Quick - Call the Vet!

The Tux South Island Championship Dog Trials had another fabulous warm sunny day for their competitions.
I was there in time for the "Run-offs"(finals ) for the Huntaway competitions. I, along with other spectators, climbed up the side of the hill for a better view of proceedings. I was using the D7000 and a 70-200 2.8 lens with a 1.7 teleconverter to give me a good reach. It some ways it was too long a reach to capture some of the excitement and tension.
There were seven finalists with their dogs in the run-off. I can tell you it was very serious stuff. There was quite finger-biting tension as each of the finalists took their turn to direct their dogs in driving a trio of sometimes belligerent sheep up-hill on the steep zig zag course.
The dog-owner stands at the bottom of the hill and sends the dog upwards using only a special whistle and voice directions. The dogs herd the sheep by moving behind them and going from side to side of the course to keep them in a tight group. They bark incessantly all the way. Once at the top of the course there is a round of applause and the dog zooms back down the hill to his owner.
Another shepherd and dog is stationed high on the hill to quickly herd the sheep over the crest of the hill out of the way.
I found the whole process fascinating. I marvel at the skill of the shepherds in training their dogs. I also marvel at these amazing Huntaways who so obviously love working the sheep. The bond between the shepherd and dog is palpable.
Once over it is play-time for some of the dogs. Today's blip shows a group of them having great fun. That particular group was comprised of at least a dozen dogs. They were playing just like a group of kids let out to play after a long confinement in the school room Here a number of the group are having a ball!