Lowri - TM went to church this morning. It must have been a really good sermon, 'cause when we were herding TM and I had a "Come to Jesus" meeting! I was busy herding, and TM told me to 'stop'. I didn't. TM said it again. I WAS BUSY! TM just walked forward toward me in the manner that said I was in DEEP WEEDS! I avoided her. TM didn't say a single word, just walked after me. I dashed this way and that. TM kept coming. Finally, I bolted towards MC. MC didn't save me. She didn't even look at me. TM caught up with me then. She pulled me into the air and said "I said Stop." She carried me back down to where I had been when she told me to stop the first time. She said "stop", and walked away. When she said "good puppy", I was so relieved that she still loved me, I dashed to her. TM said "stop" and took me back to that spot. This time when she said "good puppy", I just wagged my tail!
So then we get back into herding, and I forgot again. TM said 'stop' and I blew her off. She came toward me again and I bolted AGAIN. I mean how stupid can I be?!?! I dashed over toward MC. TM was coming to me, when suddenly my brain re-engaged! I darted straight TO TM. She stopped, considered for half a second, and we walked back to the stop-spot. She said 'stop'. I DID! I got it completely! When TM says stop, I am supposed to do that. It was amazing. I got told I was a good girl and everything. TM was very happy with me.
I overheard TM and MC talking later. Neither of them had ever seen such a light-bulb moment.
You definitely caught on to STOP faster than did your Daddy. He really (sometimes even now) thinks STOP is a suggestion put forth by an interfering person standing in his herding field. If you always remember that STOP means STOP, your herding days will be filled with praise and success.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have PHOTOS! Lowri was very very silly at first, but it really was AMAZING to see her all of a sudden go, "OH! Okay!"
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