Just got off the phone....THE DOG HAS BEEN CAUGHT! What a fabulous way to start the day! I'm so thankful that the dog is alive and well, if not stinky and very thin.
I can only imagine what adventures that boy had.....but now, back to civilization!
Tiny miracles......
Seize the Day!!!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Without A Picture
A friend of mine has lost a dog. The kind of lost that can be found if the dog were willing to be caught. I feel her pain deeply. A few years back, I borrowed a little Aussie from a friend thinking I would put some time on it and experience an Aussie. A few tiny mistakes on my part had the dog slipping out into the wild world under the tiny opening of my garage door. I told my son, "I'd be back when I found her and no sooner". I think I aged 10 years that day. The family I borrowed her from came and we split up looking. Funny thing was, she had not gone far. Once she heard a familiar voice she was caught and taken home and my days of Aussie training ended as their truck drove off.
I had a spare day on my hands and needed to take Geri some business items...so I loaded the car with dogs, cooked up a 1/2 pound of bacon, bought a rotisserie chicken and off I went to help my friend. Now I had no illusions that I was going to work any miracle that all her other dog friends could not work. I just thought maybe a new scent of food might bring in a hungry boy...it used to work at my house all the time. Start a fabulous dinner....boys would show up....food was eaten.... plates licked clean! Boys will be boys.
I met my friend mid morning and another of her friends came along. We shared phone numbers and then all headed out in different directions from the place the dog was last sighted. Finally, the UPS driver called and said he had spotted the dog in a field far from where we were looking. The three of us girl scouts jumped in our rigs and headed to the rendezvous site......sure enough....my friend, who had arrived first, had spotted the dog way out in a big field, hanging out. Our hopes were high as we split up.....bacon was doled out and I kept the chicken. I took Nell, Gyp and Grace with me and kept giving them treats off the carcass...hoping that boy dog would join the pack and come for the best smelling treat he had ever smelled.
My friend kept watch as the two of us trackers took off, heading out I bet a quarter of a mile to come round the back side of the dog. Me, with my three dogs, big black plastic platter with a rotisserie chicken on it, cell phone tucked under my ear so I could be talked in to the exact spot of the dog. Crossing through barbed wire fences while balancing the chicken that all my dogs were willing to fight for. There was a little ridge in the field, one that kept me from seeing the dog from my view. The voice on the phone kept me coming and just as I got to where I might have seen him, might have thrown him a bite of my tasty lure, might have sat down and just taken the pressure off.....that darn dog went into flight. He took off through the field, stopping when told to lie down, looking back towards me and pausing. But getting up again to continue the flight. While balancing the chicken between my arm and my body, I slipped my fingers into my mouth and blew the dog's recall whistle. And surprise to me and my three girls....up over the ridge came a coyote girl...startled beyond crazy eye popping startled to find a person and three dogs and not the chicken she was hoping to take home with her. She was so close I could have leaned to touch her and she jumped my Gyp who was at the end of the chicken handout line. We all just about shrieked and then I knew......
When it comes to the male gender...food takes second place to a hot slutty girl!
The hunt for the dog continues...I'm thinking next time out we might consider taking a girl in heat. Thankfully not one picture was taken from this outing...although my friend and I laugh every time we think of me walking through a huge field with three dogs and a rotisserie chicken.
What we won't do for love of a friend.....
Seize the Day!
I had a spare day on my hands and needed to take Geri some business items...so I loaded the car with dogs, cooked up a 1/2 pound of bacon, bought a rotisserie chicken and off I went to help my friend. Now I had no illusions that I was going to work any miracle that all her other dog friends could not work. I just thought maybe a new scent of food might bring in a hungry boy...it used to work at my house all the time. Start a fabulous dinner....boys would show up....food was eaten.... plates licked clean! Boys will be boys.
I met my friend mid morning and another of her friends came along. We shared phone numbers and then all headed out in different directions from the place the dog was last sighted. Finally, the UPS driver called and said he had spotted the dog in a field far from where we were looking. The three of us girl scouts jumped in our rigs and headed to the rendezvous site......sure enough....my friend, who had arrived first, had spotted the dog way out in a big field, hanging out. Our hopes were high as we split up.....bacon was doled out and I kept the chicken. I took Nell, Gyp and Grace with me and kept giving them treats off the carcass...hoping that boy dog would join the pack and come for the best smelling treat he had ever smelled.
