A Girl and HERDogs

And It Begins Again

2010-01-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

The new year of course!

Some reflection when a new calendar starts is always a good thing. Lessons learned, achievements made, and all that much wiser from miles traveled.

This past year was a busy one, but one I can't complain about. Chesney got lots of work, both on stock and off.

But I won't bore you with a walk down 2009's memory lane, what I will do is tell you about our recent stockwork and the strides we've made. Through the end of the year Chesney has continued to gain better feel of his sheep, to a point where I'm not continually blowing a stop or steady whistle at him. I can for the most part stop walking with a group of sheep being fetched to me and have him stopping behind them. No more wearing, no more circling, no more pushing them past me. Finally!

Chesney has grasped the concept of doing a job, he's learned how to stand/stop instead of always having to lie down, and I think my most favorite development in the last year is his eye. He is starting to be stylish while he works, which is from reading pressure better. I will say that his outruns probably haven't improved much and his scope of the field has suffered, just because gathering the flock consisted of getting them out of the feeder. Now that winter and spring are around us and the grass is showing it's lovely face, we can work on sweeping a field.

Shedding has become just another thing we do. If we are playing keep away or having to stop a breaking ewe to the main group I can call Chesney in and he will stop her dead in her tracks. He's listening so well now and really seems to be enjoying his work. I know I am loving every minute of it and can't wait until the next time we're out there.
We ran in a trial in late October, and Chesney did well. I was very pleased with his look back and his control of the stock. It was also the first time I'd asked him to shed such a small number of sheep. His driving is continuing to improve even though he will often take the outside flank when he's reached his comfort distance. We've worked on drawing out his outrun whistle to signify that there is a group farther back behind the group closest to us. This is a hard concept for him to understand that if he gets the group farthest away first that they will join up as he's on his way back. We'll get there soon though.
Early December I decided that his "come-bye" whistle was too similar to his away whistle at a distance which also sounded like his down... Bummer. it took just four times out to work for him to really start thinking about the meaning of his new whistle. This thinking was rewarded by a verbal follow up to help him out. So it was a basics month at the end of the year, which was fine. I worked on setting up situations for him to learn his new whistle whilst working on his pace and line fetching and driving.

All in all, I've been very pleased with my little man. High hopes to make it to open for our next trial are pretty realistic if I can continue building his confidence and distance on his outrun. Thanks for a great year buddy!

Break Through

2009-10-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday working Chesney was a major break through. For the first time working this little dog of mine, I saw him with stock sense. Stock sense in the way that if found the flight bubble of the sheep. Amazing to see after so long of having to tell him where it is. Until I saw that he could find it, I just assumed helping him was the way it was going to be.

We started off the say with moving the big group with a few new lambs around. His pace was very nice, although he hadn't found the bubble just yet. The main thing I noticed right off the bat was when I asked him to walk on, he walked! No popping up, no power walk, just a nice easy paced walk. I also noticed that for the first time he wasn't over worried about keeping a very close eye on the lambs! Usually he gets locked in on them and ends up following them right up the side of the group. I didn't have to remind him to leave them be. (He is very gentle and doesn't harass them, he's just fascinated by them.)

On to watch some other dogs work for a little. When they were finished penning man Chesney put the group away and took out a second group, which was another thing to be noted. He was super sensible going in to a tight area that most wouldn't send a dog in to get sheep out. In and around he went, out came the sheep! Our man goal at this point, since Chesney was showing lots of good promises today, was to see if I could get him to stop walking without me saying something to him while he was fetch, if I stopped. This is tough for him since he was never really taught from the get go that it was ok to stop moving if he was balanced to me and the sheep weren't going anywhere. So I pulled the group out, just walking about the arena with Chesney balancing the group to me, and at first I slowed way down, correcting him if he got too close to push the sheep past me and corrected him if he started flanking. About five minutes of trying this to no avail I opted to backing to a fence as an aid. This worked like a charm! I think since he realized they weren't going to get away in front of me he was comfortable enough to think about his actions. He stopped! As soon as I got a second or two of a stand walking we went. I tried this for about five more minutes with it being very successful and using less and less corrections.

On to moving sheep around for students after Chesney's little lesson. We had to sort the ram out of the group and move him to the rest of the flock that wasn't being used. Chesney worked him beautifully, putting enough pressure on him to move, casting off when he tried to break away, downing when asked, standing when asked. Truly an amazing thing to watch! We working him as a single back to the flock and put everyone back up out of the way. This was another good working session to add to the list of so many other things that were going well.

Back to the arena again, this time with a flighty group of lambs. This would be a good test of what Chesney gathered from our first work earlier. It took him a few times of pushing them past and receiving a correction to get a feel for these guys. After about ten minutes of using the fence and slowing moving the distance from the fence where I stopped moving, I was able to stop in the middle of the arena with no fences helping and Chesney would stop on balance! Success!

That was our day, that's all I worked on with him, and as basic and little as it was, he made mile long strides! What a day!

We're Back... For Now

2009-08-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

Summer has seem some ups and downs with working. We have been going to Search and Rescue once a week for most of summer, but that's about to slow down now with real life kicking back in during the fall and winter. Stock work has been happening for the most part once a week, sometimes once every 10 days. Chesney's work is looking as strong as ever and I feel like we've turned a corner recently.

We've been working on building things we re-learned at Jack's clinic back in mid-May. Chesney had lost his feel for his stock because his silly handler though he needed more help with direction than he really did. The poor guy was being micro managed. After two days with Jack we were back on the road to greatness (right...). I was correcting at the right time and giving no directions, better. Jack said that it was impressive at just how far we'd come since he saw us last.

What have we been working on? Well, we have been working on getting his pace right. We had it right for a little while then I got relaxed with him and things started slipping again. I started asking for a stop at the top again and stopped using a steady whistle which I think helped a lot. Sure enough Chesney is usually on, with good pace and only rarely needs a reminder about not rushing. It's amazing how much better my little guy is reading pressure as well, now that I'm not telling him where he needs to be. He has figured it out and really enjoys being on the pressure. His fetches are straight and he's covering well!

Our last work session was exceptional. Chesney was sent to gather the flock. I wanted to test his freeness on his flanks when fetching so I as

ked him to come all the way around and drive them somewhere away from me, then I recalled him. He was sent on another gather and brought them in to me. We got the flock set up for shedding some off. They stretched out nice and we cut 6 off the group. Chesney drove them away straight and confidently. When I asked him off those he came right back to work the flock to put them up. While we were moving the whole group, the 6 he drove off started creeping back trying to get to the group. I asked Chesney for a look back. This was the first time I saw him just simply look back without taking off for an outrun after the group left behind. It was great, I could just ask him to walk up and he pushed them away again. When I asked him back to the group, he called off, seeming to totally understanding what

we were trying to accomplish, like he'd done it a million times before. Quality work.

