and Adele's Jill......
Having worked them both this week at home....I loved having input on what I felt I was seeing, feedback sorting if I was reading each dog correctly, and making a small game plan to help each of the girls develop good method with the sheep as we move forward into starting the process of training them.
The sheep at home were a little lighter.........and yet I saw varying degrees of the same attributes.
The whole process of starting these litter-mates fascinates me, as I spend time thinking, planning, and working. I love the fact that, though they share parents....they bring such different styles, talents, and challenges as they being their journey to becoming working sheepdogs.
The next day, after the puppy time, I worked Nell and Bella and discussed Sal. WOW are these dogs all so very different.....and yet I long to have that special relationship with each of them! My goal: appreciate what each brings to the work...... and adjust me accordingly!
I am so thankful for the sage guiding words of my mentors......cliches like "it is what it is" makes me humble and less driven to compare good vs not good. Remembering to not make such a big deal about brilliant work or not so brilliant work! Instead I am loving looking at each dog that comes through my hands and embracing the journey that they are allowing me to take with them. I am realizing the each dog is an individual......needing their very own plan.....made special for what they are presenting each time they come to the stock. May I be the trainer and handler that is open to what each dog is "saying" and strive for understanding and relationship! What an amazing, crazy, beautiful, brilliant, frustrating, wild, prideless, fulfilling journey I have embarked upon.
Seize the Day!!!!
But she was not so sure how she fit into my pack of border collies! Sister Gyp did not particularly care for her......and my dogs are not that into toys. The first couple of days, Jill stayed by me while the other collies ran around and did their back-yard moves.
Today...after working sheep....Jill and Gyp have decided that they really do like each other. 
And Jill has decided that it is way more fun to run with the big dogs than it is to hang with boring old me......
She was real nice, going both ways.....took corrections and was feeling her sheep.
Quite quickly she started finding balance and holding the sheep to me.....
But on the last leg of the drive.....the cows wanted to run to the exhaust gate....and I wanted to control them....so I let the girls go to head and do some "real cowgirl work"!
Talk about an adrenaline rush! For the both of us, I am sure!
Cowgirl Up...Nell and Bella!
We've been to lessons and clinics.....
and Snook introduced me to USBCHA Pro Novice.
Some Pro Novice trials proved to be on too big of fields for Snook's comfort.....or too much sheep pressure for Snook to feel she could move them without a grip. Also, being a serious grudge holder.....she refused to lift off a few men that set sheep regularly at trials. After time, the two of us trialed once a year at my favorite (and only) ASCA trial.
This year, Snook went first place in Advance sheep and Advanced ducks both Saturday and Sunday...and I do believe she had the high score for the weekend. She worked real nice, but I could tell....she was sore. She is a big girl, and is hard on herself as she works......and between that and the fact that I have changed how I handle and what I expect from my dogs.....I feel it is time to let Snook retire. She will still be my front seat ride along girl...helping get a shy dog going in the round pen....moving sheep around the ranch time to time ....maybe we can get in some duck demos here and there.....but it is time. 
while the judge held a handler's meeting.....
and the course director patiently answered all of my rather ridiculous questions!
I also brought along my own personal fan club who cheered...."go, Lora, go, Lora" while I ran!
The sheep were a very nice, fit group of katahdin and dorper crossed ewes and lambs.
The course was a mix of field work, 
loading a trailer 
miscellaneous pen work, and a gate sort
pushing through a foot bath
all accomplished by a variety of breeds of working dogs!
I thought it was a lot of fun....and it was definitely a lot of team work for me and my girls! Snook ended up 2nd in the open class (which is the middle class because ASCA makes you start out at the very beginning with no regard to how trained a dog is) and Nell finished in 1st in open...three points off a perfect run. I am tickled by how great they handled all the different aspects of farm work. And another great run was had by my friend Traci and her sheltie Kant! 
Sometimes these "lighter" sheep can get in Bella's head...so it was good to work with her on being calm and staying clean on her flanks. 
My goal.......as I stood amongst the spotting fiends....was to have Sally see the sheep coming through the gate. Which did me just fine....with a little whistle help......Sal found the gate....and.... crossed over to go back to the set sheep. Yikes, oh well, game on.....I worked on some pace as she brought them on the fetch...nice turn....skimmed the panels....got the shed....and best of all....got the pen! Gate shut...swoosh!
Being super keen....Nell just had to watch....taking notes and giving quiet encouragement.
As the sheep neared the drop stake......I slipped Nell out from her hiding spot to put pressure on the sheep to hold them there......
Well done, Nell.
Seems he even fashions matching leads......
Rumor has it that he does the most amazing rendition of "Wild Thing"......
