Macclesfield Sheepdog Trials

Yesterday we decided to take Badger out to show her what proper grown-up dogs do. We thought that Macclesfield Sheepdog Trials might be just the thing. The place was crawling with border collies, slinking around, looking shifty and generally lurking. Some of the dogs looked terribly inter-bred: blue-eyed dogs, brown-eyed dogs, some with one blue eye and one brown eye!



Some of the dogs waiting for their turn to show off on the field.

We watched intently, pointing things out to Badger, but all she was interested in was a nine month old puppy playing with a paper cup. OK, we said, just a quick sniff. The two of them romped for a bit, then we called her back to watch the show.



This is called the 'outrun' and the 'fetch' we told her. She seemed to be concentrating.


This is herding them towards the pen. Badger wagged her tail. Oh no, another dog wanted to play. A big male dog with a very woolly coat this time. They played boxing for a few minutes, then Badger sidled up to the old farmer sitting next to me. He had just arrived with a bacon sandwich and she thought she might con some out of him. No chance.

Come here Badger and watch what's going on.




This is what you should be doing with the sheep, not scattering them.

Badger was now intent on making friends with Devildog. This be-muzzled little creature was frantically snarling and foaming at the mouth trying to extracate herself from the restraining grip of her owner. She doesn't like other dogs much, she explained.

We then took Badger to the point where the penned sheep were herded after the trials.



This really caught Badger's imagination. She was looking lovingly at them, and then at me. 'Can I go in there with them?' she seemed to be saying to me. 'Don't even think about it' I replied sternly.


Badger trying to look appealing.
By this time my toe was throbbing and Peter was looking thirsty so we went back into Macclesfield to visit our Musician who has just opened a bar! We went to the opening night a few weeks back, but thought it was high time we paid another call.



The Musician behind his bar with his new hair style. His fiancee has plaited some red braid into his hair and then gelled it up a bit. We had a drink and some lunch, and very nice it was too.




Pulling a pint for Peter.



Another view of the bar.

Poor Badger was getting very tired by this time. She showed just what a real, proper, grown-up dog she was during the evening when she wearily climbed up on her Mum's knee for a cuddle and a sleep!



Badger, really! You are supposed to be a tough, working dog who lives on a farm, runs wild, rolls in shit and eats disgusting objects, not a pampered little lap dog!