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Lessons in Reading Sheep

First published in the 2011 OBCC newsletter, compiled by various sources as per the editor
Photo credit: Norma de Rose

As young children, one of the first things we are taught to do in school is read. This lifelong skill…

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Sheepdogs, fiddles, and putting yourself out there

By Kathy Keats


I love playing the fiddle. I’m a relative beginner, largely self-taught, and don’t have a natural musical ear.

I practice and play almost daily, but have hit a plateau the last several months…because I was comfortable in…

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Stock Dog Herding

By Celeste Lacroix
Photo credit to Lisanne Moore

What is Artificial Intelligence?

According to Wikipedia, Artificial intelligence (AI), in its broadest sense, is intelligence exhibited by machines, particularly computer systems.

Some high-profile applications of AI include advanced web search engines…

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Solar Grazing and Herding: Our Shepherding Experiment of Summer 2024

by Sarah Loten

We were offered an opportunity to graze two solar farm sites in the winter of 2024. In the dark snowy days of January, the thought of acres of lush grass and kilometers of shelter for sheep and…

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L&D Lambing Clinic at Shepherd's Crook

By Farrah Federau

*Photo credits to Susan Moore and Anne Wheatley

The day dawned bright with no rain, for which I was thankful since it's over two hours for me to make it to Shepherd's Crook farm. I had eagerly…

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Working the Pens

By the Indian River Pen Crew

*photo credit to Helen Knibb

A handler stands at the post, nervous and excited, waiting for his or her moment. Magically, the packet of sheep calmly trots onto the field to the set-out person…

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Patrick Gosselin - Thanks to the OBCC L&D Committee - December 2022

By Patrick Gosselin  

Looking back, I believe I learned the most about training, trialing and dogs during conversations with Open Handlers.  I still remember trialing in NN and taking notes while handlers like John Palmer, Tracy Hinton, Kevan Gretton, Dave…

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