NEW TITLE!!

Monday, October 13th, 2008 | Herding | No Comments

AKC PT 10/12/08

On October 12, 2008, Wynnter completed the requirements for her AKC PT herding title.  This is the Pretrial Test, completed twice, requiring the controlled passage of the handler, sheep and dog along the fenceline halfway around the pasture.  On the course, they must pass through two gates, and stop at least once.  There must also be a stop at the beginning and end.  All must be completed in a ten minute period.  The comment of the Sunday judge was that Wynnter is a nice working dog.

As when she completed her AKC HT and her AHBA HCT, her sister Arwen also earned her PT title.   It is so enjoyable to spend these trial days with Becky and Arwen, and of course, Grandma Luna overseeing it all.  It’s a family affair.

Mandy, Wynnter, Judges Sharol & Sean Hathaway, Arwen, Becky

 U Gr CH Hallmark’s Wynnter Moon for Neil RA PT HCT TT CGC OFA (h,e,c,th) PennHIP

AHBA HCT Title

Monday, October 13th, 2008 | Herding | No Comments

On Sunday, September 7, 2008, Wynnter completed the requirements for her American Herding Breed Association Herding Capability Test, or HCT.  The test consisted of a gather, and then controlled movement of the stock, with the handler, between two pylons approximately, 60 feet apart, twice.  Then the handler has to stop the dog and call her off the sheep, again in a controlled fashion.

We have been training for this day since Wynnter was 7 weeks old.  She earned her first leg at the 2006 AWSA Nationals when she was 11 months old.  But the second leg took considerably more training for both of us.  She is still a little pushy, but we are finally working sheep outside without having them run all over the field.  It is such a rush to know that you can work together with your dog toward a common goal; that the dog will take direction from you just by raising a stick or your hand, or giving a verbal command from 10 feet away.  This is heady stuff, and I love it!