Day 70

7/22/22

Boys!!! My two golden boys couldn't be more different, but they have the same golden heart! Ranger, at nine, is SO sweet, calm and simply wants love. Gus, at one, is full of mischief, energy and simply wants love. That need for affection is paramount in their success as a Therapy Dog and a Therapy Dog in Training.

Mac and I had the amazing gift of traveling to Ireland with daughter Amanda and her husband, Matt, a few years ago. It was a perfect trip from start to finish and I wouldn't have traded one moment or experience for anything!

We had the incredible luck to happen upon a farm where they were inviting the public to watch their border collies herd sheep. We pulled right in and bought our tickets. After a scone on the front porch of the establishment, we headed in with the rest of the crowd. There were quite a few other visitors and even a busload of tourists from Canada. We walked to the stands and the farmer took his spot up on a hill. The sheep were grazing calmly in the field...but not for long!

In the matter of a minute or two, the farmer introduced his border collies, sent them out into the field and, with a series of calls and whistles, choreographed the dogs herding the sheep into a rock pen. It was amazing!

After the demonstration, there was an opportunity for questions and the first one addressed the fact that all of the dogs in the field were female. With his oh so charming Irish accent, the farmer explained, "Well, if I sent the males out, they would gather with the sheep and think they were one of the flock. The girls have the intelligence of wolves and the eyes to match. The sheep know they will be outsmarted by these females and react accordingly!"

He then offered the crowd a chance to try their hand at "working" the dogs to get the sheep into another pen. Daughter Amanda's hand went up like a geyser! The farmer pointed at her and, after she requested a review of the dog's names and calls, he let her loose. Now, I love my daughter with all of my heart, so when I say those sheep didn't have a prayer, I say it with the upmost respect and adoration. She called, whistled and cajoled. The dogs knew they had met their alpha match and did everything to perfection. She would have made a wonderful border collie! High praise!

After Amanda had the sheep in the pen, the crowd cheered and laughed. The farmer, once again in that wonderful, rich brogue, shouted out his amazement and announced that NOBODY had ever found success with this part of the show until my child. He was generous with his praise and simply shook his head in admiration.

Alpha border collies, female goldens and daughters...I love them beyond measure. For this not-so-alpha Mama and Therapy Dog trainer, I am sticking with the males. On the bright side, hanging with the "sheep" and waiting for the striving-to-be alpha border collie (me) to give a little direction is not a bad place for my male goldens to stand. Hopefully, I won't be the one to look "sheepish!"