I train by myself most of the time. I don't mind, actually, I enjoy it. Yet, surprise, surprise, I end up with holes that can only be fixed with other people! I totally know it is common for young dogs to want to hold to the set out people when they begin to trial. I "know" that but when it happens to my young dog....I remember! Back to the drawing board and time for some time and miles and miles and miles!
Another set of eyes on training can be beneficial if not necessary. Sometimes I get in my own head and need a push myself to see things from a different perspective. With two "new to trialing" dogs and two puppies getting started.....every now and then a tune-up is in order. My personal mission is to find the balance between a dog doing things natural and my being able to over-ride that when necessary. Sisters, Sal and Sis are opposite sides of that knife: Sal being all about her...and Sis being all about me. I'm working on helping Sal find a better method while allowing me some input every now and then. All the while, Sis is being asked to be a little more responsible and get some things done on her own. And then there is me....it is so easy for me to just tell Sis what to do...and get mad at Sal of not letting me tell her what to do! Oh the life of working and training sheepdogs!
Then there are the "puppies" who are 11 months old and not really puppies any more. They are two sides of a knife as well....very different. Jon Snow is thoughtful and all about having fun. I was reminded yesterday that perhaps it is time to start developing his method on sheep. He is so nice when he is working well and thoughtful. I know he is too close but I wonder about opening him up or stopping him to show him what distance feels like. Watching another way of developing method was exactly why tunes ups with like minds are so important for me!
Josie is going to be nice in her own way. She is fast footed and quick minded and serious as a heart attack. I've taken a few weeks off with her....and yesterday she seemed like she ready for more. She is all about the "come on" and I'm wrestling with pace and not having her flank out of that pressure point instead of pushing through it. I want to keep that forward for sure.....but I don't want to encourage flanking.....so that dance begins.
I have always believed it is important to seek advice from trainers who are like-minded with my mission. I believe, given a chance...my dogs will find answers amongst the sheep and I have to die to all the things i could do to make them "perfect". Putting pressure on them to open them up, lying them down to keep them out of trouble, giving them too much trouble for messes or not enough accountability for small infractions that I might just ignore; that's my dance. Lastly, when I work with a trainer, I want honesty. I really despise sugar coated "your dogs look great" when I'm really longing to learn and develop a better relationship with each of my dogs. In addition, I prefer honesty that has the end result of my getting better.
The take away from my time yesterday looks like this:
Sal....perhaps I am spoiling her too much (LOL LOL) I need to continue working on getting in her head and having her respect me; she blows me off a lot! I need to work on my different correction tones (applies to puppies too) and maybe try some disappointment. My personal thought includes the fact I don't believe Sal trusts me nor believes in herself......so I'll work on that while I work on the respect.
The puppies both need to work on developing their method on sheep. That's what we will be focusing on for a while. The biggest confirmation was...YES they are ready for more and their little widows of learning are wide open. I thought that but was glad to hear I'm seeing things accurately......now the journey gets fun. Sunshine is coming next week........you'll find me in my bottom field in the new 250X300 pen I built for winter puppy training.
Seize the day!
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Monday, November 27, 2017
All The Things
I've dipped my toe back into the ocean of sheepdog trialing. Meeker has always been a bucket list trial for me and when I saw my name in the first draw I knew it was time to walk to the post and give Bella her Meeker spin. I'm so glad I did.
Meeker was all I had dreamed of with a side of more and a bit of less. For one, I thought the sheep were going to be dog eaters...and not a single dog was made a meal of or a snack for that matter. It was also very hot......the kind of hot that had us searching for shade mid day and thankful for the park along side the river that flows through Meeker. I spent many an afternoon under this tree with the girls.
There are so many things I loved about Bella's run....it was not perfect for sure but so much of our relationship was shown on that Meeker field. Once Bella got a hold of the sheep....it was exactly what Bella loves and does the best....the feeling and handling of those tough range sheep. Heat, altitude and age were not our friends and when we got to the pen, I was out of dog. But we touched the pen after her fantastic shed and her run earned us the "Shining Star" award for a first time at Meeker handler. I'm grateful to her for the honor!
For me personally, I have taken some trial time off after my Carbondale Finals. I had lost myself...or perhaps I was just lost....traveling all over, going to trial after trial, filming and chasing....always chasing to capture something a trial win might provide. I know I've hashed it out over and over in my head and here. My time off from the road has given me some grounding and insight into what is most important to me. Life, relationships, learning....those details have become a focus point. Sometimes I find myself off line a little....like in the movie Moana, I put my hand up and find my North Star and change my course back in the direction that is right for me.
