A Mentor is Worth Their Weight In Gold......

Yesterday, I began my "uncluttering of the house" mission...and stumbled upon a video of a lesson I took with Patrick Shannahan dated January 27.....2006!  I'm trying to figure out how to get my portion of the video on youtube....I need a son to help.  All that to be said...yikes!

I began my journey of working dogs on sheep in August of 2004, starting with a local sheep farmer and moving in a different direction in November of that same year.  In May of 2005, I had purchase my comfy 10 acres and filled the fields with sheep.  Nine months later...I was taking a lesson with Patrick up at Brigand's Hideout. 

On the one hand...it was fun to see how far I have come with respect to my relationship with my dogs, how I train, and what I see.  On the other hand...it was absolutely, to the core, painful to watch! During the first round of viewing I kept saying to my video self things like..."stop going at your dog", "let her cover", "check the pace", "stop flicking your crook" and finally..."what the heck were you thinking!?!!!"

The second time of watching the video..I watched Patrick.  And I listened intently to the sage words he said....which I think he says to me every time I work with him!  He recommended this book

which I did not break down and buy for many years.
Patrick talked about "reading the sheep" and "pacing the dog instead of using a lie down" and....well pretty much a lot of words he says to me time and again.  He was kind yet firm...with both me and my dogs.  I can't tell you how thankful I am that he stuck with me all these years.  I am thankful that he never gave up on me....though looking back...I do see many days he could have.  Over the years, he has been quite honest with me about my training, handling and dogs.  Gently encouraging me to let go of my obsessive training for one...and kicking me in the pants to step up and figure out another.  The value of a great mentor is immeasurable!

This video find came at a great time for me....as I work with friends and their dogs.  I sometimes forget where I have been...what it looked like...what it felt like.  I wish I would have made goals to attach to that video....I'm not sure I thought I could be an open handler on that day in January of 2006.  Today, as I think over all I am seeing way back, 5 years ago, working dogs....I long to be a little more Patrick-like and a little less...well....."particular". Not so much when it comes to me and my dogs....I love being "particular" with myself...but in helping those who have asked me to be a part of their lives.  "Let the sheep show the dog", "people like to learn but not all like to be taught" "consider not training with every person available, but pick one method and be true to it for a time".....these words are the fingerprints left in my mind from those who have invested in molding me. "You get to keep what you give"....may I be trustworthy of giving.

I shared with Patrick that I found that video.....I wanted to say so much more in the email than my generic "thank you." Things like, "forgive me" and "thanks for believing in me" and "please don't give up on me".  He wrote back and said, "I can still remember that lesson with Snook and Porsche. I let you talk, and knew that you were in for a much different journey than you ever expected." True words, Mr. Shannahan, true words. I have been so blessed to have some pretty awesome folks come along side me.....providing honesty, truth, discussion, belief, opportunity, butt kicks, hugs and Kleenex!

Pick well those who come along side your journey.

Seize the Day!

Relationship.....

I participated an interesting conversation yesterday as I worked dogs amongst friends.  Much of the focus of discussion was on training the dog.  As I stepped back to develop my thesis to defend why I felt the dog training was a small portion of what was happening at that time...I found myself thinking of the two other important aspects of the final product of working a dog on sheep.  One would be the training of the handler....to see/know what the sheep are thinking/doing and to also see where the dog needs to be in regards to the sheep to accomplish the desired task.  And the most important aspect that is often not mentioned or discussed: the "relationship" between the trained dog and trained handler.  Of the three....if feels like the "relationship" is the hardest for me to wrap my head around....or put my finger on...to describe exactly what I am longing for in each of my dogs. And yet it can be the most important nuance to the final product of working sheep with a dog.

While I was out doing chores at the ranch today, I kept thinking about relationship and what exactly does that word mean to me.  Dictionary.com defines relationship as "a connection, association, or involvement."  Now that is seriously lacking.....so I continue to sort through definitions...."an emotional or other connection ".  Still missing the mark....."the mutual dealings, connections, or feelings that exist between two parties".  Reality check here...a dictionary is not going to help me put into words the relationship I have and continue to strive to deepen with my working dogs.

I realized a great start in defining that elusive fog like apparition of "relationship" can be looked at first, by what it is not.  It is not about make.  I think back to Jack Knox telling me "when you get your dog to stop for you...instead of making her stop for you....you will be able to run your dog".  I can't make my dog have a relationship with me....well at least not the relationship I am striving for.