After we put everyone up we went back to gather the 6 and work on penning. Chesney loves penning. I simply open the trailer and he will adjust accordingly to put them in without me saying so much as a little get back when he comes in a little close. Two ewes would not go in! Finally we were down to one and she ended up breaking off. Chesney went out to fetch her up and my little dog is a single working machine. He has gotten so good at holding and reading the pressure that it gives me goose bumps to watch him. When he brought her back to the trailer she decided that it was best to join the others, so in she went.

After a break I asked Chesney into the trailer to bring the group out (he's been needing work with unloading). He almost got stuck staring in the door way, I just kept asking him for his flank and around he went bringing out the group smoothly.

I look forward to the next time we get to work, he's getting really fun to work now since I don't feel like we're fumbling around anymore. We've actually gotten to a point that it feels like we're somewhere!

We've Been Lost

2009-05-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

(sorry these pictures have nothing to do with this post other than they are of my dogs, Tucker is included just because)

Ok so really though, we're not the lost ones. We're the ones finding those that are lost. Chesney and I have been working with a Search and Rescue Team. We are official members now! Training sessions with the team are every Sunday, we've been to 8 since February 7th (Just to give you a time frame). Chesney is progressing extremely quickly, I couldn't be more pleased with him. Our first few times out to training consisted of what are called puppy runaways. They are boring in my opinion and Chesney finds them childish... or well.... puppy-ish. We did runaways for 2 weeks straight training everyday on our own then group training on Sunday. By the second Sunday we went out with the group, Chesney understood what was expected of him as far as completing a runaway.

Ok so let me back track a little. The purpose of a puppy runaway is to hammer home the alert you ask for, from your dog, when they have found the subject. So here's how it plays out.
- Subject runs away while the dog watches them.
- Subject hides while the dog watches were they hide (yes it's supposed to be stupidly easy, especially for a driven/focused dog)
- Dog is released with their search command
- Dog finds subject
- Dog is called back off subject to handler (who is not near the subject)
- Dog "alerts" that they have found someone (Chesney is to turn and stare where the subject is, he will either stand, sit, or lie down, or anything in between just so long as I can tell he is focused and locked in on where the subject is... it's his alert)
- Handler asks dog to "show me"
- Dog and handler return to subject
- Big party for finding subject (Chesney just wants his tug rope at this point!)
- Repeat until dog offers a return and alert on their own or with minimal prompt before moving on

2 weeks is a really short time to get this behavior for most dogs... I have pretty high expectations for Chesney however, and I think it's paying off. Plus the more new things we do, the smarter he gets AND the less we have to deal with a sloppy bored dog in training!

Anyways, the last three group training days we went to Chesney has been doing blind searches (where he doesn't see where the person is hiding or doesn't watch them hid for another dog then gets his turn to find them). Last time we searched it was our first time trying it alone. During these blind searches, I still know where the subject is, just Chesney is the one in the dark (hahaha mean I know) The reason for this is to help him feel like he is the one doing it and he can be successful. I try to keep my directions to a minimum with him and just let him work things out on his own, he is really starting to get it and uses his nose FAR more than he did before! Good Boy.

So today we went out to a group training. We had 2 subjects sent in a 120 acre area. We were directed where they were and went on our way to look for them. Chesney was released and off to work he went. Within 5 minutes of us heading up the train (in the wind, with the scent blowing towards us) he picked up the subject and went in to find her. I could see him on the other ridge across a small gully. He had a look like... you can see me, I can see you... Just come over here so I don't have to come all the way back to you then all the way back here. I, at this point, waited for him to realize that I was not going to move until he alerted. He took a reminder (simply saying his name) to get him to come back and alert. Good boy! Ok now back to work. This was new for him to have to go back to working once he found a subject since all the other searching we've done only included one person. We got off the hillside and back on the trail then he realized we were back to work.

At this point the second subject was going to be down wind from us if we stayed on the fire trail we started on. I decided to detour off a different trail before we got even with the second subject and walked up to the ridge with Chesney in the far lead to put him in the scent cone. Once he hit the ridge he picked her up and she was about 100 yards away down hill. He tried to figure out how to get down to her and lost the scent, so he back tracked and I gave him a little hint as to where he should cut in and he was off like a rocket. Found the subject no problem and since he couldn't see me, came back to alert, only he was 20 yards from me when he alerted hahaha. I had to call him back to me then he alerted without a prompt and off to the subject we went. Phew!

It was a really great day. I think next weekend I'll take a video while we're searching.

Tucker doesn't get to do Search and Rescue because my team wont let me train 2 dogs at once even though they would be in two different search types (Chesney is Area, Tucker would be Trail/Tracking). But here's a picture of him just because he's my handsome guy

Catching Up

2009-03-02T10:23:00.001-08:00

Chesney and I have been keeping ourselves busy over the last couple of weeks. Sadly none of it included stock work. We both have been going through withdrawals. We have, however, been doing lots of Search and Rescue training. Chesney is totally focused and loves it.

Through all the hustle and bustle Chesney has kept a good face about it and laughs it off!

Lets see... what else has gone on since last time posting. Oh, Chesney had a birthday. His 4th one to be exact. I really do not know where the time goes. It seems like just last week I brought this little furry thing home. The truck ride home was miserable, you would have thought someone was torturing him in the backseat. Despite his disliking his initial ride in my truck with me sitting in the backseat with him, he loves going for rides now! This little guy of mine just wants to be everywhere I am, even if that means the bathroom.

So as you can see with as busy as I have been and as lacking of posts this poor blog has had, there really isn't too much to be said. I do have a couple of new pictures though! Which reminds me I need to get some of Mr. Tucker soon!

Oh and just because he's so stinkin' handsome, this is Sam, he does Search and Rescue with us!

Zamora

2009-02-16T19:09:00.000-08:00

It was a cold, cold weekend! At least the sun was out Friday, though the wind was blowing and it was humid so the wind seemed to sneak right through any layers you might have had on. Chesney and I had a late run in the run order so we had lots of waiting, which meant lots of watching. Watching means learning and with the handlers and dogs on the run order for Pro/Nov and Nursery was unbelievable. I was running against 38 handlers that are well known open handlers.

