Dawg Unleashed # 14

Dawg conquers beast!

This is me on a gorilla! Well, maybe on a make-believe gorilla. I may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but I’m not dumb enough to get on an 800-pound gorilla for a photo op. (Maybe I can talk Sir into doing that!)

What do gorillas have to do with herding, you ask. Well, I am the Dawg to tell ya. Let’s start by taking a trip to your local zoo. You can imagine the trip if you want, you don’t actually have to go to the zoo.

Head straight to the gorilla enclosure. The gorillas may be lounging around but they still look pretty intimidating. I’m not intimidated but I can understand why you would be.

If you could get into the area where the keepers interact with the gorillas, you would find that the zookeepers work with these beasts in a protective enclosure. It just isn’t safe for them to interact without a barrier between them and the gorillas.

Protected contact is what that setup is called. The keepers are protected from being harmed by those huge gorillas

Okay, now how does this relate to herding? I know this has been a long set up but hang in there, it is so going to be worth it.

We use protected contact in positive herding! When sheep, ducks, cattle, goats, etc. are corralled in a small pen, protected contact is in play. So who is being protected from whom?

I’m not too good at counting so let’s use a bulleted list:

·      The stock is protected from dogs – if you try to grab or chase the stock.

·      You are protected from the stock – in case they try to head-butt, stomp, or kick you.

·      Your BFF is protected from the stock – if the stock were loose, they might be inadvertently chased right over the top of your BFF!

These sheep are awful happy that they are in the pen when Sir goes ballistic!

All of that protection allows your BFF to relax, which helps you to relax, which then allows the stock to relax, which ultimately makes your life not only easier and happier but healthier. Safety first, confidence second!

Ducks may not be as dangerous to us dogs as gorillas would be, but believe me, ducks or sheep are going to be very happy that they have protected contact, at least until everything calms down and you can approach them like a seasoned herding Dawg.

I can tell you from experience, ducks die easy, but who knew?

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Until next time, tell your mates about this blog and...

Grow the pack!

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