VestaABC 317021 Vesta is from the Cato/Mel breeding. At 18 months she was still showing no interest in sheep. I offered to take her for a couple weeks to see if I could get her started. I had no luck. She was very submissive and inhibited. Since both dog and owner seemed unhappy I bought her back. She was very sweet, but hopelessly inhibited and entirely lacking in life skills. I figured I could place her as a pet once she learned about things like houses, cars, leashes, crates, etc. I sent Vesta off for a month with a college student looking for a training project. There she lived in a busy house with 8 kids, several other dogs, and a pool she learned to swim in. Emily's mission was to teach Vesta to care LESS about what people wanted. When Vesta returned from Emily's care she began to really blossom thanks to the foundation Emily gave her. Vesta went from wallflower to enthusiastic pack member. She is now eager to work. At first I needed to stay completely out of the picture. She can still be unsure about how to work with me, but is learning to integrate my input into her work. Vesta has no tension, plenty of confidence with stock, and a great sense of where to position herself to control their movement. She has good flanks, neither pushing nor giving ground. Sheep move off her easily. She is willing to work pigs as well. She gathers about 200 yards in her home field. I'm just starting her driving. By the time she is driving solidly I should have a good sense of what her full potential is. We continue to work on life skills. She is a very sweet dog, good with kids, adults, other dogs, loud noises, etc. Vesta is available as a small farm dog or novice trial dog. Approved home only. I don't think she has the determination to be an Open trial dog. I'm just starting her on driving. |
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