Tiger is the first koolie in Finland and Europe who has passed AHBA´s (American club for All Herding Breeds) Herding Capability Test:) Made fine job:)
Muffy is not taking part cause she would have benefit for working in our own yard and sheep and even rules allow it, my ethics don´t:)
Trials has been a success, we have judge Linda Bell from USA and today we continue with 35 dogs, tomorrow with 20..Pictures soon to come for your eyes also!


Sinikka

Congratulations. It is great when your dog performs as you know they can.

well done what wonderful news can't wait to see the pic's

How great is that! Fantastic news.

Well done!! Fantastic news! Has it generated much interest in the koolie as a breed in Finland or Europe that you know of??

I had some difficulties in test because we have used to work in the large area with the cattle and there we had cirkular corral and sheep! Fortunately Sinikka helped me and Tage!
Tage had seen sheep two times before the test but the area was larger. That´s why I was very proud of judges words: His power is sufficient for stock and He is kind to stock.
We have trained with chickens too but sheep are more movable than chickens and cattle. I feared that Tage becomes very inspired: Hey, I can move them! More speed, more speed!

Sinkka and Tage:


Here is very much interest in the koolie! All of Tage`s and Muffy`s puppies are booked although they are almost puppies themselves yet!!!

working in a round yard is very different to working in the open, i start all my pups of in a round yard because you have more control over over them and can teach them to go round the out side of the stock and balance better to you.

Have you seen this kind of breed working:) Photos from Briard- herding camp from my farm.
And if you watch closely, there´s also someone who is watching keen all the time behind the fence that these visitors are working fine- Muffy:)

As you can see, we start with new dogs by walking in forests with big stock, and after dogs has lightened their instics there and they have good and nice attitude for animals, we go to round pen and start to make more control, outruns and then continue to wider pens and ask for "smaller" and more difficult things. I think the most important thing is start by giving dog a possibility to think things calmly and slowly itself, watch helper dogs movements and reacts and work. Maybe that´s why I usually have no problems with dogs that would want to hunt instead of herding when they start herding this way.

These briards in pictures have been herding only for two days (last summer two days also and never earlier or later, during this year!) and as you can see their style is calm and easy and they respect animals and take commands from owners stick already quite well.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Rauta8/Paimenn...147048899025538

Sinikka

I have seen briards working at some sheepdog schools here - they are nice dogs but not as nice as our Koolies.