 I'll add in some of what I believe relationship is founded on.....respect.  Yep there is that word...the one  that can turn the most "pet oriented" dog owner into an anti-anthropomorphism authority.  The same person that allows dogs to jump up on them and nip them....leave for the sheep without permission....often becomes all defensive when the word "respect" is used in regard to their "relationship" with their dog.  However, in my journey....respect is something I am looking closer at....with each and every one of my dogs....every step of the way.  I happen to believe that disrespectful behavior off sheep towards me....takes away for the relationship "on sheep" that I am working towards.  And I do believe that dogs are capable of respect/disrespect....both giving it and getting it amongst their pack order and with humans.

 Holding hands with respect in equal measure is "trust", "obedience", "understanding", and "accountability".  Obedience and training......leads to understanding of the job and what is being asked.....with the trust that neither will be left out hanging as we have each others' back.  Accountability on both parts....my punishment will fit the crime and I will let it go and not hold a grudge....while I trust my dog to do what every DNA strand is telling them to do unless I ask different.

My mentor once told me (here interpreted by my own words) that every now and again you go to a sheepdog trial and see a dog that takes your breath away.  However, at the end of the day...it is generally the dog and handler working together with a deep relationship that makes for a great run. 

How do you define "relationship"?  Do you long for greater understanding and the probing of unexplored depths in your relationship with your working dog?  Do you feel "relationship" is important?

Do you think my husband should come back from Arizona so I can stop thinking and just do?

Seize the Day!!!!

United It Can Happen

My youngest son is in high school. I know...so many of you can not believe that I have a son that old....nor that it could be my youngest!  I always jest I was a child bride.  A few years back, the division that oversees high school athletic events in Oregon made some pretty strict rules about how fans could cheer.  These rules came mostly because the cheering was heading down the path of being very pointedly negative. It was hard for the kids to get into the groove of showing support for their teams within the new rules.....rules that became more strict as our society tried to get some sort of control to stop the terrible consequences of bullying across America.  Early on, many a night we went to basketball games with only a handful of student fans in attendance.

The high school administration met with a group of kids, at the high school where my son attends, to help develop some school spirit within the OSAA guidelines.  Over the past two years the kids involved have gotten quite creative: forming a group called the Rowdy Dowds.  In my cave-girl day we were the pep club.....now it is a cool, hip Rowdy Dowd club.  And they do stuff like this......

This is my son...who shaved his head and put on old man clothes and a mustache  for "senior citizen day"....a Rowdy Dowd event for a volleyball game.  The Rowdy Dowds left the volleyball game to go support the JV football game....parading across the field at half time.  Many parents at the football game had no clue who the old folk wanna be's were until the very end! 

Every game...win or loose...this group of kids did crazy spirit filled stuff....like Jersey Shore Night:

Our local newspaper put on a competition to see who could make the most spirit filled video.  The stakes are high....$500 to the group of the winner's choice as well as $500 to the winner.  My son and his friends made a video.....and dedicated the total sum $1000 to keep spirit alive at South Salem High School! 

Personally, I am very proud of these kids.  They have made a unique, fun experience within the rules that others struggled to follow.  I am not saying they don't skate the line sometimes but they sure are having a lot of fun doing it!

If you want...you too can help them by going to this web site ROWDY DOWDS HOMECOMING VIDEO VOTE and click "like".  I think you need a facebook account to vote.....

I feel so blessed to be a part of the fringe of this really special group of kids.  They are doing such positive things in a day and age where it seems that so much focus is on the negative side of teenagers.   Join with me in giving support back to them......

Seize the Day!

Because I was there.....

Yesterday, after I made a cute little felted lamb with a big head.....I made arrangements to head over to Palm Cottage to work the girls on a bigger field.  I was already down south...what the heck!  As much as I loved spending time with my friends and getting in touch with my "crafty" side.....it is the working of dogs that makes my heart sing.  There you have it....true confessions of a dog addict.

There are a few local one-day, winter trials coming up and I think Bella might be ready to visit the trial field after her long hiatus.  Try as I might, I could not get any serious tension out of her while working with Scott Glen....time to increase change and look closely at criteria.

Out of 4 larger outruns, she only exhibited tension once...and was able to be corrected out of it.  Thinking over this one view of Bella tension, I realized she was sliding through that first initial stop at the top and correcting that gave me a supple dog.  She is beginning to feel her sheep and sort out the pressure point.  These sheep were a gift of quick-footed lightness and seeing Bella sort through how far off she had to be to work them calmly was amazing.

Next up was Miss Nell.  She is working on her fetch......and as always.....keeping her head on light running sheep. 