Which brings me right back to my Rocking Dog Ranch blog.....it's time for a change here too. I want to be able to look back at my words and see my life...which is filled with my dogs, for sure, but is more than just training and trialing. My Nell is turning 11..gah where did the time go...and has career changed into nose work. It's a little search and rescue game but we just rescue odors that have been hidden in crooks and crannies at places like Lowes, Wilco and my barn! She loves it and tells me first thing in the morning, "it's Tuesday!" which is her class day! I've got my bees and all I'm learning ...first and foremost concurring my fear of them! I've taken up knitting which is a mind saver now that winter is coming and the days are shorter and shorter. And through Divine Intervention...I've embraced my inner child and am now the owner of a pony. Her name is Gloria and she ran with a big mob of valley sheep until she became too much for all the loading and hauling. Before that, rumor has it, she was ridden and taught to drive.....I'm now in search of a harness and pony cart for my tiny bundle of amazing heart happiness.
Indeed the thing that gets me up in the morning is the dogs and their sheep work. My worst days of working for my good friend beats some of my better days not working dogs. The journey of training the dogs, looking for holes and finding ways to have the dogs find their answers is indescribable. It's a very humbling experience.....especially now that I am getting my two puppies started. They are so different I'm digging deep to find their pace and methods.
So, here's to blogging about life......let it be filled with amazing adventure.....a life worth writing about.
Seize the Day!!!!
Meeker was all I had dreamed of with a side of more and a bit of less. For one, I thought the sheep were going to be dog eaters...and not a single dog was made a meal of or a snack for that matter. It was also very hot......the kind of hot that had us searching for shade mid day and thankful for the park along side the river that flows through Meeker. I spent many an afternoon under this tree with the girls.
 |
| This |
There are so many things I loved about Bella's run....it was not perfect for sure but so much of our relationship was shown on that Meeker field. Once Bella got a hold of the sheep....it was exactly what Bella loves and does the best....the feeling and handling of those tough range sheep. Heat, altitude and age were not our friends and when we got to the pen, I was out of dog. But we touched the pen after her fantastic shed and her run earned us the "Shining Star" award for a first time at Meeker handler. I'm grateful to her for the honor!
 |
| I touched the pen at Meeker!!!! |
For me personally, I have taken some trial time off after my Carbondale Finals. I had lost myself...or perhaps I was just lost....traveling all over, going to trial after trial, filming and chasing....always chasing to capture something a trial win might provide. I know I've hashed it out over and over in my head and here. My time off from the road has given me some grounding and insight into what is most important to me. Life, relationships, learning....those details have become a focus point. Sometimes I find myself off line a little....like in the movie Moana, I put my hand up and find my North Star and change my course back in the direction that is right for me.
Which brings me right back to my Rocking Dog Ranch blog.....it's time for a change here too. I want to be able to look back at my words and see my life...which is filled with my dogs, for sure, but is more than just training and trialing. My Nell is turning 11..gah where did the time go...and has career changed into nose work. It's a little search and rescue game but we just rescue odors that have been hidden in crooks and crannies at places like Lowes, Wilco and my barn! She loves it and tells me first thing in the morning, "it's Tuesday!" which is her class day! I've got my bees and all I'm learning ...first and foremost concurring my fear of them! I've taken up knitting which is a mind saver now that winter is coming and the days are shorter and shorter. And through Divine Intervention...I've embraced my inner child and am now the owner of a pony. Her name is Gloria and she ran with a big mob of valley sheep until she became too much for all the loading and hauling. Before that, rumor has it, she was ridden and taught to drive.....I'm now in search of a harness and pony cart for my tiny bundle of amazing heart happiness.
 |
| Living in the moment! |
 |
| The best adventures are shared with friends |
So, here's to blogging about life......let it be filled with amazing adventure.....a life worth writing about.
Seize the Day!!!!
Monday, April 24, 2017
I Kept Two
The puppies are growing up...probably not puppies any more. Perhaps they are teenagers.....because we most certainly have some naughty going on. I have a huge bolder rock wall that separates the upper deck parking in front of the garage from the back cement slab off the puppy hallway. Jon Snow LOVES to climb those rocks. One jump off a medium bolder had me cringing and when he tried to do it again (gah) I put up orange snow fence. He still climbs the rocks but the fence requires him to take a path down so he can squeeze under to play with Jo. Lesson 101 from puppy raising...be very careful what theme you pick for puppy litter name! I should have gone with the Sound of Music! Instead I have Jon Snow.....Master of the Watch of the Wall! May he go on to be ruler of the world with Daenerys when the show resumes! That's all I have to say on this matter!
I'm taking a "puppy class" which is really private lessons with an agility lady, gasp I'm really enjoying the classes which happen every other week. The gal has great ideas for things the pups and I can work on....all of which will help with core body strength in the future. This class motivates me to work with the puppies regularly. It also forces me to get them in the van and off of the ranch! I take them weekly to Nell's nosework class too...so they are getting van time.
