An early morning scare

There are times when I make a decision that seems so good, reasonable, and well thought out at the time, only to have it blow up into a mess when it actually plays out. That's exactly what happened this morning. Let me explain....

Lisa is no longer much of a herding dog. She was my first working dog, and I made all of my mistakes with her. Even after training and retraining, I realized that the biggest mistake I had made was in the disposition I had chosen for my dog, and so I eventually retired her at the ripe old age of about six years. Lisa has a mind of her own and, unlike Coda or Chance, is not at all interested in working as a team with a human partner. Actually, I don't really think she wants to work with any partner. Lisa likes to do what she wants to do at any time or place that she wants to do it. She has finally agreed to generally follow my household rules, but not in order to please me (which seems to be more the case with my other two dogs) - instead, she follows my rules because she knows that punishment awaits her if she doesn't. She will still push the envelope as far as she can, though, punishment or not!

You should also know that all of our dogs are afraid of thunder - mightily afraid. We do medicate them for storms, and we actually began doing so early enough in their lives - in the case of both of the boys, Coda and Chance - that they will actually work the sheep in a storm if need be. It doesn't happen often, but it sure is comforting to know that if I need to bring the sheep in during a fierce storm, I won't be trying to do it myself! Of the three, Lisa is the most storm phobic - there is no way she would help me in a storm.... no way!

So, this morning, thunderstorms were popping up on the weather radar all over our state - most were very limited in size, but they created a lot of thunder and lightning as they went by. I was gettting ready to go outside and finish my chores when I saw the western horizon darkening - I knew a big storm was on its way in a short period of time. I still had to exercise the dogs for at least twenty minutes before they went to relax for a while in their crates, and I also needed to fill the creep house with grain for the lambs to eat at their leisure during the day. I didn't want to get caught in a downpour walking the dogs, but I also didn't relish the idea of filling the creep house as buckets of rain dumped down around me, either.

I decided that the thing to do was to try something I had done many times in past years when I had a similar situation: take the dogs on a walk and frisbee-catching session as we moved closer and closer to the rock pasture where the lambs were grazing. Once I got near the pasture, I could put them all into a "down-stay" and go in myself to fill the creep building. Once I was finished and out of the pasture, I planned on releasing them from their stay and continuing on the walk. This way, I could kill two birds with one stone - both walk the dogs and feed the lambs - before the worst of the storm hit!

Unfortunately, Lisa had her own plans for the morning.... We began the walk as usual for our morning routine: I threw the frisbee and walked, while the dogs retrieved the frisbee and did their 'business.' We all slowly worked our way away from the house and towards the back of the property. This time, however, I was carrying the bucket of grain for the lambs as I walked, and we were accompanied by the sound of distant thunder. The thunder was obviously making the dogs ill at ease, but they were still willing to walk and fetch, so we moved towards the rock pasture.

It didn't take long before Lisa figured out that we were headed for the rock pasture and the lambs, and decided to "help out." As she raced into the pasture where the lambs grazed, it was obvious that she was up to no good: our dogs are taught to wait at the gate for us to enter first, but she threw herself under the bottom wire of the fence and immediately ran for the lambs, barking all the way. The commotion caught the attention of the other two dogs, and all three began running around and through the group of lambs, panicking the flock. What a mess!

I called. I threatened. I tried not to scream at them (it gets the dogs too excited and tense), but I can't say that it didn't happen. I ran to try to catch them. When something like this happens, there isn't really much you can do.... The dogs are too fast and too smart to be caught. Eventually, the fun for Coda and Chance wore off, and they obeyed when I asked them to lie down and then to leave the pasture. Lisa, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with me! This was fun for her and she had no plans of stopping!

I watched, helplessly, as she charged the group of lambs again and again, scattering them to the corners of the pasture, only to regroup them and start again. It was hot and muggy, even for morning, and this crazed running was really not good for any of them, dog or sheep. I was getting more and more worried.... And then it happened. I watched as Lisa charged the group of lambs yet again, and this time, one of the black ewe lambs dropped onto her side in the tall grass and did not get up. Oh, I had to stop this, and fast!

It took me several more minutes before I could get Lisa's attention - it was finally a good strong clap of thunder that drew her attention away from her quarry. When it broke her concentration, she suddenly felt the rain and wind, and heard the storm all around her as it gathered strength. Suddenly - and thankfully for the lambs - all she had on her mind was to race for home to get away from the storm, and that's just what she did!

Oh, ... and that black ewe lamb? Well, as soon as the coast was clear, she lifted her head to take a good long look around. Seeing that the crazy dog had indeed left for home, she hopped right up and rejoined her flock-mates like nothing had happened. When I, too, turned away and left for home, she was the only sheep in that pasture that wasn't panting heavily after the early morning run. Who says sheep aren't smart?! At the ripe old age of two months or so, she has already figured out that the best way to avoid trouble with Lisa is not to play her games! If only I could figure out a way....