My friend kept watch as the two of us trackers took off, heading out I bet a quarter of a mile to come round the back side of the dog. Me, with my three dogs, big black plastic platter with a rotisserie chicken on it, cell phone tucked under my ear so I could be talked in to the exact spot of the dog. Crossing through barbed wire fences while balancing the chicken that all my dogs were willing to fight for. There was a little ridge in the field, one that kept me from seeing the dog from my view. The voice on the phone kept me coming and just as I got to where I might have seen him, might have thrown him a bite of my tasty lure, might have sat down and just taken the pressure off.....that darn dog went into flight. He took off through the field, stopping when told to lie down, looking back towards me and pausing. But getting up again to continue the flight. While balancing the chicken between my arm and my body, I slipped my fingers into my mouth and blew the dog's recall whistle. And surprise to me and my three girls....up over the ridge came a coyote girl...startled beyond crazy eye popping startled to find a person and three dogs and not the chicken she was hoping to take home with her. She was so close I could have leaned to touch her and she jumped my Gyp who was at the end of the chicken handout line. We all just about shrieked and then I knew......
When it comes to the male gender...food takes second place to a hot slutty girl!
The hunt for the dog continues...I'm thinking next time out we might consider taking a girl in heat. Thankfully not one picture was taken from this outing...although my friend and I laugh every time we think of me walking through a huge field with three dogs and a rotisserie chicken.
What we won't do for love of a friend.....
Seize the Day!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Addicted to the Mob!
Yes indeed, I cut my teeth on The Godfather! "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer". When Winona Ryder became ill, I was so disappointed to see Director Coppola cast his inexperienced daughter in a major role for the third movie.... I digress. After the Godfather trilogy, I continued with my mob obsession following the Sopranos and now the reality TV show Mob Wives. Okay, not so much Mob Wives but still it is a fun brainless diversion to be had on occasion. That said, I have to confess...in keeping with all things MOB...I love working my girls on one. A big mob of sheep just makes my day!
My mob love affair actually started with a birthday gift from Lana that included a sheep drive to a new field for grazing last August. That was my first taste of the work and though Bella and I were not stellar, we held our own with encouragement from Lana.
It's funny, when I started my journey with Snook 6 years ago....I would drive through the valley and think about pulling over, dropping the hot wire fence, sending my dog on a huge outrun to gather a big field of sheep, do a few sheds, call the dogs off, then up the fence and drive away...hopefully without a bullet whizzing by. And here I am today, life imitating dream, and twice this past week, I did just that. Dropped the fence, gathered a huge mob of sheep just as the Pratley was assembled, loaded trailers and then drove away.
Here is the field from my Friday gather....this field was along a very busy highway with two string electric fence so I opted for a well trained dog so I would not have any worries. Bella was the dog for the day.
I sent to the left, with some heckling from my sheep friend, yet I had my reasons. I was hoping that Bella would stay out and gather the whole field and not fall in on the first 40 as she had done in September. She was looking good, and I had not walked the field so had no idea how deep it ran ....I thought I might be in trouble when I saw three sheep split the scene back up the field, leaving the large group Bella was bringing. I lost sight of the entire flock due to terrain....so I started booking it up the field to see if help might be needed. And what did I spy with my little eye....Miss Bella, cool as a cucumber, bringing the whole flock up the field to me.
The lamb mob was pushed into the Pratley pen that fed a loading trailer that was filled with lambs. What a treat it is to get the opportunity to work a big mob with a real job goal. My sheep friend said, "Looks like Miss Bella has learned to count"...and yes indeed she had not left a single lamb behind.
It is also fun to sort how life work impacts each of my dogs in their training. Interesting to see how this little bit of mob work is deepening my Bella on her trial runs. If I get the chance, I want to do a bit of shedding with the mob and get Bella comfortable coming in through big groups of sheep. Makes me wonder if that might help with some of the shedding tension I am seeing. It is also nice to have "sheep friends" who are willing to give input on the work being done. His eyes are seeing things that I have chosen to deny....or have not seen in myself and my dogs...... that little insight has been invaluable.