Jon Snow is going through a growth spurt right now. One of my challenges has ben to have him put his front paws on a low box and then to sit without moving his paws off the box. Poor boy has resorted to putting his paws on the box, then stepping off to sit, after which he puts his paws back on the box.....ta da!!!! So freaking cute and smart. Of course tiny bug Josie can keep her paws on the box and sit, she can also sit on the box, lay on the box and put her hind legs on the box. Clever girl with fabulous body awareness!
I traded in my car for a caravan...back to the mom car for me. I LOVE IT!!! I've loaded it full of crates and can take dogs with me places in comfort. The pups can jump up in it without help now.....so awesome. If I were desperate I could even sleep beside the crates!! I love the options and ease...it makes me load the pups up more and take them places.
I also think it has come time to separate the pups a little. I am "thinking" of sending Josie off for a couple of weeks to a friend...and when I pick her up, leave Jon Snow. It will give them a month without each other and me two weeks with each of them. I'm working towards that end.
Every now and then, I am overwhelmed by my commitment. But then I breath...and enjoy the ride. I feel very fortunate to be able to keep two puppies.....and Sis is grateful too. She loves them both....in fact right now she is over in the corner playing bitey face with Josie. Yep, I kept two.
Seize the Day
I'm taking a "puppy class" which is really private lessons with an agility lady, gasp I'm really enjoying the classes which happen every other week. The gal has great ideas for things the pups and I can work on....all of which will help with core body strength in the future. This class motivates me to work with the puppies regularly. It also forces me to get them in the van and off of the ranch! I take them weekly to Nell's nosework class too...so they are getting van time.
Jon Snow is going through a growth spurt right now. One of my challenges has ben to have him put his front paws on a low box and then to sit without moving his paws off the box. Poor boy has resorted to putting his paws on the box, then stepping off to sit, after which he puts his paws back on the box.....ta da!!!! So freaking cute and smart. Of course tiny bug Josie can keep her paws on the box and sit, she can also sit on the box, lay on the box and put her hind legs on the box. Clever girl with fabulous body awareness!
I traded in my car for a caravan...back to the mom car for me. I LOVE IT!!! I've loaded it full of crates and can take dogs with me places in comfort. The pups can jump up in it without help now.....so awesome. If I were desperate I could even sleep beside the crates!! I love the options and ease...it makes me load the pups up more and take them places.
I also think it has come time to separate the pups a little. I am "thinking" of sending Josie off for a couple of weeks to a friend...and when I pick her up, leave Jon Snow. It will give them a month without each other and me two weeks with each of them. I'm working towards that end.
Every now and then, I am overwhelmed by my commitment. But then I breath...and enjoy the ride. I feel very fortunate to be able to keep two puppies.....and Sis is grateful too. She loves them both....in fact right now she is over in the corner playing bitey face with Josie. Yep, I kept two.
Seize the Day
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Shearing With a Twist
2017 shearing is now in the books...... what a shearing it was! Last fall, my new found friend, Marie from Olive Knits asked if she could do a little field trip during shearing. Sure...why not? Sounded like a great idea and something that was in line with what I want this ranch to become.....going back to roots. In mid January, when my shearing friend called to book a date....the second weekend in April sounded perfect! It was a little later than last year but I figured the date would make for better field trip weather!
Marie contacted me again to finalize the plans for the field trip and a couple of weeks ago I went into overdrive. The overdrive of....must beautify the place....people are coming! My nephew came out and we applied the next layer of beautifying the barn so field trip attendees could walk through and watch. Old barn wood was moved, walk ways swept of decades of crud, ancient milk stations torn down and the treasures of the deep things found in the feed that had fallen between the cracks hauled out. I wonder without answers when the milking portion of the barn was added? It can't be original 1856 because of the concrete that was used, or so I think.
But back to beautifying....I hauled in a dumpster and got rid of most of the garbage that was left behind post estate sale. Last on my list of things to do was: put up more lighting and buy new plywood.....which I put off to the last minute. Friday dawned and the wind storm that was predicted hit with full force and I found myself in 40 mph wind gust trying to finish up!
Not thinking to ask until the last minute how many people were coming....Marie told me...15! GAH! I began to plan how to park that many cars, plus all the help that was needed for the main event. My friend was also planning on brining her sheep over the night before.....another 20 or so headed through the barn with her trailer housing her rams overnight. Mother Nature took care of some of the parking....my friend could not get the sheep here early enough to have them be dry for shearing. She stayed home and will shear in May. Details were falling into place.