Don Helsley's Blue

Our run went well after waiting for so long and for running on sheep that were being re-run. They were taking any inch the dogs would give. They would break and split, turn and run every chance they got. I sent Chesney to the left on his outrun because the draw was very heavy to that side of the field. I wanted to give him any chance he had to be successful on these difficult sheep. He got behind them at the top in the proper place to counter act the draw. I steadied him and he brought them in fairly well. Around the post they went, he covered them so well. Then we started pushing them on to the drive. He was doing a nice job trying to push them straight but the only problem was he was so far off to the side because of the draw, however he was moving just a little too fast and turned them into the course. I flanked him back around to set them straight and we got into a flip flopping drive. One of the lambs split off to the exhaust, but Chesney brought him back very nicely. He is really very good at working a single. We got them started driving again but the same one singles back off and Chesney went again to get it. At this point I had retired our run because things were a little too far off to make any chance of recovery.

Everyone that was watching was telling me to call my dog off the single he was working, since he was working the single right up against a small fence that several other lambs went over earlier in the day and I think they were worried this one would do the same. Well I didn't call Chesney off because he was working it nicely and not gripping or causing the ewe to panic. Some lady jumped over the fence to try to move it, when none of the sheep that day had any regards for the people like the did the dogs... So that was a little pointless. Then some guy tried to grab Chesney from the other side of the fence! I was pissed. Don't ever touch my dog while he is working a single. That split second of him worrying about the person trying to grab him could have gotten him rammed by the ewe! So fine since everyone had better ideas of how to move sheep, and none of them included letting a sheepdog that was in control of it move it. Sooo.... I called Chesney off and guess what??? The lamb went right over the fence! HA! Stupid people.

My mommy doesn't get very many working pictures of me since it's too hard for her to work me and take pictures. Does anyone want to come take working pictures of me?

Oh well I was pleased with the work I got from Chesney and it was a really great two days watching some good runs and some not so good runs!

Tagged - 40 Things about me

2009-01-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

Well, lets see here. I have to post a recent picture of my dogs and I and this is the most recent I have from December 27th. I don't like it very much. I look plump because of the snow cloths. Oh well!

1. I am the older of 2 (younger sister)

2. My sister and I are 3 days shy of being exactly 4 years apart.

3. I love photography and would love to have it be a side job one day.

4. I work at Starbucks.

5. I am a soccer player. I played all through college at a Division 1 school.

6. I was the leading points per game holder in the state of Louisiana in the 2006-2007 soccer season.

7. I played softball through my junior year in high school and my senior year I got a free letter just for showing up to a few practices. The coach just needed a back up catcher and since soccer was my main focus he bribed me haha

8. I got put at catcher while playing my first season of little league softball because I wasn't paying attention at third base and missed the balls that came to me, so I was stuck at catcher to pay attention at every play.

9. I play center midfield in soccer even though all my coaches think I would make a good forward, they end up taking away most of my skills I bring to the field, like vision and distribution, along with taking longer shots.

10. Margaritas are the only alcoholic drinks I can stand, and it's usually only about 2 of them.

11. I had braces on my teeth for 3 years and am a freak about my teeth and how they look. I brush my teeth multiple times throughout the day.

12. Chesney is my first Border Collie and one of a kind for me. He's my heart dog.

13. Frank Lampard of the Chelsea FC team is my hero. John Terry is a close second.

14. I had a horse for a little while. He was my best friend until Chesney found me. He works at a therapeutic riding center for disabled children.

15. I am studying to be a Firefighter. I start classes on the 9th.

16. I've been to Mardi Gras 3 times in a row, the last three years. Everyone should try it once.

17. I love horseback riding. I can ride english, western, and my favorite, bare back.

18. I've met Kenny Chesney and have gotten his autograph twice.

19. I love country music and Irish punk.

20. I used to think I was going to be a movie critic when I was younger.

21. I have four cousins, they're all boys ranging from 19-9, all their names start with A.

22. I'm planning a trip to the UK to watch a Chelsea FC home game. Then going to Scotland and Ireland.

23. I have only once traveled out of the US. It was to the Bahamas.

24. Of all the US states (Hawaii excluded, we went almost every summer until I was in college) I have been to, it was because of soccer trips and tournaments, never for vacation until recently. We went to Florida.

25. I've sprained my ankles more times than I can count and will probably need surgery on them at some point when I get older.

26. My sister and I look nothing alike. I have blonde hair and blue eyes with fair skin, she is olive skinned, brown hair and brown eyes.

27. I only started working my dog on stock in the last yeah and a half.

28. Chesney is the first dog I've owned that I worked and trained myself. He introduced me to working stock.

29. I've lived in a 2 mile radius my whole life, but lived in 3 different houses. People call it Pleasantville when they visit. We just call it the bubble.

30. I enjoy snowboarding.

31. For soccer I was on the all conference first teams in both high school and college multiple years.

31. I just graduated college with a BA in General Studies.

32. Tucker was brought home as a surprise to my parents on a Christmas vacation from school. They didn't want a dog at the time, but ended up falling in love with him. I never hear the end of how I brought him home, they continually remind me they didn't want a dog.

33. I've only broken one bone in my life. It was my left arm when I was younger. I broke it right before summer started. I was roller blading backwards on a dark sidewalk and hit a crack, fell back and caught myself on the one arm. I had a full armed cast all summer. I made the doctor give me a water proof one.

34. After owning a Mac I will never get a PC again.

35. When I was getting ready to start kindergarden my grandma asked me if I was excited to go to school, I told her I would never go to school. To this day, I still don't like it.

36. I hate making my bed.

37. I am horrible at math, but I love writing.

38. I had stitches in my knee from indoor soccer. It bled like crazy!

39. I'm very shy until I get to know someone.

40. I don't believe yearly vaccinations are necessary for my dogs!

Ok... So that wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. I mean lets face it. I don't have the most interesting life (at least I don't think so).

Thanks!

I've tagged Live Like a Rock Star, The Ruff Mutt Gang, and Walkies.

Mellow Afternoon

2009-01-20T17:06:00.000-08:00

What a great day. It was relaxing and we got some good work done. The highlight of my day was Chesney having a solid couple of nose bites on a few cranky mammas and one stubborn weather. I don't have too much to say other than Chesney is out of his funk and we're looking forward to Zamora. Here are our pictures we've been owing everyone for a little while.

We've been working on a stand stop! It's getting pretty good.

