So the last week or so has been highly eventful in Lex's life. Last Thursday, we went to my friend's to play with sheep. The most I've done with her for a while - all summer, really - is walk through the flock and call her off - like, no, you can't mess with them unless you're told to.
Thursday, we (on leash) peeled some sheep out from the lambing area upstairs in the barn, I let her "drive" (use the term loosely - basically they ran, she ran behind, I followed further behind) them out of the barn, and then let her mess around trying to get them out of the shelter area they wedged themselves in. She was pretty good at bringing a group out and then leaving them alone - going back for more. But it was wholly unproductive so I walked away and called her with me before she got frustrated at what was realistically a lack of success. But I was kind of impressed because she thought about what she was doing and seemed to know that her job was to get the sheep outta there.
Excuse me. Must go rescue my bathmat.
Ok. I'm not sure why, but she's horribly fascinated with the bathroom.
So after that, while friend was practicing for the demo with her dogs, we took the opportunity to cut Lex loose on, oh, approx 40 lambs (March babies) out in the middle of the pasture. It was actually surprisingly well. Was she too close? Absolutely. And she'd sometimes cut in when we changed direction. But we ran with her, the lambs actually pretty well stayed stationary, and at the end, I walked away and called her off and - lo and behold - she called off. So I was pretty pleased! I have no earthly idea what I'm doing, but hey - that's what friend is for :)
Then, Friday we played frisbee at the barn, and then wandered the property "Off leash" (Trailing leash behind, so I could grab when necessary) and working on our obedience. The nice thing about being the office person is I can have the odd perk, like that ;-)
Saturday, we tagged along with my friend to the local rodeo grounds, where she was doing a stock dog demo. Lex and I went to watch. Friend's husband was announcing for her. So they go through her four dogs, and then the husband - lord love him - calls LEX in. He cited the "unbridled enthusiasm" a young talented pup displays.
Well, she displayed enthusiasm, alright.
Not much control, but a lot of enthusiasm.
A LOT of enthusiasm.
Incidentally (Or, maybe, CO-incidentally), the sheep also displayed a lot of enthusiasm.
They were nice big suffolk, whom we deemed "fence-proof", as the finns my friend breeds would have happily fit UNDER the fencing in the arena we used. The Suffolk, not so much. This was a good thing, with Lex at the helm. It was also good that, while enthusiastic, the sheep were pretty good about NOT mowing people down. People being friend and I, of course.
She had a blast. The crowd loved her.
Friend and I, on the other hand..raced around trying to keep her out, on footing that would break a horse's leg it was so pot-holed, and then somehow I lucked out and managed to, I have no idea how, get between Lex and the sheep. Got a FABULOUS lie down.
Score!
Happy with that. Lex went back on leash. Lex how has a huge complex, figures she's a "Superstar" with her own "Fan Club" and everything.
What she really is is "Super-Psycho" with an overblown "Ego" ;-)
But I love her.
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