Saturday's Running Order

1 Lora Withnell Salem, OR Sally


2 Ron Green Nine Miles Falls, WA Tigr

3 Francis Chai Bend, OR Loon

4 Lana Rowley Malin, OR Nellie

5 Geri Byrne Tulelake, CA Dan

6 Laura Vishoot Cottage Grove, OR Brynn

7 Maggi McClure Vashon, WA Kep

8 Karen Child Culver, OR Jim

9 Lynn Johnston Camas, WA Anna

10 Cheryl Munson Orting, WA Flint

11 Sue MacDonald Longbranch, WA Jan

12 Rochelle Stanford Ramona, CA Koko

13 Noelle Williams Dear Park, WA Nap

14 Sandy Babb Myrtle Creek, OR Cap

15 Vickie Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Hanna

16 Bob Dias Ramona, CA Rock

17 Ian Caldicott Scio, OR Joe Kidd

18 Norman Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Gwen

19 Bob Hickman Yelm, WA Trooper

20 Ray Coapman Montague, CA Jill

21 Haley Howard Alturas, CA Ross

22 Karen Child Culver, OR Hickory

23 Bill Orr Eagle Point, OR Boone

24 Brian Ricards Bellevue, WA Doc

25 Diane Pagel Carnation, WA Nan

26 Heidi Hanson Graham, WA Pete

27 Karen Child Culver, OR Rock

28 Laura Vishoot Cottage Grove, OR Ripley

29 Lora Withnell Salem, OR Nell

30 Ian Caldicott Scio, OR Bear

31 Diane Pagel Carnation, WA Roo

32 Francis Chai Bend, OR Chime

33 Liz Hubbard Bonanza, OR Beatrice

34 Cheryl Munson Orting, WA Jett

35 Haley Howard Alturas, CA Bodie

36 Bob Hickman Yelm, WA CBK Mojo

37 Noelle Williams Dear Park, WA JumpinW Lad

38 Geri Byrne Tulelake, CA Jim

39 Ron Green Nine Miles Falls, WA Del ‘Mar Kane

40 Bob Dias Ramona, CA McCloud

41 Maggi McClure Vashon, WA Lil

42 Norman Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Jake

43 Susan Lindstedt Homedale, ID Vangie

44 Michele Howard Alturas, CA Jill

45 Lynn Johnston Camas, WA Jesse

46 Vickie Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Gail

47 Brian Ricards Bellevue, WA Mig

48 Sandra Milberg Santa Rosa, CA Quill

49 Lana Rowley Malin, OR Kell

50 Sandy Babb Myrtle Creek, OR Birch

51 Bob Harriet McMinnville, OR Poncho

52 Dave Imas Olympia, WA Cap

53 Amy Coapman Montague, CA Jean

District 1 Regional Running Order for Friday

1 Karen Child Culver, OR Rock


2 Laura Vishoot Cottage Grove, OR Ripley

3 Lora Withnell Salem, OR Nell

4 Ian Caldicott Scio, OR Bear

5 Diane Pagel Carnation, WA Roo

6 Francis Chai Bend, OR Chime

7 Liz Hubbard Bonanza, OR Beatrice

8 Cheryl Munson Orting, WA Jett

9 Haley Howard Alturas, CA Bodie

10 Bob Hickman Yelm, WA CBK Mojo

11 Noelle Williams Dear Park, WA JumpinW Lad

12 Geri Byrne Tulelake, CA Jim

13 Ron Green Nine Miles Falls, WA Del ‘Mar Kane

14 Bob Dias Ramona, CA McCloud

15 Maggi McClure Vashon, WA Lil

16 Norman Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Jake

17 Susan Lindstedt Homedale, ID Vangie

18 Michele Howard Alturas, CA Jill

19 Lynn Johnston Camas, WA Jesse

20 Vickie Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Gail

21 Brian Ricards Bellevue, WA Mig

22 Sandra Milberg Santa Rosa, CA Quill

23 Lana Rowley Malin, OR Kell

24 Sandy Babb Myrtle Creek, OR Birch

25 Bob Harriet McMinnville, OR Poncho

26 Dave Imas Olympia, WA Cap

27 Amy Coapman Montague, CA Jean

28 Lora Withnell Salem, OR Sally

29 Ron Green Nine Miles Falls, WA Tigr

30 Francis Chai Bend, OR Loon

31 Lana Rowley Malin, OR Nellie

32 Geri Byrne Tulelake, CA Dan

33 Laura Vishoot Cottage Grove, OR Brynn

34 Maggi McClure Vashon, WA Kep

35 Karen Child Culver, OR Jim

36 Lynn Johnston Camas, WA Anna

37 Cheryl Munson Orting, WA Flint

