Not only did we have a great dog turn out but we had over 20 human members and guests attend. Our club members loved the experience and I know we will all be looking for another opportunity to share herding with our dogs. If you have the interest, trust your Kerries and give them the chance to demonstrate a very ancient instinct. The next day we (and our dogs) were walking a little slower, but all of us can’t wait to get back in the pen. After 15 minutes of moving sheep, Mackenzie was smiling from ear to ear in that very happy and worn-out-way, that we have all seen in our Kerry Blues. I had tears in my eyes and Bob put the cash back in his wallet. Judy was impressed and said she was a natural. She even ran out and brought a stray sheep back to the herd. She entered the pen with Judy and within seconds, Judy let go of the lead and Mackenzie started herding. Now, you can imagine how much confidence that gave me.īut my Mackenzie surprised me. My husband, Bob, had even brought along extra cash in case we had to pay for a sheep. Maggie thought the sheep were nice and fellow “shade seekers,” just like her. Even my Wheaten, Maggie had her turn at the sheep. Then the time came that day that all of the dogs had gone in the pen, except my Kerry. But then, she didn’t know my Mackenzie, and she was not yet personally familiar with the Kerry Blue Terrier! You see, my Mackenzie dislikes (intensely) any “white animal.” I was assured by our herding judge, Judy, that no dog would be allowed to hurt a sheep, nor the other way around. But I have to admit, I had doubts about my own Kerry, Mackenzie. Having organized this event, I was very encouraging to all of our club members and their dogs that our breed could herd, and that they should try it.
#Prey treasure hunt award movie#
It was also the first time that these sheep have seen a Kerry Blue! The looks on the sheep faces were unforgettable, not unlike the look on the faces of the sheep when they saw “Babe” the pig for the first time, in the movie “Babe!” Maybe they thought our Kerries really WERE wolves? All 13 dogs were very excited to see the sheep. Judy told us that she had not worked with the Kerry Blue before, and was very impressed with their intensity and power. What a thrill it was! To see your dog’s instincts ‘kick-in’ is a feeling you can’t describe in words. We were so proud that nine of our eleven entered Kerries passed their Herding Instinct Test! Judy Vanderford of Sunland, CA, National Herding Judge (and owner of Belgian Tervurens) gave each of our dogs an official instinct test for sheep herding. We had 13 dogs participate (11 Kerries, one Aussie and one Wheaten). The Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Southern California held its first Herding Fun Day and Herding Instinct Testing on Apin Sunland, CA.