Ewe/Topia Is A Field Of Dreams For Owners, Dogs

It isn't Camelot, but Ewe/topia is right in the neighborhood.

For dozens of owners and their dogs, this pastoral Roy (Pierce County) getaway exudes an addictive euphoric magic that spells RELIEF from a week of frenzied stress in the city.

Ewe/topia is a 10-acre farm, owned by Joe Kapelos and his wife, Linda Leeman, who are herding-dog trainers extraordinaire.

"It's my haven away from the telephone and city noise," says Margaret LaTour, of Seattle, who makes the drive each Sunday with her 2-year-old German shepherd Hoffmann.

"Hoffmann senses when it's time to head to the country," adds LaTour, "and his adrenalin begins flowing.

"For me, it's a respite from all my cares and worries. I can put them all behind for a few hours and just concentrate on working Hoffmann."

Kapelos knows dogs - and their owners.

"They're out here to enjoy themselves," says the 51-year-old, 25-year Postal Service employee. "Everyone progresses at his or her own pace. This is not a pressure-cooker atmosphere where they have to perform, but most who become serious return weekly."

Variety aplenty

They come in all shapes and sizes - both owners and dogs. You might find a Yorkshire terrier, silky terrier or Chihuahua working sheep one hour and a German shepherd, Australian shepherd or Old English sheepdog the next.

"I get withdrawal symptoms every time I miss a week," says Dianne Schoenberg, of Seattle, who makes the three-hour round trip almost weekly with her two Briards, K.C. and Patience, and Old English sheepdog, Chloe, all of which are conformation and obedience competitors, too.

"At first, I felt like a city gal on farmers' turf. Now, Ewe/topia is my second home."

Schoenberg's Sunday sojourns have reaped an added bonus. "I teach obedience and I've learned a lot from Joe and Linda about how dogs' minds work. Joe has taught me to focus on the dog's drive. Too many obedience instructors tend to control the dog and shut it down. Here, it must exhibit heart and desire to work the livestock."

A University of Washington Medical Center data manager, Schoenberg adds, "I'm an analytical person, but Joe has convinced me to go with the flow. Too much thinking can be counterproductive in herding. You must develop an intuitive understanding on how the livestock will behave and respond quickly."

For Dr. Braden Wolf, a Tacoma veterinarian, and her 7-year-old silky terrier, Dan, Ewe/topia offers a "complete and total escape from all the trials and tribulations of daily life. It's as good as a trip to the Bahamas."

Good reader

Kapelos has an uncanny ability to read people and dogs, she says. "His game plan for each dog allows it to progress at a comfortable pace."

Kapelos, who writes a monthly herding column for Front and Finish magazine, conducts seminars and training sessions in Canada and the United States, offers classes Tuesday through Friday evenings, Saturday afternoon and an all day Sunday.

Field time is $7 on Sundays, which is first come, first served, and $10 other days. Instruction is offered 47 weeks a year in all conditions.

A native Iowa farm boy, Kapelos traces his herding antecedents to the mid-1970s when he "inherited an Australian cattle dog" while living in nearby Graham, Pierce County. Previously, he trained sentry dogs for the Army and dealt with the public's problem canines ("most were fear biters"), from a Burien area kennel.

"The cattle dog was nothing to look at, but friends asked if I was gonna work her. I was living on a 10-acre farm with a few cows, sheep and goats. I began asking farmers nearby if I could work their stock with the dog. Most were reluctant."

Dog helps out

Fate interceded, however. Early one morning as he headed out to pick up some hay, Kapelos encountered a frantic woman trying to coax several free-roaming cows on Meridian Avenue to their pasture. "I stopped and asked if she needed help. At that point, she was ready to accept almost anything. The dog jumped out of the truck and within three to four minutes all of the escapees were back home.

"Her husband called that night to thank me and said anytime I wanted to bring the dog over to work his farm animals, it would be fine."

Word spread around the farming community about Kapelos and his four-legged partner and soon they was welcomed by numerous farmers. A second career was launched.

Most of his clients are women - "Men become embarrassed when they're overheard talking to their dogs" - and come from all professions: banking, state patrol, teaching, computer technology, sales, veterinary medicine, etc. "Most are living a dream out here. They remember what they did as kids with their dogs and are trying to refine it as adults.

"Just about any dog has a herding instinct," he says, "but quite frankly, I instruct the owner as much as I do the dog. Some are easier to teach than others."

Herding has a tendency to bring anyone with an ego right down to earth, he says. "It can be a truly humbling experience. Some wonder right away - Is my dog dumb? Or am I not controlling it correctly? Am I out of shape or just clumsy?"

On a first visit, Kapelos brings owner and dog into a training corral with several "Velcro" (so called because they stick together) sheep. "It's a chance to size up the dog's instincts. Nothing more. Some blossom quickly, others take two or three times to get into it.

Progression varies

"Dogs are like people," he explains. "Their personalities and sensitivities vary. What works for one, doesn't necessarily cut it for the next. They will progress at different paces."

After the initial instinct test, which ranges from 10 to 15 minutes, workouts will increase. "Unless the dog is in excellent physical shape on its first visit, it will become tired rather quickly and lose concentration," says Kapelos.

As training progresses, Kapelos keeps a close eye on the animal's focus. "When it loses concentration and the stock get tired, there's a tendency for the dog to bite and the sheep to fight back."

Ewe/topia clients often begin with the intention of just enjoying a fun outing with their dog, but quickly recognize potential and find themselves headed in an unforseen direction.

"Herding is not a magic pill," says the instructor. "In fact, I tell beginners, it's like dancing with five partners to bad music."