Driving and "Stand"

Move it Gentlemen

Turn this way! Thank you

Just say when to walk up!

Chesney loves a challenge.

I will bite your nose if you don't move

That's it. Keep movin'

Thanks! We should be back out working in a few days. Chesney tore a pad since it's been so dry here so he needs a few days to let his foot heal.

Back In the Mode

2009-01-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

I did better this week!

Friday's runs went way better than last weekend. We put two scores on the board for our two runs. Now it's not like we were in the top 5... or even the top ten (on the first run at least), but we finished a score.

The first run I gave Chesney a little pep talk. I explained to him that he needed to cover his sheep on this run. I also told him that I was just going to ask him to steady up when he got to the top instead of stopping him, not like he has trouble lifting ever, but just so he felt in more control of the situation. We went to the post and he wanted to go to the left so I sent him. Out he went and behind his sheep, then steadied. I was pleased to see him covering them better this time. He has trouble fetching them straight to me still and he was moving pretty fast, but we got around the post well and on to the drive. Watching the drive you would think one of two things... Chesney and I are drunken sailors trying to drive, or there is a tremendous draw pulling the lambs in direction that we were not headed.

Either way we got to the drive panels then on to the cross drive. Chesney had this idea that he wanted to only take the away flanks and when I asked him go bye still thought it meant away. Silly! So needless to say we lost mostly all of our points fetching and driving. We made it to the pen, but we couldn't get a hold of the lambs to settle them and pen them. "Time!" Dang. Oh well it was a huge improvement from last weekend.

Our second time to the post was even better. Chesney once again got a pep talk (since I think it worked for the other run) I told him that I would stop him at the top this time, and like he did the last time, keep his sheep covered. I added to my requests this time and asked him to slow down just a little on his fetch and listen to his flanks on the drive. To the post we went. I wanted to send Chesney to the right this time, "away" I asked, and off he went. It was a pretty outrun. He stopped nicely when I asked at the top. Then fetched them up, all the while taking his steady whistle keeping a nice pace. Good boy.

Around the post was smoother, even though he still had trouble with the draw and bringing the sheep straight to me. On to the drive. This was tricky again and I think we missed our panels. His cross drive was decent we made some in the panels. Then I got to the pen, waiting for Chesney to bring me sheep. Now, I do not carry a crook when I work Chesney, so we've learned to deal with the pen differently from others. Chesney understands the object to the pen so there isn't much directing him unless I can't get the sheep covered enough on my side, he will flank over and push them back. We penned them with time to spare. Whoo hoo our first completed pro/nov run!

So our next trial isn't until February and it's at Zamora! Chesney and I will continue to work on fetching straight and pacing on the fetch. Otherwise we just need more exposure to different places to work and different stock to work on. I'm happy with where my little man is at with his training. He is functional and can get a ranch job done no problem. It's the finesse that's required on a trial course that he needs help with. I hope to get Tucker out and worked a little big now too. He will be worked more after Zamora though.

I get to work soon, right?

We've been tagged!

2009-01-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

Alright so it took me a while to see it but we got tagged 6th!

Here was my 6th picture I have in my picture file.

This is my best friend Melissa! She is the crazy dog lady at the beach holding everyone so I could get a size comparison picture of Calli for Donna when she was growing up!

Alright already

2009-01-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

Wondering what happened on his runs this weekend.

Ok, ok, ok.... It's time to post again, after nearly a month of no updates. Actually to tell the truth, there hasn't been much to update on other than being lazy through the holiday's and getting moved back to California.

However... The true reason for writing... Yep, you guessed it. We had a trial last weekend. Chesney and I ran in Pro/Nov for the second time for real running scores and third time all together (one was a fun trial). To sum it up, we had a tough weekend. To set the stage... We were working range lambs, which were some kind of Suffolk/Rambouillet and something else in them, and were probably 6-8 months old. These little buggers were worked for 3 days prior with Open and Nursery dogs, and rightly so, were tired by the fourth day when the Pro/Nov and Novice dogs got to work them.

Our first run was ugly, Chesney couldn't get a hold of them and they were oh so very heavy to the exhaust. It was a good lesson for him though that yes, indeed he needs to cover his sheep no matter what sheep we are working and where we are. His outrun was a little tight but the sheep didn't move and he was one of the few dogs that lifted them off the hay. I'm happy with that. There is no doubt about it that my little dog has the right presence and push on his stock. We retired when the sheep beat him and went to the exhaust while he was trying to get them back on track.

The second run was much better. He lifted properly. I didn't stop him this time, just gave him a steady and he brought them best he could. This was at the end of the day and these little lambs DID NOT want to play anymore so it was a challenge for Chesney to try keeping them on line. We got them to the drive and he went to cover but the lambs kept flip flopping him back and forth with him trying to cover and he almost lost them to the exhaust again. He covered finally and even though our run was done, I had him push them away from the exhaust to somewhere else then let him exhaust them, just so he understands he can control his stock and has the push to move stock off a heavy draw.

Resting up for next weekend. Dreaming of success!

Next weekend we run at the same place, on the same lambs, only we get to go first after they have rested all week. It should be better. I have faith!

Sorry no working pictures or video. Next week there should be plenty!

Our Last Weekend

2008-12-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

This was our last weekend working sheep in Southern Louisiana and Mississippi. It was a bitter-sweet weekend. The bitter... Saying farewell to all the wonderful people we've had the chance to meet. The sweet... Chesney (and all the other dogs) worked great this weekend. I will miss everyone that has helped me along the way this semester and thank them for their input and letting Chesney and I continue working.

On Saturday Chesney was working well. We worked on trying to get him deeper at the top of his outruns. Every time I thought he was drifting in tighter to his sheep, I would down him and then walk towards the sheep (not to him) and then send him on telling him "out". He went deeper the first time. We fetched them up to the top of the hill then another dog came for an outrun. Then I sent Chesney again to the same side to see if he would understand that he needed to be wider. He started to drift in so I downed him and walked towards the sheep again. I told him "out" and out he went. We repeated this about 5 times. One of the times he kicked himself out, it wasn't far enough, but he gave me something so I let him be. One of the outruns he started to drift in and I blew his down whistle and Chesney totally ignored it... 3 times. He did not get to work his sheep and was taken to the top of the hill to try that stunt again. Stinker! After outruns Chesney got a long break while we watched the younger dogs work.

