
And then some pics of the cattle themselves. We are selling the black yearling heifer (that is her mum with the yellow halter).
Kite is just over a year old and is bred from sport and detection lines. Her genetics are very popular with the police etc. Herding comes very naturally to her though. I don't know how to train herding dogs so we've been a bit like the blind leading the blind. But she can send them on and bring them back, and she's identified the herd queen so works her more, instinctively knowing that if the queen does things, the rest tend to follow. She keeps them in a group really well. She heads and heels and I have seen her trampled more times than I can count, but she just gets up and carries on. This same dog used to chase the horses and got her leg broken for her efforts. It didn't diminish her enthusiasm for cows though!
Kite is also an excellent "shepherd's companion" as well. She has taken on an ornery boar before, when it was attacking me, and she will take on anything if she thinks it is a threat to me. She is always with me and makes me feel safe.
And then there is Rio - that little black scruff. She is a Pug x Maltese x Dachshund. She is our Pinnochio dog. All she wants is to be a REAL working dog. She gets in the way more than she helps but I admire her tenacity and her bravery.
And then some pics of the cattle themselves. We are selling the black yearling heifer (that is her mum with the yellow halter).