Saturday dawned bringing with it a little sun peaking through the dark clouds. I got up early and had the lighting and pens set so when the shearer arrived, he just needed to set his equipment.....and sounds system. I had been running the sheep through the barn all week to get them used to going in. Last year was crazy...this year, the sheep were perfect. We loaded the staging area and then waited.
The field trip attendees arrived and fun began. Jake, my shearer, is a professional shearer. He travels around shearing big mobs...I think he said he is a 5th generation shearer. He took a few breaks to talk to the ladies about the details of shearing. My sheep producing friend, Emily talked about sheep production in the valley. My friend, Adele, taught them about all things wool. The whole day had a festive feel to it........while the sheep were shorn and tended to....feet trimmed, sheep wormed and vaccinated. I ended the day with a little demo...ala Bella...down in the big field. She LOVED showing off and of course, did not want to come back up once we were done.
I'm hoping Maria does a little write up on the day for her blog. I have no photos of the day to share myself.....I stole this off my friend's Facebook page......
Now, Instagram is filled with pictures and stories of the field trip from new friends. @rockingdog tags are allowing me to see the day through other's eyes. I wish I could steal some of those photos....but alas, I can't figure out how to do that on Instagram.
I soldier on, my list of "what is important" hangs on the wall behind my computer. Relationships are top of that list.....through all the interactions, work, help, and fun..... the day of shearing was THAT.
Seize the day.
Marie contacted me again to finalize the plans for the field trip and a couple of weeks ago I went into overdrive. The overdrive of....must beautify the place....people are coming! My nephew came out and we applied the next layer of beautifying the barn so field trip attendees could walk through and watch. Old barn wood was moved, walk ways swept of decades of crud, ancient milk stations torn down and the treasures of the deep things found in the feed that had fallen between the cracks hauled out. I wonder without answers when the milking portion of the barn was added? It can't be original 1856 because of the concrete that was used, or so I think.
But back to beautifying....I hauled in a dumpster and got rid of most of the garbage that was left behind post estate sale. Last on my list of things to do was: put up more lighting and buy new plywood.....which I put off to the last minute. Friday dawned and the wind storm that was predicted hit with full force and I found myself in 40 mph wind gust trying to finish up!
Not thinking to ask until the last minute how many people were coming....Marie told me...15! GAH! I began to plan how to park that many cars, plus all the help that was needed for the main event. My friend was also planning on brining her sheep over the night before.....another 20 or so headed through the barn with her trailer housing her rams overnight. Mother Nature took care of some of the parking....my friend could not get the sheep here early enough to have them be dry for shearing. She stayed home and will shear in May. Details were falling into place.
Saturday dawned bringing with it a little sun peaking through the dark clouds. I got up early and had the lighting and pens set so when the shearer arrived, he just needed to set his equipment.....and sounds system. I had been running the sheep through the barn all week to get them used to going in. Last year was crazy...this year, the sheep were perfect. We loaded the staging area and then waited.
The field trip attendees arrived and fun began. Jake, my shearer, is a professional shearer. He travels around shearing big mobs...I think he said he is a 5th generation shearer. He took a few breaks to talk to the ladies about the details of shearing. My sheep producing friend, Emily talked about sheep production in the valley. My friend, Adele, taught them about all things wool. The whole day had a festive feel to it........while the sheep were shorn and tended to....feet trimmed, sheep wormed and vaccinated. I ended the day with a little demo...ala Bella...down in the big field. She LOVED showing off and of course, did not want to come back up once we were done.
I'm hoping Maria does a little write up on the day for her blog. I have no photos of the day to share myself.....I stole this off my friend's Facebook page......
Now, Instagram is filled with pictures and stories of the field trip from new friends. @rockingdog tags are allowing me to see the day through other's eyes. I wish I could steal some of those photos....but alas, I can't figure out how to do that on Instagram.
I soldier on, my list of "what is important" hangs on the wall behind my computer. Relationships are top of that list.....through all the interactions, work, help, and fun..... the day of shearing was THAT.
Seize the day.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
On A Roll!
I have some pretty darn amazing friends in my life.....right now, they are all off seizing the day and allowing me to live vicariously through them. I especially love the calls after a run....where they share their glories and disappointments and, together, we begin to sort out what might have happened. I LOVE that mental chess game! A common theme from the range ewe trials is that one ambitious ewe that appears to not want to flock and prefers to go off and do her own thing...testing the dog every step. "How to handle this?" being a common question being asked after a run with a rogue appearing ewe.
