I don’t want to muscle in on Mamie. That’s a beautiful dog. But you posted an interesting piece from GMO a few days ago. Flawed, IMHO, but interesting. I had the opportunity to participate on a call with the Southern 😈 Trusts chief economist and CIO on Friday. Just a couple observations worth relaying: (note: former Fed employee on panel).
* take most of the extremist hyperbole and chop it off at half
* Fed too aggressive on the brakes, but expect only two hikes in 2019; not so aggressive as to tank the economy
* 2019 GDP forecast range 2.1 – 2.6%.
* credit market worries overblown; selective statistics are being cited, even high yield
* risk off posture is to simply pair back equity exposure moderately.
* maintain portfolio construction at 5 years safe for lifestyle funds, 5+ risk on.
It’s fairly standard stuff, but one credible institutions’ take.
Oh, and the Blackhawks are showing signs of life. 5-2 over Wild. Saad scores. What a concept….. the defense still sucks.
Now that we’re settled, we adopted a dog a couple of months ago – a Golden Doodle that failed out of a local service dog program. She’s sweet, smart and a great addition to our family.
Sadly, she is not showable in the highly competitive Australian Shepherd conformation ring. Even so she’ll have plenty to do in competitive obedience, agility, and nose work competitions. I’m not sure we’ll take her to barn hunt competitions. Barn hunt is kind of crazy.
Golden doodles can be great dogs. There’s one across the street that our Kara is in love with. Since they’re not purebred they’re a bit unpredictable.
We are what’s known in the fancy as a “performance household” (there are performance households and companion households). That’s not to say that our dogs aren’t companion dogs, too. More than one of our friends have said that when they die they want to come back as a dog in our household.
Used to very much enjoy watching our friend’s Australian Shepherd trying to herd groups of young kids out playing. Kids dont pay attention as well as sheep.
Is there a rating scale on which breeds have the strongest herding instinct? Would think that Australian Shepherds would rate towards the top of the pack if there is such a thing.
Any breed that’s a member of the Herding Group which includes Border Collies, Collies, Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, and both type of Corgis, have substantial herding instinct. Border Collies are certainly right up there as are Aussies.
A few breeds not in the Herding Group also have strong herding instincts. Samoyeds and Rottweilers are notable in being the only two breeds not in the Herding Group that are allowed to participate in AKC herding competitions. Our first Samoyed, Qila, passed the HIT (Herding Instinct Test) and enjoyed herding.
I do not know of a ranking system for breeds but the HIT is the qualifier for participating in herding trials. It’s Pass/Fail.
When asked whether Border Collies were good with children a BC breeder once responded that it depended on what you meant by “good with children”. If you mean that within five minutes of letting a BC out into a yard with children the BC will have the children herded into a corner of the yard, yes, they’re good with children.
I don’t want to muscle in on Mamie. That’s a beautiful dog. But you posted an interesting piece from GMO a few days ago. Flawed, IMHO, but interesting. I had the opportunity to participate on a call with the Southern 😈 Trusts chief economist and CIO on Friday. Just a couple observations worth relaying: (note: former Fed employee on panel).
* take most of the extremist hyperbole and chop it off at half
* Fed too aggressive on the brakes, but expect only two hikes in 2019; not so aggressive as to tank the economy
* 2019 GDP forecast range 2.1 – 2.6%.
* credit market worries overblown; selective statistics are being cited, even high yield
* risk off posture is to simply pair back equity exposure moderately.
* maintain portfolio construction at 5 years safe for lifestyle funds, 5+ risk on.
It’s fairly standard stuff, but one credible institutions’ take.
Oh, and the Blackhawks are showing signs of life. 5-2 over Wild. Saad scores. What a concept….. the defense still sucks.
Wow, she beautiful!
Now that we’re settled, we adopted a dog a couple of months ago – a Golden Doodle that failed out of a local service dog program. She’s sweet, smart and a great addition to our family.
Sadly, she is not showable in the highly competitive Australian Shepherd conformation ring. Even so she’ll have plenty to do in competitive obedience, agility, and nose work competitions. I’m not sure we’ll take her to barn hunt competitions. Barn hunt is kind of crazy.
Golden doodles can be great dogs. There’s one across the street that our Kara is in love with. Since they’re not purebred they’re a bit unpredictable.
I’m completely ignorant on the competitive dog scene and dog breeding in general. We’ve always had some kind of rescue or mutt as a family dog.
We are what’s known in the fancy as a “performance household” (there are performance households and companion households). That’s not to say that our dogs aren’t companion dogs, too. More than one of our friends have said that when they die they want to come back as a dog in our household.
Used to very much enjoy watching our friend’s Australian Shepherd trying to herd groups of young kids out playing. Kids dont pay attention as well as sheep.
Is there a rating scale on which breeds have the strongest herding instinct? Would think that Australian Shepherds would rate towards the top of the pack if there is such a thing.
Steve
Any breed that’s a member of the Herding Group which includes Border Collies, Collies, Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, and both type of Corgis, have substantial herding instinct. Border Collies are certainly right up there as are Aussies.
A few breeds not in the Herding Group also have strong herding instincts. Samoyeds and Rottweilers are notable in being the only two breeds not in the Herding Group that are allowed to participate in AKC herding competitions. Our first Samoyed, Qila, passed the HIT (Herding Instinct Test) and enjoyed herding.
I do not know of a ranking system for breeds but the HIT is the qualifier for participating in herding trials. It’s Pass/Fail.
When asked whether Border Collies were good with children a BC breeder once responded that it depended on what you meant by “good with children”. If you mean that within five minutes of letting a BC out into a yard with children the BC will have the children herded into a corner of the yard, yes, they’re good with children.
Blue Heelers?
Gray Shambler beat me to it