Ember what a good cow dog

Ember surprised us all today. My husband wasnt planning on moving the cattle today for one reason or anouther but did want to bring in the calves and cows in to the closet pasture by the cattle barn. So my husband and I got the cattle dogs ready for work I had Slicker on a long rope since he is still in training. My husband and I were on horseback and calling instrustions toe Ember and Ginger while Jim and Andy our hands were at the the gates to let the cows in. Ember is the boss in the field in his mind he may listen to us but he beleives and knows we would be no where with out him. We have 5 winter calves and heifers who airn't cute little things anymore but growing pretty big and we plan on taking them to auction in the spring we had 10 cows to bring in either mothers of the babies or skinnier of the bunch who need meat on their bones. One of our Jersey calves I call Bowdy was seperating himself from the group as we were moving them closer to the front pasture. He took off full out for the already closed gate to back pasture. Now Bowdy like most cattle is'nt a big grained animal and looked like he was ready to run right through the fence!!!!

Ember is'nt one to go after that tough of a calf Ginger is more of our stray retreiver. But before my husband or I could even call out a comman to Ginger Ember had taken off full out after Bowdy quiet as can be until he was right up on Bowdy and then he starting yapping and growling and snapping. Bowdy was being pretty rough and i was afraid Ember was going to get hurt but we had to keep moving the other cattle so we did'nt have a bigger problem. But it was all ok Ember have Bowdy a good bite on the nose and had him going back to us after that.

My husband and I were pretty surprised and happy with Ember very proud of him too. Needless to say he got anouther treat after work today lol. Bowdy is still not too happy about being up closer to the barn and keeps on pacing at the fence and as we speak I can see Ember standing outside the cow pen watching Bowdy lol probley thinking "yeah go ahead try it and I'll bite ya again" lol.

 

YAY for Ember... How'd you pick that breed for your cattle? Had you seen them work before or just read up??? I'm curious because not alot is out there on them working cattle in this fashion?

Reminds me of a friend's story... Two of her dogs not raised with livestock did what they were BOTH bred to do... an AB clamped onto a steer (young enough to be imobilized by this) and the other was the Boerboel who persistently barked at the cows all rushing to save "their calf" (it was noted that they don't have the biggest of brains right?) She did so while her owner got the AB off of the calf and got out of harms way...after that her job was done and they all headed for the house...

LOVELY to see them doing work NATURALLY like that!

Good for Ember...give him a treat for me.

 

Thats awsome

Well my husband had an uncle who has now passed and when he was kid kid uncle like his father had a farm. And his uncle owned three Canes who worked his cattle for him. My husband was never aloud to have a Cane when he was a kid because his dad is a religouse Kelpie owner. So as soon as we could afford it we looked them up more and eventually found Ember in Sicily. Yeah when we take them out and people see them and learn that their farm dogs they ask if they guard the farm and i say yeah in a way but their main job is to herd the cattle and sheep on occasion. People are really surprised when they find that out.

Ember is a good sheep herding dog as well he just kinda took to it one day. Im considering maybe one day taking him to a sheep dog trial since we take our Kelpies on occasion. i think it would be interesting to have a big old Bull faced Cane Corso around all these traditional sheep dogs lol.

 

That'd be GREAT... You'll have to take pics of the looks on some faces if you do THAT... Priceless I'm sure!!!

 

Oh I definatly will