I remember back a few years...gah more like 7, when I went to a clinic with Nell. The clinician asked me what Nell had on her...and I said, "well, she knows everything." What I meant was.....she knows her commands....come bye, away to me, lie down (although one would never know this), walk on and steady. She absolutely knew those commands on dog broke sheep and, on said sheep, looked very shiny for the most part. With the patience of Job, this clinician stuck with me.....helping me to see that "knowing commands" and "knowing sheep" are two hugely separate skills for both me and my dog. Thus began my lifelong endeavor to know sheep, to allow my dog to know sheep through feel and lack of me telling them what to do every step of the way, to begin to really appreciate and respect that natural instinct that lies in my dog's DNA when it comes to sheep. Yes, the training of commands and the reciprocal allowing me to tell my dogs what to do is important. However, for me...... the ahhhh producing feel and understanding a dog has of sheep that have rarely seen a any dog besides a predator is what makes this journey magical.
I've been pondering sheep a lot this winter....because, heck what else did I have to ponder? Sheep, being a prey animal...and our dogs, being predators, brings a multitude of variable reactions to the field of sheep dogging and big gathers. What makes that one ewe go on a recon mission? Did she show any subtle signs she would be testing the dog? Did the dog give any feedback that they might allow the sheep to do whatever she wanted? I've been told about fight or flight.....and getting around the course is giving the sheep the option to flee the way we want them to in a walking fashion. I've also witnessed runs where the most belligerent sheep, sheep that had beat the set out dog and ran back to the pen a few times before being set, were settled down and trained around the course by a respected handler. I scratch my head and watch the video over and over and over. How did the dog and handler settle those sheep?
The idea of "bossing sheep around" is probably said tongue in cheek......I know I have felt like I wanted to boss sheep around many times. The idea of "I'll teach that ewe a lesson!" is so easy to fall into on a run going bad or when sheep do not want to go into the Pratley, cross the creek, or go through the footbath. Pulling the excuse out of my back pocket..."that is just a bad ewe"....makes life simple and yet top handlers rarely get bad ewes! How can that be? Sure, every now and then they do...but for the most part, top handlers end up at the top of the result list for a few reasons.....and most of the handlers KNOW sheep. I think back to that run in Virginia where Jack Knox drew up an recalcitrant ewe. Though his run did not get him through to Saturday......watching him work the sheep around the course was a clinic all in itself. I'm pretty sure he never had "we're going to boss these sheep around" in his mind ever. Perhaps there were a few times where Jack's dog told that one ewe what to do..but it always ended with the sheep being allowed to go. The run was all about pressure and the release of pressure....pressure corrects, the release of pressure trains.... together, Jack and his dog used this concept to get that packet of sheep around the course.
Studying sheep.....knowing what sheep are thinking before they actually think it.....understanding sheep behavior.......beginning to understand when to use pressure and when to allow escape......all the little fine details of just knowing sheep makes working sheep smoother. I'm not there yet! I sorted sheep with my sheep producing friend the other day. I used my dog, some shedding, and a gate to sort a few I was selling. I missed two so my friend sorted them out of the barn for me. She just used her body and her eyes. I seriously doubted her ability to get this done......wrong on my part! It was an international shed, allowing sheep to leave, while knowing exactly what to watch for and keeping the two back to the end. It didn't hurt that is still in her 20's! I think I need to do more of that.....moving and working sheep without my dog so I can understand them better.
I have a lot of respect for sheep.....we wouldn't have these dogs if it weren't for the sheep. My mentors have helped me learn that sheep are not stupid; like so many creatures, they do crazy things when they get scared. I'm beginning to learn that it is a life long endeavor to understand sheep. I love the never ending learning! That and the dogs are what keep me out of the bars at night LOL!
Seize the Day
I remember back a few years...gah more like 7, when I went to a clinic with Nell. The clinician asked me what Nell had on her...and I said, "well, she knows everything." What I meant was.....she knows her commands....come bye, away to me, lie down (although one would never know this), walk on and steady. She absolutely knew those commands on dog broke sheep and, on said sheep, looked very shiny for the most part. With the patience of Job, this clinician stuck with me.....helping me to see that "knowing commands" and "knowing sheep" are two hugely separate skills for both me and my dog. Thus began my lifelong endeavor to know sheep, to allow my dog to know sheep through feel and lack of me telling them what to do every step of the way, to begin to really appreciate and respect that natural instinct that lies in my dog's DNA when it comes to sheep. Yes, the training of commands and the reciprocal allowing me to tell my dogs what to do is important. However, for me...... the ahhhh producing feel and understanding a dog has of sheep that have rarely seen a any dog besides a predator is what makes this journey magical.
