Epic Fail

I went out a few days ago with the goal of taking some working shots of Gyp for an upcoming post.  My attempt ranks right up there along side my Thanksgiving sweet potatoes this year.  Trying to take pictures while working a soon-to-be year old pup on sheep..... = EPIC Fail!

It is nice that the sheep are in "focus"...I mean they are such lovely sheep and all!

Gyp Bokeh 

For goodness sakes....really?!

Me thinks she might be a little close...and just for Monique....I think this might be an example of the sheep not stopping the dog......just sayin'!

And my all time favorite:

This has so much potential for being a nice picture.  Back to the drawing board.....note to self :  take camera and ask friends to take pictures while working the pup.  If I make them stand with me....they can't put me in the shot!

Seize the Day!

Progress.....

After snow thwarted my weekly Knee Deep visit.....Friday found me at my little slice of heaven doing some pre-trial clean up.  Sally and I shed....Nell fetched straight....and Bella stopped.  Saturday morning, I loaded up the car and headed to Palm Cottage for the last leg of the Willamette Valley three trial winter series.  I have to say...the scores I was handed did not reflect the amount of work, trust, and improvement that each of my girls showed!  I am proud of so many different aspects of each girls' run.  But Bella's run made my heart sing.  She is sorting out her tension...and though I am missing a subtlety in our partnership....something like vanilla, or cinnamon, or maybe a pinch of salt....we have made huge strides. 

I worked Bella with KK in October...and we sorted out a portion of tension...setting up huge draws back onto her as she lifts and then stops.  Going home, I set up pressure back onto her and slightly laterally and saw her grip at home, a place where she had not gripped for months. Now two months later, she is settled back into calm controlled sheep work and nothing rattles her with the familiar flock, regardless of the task.  At both of the last trials she has participated in, she seems to amp up when sheep run or try to break away from the lift.  The good news is, I can talk her out of it...and both trials she has settled back into working and trusting and being very biddable, allowing for handling and also thinking for herself.  So what is it that is creating the initial tension? 

Yesterday, I was able to work her in a big field with light reactionary sheep and a person setting that was willing to create a bit of sheep chaos as Bella came in to lift.  Try as we may.....Bella never did show an ounce of tension!

Here, Bella shows that she can actually lie down at the top.  I have been letting her have her feet....and trying to stop my end of a fight over a stop.  It is good to see this progression.....it feels like we are on the right path.

With age, Bella is showing a bit more eye....loose enough for me to be able to place her but enough where she is gaining some feel on her sheep.  I like that she allows me to pull her around off the fetch to drive the sheep back to the set out instead of fighting to bring the sheep all the way to my feet.  Time and miles...and miles...and miles.

It is good to take a look at where we have been.....an immature youngster with some serious tension.  As well as taking a close look at where we are today....maturing beautifully with confidence and trust.....and yet still a bit of tension.  Lastly, looking at goals and possible was to improve understanding and send that tension packing.  Is it age? experience? me and the excitement of a trial?  running sheep? set out dog? big field? unknown?  I'll keep plugging along....analyzing, sorting, and looking for ways to become all that a team mate can be. 

Seize the day!

A First For Gyp

Funny how many of my Pacific Northwest Blogging Peeps are writing about snow.  Well, not really funny....I don't particularly care for snow and in fact..in you look carefully...it is a four letter word!  I'm not a 'too hot' kind of girl...that is for sure.  But on the other hand, I am not a 'too cold' kinda girl either.  Today. right now, we are sitting at 23 degrees...to dang cold for me.  And yet, I can still be thankful that I am not down with Geri and Lana in -7 degree temps.  Sunday, I busted a groove at the ranch putting stock tank heaters in with each group of sheep......yesterday  they all had access to ice-free water.  I also put a heater in the pump house.....the sheep and llama are good as long as the electricity stays flowing! 

I just realized that this was Gyp's first snow...as she ran out into the back yard and then did big huge loping  circles...running with her nose leaving a snake path in the snow.  Really, we don't have much of the white stuff....just enough to grumble about on my end...and make good fun out of on Gyp's end.

In fact, all the collies find fun competitive games to play in the backyard frosty white.  Oh to be a dog and find joy in this!  Me, I could barely step out onto the back porch to snap this...and could not get back into the house fast enough to stand in front of the fire, trying to remember why I complain about 90 degree summer days.

Today is to be the end of our snow here for a while.....maybe Mother Nature got it out of her system....however, I think this might be her way of preparing us for what comes next. Wonder if she is taking requests.....

Seize the Day!

Maltese-r

After cheering, screaming, and yelling my brains out at my son's playoff football game Friday night.....I got up early Saturday morning and headed down to Roseburg's own Magnolia Farm for a sheepdog trial.  Perhaps I had too much cheer the night before....I certainly felt a little hungover.  I really love it down at Magnolia Farm....the sheep are lively and pretty darn honest, we ran on a ewe and two nice big lambs...the course has it complications...and the open runs end with one of these......

that would be a Maltese Cross.  This particular obstacle is challenging for a number of reasons....first, the opening to each aisle is not very big nor inviting....second, once in the cross the sheep are supposed to flow through the alley...but can slip at the 90 degree turns in the middle and come out wrong....third, the handler has to stay in a particular corner of the cross and can't break the panel plane to assist the dog.  Very challenging to say the least.