I'm looking forward to the next call and hoping the field is a little more secure with less traffic running by so I can use Gyp. If not, perhaps Sally should have a go. She is a little full of herself these days and I think a little real work with a mob of lambs might do her some good! Oh the possibilities! Life is GOOD!
With that in mind, I think I will go grab The Godfather and watch a bit tonight. Tomorrow I will tell you exactly what has been keeping me from blogging........
Seize the Day!!!!
My mob love affair actually started with a birthday gift from Lana that included a sheep drive to a new field for grazing last August. That was my first taste of the work and though Bella and I were not stellar, we held our own with encouragement from Lana.
 |
| Bella helping push Lana's mob to a new field for grazing 8/10 |
Here is the field from my Friday gather....this field was along a very busy highway with two string electric fence so I opted for a well trained dog so I would not have any worries. Bella was the dog for the day.
It is also fun to sort how life work impacts each of my dogs in their training. Interesting to see how this little bit of mob work is deepening my Bella on her trial runs. If I get the chance, I want to do a bit of shedding with the mob and get Bella comfortable coming in through big groups of sheep. Makes me wonder if that might help with some of the shedding tension I am seeing. It is also nice to have "sheep friends" who are willing to give input on the work being done. His eyes are seeing things that I have chosen to deny....or have not seen in myself and my dogs...... that little insight has been invaluable.
I'm looking forward to the next call and hoping the field is a little more secure with less traffic running by so I can use Gyp. If not, perhaps Sally should have a go. She is a little full of herself these days and I think a little real work with a mob of lambs might do her some good! Oh the possibilities! Life is GOOD!
With that in mind, I think I will go grab The Godfather and watch a bit tonight. Tomorrow I will tell you exactly what has been keeping me from blogging........
Seize the Day!!!!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Winter Trials
I live in an area of the country, where if a girl does not mind driving, there are a plethora of one day winter trials available. These trials are supportive to working some of the kinks out....those darn kinks that became apparent over the course of summer trialing. I really love it when the trial is just a skip down the road, and even better when the day dawns crisp and mostly clear.
As my friend says, Nell started the dance as the first dog to the post in open. I do have to confess to my friends that care, I actually told Nell she was being "ridiculous" when she would fought me to let go of the pressure on a flank. The good news is, I did give her a correction then went to my "you are not doing what my command is telling" correction...and when I told her "this is ridiculous" she actually pulled up and looked at me like "whatt kind of command is that?" which got my flank. I am trying to get rid of all nonsense talk from me...and there goes Nell, rewarding it. That sure makes a girl laugh out loud from the post.
Bella was the next dog to run open. Yes, I slept with the running order under my pillow, studied it all the way to the trial, and thanks to those who love to tease me, got asked each time if I had the correct dog. Bella looked real good......very tension free....however, I fell asleep at the wheel and forget how amazingly long the drives are on this field. Bella, being new to open and having not seen a cross drive that utilized most of the width of the field, took my small 'correct the line flank' to mean we were done about 2/3rds through and that was a very costly handling error. Good news was, she let me get her back together and finished her drive. I am loving the relationship she is continuing to develop with me. Better step up to the plate on my end.
Sally was a good girl. I left the field when she was struggling to shed a farm flock....Sally's Achilles heal. I did not want to get mad at her for not coming through so we retired. She tried hard and I really loved how she worked. She does not know we did not get a score and that is all that matters.
Now I am fine tuning my list for Scott Glen. I have one list for the shedding clinic, and another for each of the dogs I am working in my lessons. Good thing about Scott is, this does not bother him. I like his input as he is honest with me on my assessments and that is what I am looking for right now: making sure I am reading the situation well, be it dog, sheep, training, handling.
Fabulous news is...this weekend, Little Horse Mountain Productions will start filming for the training courses that feature Scott Glen! It is an exciting time to be working dogs!!!!
Seize the Day!
As my friend says, Nell started the dance as the first dog to the post in open. I do have to confess to my friends that care, I actually told Nell she was being "ridiculous" when she would fought me to let go of the pressure on a flank. The good news is, I did give her a correction then went to my "you are not doing what my command is telling" correction...and when I told her "this is ridiculous" she actually pulled up and looked at me like "whatt kind of command is that?" which got my flank. I am trying to get rid of all nonsense talk from me...and there goes Nell, rewarding it. That sure makes a girl laugh out loud from the post.