I've been pondering sheep a lot this winter....because, heck what else did I have to ponder? Sheep, being a prey animal...and our dogs, being predators, brings a multitude of variable reactions to the field of sheep dogging and big gathers. What makes that one ewe go on a recon mission? Did she show any subtle signs she would be testing the dog? Did the dog give any feedback that they might allow the sheep to do whatever she wanted? I've been told about fight or flight.....and getting around the course is giving the sheep the option to flee the way we want them to in a walking fashion. I've also witnessed runs where the most belligerent sheep, sheep that had beat the set out dog and ran back to the pen a few times before being set, were settled down and trained around the course by a respected handler. I scratch my head and watch the video over and over and over. How did the dog and handler settle those sheep?
The idea of "bossing sheep around" is probably said tongue in cheek......I know I have felt like I wanted to boss sheep around many times. The idea of "I'll teach that ewe a lesson!" is so easy to fall into on a run going bad or when sheep do not want to go into the Pratley, cross the creek, or go through the footbath. Pulling the excuse out of my back pocket..."that is just a bad ewe"....makes life simple and yet top handlers rarely get bad ewes! How can that be? Sure, every now and then they do...but for the most part, top handlers end up at the top of the result list for a few reasons.....and most of the handlers KNOW sheep. I think back to that run in Virginia where Jack Knox drew up an recalcitrant ewe. Though his run did not get him through to Saturday......watching him work the sheep around the course was a clinic all in itself. I'm pretty sure he never had "we're going to boss these sheep around" in his mind ever. Perhaps there were a few times where Jack's dog told that one ewe what to do..but it always ended with the sheep being allowed to go. The run was all about pressure and the release of pressure....pressure corrects, the release of pressure trains.... together, Jack and his dog used this concept to get that packet of sheep around the course.
Studying sheep.....knowing what sheep are thinking before they actually think it.....understanding sheep behavior.......beginning to understand when to use pressure and when to allow escape......all the little fine details of just knowing sheep makes working sheep smoother. I'm not there yet! I sorted sheep with my sheep producing friend the other day. I used my dog, some shedding, and a gate to sort a few I was selling. I missed two so my friend sorted them out of the barn for me. She just used her body and her eyes. I seriously doubted her ability to get this done......wrong on my part! It was an international shed, allowing sheep to leave, while knowing exactly what to watch for and keeping the two back to the end. It didn't hurt that is still in her 20's! I think I need to do more of that.....moving and working sheep without my dog so I can understand them better.
I have a lot of respect for sheep.....we wouldn't have these dogs if it weren't for the sheep. My mentors have helped me learn that sheep are not stupid; like so many creatures, they do crazy things when they get scared. I'm beginning to learn that it is a life long endeavor to understand sheep. I love the never ending learning! That and the dogs are what keep me out of the bars at night LOL!
Seize the Day
Friday, March 24, 2017
Finding Joy
Perhaps I should have named Josie Joy. She is the funniest puppy I have ever owned. She loves to pounce on things....all things including, and especially, her brother and her mama. She has this rare ability to make a game out of everything. Any found item becomes a toy.....wood chips, fern branches, old, dead toy remnants, tiny crawling bugs. She's very bold and confident; she has no issues attempting to take chews from her mom or letting the big, black, barking lab know she is not to be messed with at her first nose work field trip. She is also biddable, friendly, and takes corrections....for now anyway.
I really love Jon too. Although he is playful, silly, and rambunctious, he has a more serious side. He has some opinions and his own way of doing things. His leash is NOT his favorite training tool. He is very thoughtful and is very bonded to me....but he definitely marches to his own drum. Since I've never raised a boy pup before, I wonder if it is that Y chromosome, his genetic make up, my raising of him or a combination of all the above. He forces me to think outside the box.
The puppies are headed to Puppy Class starting next Monday. I am so excited! A good friend is going along to handle one pup while I work the other. Leash walking is top of the list of things I want them to love....that and riding in the car! I'm starting to drag them along with me to nose work class as well. With two, I have to discipline myself to work on all the puppy things that are important to me: leash walking, riding in the car, waiting patiently in their crates, sleeping in crates, coming when called and perhaps not trying to cut me off at the pass when I am walking!
I've retired Nell from sheepdog trialing and have career changed her into nose work. Nose work is like search and rescue to some degree....only thing is, we are rescuing "odor" in the form of anise, birch and clove. I started into nose work with Dottie Jean.....I had spent so much time on sheep with Dot....attempting to sort her tension. On the one hand, she was a natural. But on the other hand....the tension laid just under her skin and I'm not sure she found joy in her work. Together, we started nose work and she really blossomed.....she loved Tuesdays and even attended a few mock trials. Dot has since gone on to live with my good friend up in Washington and loves her life...filled with hikes and dog parks and people. She has a new best friend and is loving life....and I could not be more happy for her and my friend. After she left, I started Nell on nose work and just love to see Nell sort and figure out things....and shine. My little sheepdog, the one who took me to the finals and ran on Saturday......loves sniffing for things. She surprises me everyday with her ability to overcome......nose work class meets at crazy places like Lowes and dog training facilities....places Nell has never gone into. She does not care about the people, or the other dogs....she just loves searching for scents with me!