However, the whole run has its challenges.  To get a bigger outrun, a gate, located on the far right,  is opened between the two fields.  This makes a dog-legged fetch to the gate and then quickly back to the middle of the first field to hit the fetch panels.  First timers on this trial field definitely had a slight disadvantage...as dogs who had been there years gone by seemed to remember where the field gate was located.

After the completion of the fetch, the rest of the course was set in the first field with a shed and the Maltese Cross.  Nell got a little confused on her outrun.....but did find the gate.  She got sucked in on the course by the fence corner...and would not take her blow out.....so she crossed.  My journey with Nell right now has a lot to do with listening to me...and a lot less to do with putting one down....so I stopped her and crossed her back over.  The rest of the run she worked very hard for me.  She gave me so much that I left the post feeling like a double party winner!  She had a ewe that was pushing on her and I did not help her as I should have so I learned just as much as she did by that run. 

Sally continues to work nice for me.  Our relationship of teamwork and trust continues to deepen.  I'm still on a shedding quest....and as I worked to get my shed called I kept thinking...I want a go at the Cross!  Boy was I glad I got one.  Miss Sally had the sheep very settled with good control.  What I liked best about my Cross attempt was that I did not worry about my dog doing what I said...instead I was able to really watch the sheep and read their commitment to accomplishing the task at hand.  And here is what Miss Sally gave me for her hard work and patience....

Elissa called it the Malteaser....for the nicest Maltese Cross.  Atta girl, Sally!  And thank you Magnolia Farms!  Jo F was hot on my heals with a really nice Cross too....I was worried she would have to arm wrestle me for a tie-breaker and my Friday night antics would be the end of me. 

Pronovice was moved to the top field....with sheep set in the same spot as open.  It was fun to get a closer look at what the dogs had to deal with at the top end.  Bella had her re-coming out party....her first trial since the August Arlington disaster!  I knew the best way to send Bella would be right....but also knew I might need to blow her out as she passed the corner fence that caused Nell to cross.  Amazing to see my Bella blow herself out...and have a nice outrun coming in deep on the sheep.  We had a little breakdown in trust...but I am so very proud of her.  She took my correction, settled her head, and actually put down a really nice, feely run with a pen. 

At the end of the day, as I drove home....I reflected on my dogs.  What they gave me, how I felt like I left with a little bit better relationship of understanding with each of them.  And then, of course, I made my list of what I need to work on with each of them...and myself! 

I'm now off to the grocery store...then on to the ranch to tuck the sheep in for this very cold wintry day.  As I do so, I will continue to be thankful....because there is so very much to be thankful for!

Seize the Day!

Knee Deep

Okay...Thanksgiving is just around the corner...and if you have been watching any of the Brene' Brown videos...you know that finding thankful joy is cornerstone to living an authentic life.  So, with that in mind....today I am thankful for my new friend!  Over the years, we've met a few times at clinics and trials....and we have many a friend in common...but recently we've gotten to know each other a little better and for that, I am thankful.  She is part of the Knee Deep Cattle Company; she and her husband use border collies to work their cattle operation on a daily basis.  She also trials in the cow dog world and does very handy work with her dog and her horse.  With all that, who would think she had time, but she is beginning the journey of trialing in the sheepdog world....and so begins our time together working dogs. 

I was invited down to work dogs on Friday and looked forward to it every day until Friday arrived.  You can imagine my surprise when I showed up and saw this in the field we were to work in:

She, who is better known as Alvina, assured me that the cows in the field were not an issue.  Generally these cows...who are bred and well fed, leave the vicinity when the dog work begins. Funny, not that Friday.....those cows decided that me and my dog were there for their viewing pleasure and came closer to have a better look.  Nell would do fairly big outruns on the sheep....bring them half way to me, then drive them back to the top of the field....which was fine.  Then she would recall off and begin to do a big huge outrun to gather the cows behind me...which she was absolutely sure were there for her to work! Thankfully, Nell could be called off and would leave the cows to their watching while she gathered the set sheep.  I laughed and Alvina laughed...and then I packed it in.

What an amazing day...big field....nice sheep...good conversation....dogs are looking good and gaining skills and knowledge.  Thankful, that is a great way to feel!

Seize the day!

Help...I Need Somebody

One more time...this is it....the final round....and my boy needs votes!

And yet another shot of the motley crew from the spirit video...this time dressed as Hillbillies!  My pride and joy is there on your far right. More fabulous pictures and a little about the Rowdy Dowds can be found here and here

PLEASE VOTE

Just click this link.....the click "like" under South Salem Rowdy Dowd (it should come right up). This is not about spam or taking your information....it is a pure unadulterated popularity vote.....

SOUTH SALEM ROWDY DOWD VIDEO VOTE

I am now off...the beginning of a fabulous weekend filled with a football playoff game and TONS of dog work.....and marketing the Rowdy Dowd video!!!!!

Seize the Day!

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!