38 Sue MacDonald Longbranch, WA Jan

39 Rochelle Stanford Ramona, CA Koko

40 Noelle Williams Dear Park, WA Nap

41 Sandy Babb Myrtle Creek, OR Cap

42 Vickie Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Hanna

43 Bob Dias Ramona, CA Rock

44 Ian Caldicott Scio, OR Joe Kidd

45 Norman Close Coeur d' Alene,ID Gwen

46 Bob Hickman Yelm, WA Trooper

47 Ray Coapman Montague, CA Jill

48 Haley Howard Alturas, CA Ross

49 Karen Child Culver, OR Hickory

50 Bill Orr Eagle Point, OR Boone

51 Brian Ricards Bellevue, WA Doc

52 Diane Pagel Carnation, WA Nan

53 Heidi Hanson Graham, WA Pete

Four of Five

I just returned from a Kathy Kn*x clinic.....Fabulous, Fun and very Fascinating!  Last fall, Nell was bred to Kathy's Jake and four of the pups were at this clinic having a spin on the sheep.  It just made my heart sing!!!!

Dodger...aka Jake Jr

Gyp....aka Gypsy...aka Gypster...aka Mine!

Tweed...aka Peanut

And Jill...aka Amazon Amy...

The only pup we did not get to see was Grace....because she belongs to Kathy and lives in Missouri! 

It was so fun to see all these pups, what they bring to the sheep naturally.  They have some similar qualities and yet are very different.  Nell has stamped her pups with her fingerprint regarding physical looks.  I think all the pups looked fabulous...keen....and ready to go!  Thank you, Kathy, for the gift of Jake pups!

Seize the Day!

Getting Ready

Today was all about getting ready and crossing items off the to-do list.  First off...finally, Jake had his senior pictures taken..... 

Tony James...our photographer...is great...and very understanding.  Last week, Jake had to postpone his picture taking session because, I, his mother, did not want a big goose egg on his forehead to make the family history book in a forever photo!  Tony is also a sports fan and got some great off beat sort of shots in addition to the more traditional takes.  One step closer to graduation!

Then it was on to the Regional Field....getting ready for the trial that is......just one short week away....Dayton, Oregon will be the host to the District 1 Regional Sheepdog Championship.

This shot is from the set out back to the post...which you have to look real close for.....it is a tall orange traffic stick.

Evergreen has been more than kind to allow us to use this grass field.  The Evergreen Air Museum overlooks the top end and will hopefully lure folks over to watch.

This weekend, Bob and Alistair will be busy building pens and securing the grazing for the 300 head of sheep that will be delivered on Thursday. The count down begins!

Me, I'm off to a Kathy Kn*x clinic.....one I have been looking forward to for a very long time.  Four of Nell's pups will be having some sheep time at this clinic...and it will be fun to see them all and also hear Kathy's input.  It has been too long since I have worked with Kathy...over 5 months ago!
Seize the Day!!!!

Black and White

I delivered the puppies to Idaho yesterday...stopping at a friend's place in Walla Walla to stay the night.  Up early to get to my destination to work dogs before I began the long trek home. I do believe the puppies were as glad to get out of the car as I was....once we finally arrived.....

Smart little critters....full of adventure and creative naughtiness.....probably why puppies were made so cute.....so as we raise them the naughtiness doesn't seem so bad!