Here in the Pacific North West, we are having the wettest winter (in the history of the world according to me!) and the daily rain that started October 1 is relentlessly holding on. The weather man predicted it will last well into April.....at least turning into showers and not steady, mud producing, faucet impersonating rain. It's warming up and things are growing which is nice but frustrating as I see the hemlock growing unhindered by the spray I am longing to drench it in.....I can't because of the rain. The bees are eating me out of house and home...one hive is consuming a gallon of sugar water daily. Because they can't get out to collect pollen and nectar, I am feeding. My bee class says March is ofter the month of hive death because the bees have eaten their winter store and starve not being able to fly in the rain. Not if I can help it! Finally something I can feed the heck out of and not worry they will get fat!
As I wait, not very freaking patiently now, for some sun....these are the things that bring me joy. I know sunshine is just around the corner.....in the mean time, I'll get ready to hit the road running. Literally!!! Running is top of the list of things I have missed this long, crazy winter.
Seize the Day!!!!
I really love Jon too. Although he is playful, silly, and rambunctious, he has a more serious side. He has some opinions and his own way of doing things. His leash is NOT his favorite training tool. He is very thoughtful and is very bonded to me....but he definitely marches to his own drum. Since I've never raised a boy pup before, I wonder if it is that Y chromosome, his genetic make up, my raising of him or a combination of all the above. He forces me to think outside the box.
The puppies are headed to Puppy Class starting next Monday. I am so excited! A good friend is going along to handle one pup while I work the other. Leash walking is top of the list of things I want them to love....that and riding in the car! I'm starting to drag them along with me to nose work class as well. With two, I have to discipline myself to work on all the puppy things that are important to me: leash walking, riding in the car, waiting patiently in their crates, sleeping in crates, coming when called and perhaps not trying to cut me off at the pass when I am walking!
I've retired Nell from sheepdog trialing and have career changed her into nose work. Nose work is like search and rescue to some degree....only thing is, we are rescuing "odor" in the form of anise, birch and clove. I started into nose work with Dottie Jean.....I had spent so much time on sheep with Dot....attempting to sort her tension. On the one hand, she was a natural. But on the other hand....the tension laid just under her skin and I'm not sure she found joy in her work. Together, we started nose work and she really blossomed.....she loved Tuesdays and even attended a few mock trials. Dot has since gone on to live with my good friend up in Washington and loves her life...filled with hikes and dog parks and people. She has a new best friend and is loving life....and I could not be more happy for her and my friend. After she left, I started Nell on nose work and just love to see Nell sort and figure out things....and shine. My little sheepdog, the one who took me to the finals and ran on Saturday......loves sniffing for things. She surprises me everyday with her ability to overcome......nose work class meets at crazy places like Lowes and dog training facilities....places Nell has never gone into. She does not care about the people, or the other dogs....she just loves searching for scents with me!
Here in the Pacific North West, we are having the wettest winter (in the history of the world according to me!) and the daily rain that started October 1 is relentlessly holding on. The weather man predicted it will last well into April.....at least turning into showers and not steady, mud producing, faucet impersonating rain. It's warming up and things are growing which is nice but frustrating as I see the hemlock growing unhindered by the spray I am longing to drench it in.....I can't because of the rain. The bees are eating me out of house and home...one hive is consuming a gallon of sugar water daily. Because they can't get out to collect pollen and nectar, I am feeding. My bee class says March is ofter the month of hive death because the bees have eaten their winter store and starve not being able to fly in the rain. Not if I can help it! Finally something I can feed the heck out of and not worry they will get fat!
As I wait, not very freaking patiently now, for some sun....these are the things that bring me joy. I know sunshine is just around the corner.....in the mean time, I'll get ready to hit the road running. Literally!!! Running is top of the list of things I have missed this long, crazy winter.
Seize the Day!!!!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
A Season For All Things
Sigh...I look over to the right of my blog and see my blog list.....is it time to let go and clean it up? Sheepdog blogs are definitely a thing of the past.....sadly, some of the bloggers have passed on. I still go back and read Vet On The Edge...her writing brought so much normal, mixed with serious humor, to my life!
This year, I've written my list of things to do...and decluttering is top of that list. I've promised myself to declutter yearly....keep to the clutter less (or less clutter) ways of downsizing and moving. Funny how things stack up...bee supplies, books, dog gear, clothes......oh and yarn, gah. Perhaps decluttering the blog would be a good clearing as well.