When we needed the group out of the front field Chesney was called to duty where he had to sweep the field and bring them to me. This was a tougher outrun for him because I sent him to the left where he would have to run by a group of sheep in a pen. He should have ignored them, but he just couldn't help himself and got stuck. I called him back, not all the way back to me, then sent him again. He gathered the group well. I was WAY more impressed with the straightness of his fetch line. He was reading pressure well and was off to the side to bring them in straight. He was so good. I let him drive them to the gate we needed to move them through (which was where he ran past to gather and fetch the sheep). We put them in the side training field then sorted a handful out into the big field.

Once they were in the training field, I had Chesney walk past them leaving them alone and told him to get a drink. He did well leaving them be in the field. After some of the young dogs worked little outruns in the back field I had Chesney gather the group in the training field. His gather was so pretty, I didn't have to steady him at all. We sorted half them into the big field so Chesney and I could try a shed. Shedding was good, Chesney comes in enthusiastically, but still has trouble with the whole idea of pushing them at a reasonable pace away from the other group. He just moves so fast still with this! It will get better though.

After moving everyone into the big field at the end of the day we called it quits. I was very pleased wit him. He learned a lot.

Sunday was a good day. We sorted two groups for the other dogs to work. Chesney is really doing well in the pens where he can see a group of sheep on the other side of the fence. He is learning to just focus on the group in the pen he is in. We pushed a group of lighter sheep for the more advanced dogs to work in the big field, then we sorted another group for dogs to work in the arena.

I had Chesney drive the group around the open field for a little while to try and settle them and put them in a place for the other dogs to pick them up. Calli did some outruns so she could learn her down whistles. She was doing well. Chesney really seems to understand when we are helping young dogs work and just be back up for them. He will lay still when everything is under control and only tries to help when this get a little wild. I have to remind him that it's ok for things to get a little fast and busy, they are learning, like he did. He usually settles in and waits for me to ask for his help. Such a good boy.

We had a moment Sunday that I WISH I had on video. Chesney went to cover the group from heading to the gate in the corner of the big field. I shushed him to bring them back and he went out and covered the draw. The sheep didn't move so easily off him though, and he covered one steps at a time and counter acted every move the group made. He was stylish, thoughtful, and calm. He fetched them at a nice pace and in a straight line. It was probably the highlight of what I have been working on with him over this semester. What a great day to leave on!

Next post.... Coming to you soon from California!

Shhh! Don't Tell!

2008-12-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Looking for sheep

Shh! Don't tell that we ran a trial course Sunday. It was a practicing tool for me to see how far Chesney has come as far as holding lines and precision on responding to commands. We ran through it 4 times! Ack! I hate that we did that, it kind of feels like cheating. Like we're ACK (aka AKC) competitors patterning a course and that's the only kind of work my dog needs to know how to do... Well you all know that thats NOT true, I first and foremost make sure Chesney is functional, then we fine tune for a trial course. Alright... enough of this, let me share how we did at these practice runs, I mean after all I was the one who set up the course, we should know where the lines are.

First Run:
It started out a little tight, I sent him on the Go Bye side. He got to the base of the hill (the sheep were set on the hill) and he lost sight of them so it pulled him in, but once he got to the top of the hill and he saw the sheep he kicked out again. The only problem with his outruns... he is flatter than flat at the top. Although his sheep didn't move sideways before then headed down the hill. He took the down at the top, good dog. AND he was taking flanks without me stopping him first. Whoohooo! We made the fetch panels and he brought them in pretty straight to the post, turned the post nice and tight and set him up for a decent drive! His driving is getting MUCH straighter. He made the panels squarely and turned a little wide for the cross drive. I thought we were going to be high on the cross drive and we ended up almost being too low. Chesney was so good about taking the flank and getting them through. We headed for the pen and had some trouble at first but got them in and he was focused and patient at the pen. He has gotten so much more mature about being precise and calm with the at hand work. He holds his ground and watches his sheep and reads their pressure and thoughts so much better. To say the least I was so happy with him. And he was happy with himself.

Fetching

Second Run:
We did this run right after the first one because I wanted to see if he would fix himself on the outrun when he lost sight of his sheep. He did! He stayed much wider on this Go Bye outrun. He is still Mr. Flat at the top. That's what I should start calling him haha. His fetch was straight and at a better pace than the first run (I think he was a little less amped up) brought them to me and around the post calmly. The drive was even better than before because the pace was good. He made the panels and off to the cross drive. Once again, his turn was wide and we were actually high on the cross drive this time. Only half of the sheep made the panels because I had to correct them when I realized they were high. Chesney did well covering though. Off to the pen again. Chesney and I got these guys penned much quicker than the first group. He was a star at the pen again. And a happy dog with a that'll do. We headed off to the top to talk about our runs and see where we needed to improve. The consensus was... Tight at the top. Other wise they were considered respectable runs, not winning but competitive. Hey, what more could I ask for, we've only been doing this a year and a half and not working every single day!

Reading pressure.

Third Run:
After coming back down from the top and watching an open dog do the course, we went back to the post for our third try at the course. This time Chesney decided he wanted to go to the Away side. So I let him, his reward for choosing the right way to go based on where he felt the pressure needed to be covered. Away he went. I had to redirect him when he got to the ridge of the hill. He took his down and away very, very well. Kicked himself wide then got sucked in at the top *sigh* I'm at a loss haha. The fetch was good again, I think we made the panels which means he was coming in pretty straight. Around the post and off to the drive, which was straight and paced nice. On to the cross drive... you would think after 2 times of doing this I would have the line right... Well we were low this time. Totally my fault since Chesney was driving them straight on the line I put him. Oh well. To the pen. This time penning we had a little trouble. Chesney had to be swung around to cover then swung back around, he was so willing to help knowing that I couldn't do it and since he won't work very well when I have a stick he has to do a little more leg work. Penned and then he got a break. Well deserved I must say.

Watching the open dog run the course while taking a break.

Fourth Run:
Well this was a wild good time working this group. The set out dog goosed them (stirred them up) right before I send Chesney and were ALL over the place and one kept wanting to leave. Chesney missed the panels but did a wonderful job working hard and covering. The turn at the post was good, but the drive was fast and wild, he was trying hard to cover the two that kept wanting to leave. Good boy. On to the cross drive... well it was just as ugly as the drive and fetch, but after passing the panels, Chesney kept on driving them in a straight line because he couldn't hear my go-bye whistle since the wind was really blowing. I finally got close enough to him to hear me and he turned around and was like huh? I thought I heard you. Once I got close enough and he heard me he was so good and took the flank. I didn't get after him for not taking the flank because the way he was acting was like he couldn't hear me. Good boy. Penning, we got 4 or the 5 penned since the one stupid ewe that kept wanting to leave scooted to the outside of the pen when everyone went in. Fine. We ended with that. Then we gave shedding a try and we shed 2 off of the 3. It wasn't pretty though.

