It is a good thing I'm not grading myself for my self-imposed challenge of posting every day this month!  

Saturday, Christy and I went to the Sheep Dog Trials at Rural Hill Farm.  These Shepherds are competing to go to the National Championships.  I LOVE watching sheep dogs herd sheep and have been many times.  I didn't take my "good" camera this year so you'll have to settle for not-as-great pictures from my phone.  

If you see a black spot on the right side of my picture, that is the Border Collie herding the sheep to the Shepherd so that he can put them in the pen.  Border Collie's are the most amazing dogs.  I would love to have one but, I would have no business owning one because they need to work.  

Dogs Galore

This weekend was the 20th Annual Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival at Rural Hill Farms.  I've been to this festival several times and it never disappoints. 

The sheepdogs (Border Collies) and their handlers were competing to go to Nationals.  

 

 

 

I could watch sheepdogs and their handlers work all day.  Unfortunately, Scott could not.  

We also watched some of the Dock Diving Dogs competition.  This dog is competing in the extreme vertical competition. 

It wouldn't be a dog festival without an agility course.  Here is a dog that looks much like our Balto:

I don't have pictures but there were also Frisbee demonstrations and my personal favorite...Flyball!!! 

The following picture is a demonstration of a new dog sport called Treibball.  Treibball is a combination of obedience and herding.  I was fascinated by this sport.  Scott, however, was not. 

Rural Hill Farms is home to a small herd of the most beautiful Scottish Highland Cattle:  Romeo, Queenie, Fiona, Dolly and Bubba:

There was so much to do and to EAT at the festival.  You could also try your hand at Pumpkin Chunkin', the Amazing "Maize" Maze, check out antique tractors or watch 1760's farm demonstrations.  I'm already looking forward to going again next year!  If you'd like to go with me, please let me know!!! 

Mother's Day!

There is so much for me to catch you up on but since today is such an important day, I'll post about that first.  Happy Mother's Day!  Happy Mother's Day to my mom, the most wonderful mom I could have ever asked for...and, Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there reading this blog.  Here is a picture from our Mother's Day celebration.

 And because it has been a while...here's a random picture that I took of Greta today:

Check back in this week...I'm going to start catching up. 

Sheep Dog Trials #2

There was so much happening at the Sheep Dog Trials/Dog Fest yesterday that I couldn't put it all into one post.  I would have loved to been able to go to the 2nd day of competition today but Sunday is generally a very busy day for me.

Here were some of the activities that were held at the Sheep Dog Trials:

Dog Agility
Flyball (my favorite!)
Frisbee demonstrations (dog)
Pumpkin Chunkin
Hayrides
Corn maze
Tractor club
Historic demonstrations
And of course, inflatable bouncey houses for the kids!

Here's a picture of me in front of the dog agility course:

Don't I look great?  I took a picture of Jenny in that same spot but I forgot to ask her for permission to post it.  Here are a few pictures of dogs on the agility course:

We even got to see my most favorite dog sport of all....Flyball!  My favorite thing about watching flyball is seeing how excited the dogs are to participate.  The owners literally have to hold them back at the starting line until it is their turn to run.

This picture is too small (and too far away) for you to really see them but can you see the dogs running through the flyball course?  Here is a better picture:

No, I didn't take this picture (I borrowed it), but I wanted you to get a feel for the speed and concentration that these dogs have. 

For those of you who know me....you know that I like cows!  At Rural Hill Farm they celebrate Scots-Irish history and in keeping with that tradition...they have Scottish Highland Cows.  Isn't this calf just the cutest? 

I didn't get a good picture of the Bull but he was AWESOME!  Check out the hair on this cow...

It was a wonderful day at Rural Hill Farm and I look forward to going again next year.  I will leave you with a picture that I took of a man who brought his Great Pyrenees.  It reminded me of the time I brought Sadie to the Sheep Dog Trials.  She kept barking at the sheep.  I informed her that her breed was supposed to guard sheep not bark at them!  

Have a great day!

Sheep Dog Trials

Today I went to the 16th Annual Sheep Dog Trials and Dog Fest at Rural Hill Farms.  This was my 3rd visit and the first time I had been in quite a few years.  This year I was finally able to go with my friend Jenny.  We had a WONDERFUL time.  Border Collies are one of my very favorite dog breeds however, I am smart enough to know that I should never "own" one.  Border Collies were bred to work and they need constant stimulation.

The sheepdog trials take 2 days to complete with over 95 dogs competing this year.  Here's a picture of a cowboy taking the sheep back to the holding pen. (Actually, they said he is a professional bull rider!)  If you look to the right of the sheep you will see a Border Collie helping him out. 

Once all of the sheep have arrived in the holding pen, the cowboy releases four sheep.  Those 4 sheep unsuspectingly graze in a group at the top of the hill.  Meanwhile, way on the other side of the field, the shepherd releases his/her collie.  And they're off....

Look at him go...this dog is flying!  He/She will run wide around until he gets behind the sheep and the next thing they know...they're moving wherever he tells them.  The shepherd calls the dog by a series whistles and commands such as:

Come Bye = circle in a clockwise direction
Away to Me = circle counterclockwise
Stand = Stop
Lie Down = stop or lay down.   A good dog knows which by the tone of their handler's voice.
That'll Do = come back to the handler
Get Out = go wide
Those are the most common commands that you hear at the sheep dog trials. 

Here are some more pictures from today's competition:

The dog has to herd all 4 sheep through the gate.  (There are 3 gates)

It was such a beautiful day for the trials.  The temperature was in the mid-70's and it was actually rather hot!  Here our collie has been told to "lie down"...

Now the shepherd has to separate two sheep from the group

After the sheep are separated, the collie will herd all four of them into a small pen.

Great job!  That'll do boy, that'll do.

Tomorrow I will tell you about the rest of the festival.  The sheepdog trials were only part of the festivities going on at the farm.  In the meantime...here's a picture of some sheep that had completed their portion of this round.  :-)