Bella was the next dog to run open. Yes, I slept with the running order under my pillow, studied it all the way to the trial, and thanks to those who love to tease me, got asked each time if I had the correct dog. Bella looked real good......very tension free....however, I fell asleep at the wheel and forget how amazingly long the drives are on this field. Bella, being new to open and having not seen a cross drive that utilized most of the width of the field, took my small 'correct the line flank' to mean we were done about 2/3rds through and that was a very costly handling error. Good news was, she let me get her back together and finished her drive. I am loving the relationship she is continuing to develop with me. Better step up to the plate on my end.
Sally was a good girl. I left the field when she was struggling to shed a farm flock....Sally's Achilles heal. I did not want to get mad at her for not coming through so we retired. She tried hard and I really loved how she worked. She does not know we did not get a score and that is all that matters.
Now I am fine tuning my list for Scott Glen. I have one list for the shedding clinic, and another for each of the dogs I am working in my lessons. Good thing about Scott is, this does not bother him. I like his input as he is honest with me on my assessments and that is what I am looking for right now: making sure I am reading the situation well, be it dog, sheep, training, handling.
Fabulous news is...this weekend, Little Horse Mountain Productions will start filming for the training courses that feature Scott Glen! It is an exciting time to be working dogs!!!!
Seize the Day!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Fall Day.......
What a beautiful drive unfolds down Northern California's 101....even more so now that fall is upon us. I left behind drizzle, which I heard turned into buckets of rain, only to arrive to 77 as the temp and my overnight bag filled with long sleeves. What was I thinking?? The grape leaves are starting to join in the cacophony of color, started by the trees feeling the cooler nights. 6 girls joined my on my adventure....they have all been walked and are now doing the border collie stare....willing me to create some fabulous magic. No Wild Toad Ride or Space Mountain this go, girlies. This is a business trip so to speak.
Thank goodness for tech suave friends...my iPhone has craftily become a "hot spot" and I have Internet on the road....that makes for far less Starbucks and MacDonald's visits for sure. Now to just discipline myself to keep my lap top with me and maybe bring a cord that would allow me to down load pictures. Details, details.
I still pinch myself each and every morning, as more and more opportunities keep presenting themselves. Dog work, training, ideas for education...all of which mean I am learning and growing. I really can nor contain my excitement. The MacRae Way is being received with rave reviews. Scott Glen is up in Olympia for lessons and a shedding clinic. Or maybe that is down when compared to his stomping grounds of Alberta, Canada. I have my list of "things" for Bella and Nell...another for myself......and hope to glean as much as I can on marked sheds. Seems that those continue to haunt me. But for now, I will soak up a little sunshine...stocking up as much vitamin D as I can because unending days of rain lay ahead.
Seize the Day!
Thank goodness for tech suave friends...my iPhone has craftily become a "hot spot" and I have Internet on the road....that makes for far less Starbucks and MacDonald's visits for sure. Now to just discipline myself to keep my lap top with me and maybe bring a cord that would allow me to down load pictures. Details, details.
I still pinch myself each and every morning, as more and more opportunities keep presenting themselves. Dog work, training, ideas for education...all of which mean I am learning and growing. I really can nor contain my excitement. The MacRae Way is being received with rave reviews. Scott Glen is up in Olympia for lessons and a shedding clinic. Or maybe that is down when compared to his stomping grounds of Alberta, Canada. I have my list of "things" for Bella and Nell...another for myself......and hope to glean as much as I can on marked sheds. Seems that those continue to haunt me. But for now, I will soak up a little sunshine...stocking up as much vitamin D as I can because unending days of rain lay ahead.
Seize the Day!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
A Little Mob Work
As I have been working the teenage girls......I've had the notion that they might benefit from some "mob" work. Seems like the advice I have been given really is true....working a big group of sheep can help make sense of the whole matter for young dogs.
