The Good Shepherds

Janna Duncan, owner of Drummond Ranch and co-founder of the San Fernando Valley Herding Association, is pictured here with Buffy and Emmy.

At 10 and 11 years old respectively, Emmy and Buffy make up a pair of purebred Bouvier des Flandres that count themselves among the first beneficiaries of Cesar’s ever-expanding sphere of influence. Although qualities of their breed rank high in both rationality and gentleness, Buffy and Emmy were, in the words of their caregiver, “neighborhood bullies” once they came of age, escaping often to antagonize the other dogs living on their street. It was an article in the newspaper featuring an up-and-coming dog behaviorist called Cesar Millan that led their keeper (a Hollywood producer) to a solution – and ultimately to an award-winning television series!

Bouviers are shepherding dogs by nature, requiring up to eight hours of exercise a day, and for Buffy and Emmy’s family, there just didn’t seem to be enough time in their schedules. Incorporating Cesar’s techniques went a long way toward helping to keep the dogs calm and fulfilled. But it wasn’t until the production of the Dog Whisperer episode featuring vivacious Flanders Cattle Dog Gus that the family was turned onto the idea of herding as an outlet for their pups’ endless supply of energy. It is often said of the breed that it takes either nine men or nine sheep to keep them controlled and focused; once Buffy and Emmy took to herding, they became much calmer and more receptive to hand signals and spoken commands and much less restless at home.

Though Buffy, now blind, can no longer participate in herding activities, Emmy is still going strong. So strong, in fact, that when the time comes to throw in the towel for the day, she has been known to leap from the open window of the car to return to the park for more! While she is still a nearly inexhaustible source of energy, Emmy’s new hobby has helped her mental focus and physical temperament, and allowed her to lead a more fulfilled life at home as well as on the range!