Our turn to set out. Chesney gathering for set out. Tough pressure being put on him right here and he stands his ground!

After running the course he had a long break, then we went back out to try making tight turns through the panels. I couldn't get Chesney to get off the line of the drive that we were doing in the course. Reason #1 why you shouldn't patter courses! I think the problem with Chesney was his brain was just so tired he was just on auto pilot. We called it a day.

Guess I need to go work on the volume of my whistles now...

Rainy Days Are Fun Days

2008-11-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

(I know what you're thinking... These picture's aren't taken in the rain... Yes. I know they aren't. I was too concerned about destroying my camera in the down pour conditions we worked in today... So.... Sorry no pictures from today)

Out to work again today. We we're hoping for a little bit of rain in the forecast, but we ended up getting a few drops more than planned. What's the problem with this? Nothing! Chesney had a blast working in the rain, I enjoy working in the rain (every now and then), however, the sheep do not. They were being good for Chesney and I, but not so nice to some of the others. To start the morning off we gathered the group up from the front field and moved them to a smaller field where they we're held for most of the day. We would pick and choose handfuls from the group once the group in the big field was worked. After moving the group to the pen, we went to the training field to watch Calli work. Poor little girl had a rough day... Just one of those days where she felt like being a puppy.

Then it was off to the big field to work Calli more on a different group of sheep. We're trying to lengthen Calli's outruns to challenge her now with her training. Chesney went and got tired to the fence.... Oh so sad. He needed to save his energy because he would be worked hard when his turn came. Calli was having some trouble with the outruns, she crossed over the first time and is a little hesitant to go all the way around. I think she is still getting used to lifting off a person.
On to the big dogs turn. Chesney and Maid would swap outruns today for their working session. Chesney needed a challenge so we opted to stay near the barn while Maid was taken up to the top of the hill. Maid had a clear view during her entire outrun of her sheep. Chesney once he got to the ditch at the base of the hill he lost sight of his sheep. The first time on his "Go Bye" outrun he got to the top of the hill super tight on his sheep. The second time I stood between him and the sheep to give him an idea of how wide he needed to be. The third time, he came to the ridge of the hill and kicked himself out wider. He is still pretty tight at the top and I really am at a loss for how to fix this at this point. The next few out runs we did to the "away", which is his better side at this time. He did the same thing this direction as before but when he got half way up the hill I stopped him and redirected which kicked him out nice and wide around his sheep at the top. The second time I send him away he redirected himself and we ended on that good note. Chesney is doing a nice job of holding sheep and setting out for other dogs on their outruns. I think he likes the job.

I gave him a break while baby dogs worked, then we gathered everyone up to clip some feet and treat for foot rote. Nasty stuff. After he rested for about an hour we went back out and did some driving. He is driving REALLY well. Flanks are more square than they were when we started working again this semester. His pace is getting better and I am really trying to insist on a steady whistle that he is starting to understand. After a drive around the field, we attempted shedding a group of six, so I guess you could say we split them, three and three. There were two times where I missed the chance to shed a single and then a time to shed two. I finally called Chesney in on the split and he came in slower than he usually does. I hope it was because he was just so tired and not that he is less enthusiastic about shedding. We'll try a large group tomorrow and see if that helps perk him up. He took a look back and at first didn't see where I was sending him so I had to walk a little ways to show him. He brought the three back with the others and we called it a day. It was a really good day. That's why rainy days are so fun, you never have expectations set to high and are always surprised!

"Go Fine Me Sheep"

2008-11-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

This has pretty much been the theme of our work sessions recently. Who thought hiding sheep in a 40 something acre field with hills, shadows, a pond, and trees, would be so much fun! Well, it's tons of fun and if you don't think so... let me explain. First you need somewhere to put your dog while the sheep are being set. Then you need someone who can move the sheep to the undisclosed location with their dog.

Finally you bring your dog out to the field, and ideally they don't see where the sheep are before you get there. Then the magic words come... "Chesney, go find me sheep." He LOVES this sentence. After you give this command and if you know where the sheep are, you usually give a directional command, either "go-bye" or "away", then off they should go.

Chesney didn't always know what this means, however, he did know find it, and since we are working sheep I think he is smart and put 2 and 2 together. At first, he would kind of run out trusting me that there were sheep out there, but not really sure if or where they were in the field. Now when I send him he goes out confidently after three sessions of this AND as soon as we get to the field whether I plan on sending him or not, he is looking for sheep.

One of the reasons behind doing this was to build up his confidence that he can do things correctly without me there or in sight. He is starting to bring me all the sheep he is sent for along with getting much straighter on his fetch.

Chesney also got put back in the packed pen since it had been a while working in a small pen with lots of sheep. The first time there were 30 sheep in a stall about 10yrds by 5 yrds.

When he would go around if the sheep didn't move, he would try a heel, and if they still didn't move he would go over top them. Good to see him being confident about where he needed to be and how to get there.

With doing some chores like moving sheep for other dogs to work in different pens and fields keeps him doing real jobs. Along with things like shedding to sort some off a group then move them somewhere while the other group stays in the same field teaches him that shedding is important for certain things. We also worked on penning. We shed a group off and pushed them down the hill to the pen and they were a perfect group for this since they didn't readily want to go in. Persistence and some adjustments on Chesney's part got them in the pen. We let them out then took them somewhere else while the group up top was being worked.

They've been good last few sessions, and they've been fun!

Rewind Two Weeks back

2008-11-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

While I was home in California for the weekend taking my firefighter test, I decided to take Tucker out to Anna's and work sheep, since I didn't have Chesney to work that weekend (he was still in Louisiana) I could concentrate on by Big Guy. On the way out there (it was early and I was driving with just Tucker) I got to thinking these crazy ideas. At least at first they seemed crazy, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured... Why not? And for this crazy thinking I was doing... I was thinking of trying to see if I could train Tucker up to run him in a Nov/Nov level course! Yep, crazy, I know. Well, crazy if you know Tucker and have seen him work.

Now lets take a few steps back to a week or so before all this. I found an English Shepherd Yahoo group. I posted some pictures and described Tucker's personality, everyone said that without a doubt they think Tucker is an English Shepherd. So I started doing some research on the groups archives to see if people have posted anything about working their dogs to see what their working traits were.

