Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> Kathleen > wrote:
>
>
>>I love herding breeds. Gotta watch them around little kids, though. If
>>they don't have sheep or cattle to herd they'll gladly make due with
>>children and neither the children nor their parents will be happy about it.
>
>
> Too true. My BC herds cars, fortunately from within the fence line.
>
>
>>My border collies try to herd the cats at the stable. Talk about
>>frustration... And then poor Zane was checking out the north end of a
>>southbound kitty, got scratched across the nose and screamed like a
>>little girl. Now when we go to the farmer's co-op, the resident cats
>>come over and stare at him through the glass door and he gets all
>>freaked out and clingy and tries to hide behind my knees. I swear they
>>can smell fear.
>
>
> Sorry but that's just too funny. ;-)

It is funny but yesterday was even better.

First, some background info: My daughter taught Scully and Zane to "Pup
Up". In Scully's case this involves turning broadside to the handler
and sort of levitating into your arms. Back end and front end rise
simultaneously and it's reflexive to just reach out and catch her, even
if you're not expecting it. She's so relaxed and graceful that it's
like having a feather pillow tossed at you.

Zane is a different matter. Only ten pounds heavier but much bigger,
bonier and about twice as fast; he feels like he's made of bungie cords
and antlers. Catching Zane is like having a duffle bag full of hammers
thrown at you. I discourage this particular trick with him. But a
border collie never forgets.

So we're at the co-op and that one really nasty black cat follows a
customer in through the glass door. Zane and I are following the
manager back to scout out the feed buckets, round the corner and come
face-to-face with the damned cat.

And, in full sight of the staff, my big, tough flyball champion border
collie squeals and hurtles skyward into the arms of the nearest human,
who just happened to be the manager. Now this is a big guy, probably
6'3", close to 300 pounds and I have to give him props for actually
making the catch, but it rocked him and he nearly fell over.

I thought the old guy behind the counter was going to pee in his
overalls and the boy was alternating between laughing and lamenting the
fact that he never has his cell phone when he needs it.

We paid for our feed bucket and our 40 pounds of Diamond Dog Food (Adult
Maintenance formula for the off-season) and as we were skulking off into
the sunset, the entire scenario was being re-enacted for the guys from
the warehouse. Glad we could brighten their day...

Wussy dog.