Kindly penned by Jacqueline Strathdee
The 10/11th of July saw our Aberdeenshire kelpie training weekend. North Retanach was the venue. Iain Muirhead travelling all the way from Richmond as trainer extraordinaire.
Weather was kind in that it wasn't too hot and only the occasional shower. We had a good show of kelpies and a kelpie cross of age range from 14 weeks ( who just happened to get the most cuddles) upwards. Some just starting and some with more experience.
On Saturday we worked with ewes and lambs with the ewes being quite difficult which was a bit of a challenge which the dogs worked well with. First working in the pen then out into the paddock with a bit of fun driving them through the gates in the middle of the paddock. We also did a bit of backing in the race.
On Sunday we shed the ewes off and worked with the lambs only which gave a whole new challenge with the lambs not sticking together and being a lot faster than they were on Sat. So again we saw all the dogs step up to the different challenge.
Getting the dogs to do more of an actual job by moving lambs out one pen round paddock then back into another pen.
Sat night saw us get together for a meal out at the local pub the Forbes Arms. Once again Tom and Caroline delivered excellent food .We had the best craic and many of us left with aching ribs from laughter.
Everyone left on the Sunday delighted with their dogs improvements and inspired for the next training weekend.
New kelpie friends made, so much fun, what more can we ask for.
Once again thank you so very much Iain, you are indeed a diamond.
For myself it is such pleasure to see folk getting to grips with their kelpies enjoying working them and to see Retanach pups and offspring off Retanach dogs doing the job they are bred for.
Kelpies in Aberdeenshire and the rest of the UK are hitting the mark.