Denise Wall Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Since it's raining here in NC (finally!), I was going through old pics and thought I'd post some working shots of real work. This is a pictorial essay, not great photography. It was very windy and dusty so I didn't use my best equipment. Plus, I was working too so I only snapped a shot here and there. We were trying to gather a group of 1,000 ewes from a spread in ND with 5,000 sheep total. They're normally in bands of 1,000 spread out over this vast property. After hours on horseback, four wheelers and gators searching unsuccessfully for the group, they finally went up in a plane to locate them. As it turns out, they had gotten in with another group of 1,000, so for reference this is a flock of 2,000 sheep. In the blanket of sheep pictured below, there were three dogs working gathering and directing the sheep to the gate. There's one dog visible on the middle right. I don't know if it's my dog or not. Note the large crevasse in the front of the shot. The terrain was quite rough in places. We were using four wheelers and gators but only the dogs could get to the sheep in many places. So much for four wheelers taking the place of dogs... Here's a closer picture of my dog, Mick, from the scene above: This is at the main facility where the dogs were pushing the sheep into a pen area to where the sorting chutes were. I think we were using two dogs for this. Mick is the one in the middle. Here's Mick waiting for the sheep to be released after they're been worked through the chutes so he can take them back out to the field: On the way out (Mick lower right): Taking the sheep down the road back to the field with the help of a gator. This was around a half mile to a mile away but the sheep were happy enough to go back so I think Mick was the only dog we used: The sheep finally back in the field at sunset: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Oh, wow! Thank you for the glimpse into the real work that these dogs do. It amazing and wonderful. I could look at pics like this all day. Great shots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maizy Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Thanks for sharing Denise. I have never seen that many sheep in my life!!!! I bet you had the time of your life. We are still learning to use our camera. We are going to Oregon at the end of month which will be a great time to practice...also taking pictures of dogs/sheep as we will attend one day of a trial while we are there!!! Again, great shots...it really gives you an appreciation for these dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borderlicious Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 The sheer number of sheep in these pictures just amazes me. Wow. Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Wonderful pictures. Great. Thank you very much for sharing us. I never worked so much sheep with my BC`s. I really love to see herding dogs at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack & Co. Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Wonderful pictures, Denise! You really captured the hard work and dust! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Wow. I have chills. Those are absolutely amazing. Good dog, Mick. Thank you, Denise - you made my night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anda Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Now this is what I call real work! Not just fo fun. Gives me goose bumps. Amazing. Thank you. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Thanks, Denise, for taking the time to share these wonderful photos with us. Best wishes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdarling Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Denise - Absolutely breathtaking! Thank you for sharing them. What was the purpose for gathering the large flock? Once they were put in the chutes, were you vaccinating? Or sorting them for something? I would love to be able to work a group of that size. Jodi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Wow, wish I could have been there! Some day I want a farm like that. OK, now I just have to go win the lottery... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pax Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 I'd like to meet those dogs. What guts they must have. Thank you for posting those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 NICE!!! Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesney's Girl Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Wow. That's amazing! Thanks for sharing the pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie Oop Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Great pictures! What a lot of sheep! Mick is a very cool looking dog and he looks great working the sheep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoku's mum Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Those are really great pics, love to see dogs doing it for real, good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katelynn & Gang Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Denise, those pictures are amazing. I am in love with Mick. The last picture is my favorite. That is the life, peace at the end of a hard days work with a good dog. Thanks so much for sharing. It made my night. Katelynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoe Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Very very nice. Thank you for posting them. ( Could anyone could tell me what a gator is.... ?! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipedream Farm Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Hey Denise, I'm jealous. Renee and I had fun moving 250 sheep from the novice field to the open field for the top 20 day at Bluegrass; 1000 sheep sound like a great learning experience for both dog(s) and handler(s). Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 ( Could anyone could tell me what a gator is.... ?! ) Thanks for asking this...I wondered, too. I figured it's some kind of off-road vehicle thingy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack & Co. Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Gators.......here you go: http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/...gory/GC_UV.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 A gator is the John Deere version of the Army "mule", basically a small utility vehicle, two seats up front and some sort of bed in the back. A more practical version of a 4-wheeler as you can haul stuff in the bed, etc.: http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/...orho.html?src=2 J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise Wall Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Thanks to all for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. Jodi, The friend I was visiting bought 100 of these sheep so we brought them in, sorted off which ones she wanted, ear tagged them and took them to her place. The next day we wormed them and gathered 350 others in groups from various places, wormed them and returned them to their fields. Again, Mick worked a pretty good part of a day. Mick was bred for a hard day's work and you can really appreciate a dog like that in situations like the one in the pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Thanks J&Co and Julie, that's exactly what I pictured a Gator to be. We use a mule at work for Parking Enforcement, so I am familar with those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie&MeBC Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Awesome pics! I love them- it's fantastic to see dogs at real work. Thanks bunches for sharing them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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