Do you know any of the small herding dogs? There are several breeds, and we have one of them, Pembroke Corgis. Affectionally know to many older folk as “the Queens dogs.”

As well they should be. It was because of Queen Elizabeth II that the Corgi officially became a registered dog. Someone wisely decided the Queen should have registered dogs, after all she bred them all her life, and she was the Queen of England!

I must like herding dogs too (of mostly mixed breed) as I have had several over my lifetime. They are energetic, active dogs—most certainly not lap dogs.

For the first time we now have purebred ones, the Pembroke Corgi. HoneyPie is five years old, Buster is three.

They came from breeders in south-west, Virginia. We waited a couple years before getting Buster because we still had our good, old mixed-breed herding dog, Dandy.

We purchased Buster two years later. Bill wanted a tri-colored, HoneyPie. I wanted a gold and white one, so we got Buster.

I have always admired the herding dogs ability with livestock. Sheep trials are thrilling to watch the way those well-trained dogs and owners work sheep together.

It interested me to train our dogs to herd. With only articles off internet I worked at training mostly HoneyPie. We do not have sheep. We have chickens. The articles I studied said it helps to have the flock (in my case) know where they were to go. This was very helpful because at dusk chicken head to the henhouse.

She learned as well, I suppose, as any greenhorn could teach her. We have had fun. She will do right nice with the cattle as well.

Having a second dog made for more difficulty with training two dogs. Buster is exuberant, but not as well disciplined. That is my fault.

They enjoy bringing the horses in, though they would never win any herding competition.

Really, they are far from being a good herding dog, but we have enjoyed learning and trying.

Have you ever gone to sheep dog trials?