Working Ranch Blog

The Perfect Stockdog
Jun. 13 2012, 11:23 AM

The Perfect Stockdog by Roy Sage
(otherwise titled "The Stockdog Committee")

Once upon a time
At the start of all creation
Angels sat upon a cloud
They were an odd conglomeration
Of handlers from near and far
Though not many from the city
Because their job was
To create a brand new beast

I'd like some pricked ears
Suggested Texas Jake
Them pricked ears would freeze plumb off
On the Salmon or the Snake
Up north we need some curly hair
Said Pocatello Bill
With tails that's long and hair that's thick
To ward against the chill

Now hold your horses one and all
Said San Diego Jean
What we need is a flashy dog
A real show machine
Ah, she'd waste away Cried Boulder Bob
What we need's an outrun
A dog with lots of natural stuff
and will work from sun to sun

How about some EYE suggested Kelpie Pete
We wouldn't need none in the chutes
But we could make some with and some without
And some with grip
And some with coats that drag the grass
And some so dad blamed tall
To hear her pups down on the ground
She'd have to place a call

I'd like mine Blue, suggested Merle Mike
No black said Tri-Color Tink
Liver and white says Red-Bi Hank
I'd even take them Pink
Whatever suites you tickles me
Said Juan from Mexico
And I'll second that said Champion Jack
But just make them so they show!

So they made some black and they made some blue
And they made some red and spotted
Well, they never made a green one
But they made them tall and squatted
In every shape and every size
But no one had decided
How to make the perfect dog
On that they were divided

This went on for days and days
In fact it never ended
Because every time they'd reach some middle ground
Their project got amended
Well, they still meet from time to time
And argue with their leaders
That shepherds committee carries on
They're now the stockdog breeders

Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor trains and handles stockdogs. Her experience has taken her on assignment with the Department of Interior to work wild bison bulls as well as with the Department of Agriculture. She has written several books including, Stockdog Savvy to help people train their dogs for practical farm and ranch work. For more information - check out her website http://lasrocosa.com/education.html and her blog http://stockdogsavvy.wordpress.com/