After a small relaxation break......I was asked if I wanted to work dogs!  "Really???" Or perhaps it was a rhetorical question.....a  nice way of say..."breaks over, get your running shoes on, sista!"

The field was very good sized and flat......the sheep were katahdin lambs.....and I worked all the girls who came along!  I started with Bella, because she is the dog that seems to have an "open window for learning" at this time.  Since my little hick-up at Sheep thrillz way back in July....I have been working on taking some tension out of Bella.  That requires some analyzing on my part...where exactly is the tension coming from....how is she responding to correction.....and does she ever become supple and tension free - in respect to distance from me, type of sheep, people setting, people and dogs setting.  As I take Bella new places and set up my work sessions.....it is always great to have a second set of eyes to evaluate my evaluation!  I have been to a few big fields in the past month....and interestingly enough.....most of the tension was leaving Bella...but her taking of my correction was not exactly presented in the fashion I was looking for......and my wishy-washiness of letting some behaviors go without addressing them......Bella is ready for some very Black and White direction from me.  That is what I was thinking...good to know I am on the right path.....now to get it and know when to give it back.  Sometimes I wish training sheepdogs was more Black and White for me!  Oh but then the journey would possibly be very boring so instead I continue on the path of Zen Sheepdog Training....ala Patrick Shann*han and Kathy Kn*x! 

I have been joking on Facebook about my new fitness regime....it is called "running up the field".  Jack Kn*x helped me sort Nell out a bit....and she is working so much better for me...but I have been feeling like it was time to give her back some of herself....and I find myself with a dog that has taken back too much!  I am not worried....well, maybe slightly as I run up fields and wonder if this might kill me!  "That which does not kill you...makes you stronger" certainly but I confess I might be struggling with weakness at the moment.  Down at The Border Collie Training Center.....the field running ended on a strong note.  Yesterday in Idaho....I ran again.  I ran for Bella, and I ran for Nell........this time the field added a few hurdles in the form of shallow ditches running through the field....and small jumps fashioned by river rocks!  In an effort to not have to run, I changed my tactic and brought out my pup...Gyp.  Instead of running, I was forced to walk backwards....which I do believe elicited some rather grumpy unlady-like words from my mouth....to the shock of he who was forcing this upon me!  At least walking backwards...I could strategize and work parallel to the hurdles.......leaving the smaller rock jumps to trip me up as my puppy giggled her way through torturing me!

Believe it or not.....these journeys of tearing up the miles are just the beginning to my wild and crazy October.  I could lay out my schedule but it would only put into words that could be proof positive that I need counseling and a herders anonymous program.  So I will just blog it as the month unfolds......

Seize the Day!

My Kind of Weekend....part II

Sunday morning, I woke up early and headed across the mountain pass to Bonanza, Oregon for a sheepdog trial.  Very convenient to have a sheepdog trial the exact same weekend as the wedding.  This fact made pulling out of Vashon a little easier pill to swallow.  The weather was perfect dog/sheep weather...cool cloud coverage with a slight breeze.  The sheep seemed to be border leicester crosses of some sort.....indeed they looked much like my coopworths!

Jeannie Helsley always makes me smile......doing her happy dance across the field!

The course was pretty big.....with terrain.  I think the outrun was somewhere around 550 yards.  The trial actually started on Saturday so all the dogs were having their second go.    



I was told a few "secrets" before sending my dog. A left outrun, the dogs could loose sight of the sheep.....the sheep were pulling hard to the left on the fetch and first leg of the drive. I decided to send Sally left......and much to my total shock and amazement....she ran out huge and deep!  I kept thinking "whose dog is this exactly!?"  I was not on my A game.....and on her lift...I was having a hard time determining whose dog belonged to me.....there were two set out dogs and all the dogs appeared to be taking my away whistle...but only because the set out dogs were being called off.  I thought Sally's run was a good one for the two of us.  She worked hard....never stopped coming on herself....and took all my whistles.  I flubbed the lift...which created a bit of issue on the fetch...and the outcome was seen at the pen.  But all in all...I like where Sally and I are headed!