So when I got "the call"...I had to go. Grace is in heat (seems to be the story of my life) so Gyp got the mob. It was fun watching her sort out her outrun and once she got them together she sorted out how to bring all 200. At one point we had this crazy whirlpool going....outside rim of sheep circling the core of sheep that were standing, knees locked and not budging an inch! Our mission was to take the mob and drive them into a paddock which sounded pretty easy. But sheep are anything but, so when the blind-in-one-eye girl got scared in the move through new territory and freaked out.... my inexperienced Gyp said, "fine, let the yotes get ya". With the price of sheep and at the end of the day, that really is not an option, so Gyp and I had to go into the paddock, sort off a group of ewes, and take those back to calm the blind one so she would come. All in a good day's work.
Bella had a go in another huge field....one filled with pregnant ewes and a big surprise to me.....6 mom's with brand new lambs. Bella's gather looked much better....not pulling in on the first volunteers to come...but those ewes and new lambies certainly brought a great lesson for this maturing girl. One ewe kept turning on Bella to protect her babe.....and when Bella stopped pressuring her, she would come along with the mob. However, Miss Bella would pick herself up earlier than the mom felt comfortable and make a fight. It was a fabulous lesson in patience for all of us.
I think I might have crossed over into the certifiable category......days when I get to go work the girls and help at the sheep ranch are my favorite sort of days. It is indescribable joy to watch the dogs sort and figure and grow and become. I'm thankful for the balance and perspective that comes amidst this crazy roller coaster ride called life.
Seize the Day!!!
 |
| warning: iPhone pic! |
So when I got "the call"...I had to go. Grace is in heat (seems to be the story of my life) so Gyp got the mob. It was fun watching her sort out her outrun and once she got them together she sorted out how to bring all 200. At one point we had this crazy whirlpool going....outside rim of sheep circling the core of sheep that were standing, knees locked and not budging an inch! Our mission was to take the mob and drive them into a paddock which sounded pretty easy. But sheep are anything but, so when the blind-in-one-eye girl got scared in the move through new territory and freaked out.... my inexperienced Gyp said, "fine, let the yotes get ya". With the price of sheep and at the end of the day, that really is not an option, so Gyp and I had to go into the paddock, sort off a group of ewes, and take those back to calm the blind one so she would come. All in a good day's work.
Bella had a go in another huge field....one filled with pregnant ewes and a big surprise to me.....6 mom's with brand new lambs. Bella's gather looked much better....not pulling in on the first volunteers to come...but those ewes and new lambies certainly brought a great lesson for this maturing girl. One ewe kept turning on Bella to protect her babe.....and when Bella stopped pressuring her, she would come along with the mob. However, Miss Bella would pick herself up earlier than the mom felt comfortable and make a fight. It was a fabulous lesson in patience for all of us.
I think I might have crossed over into the certifiable category......days when I get to go work the girls and help at the sheep ranch are my favorite sort of days. It is indescribable joy to watch the dogs sort and figure and grow and become. I'm thankful for the balance and perspective that comes amidst this crazy roller coaster ride called life.
Seize the Day!!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Ponderings From Fire Ridge
I really had a great time at Fire Ridge! I was not in the money, nor in the points....but my girls are all working hard and running better and better with me.
Sally drew up second for the first round of open, and I did not handle her well. Her outrun was nice but I mis-read the one ewe pushing back on her and tried to fix my line too quick on the fetch. Sally did exactly what I asked....but that ewe took advantage of the release of pressure and rolled back to the set out pens. My new glasses failed me at that distance and not sorting it timely, left me retiring with four ewes. Sally's second go was nice, good outrun and a nearly flawless pen and single. All year, I've worked hard on getting Sally to want to come through for the shed and that she did! She even held the single with the enthusiasm I have not seen at a trial. Atta girl, Sal!
Nell had a couple of nice runs. Her first time out....we had a little discussion on her outrun...and after sorting that it was one of those magic moment runs for me. Her second run was nice as well....but not as nice with some fighting me for flanks and a really hard pen. The wind had picked up that third day and I needed to eat my Wheaties and maybe consider working out as I could not keep that darn pen gate from blowing out of my hand in the 35mph wind gusts! I brought my video camera and Geri filmed my first run for me. Lordy, lordy.....if I could get ahold of myself.....let's just say that Nell is a nice dog despite me. I've got some serious work to do.
