Put ‘em up, Drewbie: Every dog wants to work
By Gina Spadafori
March 29, 2009
Drew wants everyone to know that I absolutely did sell him short. It’s becoming pretty obvious that he actually does have some real herding instinct.
This weekend the chickens were in the big yard most of the time. Drew is now getting very excited (in his own quiet way) about being the only dog to go out with me when the chickens are out of their pen, and even more excited about putting them in their pen when I need the help, which is always.
I’m a pathetically mediocre handler of working retrievers, and I don’t aim to become a pathetically mediocre handler of working stock dogs on top of it. So we’re just feeling our way together. Drew now understands that “easy” means to back off the hens a little. He’s also getting a feel for how to pick up the stragglers, walking around behind them and gently urging the wayward hens across the yard to catch up with the rest.
This morning, we had one hen who couldn’t seem to find the gate. I asked Drewbie to “wait” outside one side of the open gate while I went wide of the chicken and encouraged her towards Drew. Just in front of Drew, she made a left-turn and went through.
It helps a great deal that Drew already has a working vocabulary, especially “wait,” “easy” and “OK.” That’s helping us to communicate what it is I want him to do — even if I’m using those commands in a new context – and how different that is from what the retrievers do around birds. He’s calm and gentle, and never moves faster than a walk. The chickens aren’t afraid of him, but they also get a move on when he approaches.
And of course, the hens know that they’re supposed to go in the pen for their cracked corn. But they don’t always want to, especially when the big yard offers fat slugs and other delights.
I don’t let Drew go in the pen with me. I ask him to “wait” in the mouth of the open gate while I reward the chickens with their corn for penning up so nicely. And then I come out, close the gate and fuss all over my pretty little sheepdog, who is proud and happy as can be to be so useful and needed.
What joy to learn something new at the age of 12!
As I wrote before, this is a surprising development for us both. I can’t wait to see how much better Drew is going to get at this — and now, I have no doubt that he will.
His happiness at having a job to do is contagious. We both feel blissfully accomplished after the chickens are penned.
That is so cool!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — March 29, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
Ahhhhhh.::grins::
Comment by Susan Fox — March 29, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
You need to make a video of Drew doing his thing…it’ll be even better than the movie Babe.
Comment by 2CatMom — March 29, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
Yup. We need visual proof. Drewcam.
Comment by Susan Fox — March 29, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
What a lovely post to read :) I’m so glad you and Drew are having new “adventures”!~ The joy of living with pets, imo, lol!~
Those 3 words are sure useful. I use “gentle” instead of “easy” because that’s how I wanted Dot to interact with the cats. But it also works on streets with 2 inches of ice, being too aggressive with a raw bone (makes her slow down), etc. Who knew?! You can see her body just shift when I say “gentle”, and “wait” is also more handy than I could have ever imagined. What a handy thing that she just drops into a sit and is perfectly fine “waiting” until whatever needs to happen next. I’m also glad my cats are getting good at “wait”!
As mentioned above . . . make video!
Comment by straybaby — March 29, 2009 @ 8:57 pm
Awwwwwww!
Comment by Cait — March 29, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
Congratulations Drewbie on your new job and thank you both for putting such a big smile on my face on a dreary, damp Monday morning!
Can’t wait to see the video!
Comment by Anne T — March 30, 2009 @ 4:30 am
Kyrie sez you are crazy, she’ll take care of those chickens for you. Hehehehe.
Comment by Christie Keith — March 30, 2009 @ 6:36 am
You are going to have a busy spring, Gina. Between the Drewcam, puppycam and chickencam, you’ll still need to find some time for kittycam so we can see all your critters.
Comment by 2CatMom — March 30, 2009 @ 7:58 am
I can’t afford all those cams! But I will ask my brother to get a little video on Drew herding. It should be very cute.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — March 30, 2009 @ 8:14 am
I suspect Gina’s cats are camera shy.
I haven’t seen a picture of them in a while.
Still, the cats have their rights, and if they do not want to be filmed, it is not my intention to intrude on their rights by requesting a picture of them.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — March 30, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
My cat pics just don’t turn out very well. Every time I seem to get an expression that’s the feline equivalent of a middle finger.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — March 30, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
I have the same problem. My crazy cats get antisocial when the camera comes out. Still, I’m going to try for some Teddy tubby pictures/video this weekend.
Comment by 2CatMom — March 30, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
Wonderful, new adventures - congratulations!
We (my husband, our 2+ month old male, Blue Merle, Gus and I) are still in the throes of associating “out” with “Now it’s time to do your ‘business’”. We have a LOT to look forward to.
Do let us know when the “cam” is ready.
Cheers!
Jessan
Comment by Jessan Dunn Otis — March 30, 2009 @ 2:43 pm