Scattered Chickens
Date of original journal entry: May 19, 2010
Though litter-mates, our dogs have very different personalities and after reading the post you’ll know which is which.
Mercy has gotten quite skilled at rounding up my chickens to put them in their coop just before sunset. His patience and stealth make him a natural and his in-bred instincts could easily be brought to full usefulness by trainer who actually knew what they were doing – decidedly not me!
Then there’s my impetuous one, Goodness, whose sole reason for living is food and fun. Most of the time he could care less about the chickens and can’t quite understand why Mercy feels so compelled to guard, herd, and dote on them all day. Goodness entirely missed the herding gene of his breed, Australian shepherd, while Mercy must have received a double portion.
But on occasion Goodness wants in on the chicken action but only because it looks like more fun. This evening, upon giving Mercy the command to “put them in”, Goodness, in his impulsiveness, ran and jumped in the middle of the chickens, scattering them in all directions. Meanwhile, I, in my inexperience, continued to attempt their round up. With Goodness sidelined, I proceeded with Mercy in a quickly lost game of Chase the Chickens. I then decided to wait it out, let the flustered chickens regroup, and try agin later.
With proper commands to both dogs this time – Goodness’s being a firm “Stay!” – the task was quickly and efficiently accomplished. The chickens are now calmly settling in for the night; Mercy is watching over them with the pride of a shepherd guarding his flock; and Goodness? Well, he’s off having one last bit of fun before darkness falls completely and I, too, go in for the night. The dogs then go on security duty and Goodness is expected to at least act like he’s working.