I moved Bella to open at Vashon so now she runs with the big girls. She did not even bat and eye or miss a beat as she ran out both runs and worked the course. The first run I did not mess with her much on her drive....they were long and I felt holding the line was more important for us in our relationship. She looked good so the second run I worked her a bit more and she ended up high score from my pack of three open dogs. Not a lick of tension and very supple, oh and we got our shed the first go! And timely. Bella and I need to work on penning sheep that really don't want to go in the pen....she needed to push more and with the wind, I had to be responsible for the gate staying open and could not help much.
Having three open dogs is amazing! I know there will be trials where I will have to decide who runs, but when I can run all three......what a treat. I learned so much running three times in one day. Each go I tried to watch my sheep a little closer and see what I could sort out. I also taped a few runs which makes me really pay attention to the handling, sheep and dog.
Patrick Shannahan just wrote a little article over on his RedTop Website about community. We really do have an amazing community of sheepdog handlers. Dawn Pucci took all the photos of my dogs from Fire Ridge...otherwise I would not have a single one to show you. I did not even ask...she just did it. And Ray Coapman gave me a little 'learning' at the trial. He saw me sorting something I had never encountered at a trial before and came to give me the proper answer. He said something along the lines of, "I would see that again someday when I ran at the finals and it might cost me a point or two without knowing". Not only do I have more information...but somebody also believes I will run on a Saturday at the finals! And of course I can never thank enough my close friends that support me, tape my runs, let me overthink and sort, and give sage, a little further down the road advice.
Seize the Day!
Sally drew up second for the first round of open, and I did not handle her well. Her outrun was nice but I mis-read the one ewe pushing back on her and tried to fix my line too quick on the fetch. Sally did exactly what I asked....but that ewe took advantage of the release of pressure and rolled back to the set out pens. My new glasses failed me at that distance and not sorting it timely, left me retiring with four ewes. Sally's second go was nice, good outrun and a nearly flawless pen and single. All year, I've worked hard on getting Sally to want to come through for the shed and that she did! She even held the single with the enthusiasm I have not seen at a trial. Atta girl, Sal!
Nell had a couple of nice runs. Her first time out....we had a little discussion on her outrun...and after sorting that it was one of those magic moment runs for me. Her second run was nice as well....but not as nice with some fighting me for flanks and a really hard pen. The wind had picked up that third day and I needed to eat my Wheaties and maybe consider working out as I could not keep that darn pen gate from blowing out of my hand in the 35mph wind gusts! I brought my video camera and Geri filmed my first run for me. Lordy, lordy.....if I could get ahold of myself.....let's just say that Nell is a nice dog despite me. I've got some serious work to do.
I moved Bella to open at Vashon so now she runs with the big girls. She did not even bat and eye or miss a beat as she ran out both runs and worked the course. The first run I did not mess with her much on her drive....they were long and I felt holding the line was more important for us in our relationship. She looked good so the second run I worked her a bit more and she ended up high score from my pack of three open dogs. Not a lick of tension and very supple, oh and we got our shed the first go! And timely. Bella and I need to work on penning sheep that really don't want to go in the pen....she needed to push more and with the wind, I had to be responsible for the gate staying open and could not help much.
Having three open dogs is amazing! I know there will be trials where I will have to decide who runs, but when I can run all three......what a treat. I learned so much running three times in one day. Each go I tried to watch my sheep a little closer and see what I could sort out. I also taped a few runs which makes me really pay attention to the handling, sheep and dog.
Patrick Shannahan just wrote a little article over on his RedTop Website about community. We really do have an amazing community of sheepdog handlers. Dawn Pucci took all the photos of my dogs from Fire Ridge...otherwise I would not have a single one to show you. I did not even ask...she just did it. And Ray Coapman gave me a little 'learning' at the trial. He saw me sorting something I had never encountered at a trial before and came to give me the proper answer. He said something along the lines of, "I would see that again someday when I ran at the finals and it might cost me a point or two without knowing". Not only do I have more information...but somebody also believes I will run on a Saturday at the finals! And of course I can never thank enough my close friends that support me, tape my runs, let me overthink and sort, and give sage, a little further down the road advice.
Seize the Day!
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