At the end of April Ailsa told me we were going to go to Echuca to meet Kerrie and to try out working sheep.
We drove down to Echuca on a Friday – it is a very long way from Canberra – more than 8 hours and Ailsa would not let me drive so I sat in the middle of the back seat and gave her directions – she told me not to be a backseat driver as though this was not being helpful. We had a nice little old cottage in Echuca and because I thought she would be scared sleeping away from home I slept with her in her room.
The next morning we got up at the crack of dawn – actually before the crack of dawn because we had to meet Kerrie from the Koolie Club at 7am to go down to Elmore where the sheep were waiting. I did not know that – Ailsa just told me we would be doing something I would like. She was right. As soon as I saw those sheep I knew what to do.
There were about 20 other people there and some other dogs including some more Koolies, a Border Collie, some German Shepherds, some Kelpies and an Australian Shepherd although that is really an American Breed. Some of them came from farms but a few came from cities like me.
Some of the dogs had done it before but I got to go in the beginners’ class which was good for Ailsa because she had never been so close to sheep and these were big Merinos – she said that they were double the size of English sheep. Two nice men were there to help us – Robert and Brad – Brad comes from Binalong near us. It was really exciting – we were the sixth to go in the paddock with 15 Merinos and Robert told us just to play with the sheep so I chased them around and when one got away I chased it back – it was great fun. Robert said I was quite a nice little bitch which I thought was a bit rude but Ailsa said it was a big compliment.
We had half a dozen goes at it over the weekend and got to watch everyone else. Ailsa even got to play at being a sheepdog – she and Kerrie had to go into the paddock and herd the sheep into another yard and then back again so they would understand what they were trying to get me to do. Ailsa got absolutely filthy because it was very dusty – that is one advantage of being a dog – it just falls out of my fur. She also got lots of bruises because the sheep were very heavy and sometimes she got in the way. It was really fun and is the best weekend I have had for ages. She says we can do it again so we are waiting for Robert and Brad to organise one near Canberra or Sydney so we can go. After all, Robert says I have lots of promise and could make a working dog – I am not sure I want to be a working dog because they don’t get to eat roast chicken or have ice creams or have cuddles on Ailsa’s bed but I do want to do it at weekends.
We drove down to Echuca on a Friday – it is a very long way from Canberra – more than 8 hours and Ailsa would not let me drive so I sat in the middle of the back seat and gave her directions – she told me not to be a backseat driver as though this was not being helpful. We had a nice little old cottage in Echuca and because I thought she would be scared sleeping away from home I slept with her in her room.
The next morning we got up at the crack of dawn – actually before the crack of dawn because we had to meet Kerrie from the Koolie Club at 7am to go down to Elmore where the sheep were waiting. I did not know that – Ailsa just told me we would be doing something I would like. She was right. As soon as I saw those sheep I knew what to do.
There were about 20 other people there and some other dogs including some more Koolies, a Border Collie, some German Shepherds, some Kelpies and an Australian Shepherd although that is really an American Breed. Some of them came from farms but a few came from cities like me.
Some of the dogs had done it before but I got to go in the beginners’ class which was good for Ailsa because she had never been so close to sheep and these were big Merinos – she said that they were double the size of English sheep. Two nice men were there to help us – Robert and Brad – Brad comes from Binalong near us. It was really exciting – we were the sixth to go in the paddock with 15 Merinos and Robert told us just to play with the sheep so I chased them around and when one got away I chased it back – it was great fun. Robert said I was quite a nice little bitch which I thought was a bit rude but Ailsa said it was a big compliment.
We had half a dozen goes at it over the weekend and got to watch everyone else. Ailsa even got to play at being a sheepdog – she and Kerrie had to go into the paddock and herd the sheep into another yard and then back again so they would understand what they were trying to get me to do. Ailsa got absolutely filthy because it was very dusty – that is one advantage of being a dog – it just falls out of my fur. She also got lots of bruises because the sheep were very heavy and sometimes she got in the way. It was really fun and is the best weekend I have had for ages. She says we can do it again so we are waiting for Robert and Brad to organise one near Canberra or Sydney so we can go. After all, Robert says I have lots of promise and could make a working dog – I am not sure I want to be a working dog because they don’t get to eat roast chicken or have ice creams or have cuddles on Ailsa’s bed but I do want to do it at weekends.
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