Today we have SUN!!!! I want to take off all my clothes and run naked through the muddy wet field...okay, not really! But I am tackling a few things....1) planting my bare root Honey Crisp apple trees!!!!!! 2) planting my blueberry bushes!!!!!! And 3) getting into my bees!!!! Because, guess what? Rain is a coming!
I am doing a bee mentorship program with Oregon State University. My bee mentor is coming out today to help me sort my hives. I've been voraciously readying the bee book required.....out of three hives I attempted to winter over....I've got two that are very busy on warm, sunny days. The third....I'm not sure they made it. I'm looking forward to getting into that hive ands seeing what is up. If it is not strong, I'll mix it with a split from a strong hive later this spring. I'm thinking both big hives will require early splits before the blackberry nectar flows......hoping to keep swarming at bay this year. And then that is it for me....four hives is my maximum! I'm enjoying the bees...but they are labor intense if they are to be done correct. A person has to get into the hives every 16 days while the hives are growing to keep swarming away. And even after all that....there is the honey harvest...and then the August dearth....where the bees have no food source and the yellow jackets get MEAN. I am trying to plant ahead this year for August food for my bees.....I'm doing a bunch of sunflowers and a few other plants that bloom in August.
I planted 5 acres of my bottom 40 in clover last fall. Thanks to the folks who lease my property...they tilled it to the point of being able to plant! The bees are going to LOVE the clover...and if I can keep it grazed....clover should bloom will into the fall. Clover honey is delish....I'm thinking my honey will taste very different this year!
The puppies are growing, recalls are good for now, of course they know their names. They are sleeping in crates at night...we are in bed by 9 and up by 6 with no middle of the night potty breaks. A friend has volunteered to help me take them to puppy class....so we can get them leash trained and comfortable traveling and being in new places while meeting new dogs. Secretly, I look forward to sticking them on sheep...and some days the draw is hard to resist! But they are young....12 weeks yesterday....there is time to take and things to learn before they head to the round pen. I think back to the quote by Virgil Holland....."I've seen more dogs ruined by starting them too early, than staring them too late." So I will die to my curiosity......although when they see the sheep heading down to the bottom pasture to graze, and they pull up and watch....it makes my heart sing!
Seize the day!!
This year, I've written my list of things to do...and decluttering is top of that list. I've promised myself to declutter yearly....keep to the clutter less (or less clutter) ways of downsizing and moving. Funny how things stack up...bee supplies, books, dog gear, clothes......oh and yarn, gah. Perhaps decluttering the blog would be a good clearing as well.
Today we have SUN!!!! I want to take off all my clothes and run naked through the muddy wet field...okay, not really! But I am tackling a few things....1) planting my bare root Honey Crisp apple trees!!!!!! 2) planting my blueberry bushes!!!!!! And 3) getting into my bees!!!! Because, guess what? Rain is a coming!
I am doing a bee mentorship program with Oregon State University. My bee mentor is coming out today to help me sort my hives. I've been voraciously readying the bee book required.....out of three hives I attempted to winter over....I've got two that are very busy on warm, sunny days. The third....I'm not sure they made it. I'm looking forward to getting into that hive ands seeing what is up. If it is not strong, I'll mix it with a split from a strong hive later this spring. I'm thinking both big hives will require early splits before the blackberry nectar flows......hoping to keep swarming at bay this year. And then that is it for me....four hives is my maximum! I'm enjoying the bees...but they are labor intense if they are to be done correct. A person has to get into the hives every 16 days while the hives are growing to keep swarming away. And even after all that....there is the honey harvest...and then the August dearth....where the bees have no food source and the yellow jackets get MEAN. I am trying to plant ahead this year for August food for my bees.....I'm doing a bunch of sunflowers and a few other plants that bloom in August.
I planted 5 acres of my bottom 40 in clover last fall. Thanks to the folks who lease my property...they tilled it to the point of being able to plant! The bees are going to LOVE the clover...and if I can keep it grazed....clover should bloom will into the fall. Clover honey is delish....I'm thinking my honey will taste very different this year!
The puppies are growing, recalls are good for now, of course they know their names. They are sleeping in crates at night...we are in bed by 9 and up by 6 with no middle of the night potty breaks. A friend has volunteered to help me take them to puppy class....so we can get them leash trained and comfortable traveling and being in new places while meeting new dogs. Secretly, I look forward to sticking them on sheep...and some days the draw is hard to resist! But they are young....12 weeks yesterday....there is time to take and things to learn before they head to the round pen. I think back to the quote by Virgil Holland....."I've seen more dogs ruined by starting them too early, than staring them too late." So I will die to my curiosity......although when they see the sheep heading down to the bottom pasture to graze, and they pull up and watch....it makes my heart sing!
Seize the day!!
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