Singer Hits Gold!

Rich and Alta-Tollhaus Just a Singer

We took a week long trip to Spokane Washington last week. Singer was entered to run on Saturday and Sunday while I judged on Monday. Everyone there was very nice and made our trip a lot of fun. They had arranged for us to be able to work some sheep when we arrived. I think they were a little concerned about Singer possibly running sheep around but he quickly put those concerns to rest. The owner of the place we went to work was impressed with Singer’s ability to work the stock in a very controlled manner.

Saturday we went to the trial site. We were the second dog to run so we did not have a chance to watch how the sheep worked and where and how hard the sheep were drawn to parts of the course. Singer had a poor outrun to start and lost most of his points right at the start. The sheep were light (would run from him) and he had to work to keep them under control. At the number 4 mark on the course the sheep broke for home and Singer did not respond to my command and just let them go. The judge said Singer was not even trying to cover so I should bring the sheep back to the 4 mark, attempt my cross drive and finish. We did with better results. Still we finished 4th in the class but did not get the point Singer need to finish his championship. We stayed around to watch the remaining advanced runs to get a better feel for what we would need to do to control the stock the next day.

Sunday we showed up and were able to watch the other advanced runs first as we were last. They were having a wasp/bee problem in Washington and as we were waiting Singer snapped at a bee, cried out and tried to spit/swallow the wasp he had eaten. Someone had Benydril to give so we gave him one. He never had a reaction or any swelling so all was well. We went in the ring and again Singer had a poor outrun. This time I stopped him and redirected but this had little effect. He brought them around the handlers post and controlled the escape to put the stock through the Y chute. As they exited the Y chute and headed toward the #3 mark the stock stalled and were watching and being very wary of Singer. I had to control Singer’s every movement as he could only move one careful step at a time or else the sheep would break and run down the field. We finally made the #3 mark and turned the sheep across the field through the Z chute to the #4 mark and into the hold exam pen. Singer started to amp up at this point as the sheep want to break for home but he needs to get them in the pen and hold them until the judge calls a hold. After the hold was called I needed Singer to get out into the field releasing the pressure from the hold to allow the sheep to come out of the pen but still control their movement down the field. Singer would have none of it as he knew the sheep were going to run. I finally got him off the pen a little and prayed it was enough. The sheep came out went around to the back of the pen against the fence and stalled. This was trouble as Singer then needs to come in at the back of the pen to push the sheep down field but these sheep would then break across the field and head for home. Singer knew this and listened to every command and moved everywhere I told him one cautious step at a time until we had them at the #4 mark and had to turn them across the field to the #5. At the turn the sheep break for home and usually miss the center drive panel on the way to #5. Singer took his flank command running as hard as he could to turn the sheep and keep them from going home. We made the center panel but Singer was going so fast to cover the escape that by the time he was able to stop on my command the sheep, also running hard, finished a little high of the #5 mark but still a very nice cover on Singer’s part. We then took the sheep to the re-pen and put them away. Turns out we won the class and earned a couple of points. Singer is now an AKC Herding Champion!

Many people were very impressed with Singer and his work. The owner of the facility said her stock had not seen German Shepherds before. Going to a place he had never been, on stock he had never worked, stock that was lighter then he is used to working and being stung by a bee Singer was once again awesome. One person said if she had a shepherd she would not hesitate breeding to him. Many commented on his looks and his head. Even walking around town we got many comments on him and still had people stop in their cars, roll down the window and shout out about what a beautiful dog he was. We are sorry that we can not seem to get a good photo of him as when we try he does his Yoda ears.

On the way home we got an email from someone that was expressing an interest in breeding to Singer and in November we will take him to Arizona for some one else that wants to see him. Anyway we are excited so we went out to celebrate with margaritas.