Penning as a Partnership - Active Handler Role

Alasdair MacRae Uses His Body and Stock Stick to get the attention of the sheep while 2006 & 2007 National Champ Star catches up to do his part in an ultimately successsful pen.

The sequence of photos shows how Alasdair MacRae and 2006 - 2007 2x National Champ Star worked together to prevent sheep intent on escaping from getting out of the mouth of the pen for a successful team penning effort. A poor imitation of this trechnique allowed Piper and me to get our pen on the next day. While it was amusing to watch it taught the lesson in visual terms about how penning is a team effort and the handler must hold down his end of the bargain and he;lp the dog if appropriate.