Sage words....training is often like chocolate.....a little will do you.  In other words....more is not always better!  That certainly is an interesting way to look at chocolate!

Gyp had the privilege of coming out and working these light sheep......I was curious and excited to see how she would respond.  It is fun to see young pups sort it out, find the distance, get control of the sheep, and start to read and feel them.  I'm very much enjoying this journey we are on.

I've been thinking a lot about Brene' Brown's talk on authenticity.  While thinking, I've been spending some time on her blog Ordinary Courage; reading her entries and listening to more talks on Wholehearted living.  Interesting to be putting a few footprints on this path...certainly not comfortable but, like exercise and eating for health....a "good thing".  Brene' interviews a gal by the name of Myriam Joseph and asks her "what are your greatest creative barriers?" Myriam replies, "My greatest creative barriers are the groups of squatters that take up space in my head. They lay around all day, shouting their bad advice and accusations, they don’t work, they don’t pay rent, they just talk, talk, talk."  I have a few squatters in my head as well.....and maybe even a few in my real life.....perchance it is time to embrace venerability and continue to strive for authenticity.

Seize the Day!

fun, Fun, FUN

Today started with a field trip down to Kenleigh Acres Farm where my good friend Shannon was teaching a felting class.  Now admittedly, I am not the craftiest person ever.  At least not in the "arts and crafts" sort of way...though friends might find me crafty in other ways.  Shannon assured me that I could be successful at felting a little lamb.....and being open minded to getting in touch with that other side of my brain......I was there taking her class.

Shannon kindly put a finished example on the table.....so I could visualize what the end result would look like. 

Then she gave me the necessary items to make my sheep.....which in my very humble opinion looked nothing like what I was shooting for.  I think I heard her mutter something about patience and virtue....we continued on.

Shannon then began to give detailed instruction on how to make a sheep.  Patiently starting with step one: telling and showing as she went.

A couple of my other good friends were there with me....learning right along side of me how to make cute little felted lambs.  Both of them are fiber fiends and crafty to the core so I had to push myself to keep up.

The most difficult step for me was the making of the sheep ears.  They are tiny and need to be a nice shape...and equal but mirror...you know, left ear versus right ear.  Shannon was very patient!

 Once the face, ears, and legs were made.....we atteched them by felting them onto the prepared body.


Adele assembles her sheep.

TA DA!

Not baaaaad for the first attempt at making felted sheep!  Though I admit to coming  home and making my sheep face a little tidier..... Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!  Thanks Shannon for being such a kind, gentle teacher......with a great sense of humor!

Seize the Day!                                      

Are Your Ready to Expand Your Perception?

A friend suggested watching this.......it is well worth the twenty minutes..........



Whole Hearted......

Seize the Day!

When in Doubt....Blow Them OUT

I just got home from the Island Crossing Sheepdog Trial that was held up in Arlington, Washington.  This is the same field that the girls and I ran on in August...so I was looking forward to seeing if we had made improvements.

Nell ran first for me....and thanks to all the help and support of my good friends...I did indeed take the correct dog to the post!  She really wanted to go right....but the course was definitely a left send with tons of pressure at the top.  As Nell left my feet...she started coming in...I blew her out on the fly...she took it.  I gave one more little blow out as she entered the big ravine that runs through the field....and she came up out of that ravine bending left.  Atta girl Nell!  The rest of the run was pretty rattled but I loved her blow outs.

Sally crossed both time in August....so this time, I blew her out as she entered the ravine with the same result....she came out bending left!  Her run was real nice and we will continue our shed work.  I liked how she ran for me!

My friend Geri has been talking to me at trials....as I have a tendency to not support the dogs on the outrun if it starts coming in.....and then end up with a cross as I frantically try to get the bend out once the dog is committed to cross.  She says "spend a point, save a run".......this mantra is now stuck in my head and I am watching the outruns to support my dogs littlest intention of starting to come in. At the end of the day....I think this will add to the relationship I am developing. When in doubt...blow them out.

I also got the chance to talk to a "finger whistler" to help me sort out what I might be doing wrong with my whistles.  Mine often sound airy....like blowing a wood flute....and I want crisp like a brass whistle.  She really took some time to help me sort it.....so now I have home work.  Thanks Vicki Close! 

As I left the trial...her parting words to me were "some people like to learn, but not all like to be taught."  That is a good thought to ruminate on.....I think I am a little of both.  I like to work through things on my own...and get some instruction when I find myself not sorting it. I'm also learning to value consistency.....

Seize the Day!