Nell....oh my dear....Nell.  She has not done outruns where she looses sight of her sheep....and my lack of detailed observance and not being there the day before.....created my poor timing of not helping her get out when I should have.  I really rattled her on the outrun......and by then....Nell was not thinking, listening or doing much of anything clever.  I had to leave the post and go up the field to get a stop!  I called her off and that was that.  Back to the drawing board........things to look at....STOP (broken record) and having her let me help her on her outrun.  In other words...I need some bend outs and pull ins.

That night Marylin and I headed over to the Border Collie Training Center and worked dogs.  I worked Nell in a small field reminding her what a 'lie down' whistle sounded like and just exactly what it should look like!  Gyp took a spin in the same field on a group of 12 sheep.  And Bella worked with Marylin standing in amongst the sheep and moving around.  I....well, I had sooo much fun working dogs and having discussion with Marylin and Geri! 

Monday morning turned into a 'girl party'!  Marylin, Geri and I headed out to a big field to start playing tag.  Nell was my first dog...and I thought she would have a nice lie down after our chat the night before.  Needless to say....I am sore today.  Sore from running up the field when Nell would not take the first lie down....and all corrections were dust blowing past her shut ears!  She did not get the sheep any times she did not take the lie down....and finally I shortened the whole thing to 250 and got a great stop and nice lift.  I put Nell away, or rather tied her to the 4 wheeler.

Bella worked on outruns and lifting off people and dogs.  She was splendid for Bella...in times of chaos with the trailer, dogs and people, we only had a small stall once.  We are getting better, Bella and I.  Geri asked if I had one big outrun left in me....I grabbed Nell and sent her about 400 yards and almost fell over with the need of oxygen when Nell took my stop whistle and actually had a thoughtful lift!  Maybe tying her up and having her watch Bella's stop session left an impression on my little Nell. 

The rest of the 'girl party' showed up with Lana, Angie, and Sandra all coming out to have sheep work.  Here Lana and Angie play tag....

It certainly was my kind of weekend.  Filled to the brim with good friends.....dog work....and fabulous conversations that included the sharing of ideas and observances from both the runs and the training.  October is turning into the most amazing month for my dogs!  I'll keep posting along the way.....

Seize the Day!

My Kind of Weekend!

I just got home from one FABULOUS weekend!  A weekend that had me pulling out of Vashon......a sheepdog trial I signed up for out of weakness and old age, forgetting my good friend's wedding that very same weekend.  Being one to make a fun vacation out of my change of plans...or sticking to my original plan of attending the wedding.....I hit the road for Jacksonville!  Seize the weekend!

A sheepdoggin friend of mine agreed to loan me a bed and a pillow!  Little did I know...I was headed to a beautiful Italian Vineyard!  Better than the best Bed and Breakfast!  Gosh I love my friends!!!

I was told to go explore...take the dogs for a walk in the vineyard.....it was amazing...beautiful...beyond words!  The grapes are a few weeks from being harvested so I had to keep an eagle eye on the dogs, who wanted to try a sample of the snacks just hanging their for the taking.

 I could so move in...well, maybe not when the temps hit the summer highs...but wow! what a visit!

After a long walk.....I headed out to the wedding....driving through memory lane.... Jacksonville.  My grandmother used to take all us granddaughters to Jacksonville every summer to visit the museum and embrace our heritage.  Our great, great, great grandpa Vincent was one of the pioneers to come across the Oregon trail into California and coming up into Oregon to settle in the Rogue Valley. Saturday, I was one of the "dreaded" tourist who had to stop and take pictures of this....

deer grazing smack dab in the middle of town!  This was one of two fawns and a doe who could have cared less that I was taking their pictures!  Not sure the town folks like them...but I thought they were very cool!

The wedding was beautiful....an amazing couple that I am glad to call friends!  It was a great first day to a three day weekend......

Seize the Day!