With this new information and way of thinking on how I was going to start Tucker for real this time, got me thinking that I could make him useful (not that he doesn't have a purpose of being the worlds greatest family dog). So we pull up and get out, I just let Tucker out of the car and he was very good. He just hung out with the other dogs, ran around a little, road with us to fix a fence, then hung out by the tree while I caught up with Anna, all the while the group of sheep were loose in the field and he didn't bother them.

I took him in to work three times that day, the first time I took him in it was burning off excited energy from not working regularly. Typical young, new dog stuff. I will say though, this time, compared to the first time I brought him out to work (almost 2 years before) he was simply listening better and acting much more responsive to my body language and pressure. Taking him out after the first work and letting him think helped for the second time I worked him. We spent much less time circling and more time actually fetching, even though he was still moving to fast and wearing a lot. The third time I took him in I had him walking and trotting slower behind the group and you could actually see him start thinking about where he needed to be, how hard he needed to push... and get this... actually stopping (either sitting or laying down) when I asked for a lay down.

On the drive home I had a new found confidence that my crazy idea wasn't so crazy... maybe. Only time will tell though, whether Mr. Tucker can handle the pressure of working with a person and progressing through the stages of training. Even if he doesn't make it past a novice level he will serve as a good teacher for me, helping me fine tune my working and handling abilities.

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Back to the Basics

2008-11-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

So for all of you that don't know, Chesney is my first Border Collie and my first dog I have trained to work stock. We got, what most top handlers would call, a poor and improper start. Chesney started working at 4 months of age, which is when he was started on sheep. However, we did not start with teaching him to cover or "feel" his sheep properly (read the pressure and then apply the correct pressure to move stock calmly). After working him once, sometimes twice a week for about 2 months, and leaving for school for the fall semester, then coming home in winter to California to continue training with this same handler we started with, Chesney started to learn some bad habits. Habits that I am still to this day paying for.

After I started noticing some trouble spots and no improvements in others (also by this time I had done tons more research and learned enough to know things were going badly) we stopped working. From the time Chesney was about 8 months old until he was almost 2, he didn't work anything. We did play a lot of soccer though!

After doing some searching I finally found Anna to work with. We went out to work with her the summer after Chesney turned 2 and worked with her twice a week every week all summer. After working with Anna we probably didn't do as much of the basics as we should have because Chesney was learning things so quickly we just kept moving forward even though things weren't perfect. At least he was functional at doing chores, which is all I could have asked for in the beginning. We went off to school at the end of summer and found places to work out in Louisiana, but the sheep were not right for what we needed to work on, they were far too dogged. The semester ended and we continued to work with Anna, ran in a trial or two, worked more durning this last summer, which brings us to where we are now.

Where are we at you ask? We are much farther along than most who have been training their dog once, maybe twice a week for a year. There are some holes, however. We've figured out that a root of Chesney's outrun tightness and lack of proper flanking might be linked to the fact that he still is not really covering his sheep on his own. Today we did some fun work on teaching him that, yes indeed, he needs to bring me ALL the sheep I send him for without me stopping him enough to keep all the sheep together. He has become WAY to dependent on me telling him what to do, and I will be so happy for the day that I don't have to do so much handling with him.

Today we hid sheep in the pasture and I simply told Chesney, "find me sheep." It only took one time of him running around like a silly boy not really sure what I was asking or where to start looking OR that yes... He needed to go away from me to find them and that I wasn't going with him. This first time after he went to get sheep (I could not see him) he only brought me 1 out of 17 sheep. We had some work to do. I walked towards him and kept telling him that I was so sad that he didn't bring me all the sheep. I told him we needed ALL the sheep. We got all the sheep back together after two attempts then the dogs who were helping us picked them up and I took Chesney to get a drink while they were being hidden again.

This second time I told him to find me sheep he went out more confidently than the first time but there was still a lot of hesitation on his part. Once he spotted them though (I think he thinks I'm joking that there are sheep out there) he went to get them. The draw was perfect for a covering exercise. The sheep spread out and some started to break. He made a half hearted effort to cover the breaking sheep then decided to just keep bring the ones that didn't break. Some more of the group that he had decided to break too and once again he thought about covering but ended up letting them go too. He ended up bringing me 6 sheep of 17. Better, but no where near good enough. I quit him from working the group he brought me so there was no satisfaction of getting work for doing a poor job then told him I needed all the sheep and he went to get the rest.

We rested him then went back out for a third try at finding sheep with not much more success than the second time, but this one was a difficult task in itself because he has to bring them around the lake. The fourth time we gave it a try, was a big break through. He was getting a drink and cooling off in the lake while the sheep were put out of sight. I sent him to find me sheep which he did confidently this time. While he was fetching, some of the group decided they didn't want to play when they got to the ditch and about 8 of them cut back on him, after he got the group out of the ditch, CHESNEY ON HIS OWN, without me saying anything, turned back to get the group that cut back on him! WHOOO HOOOO! He missed 3 of them, but heck I surely didn't mind, he actually made the decision to get back and get his sheep. After he brought me the 5, I laid him down and said, that was good, but we forgot a couple. Together we went to get them, I kept telling him he did a good job, but still I needed to have them all. After that, he got lots and lots of pats.

So after all this today, I need to go back to the basics with him and teach him to hold up his end of the deal and cover his sheep. After finishing working today he was super keen and really looking for sheep! Good boy! For now though, no more progressing on shedding (fine by me, needed a break) and we will be working on covering sheep without my help. So for now, back to puppy basics.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2008-10-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

They say sheepherding is all about regrets. They say getting the right start is invaluable. And they say it takes as many years as the dog has legs to be mature enough to really compete. I say this is true. I have regrets with Chesney, my regret of not properly starting him, then having to start him over right. There is truth in the maturity, but maybe in the competition scene. I think there is not enough said about the relationship between dog and handler. The desire to work with their own, that these dogs posses, is rivaled by none.

Chesney has such desire. It leave me in awe how there is such a bond between us that it could carry us far enough to compete in Open within the next year. Our ability to read each other and his desire to please and my ability to learn quickly for him to advance at a steady pace, has made us stride through the last year and a half of training. What a ride its been and going to be!

My Behind the Scenes Romeo

2008-09-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

While I was looking through pictures on my Flickr account I realized that poor Tucker gets no recognition on my blog, so this post is dedicated to the Romeo of the house. Tucker aka "Big Guy". He is such a love and if push came to shove could become a farm dog since he really does like chasing the sheep. Mostly though his job it to make sure the couch stays warm for who ever is to sit on it with him.

