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On the Last Weekend there was an International Meeting of shepherd dogs in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, and we had the chance to go on the 25 of April to try out the initial herding with our Australian Shepherd.
So we pack everything in and there we went for about a 4 hour drive.
We went through beautiful green fields and could enjoy our Alentejo after a rain season that left full of yellow and purple flours in the meddle of green plains and oak trees.
Herdade do Freixo is a big ecological farm and in the words of my son was full of animals, like pigs, sheep, donkeys and a few horses that gave a characteristically smell.
After a small debate about the state of herding initiatives and schools in Portugal, a nice couple of Trás-os-Montes (way north of Portugal) that has a hotel and farm, Quinta Equestre da Sardoeira ,by them self were kind to give me and my Australian Shepherd an introduction to herding.
As expected, Teco who had the chance to try and enjoy before herding, was exited enough to jump over the gate near the sheep and show what is truly brave full heart of an Australian Shepherd. This is my BOY !!!
Angel was interested but thinking, what is intend to do with this ? and she just kept looking at me for a hint and I was like “how can I explain …”
Cookie was also interested but she thought that they were to big … I suppose they are for a 6 month puppy.
In the end, like always I just had the feeling if I had the chance of go to a school I could teach my aussies to herd, since they have the interest and the feeling in the right place.
Other activities:
Monday, April 28, 2008
Herding with our Australian Shepherd in Montemor-oNovo
Monday, April 21, 2008
International Encounter of Shepherd Dogs
Friday, April 18, 2008
Punchline Australian Shepherd herding with Cows
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Here are a few shots of JR working cows. Since he's just beginning to learn how to drive, most of the session was spent teaching him how to push from behind, but also hold their heads..
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Portugal Algarve, Amado Beach with our Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd
After a week of being closed at home I decided to take my children to a different walk.
Brad, my Golden Retriever, in Amado Beach, Algarve
In an adventure in Western Algarve, I, my son and my Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever went to visit the famous surf beach, Amado Beach.
My son runing after the Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd dogs, in Amado Beach, Algarve
Located in the road to Aljezur it is a lovely beach surrounded by amazing rocks, wild sea and green fields.
I can really see why it was chosen by surf schools, tour guide visits and surf teams and competitions.
I leave you with the amazing photos.
Other trips and travel:
- Dog trekking to a museum
- Dog trekking in Almada
- Dog Trekking in Serra de Sintra
- Alcochete - goldens and aussies
- Economic Trips with Dogs
- An Australian Shepherd in Salema Beach
- An Australian Shepherd in Armona Island
- Dogs in Meia Praia
- Silves, a visit to medieval times with Cookie, our Aussie
- Two Golden Retriever in Monchique
- A trip to the São Domingos Mine with our Australian Shepherd
- Taking a Golden Retriever to the fortress of Sagres
- A walk with my Australian Shepherd through Luz, Algarve Portugal
- A Walk with Brad, our Golden Retriever through Lagos
Monday, April 07, 2008
A careful planning
Even to start planning a dog show, I usually make a mental list :
1) Vaccines
2) Ring training
3) Inscriptions on the most early time to pay the most possible low feed
4) Champôs, hair softeners and conditioners
5) The day off before the dog show to wash, dry and prepare the dogs that go to the dog show
6) Money for the trip
7) Route map to the dog show
8) Ring number and hours to enter
9) Food and water
10) Boxes, blanket, chairs, bowl
11) Brushes, towels, wipes, medical kit
12) Leashes, collars, scissors and biscuits
13) Car cleaning
14) Clothing and presentation
Ok, after all is set up and planned we aught to think, just remain to go …
This weekend I learned a lesson, never say impossible not to go … since life teaches us the lesson in the hardest way.
About two days before my son started to feel abdomen pain with high fever and we went to the hospital emergencies were appendices was diagnostic. He was admitted into the hospital, operated, treated and medicated during three days and now he is at home recovering of this enormous scary event.
And all the carefully months planning’s and money spent on inscriptions were down the drain just has a life lesson teaching us not to be that confident and to be humble with life.
