Cooper is a Herding Dog?!

When I got to Albuquerque for the dog show, I parked in the back.  It is pretty close to the building and usually gets shade at some point during the day.  I noticed when I parked that there was title sign with an arrow near where I was parked.  After we showed, I was returning to my car and decided to check out what the sign was for.  It said "Herding" and had an arrow to the building I was parked in front of.  I thought it would be a herding demonstration so I went in.  They were doing "Herding Instinct Tests".  The keeshond is in the Non-Sporting group in AKC so I wasn't sure if he would even qualify to take the test.  They are an accepted breed in the Herding Breed Association, so I let them talk me into having him tested.  I just thought that it would be funny to watch.

Historically speaking, the keeshond has been used for centuries as an all around dog.  Primarily in Holland, it is used as a barge dog and a farm dog.  In Germany, it is used mostly as a farm dog.  Its duties include herding the livestock, keeping rats and other vermin out of the barn, babysitting the kids and keeping the farmer  warm at night.  As a companion, the kees just did everything that the farmer did.  So, I am not sure why I was surprised at how well he did on the herding instinct test.  He evidently has generations of herding in his genes.

I did not go into the ring with Cooper.  I handed him off to the person in the ring and I hid behind the bleachers so he couldn't see me.  It didn't occur to me that I could go into the ring with him, because the ones I watched, that is how they did it.  He looked for me right at first, then the lure of the sheep was too strong and off he went!  It looked to me that he was just chasing those sheep around the ring, but, I did notice that he wanted them to be all together and when one would break away from the pack, he would go get it and bring it back to the group.  I didn't know enough about herding to know whether he passed or not, but when it was finished, they told he passed!  One person told me he was "Phenomenal."  I still wasn't sure that was a good thing until the judge talked to me and told me how well he had done.  It takes two "legs" to qualify for a Herding Instinct title, so I signed up for the next day.

On Sunday, I again parked in the same lot and Cooper was excited from the time we got there.  He wanted to get in to see those sheep!  I had to practically drag him to where he was supposed to be showing.  After he showed in conformation, I took him back to do the second day of herding.  He was soooo excited!  This time there were goats in the ring.  Again, I handed him off to the person in the ring only this time he never looked for me, he just took off.  He rounded up those goats, he changed direction when the handler told him to and kept his flock in a tight bunch.  All very good things.  Plus, he was having a blast!  Again, everyone there told me how well he had done (and how cute he is).  I think the sheep and goats were a bit confused about that little grey fluff ball bouncing around after them.

Monday came and again we parked in the same lot.  Cooper wanted to go see those sheep and goats, but they weren't there anymore :(  He looked for them for two days and couldn't understand where they went.

I think this is something we are going to pursue.  He loves it and he does need something new.  He is so smart and I think he will learn quickly.  I will take him this weekend to a clinic.  It will be his actual first time to have any instruction.  Hopefully I will get some good pictures.