While a dog may be a man91裸聊视频檚 best friend, it91裸聊视频檚 also 91裸聊视频渁 valued partner,91裸聊视频� treated better than even a pet, said Judy Snell.

Snell has been farming for around 25 years. A retired CPA, she spends her time on her 48-acre farm with her husband, Stuart Brunderidge, raising market sheep.

While one set of helping hands can go a long way, paws can double that.

Among the hired paws are Mo, Becca, Bess and Skye. The latter two, now retired, are not as fast as they used to be but 91裸聊视频渟till get the job done,91裸聊视频� said Snell. A puppy will also be joining the farm soon.

The farmers, the four border collies and the approximately 170 sheep live in Cowichan Valley on Thistle Dew Farm, which the couple purchased around ten years ago. Before this, they had a smaller farm near Shawnigan Lake with around 20 sheep. Snell91裸聊视频檚 interest in sheep farming began as a child after seeing her uncle91裸聊视频檚 sheepdog farm in Saskatchewan.

While training a sheepdog is a process, it91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渂asically guiding that natural instinct,91裸聊视频� said Snell.

91裸聊视频淵ou create a partnership and communicate to the dog what you want her to do,91裸聊视频� which involves pressure and release training91裸聊视频損reventing the behaviour you don91裸聊视频檛 want and encouraging the behaviour you do.

For Snell, this involves using her body to block the dogs or move them in a certain direction. When training, she discouraged using hand signals.

91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 want the dog looking at you too much. You want him concentrating on the sheep so that he91裸聊视频檚 watching for their tiniest, little move.91裸聊视频�

Naturally, sheepdogs should go around the sheep as opposed to directly at them, which would terrify the sheep, causing them to scatter and run, explained Snell. Depending on the dog, starting them in a small pen may be easier so the handler can better guide them.

91裸聊视频淢ost dogs, all they wanna do is control the movement of the sheep, and they91裸聊视频檙e just trying to figure out how to do that. So you91裸聊视频檙e helping them figure that out, but they have to ultimately figure it out on their own.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like a person learning to ride a bicycle. You can tell them and show them everything, but they have to feel it and that91裸聊视频檚 the same with the dogs.91裸聊视频�

Along with farming, Snell hosted the Thistle Dew Sheepdog Trial in June, her second time hosting the competition. In the past, Snell has driven up to two days to attend events, from Dawson Creek in northern B.C. down to Oregon.

The two-day trial involved around 100 of Snell91裸聊视频檚 sheep, 30 or so handlers and about 50 dogs. Each team started with 100 points and was docked points when a dog made a mistake. The dogs had to guide the sheep toward and away from the handlers through different panels. Contestants placing first through third took home prize money.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 awe-inspiring. The things [the dogs] are able to do and how incredibly smart a lot of them are, it just takes your breath away.91裸聊视频�

The competition classes can vary, depending on the number of teams and their backgrounds. There may be a nursery class for dogs under three, a novice-novice class for green dogs and handlers, a pro-novice class and finally, an open class with experienced handlers and dogs, said Snell.

While organizing a competition is a lot of work91裸聊视频揻rom finding the judge to setting up the infrastructure91裸聊视频搕he dogs are ready and waiting.

Unlike at a dog park, where dogs frolic in the wind and mud, tongues hanging out in the pursuit of balls, other dogs or their own tails, border collies 91裸聊视频漵it at the fence and watch the sheep.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭hey don91裸聊视频檛 run around barking and being goofy like other dogs do. They91裸聊视频檙e interested in what91裸聊视频檚 going on in the field 91裸聊视频� They91裸聊视频檙e quite smart and they need to problem solve and think.91裸聊视频�

Border collies live to be around 15. While they91裸聊视频檙e prone to health conditions like eye and joint problems, Snell said that their own worst enemy is probably themselves.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e really hard on themselves and they don91裸聊视频檛 know when to quit. So you have to really be mindful of that, especially in the heat.91裸聊视频�

For Snell, she doesn91裸聊视频檛 trial her dogs past the age of 10.

Sheepdog competitions can be complex and hard to get good at, Snell explained. The equipment may not move around, but you91裸聊视频檙e still dealing with three unknowns.

91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 know what kind of a mood your dog91裸聊视频檚 going to be in that day or you91裸聊视频檙e going to be in or the sheep are going to be in, right 91裸聊视频� It91裸聊视频檚 very interesting that way. It91裸聊视频檚 very humbling as well.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 so much to learn that you just never get bored with it.91裸聊视频�

Come find the sheepdogs by visiting facebook.com/moandbecca.

kim.kimberlin@blackpress.ca
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