Just a puppy, but a handsome boy in the making!

Did you say you love me mom? Chesney heard you say it too!

I try to herd well!

I Love Chesney

I sometimes look like a working dog!

Finally Maturing... I hope.

2008-09-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Well to say the least, I am horrible about keeping up on this blog. I just get so side tracked with actually spending time with my boy rather than writing about it on the computer. Don't get me wrong we keep working journals, but I always forget to start putting them up here for others to read (after reading the more interesting blogs I'm sure ;) ). Anyways Chesney and I had such a great day a week ago that I had to share.

The drive to where we get to work our sheepies was very pleasant and Chesney was (for the first time in a long time) not acting stupidly excited. Once we got out and greeted friends he hung out by my side, said hello to Calli, then just stuck with me all day, which was a first for me to not have to keep nagging him about staying with me or tying him up at the truck to just watch. So he earned being able to be off leash. The sheep we were to work were in the large field when we arrived, but Chesney didn't see them in the corner so I took him out and kept telling him to "look" which we've been working on to mean, "Hey look for your sheep. They're out there"

He did great, going out just far enough in front of me and really looking, so now I know he understands what it means. Yay! His outrun was good and he stopped at the top waiting for me to whistle him on, and on he went.

On his fetch I had him bring them straight to me since the last few times he's worked I have been having him flank and drive them somewhere else with hopes of being able to redirect him on the fly while fetching to prepare us for fetch panels. He had a bit of a hiccup because he was anticipating me to redirect him but I just stood there and blew his bring them to me whistle (Tweet Tweet, Tweet Tweet) And he did just that. Once close to my feet, I, yes I practice my job when bringing them around the post and it went well. Then we did some driving around the field, calling off, outruns, and just moving the sheep from here to there. After 20 minutes... Time for water, this Louisiana heat is brutal.

We hung out a little in the shade and watched some people work their dogs in the arena and while I chatted with friends, Chesney was right there by my side the whole time just happily hanging out. I was so taken back by this and so happy.

I actually felt like I had a serious old time working dog. Hahah. The trainer needed some help with bringing the sheep in the field to a section that was laid out for a Bouvie to do some tending work, and Chesney was the man to call on for the job. The sheep by this time had moved to the far end of the pasture for shade, I said to Chesney "look!" and Look he did, Then sent him "away" and off he went to bring me sheep. He fetched them up nice, and was taking his "Take Time" whistle so well that the ladies were not running at me like a freight train and all was good when they got to me to be held until the Bouvie was sent in place. We were asked to stay close incase the sheep got to be the wiser and make a break for the hills, which they did twice, but Chesney was right there to put them back. Good Dog! After being bored because everything was under control, off to get a drink and a dip in the tub.

As soon as Chesney got out of the tub he came to sit with me by the fence and watch more dogs work in the arena, while the Bouvie finished tending the sheep we were to work, in the big field. Time for us to go back to work! The sheep were in yet a different corner or the pasture which is perfect for Chesney. This time I sent him "away" without telling him to look and being the good boy he is (and with his new found trust in me sending him that there are really sheep out there) away he went. It only took one redirect (on the fly, which was a first) for him to finally spot them (the grass is really long). Once again he dropped behind them and brought them to me.

At that point Calli was ready to work the group in the big pasture.

By the way, Calli is a little, cutie of a puppy that I brought back from California (with my friend) for my friend to actually have a working pup and a working pup she is! She is a star and only 7 months old. Well anyways while Calli is working Chesney just gets the idea (after me reminding him once) to stay back off the sheep while Calli was working and even a couple of times when they were thinking of breaking for the draw he was there to stop them without me saying anything!

When Calli was finished I put the whole flock back together after everyone was done working in the arena, and started trying some shedding with Chesney. I mean he's had such a great day so far why not try something else new, or hard. Right? Right! Well after 3 attempts Chesney really started to get it and on the fourth one it really clicked, so we ended on that note. He started to really keep the two groups separate and when one wanted to break he covered and drove them away. Success.

After that day of working I am, to say the least, truely exstatic with my boy who is just 3.5 years old and basically started, his training, over (after 2 years of stupidness because I didn't know better) just a little over a year ago. We've come a very long way to say the least, and I can't thank Anna enough. It's amazing how fast I picked something up when it was being taught properly.

Also that day I got to practice my photography skills with taking pictures of working dogs (which I think is most fun). Here is one of the fun ones I got from the day of Calli! Donna (Calli's owner, my friend) calls it a magazine shot.

Things to be worked on: Shedding and keeping the two groups separate. Having him gather the big group back together after driving them away to draw out his whistle so he starts to understand distances. Continue to work on his look back for gathering the group we split off (setting up for a double life... If we ever need to use one). I would like to work on putting a stand on him for penning and shedding. Freeing up his walk up, he gets stuck sometimes and it takes a flank whistle to snap him out of it.

Off to work my dog... Lots to do!

Memorable

2008-05-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend was great! On Memorial Day we competed in our first Pro/Nov trial and actually put some points on the board! Chesney needed a few redirects on the outrun and I wasn't really all that upset since it was the farthest yet he's done an outrun. He got the sheep and brought them to me and around the post, we missed the fetch panels though. We had a little trouble getting them started on the drive because of the draw to the exhaust but they ended up getting pushed through the drive gates and off for the cross drive which was pretty darn good. Chesney got them through the other gate, but I sent him around too soon to bring them to the pen and the sheep came back through the panels. Dang! At the pen we had a bit of a miss hap. There was a loose dog on the course, Chesney did good at staying calm. As we were pushing him in the pen one of the ewes challenged and charged Chesney but he stood his ground and didn't over grip! YAY! Time over. We ran out of time at the pen, but at least we got a score. Phew our first Pro/Nov course is over and done. Now I can't wait to do another one!

Video of our run, thanks to Jan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM1myvFgDLk

Practice Practice Practice

2008-04-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

So Sunday we went out and practiced staying honest at the top of a long outrun. For the most part, it went very well. The more we did the deeper at the top he was! Good boy, Chesney. We are working on these longer outruns because our trainer decided it would be good for us to finally give our luck at a Pro/Novice course on Memorial Day weekend. Exciting. Nerve Racking? Yes! After doing maybe fifteen 200 yard outruns (which was the longest the field offered) we worked on some brain stamina! I helped him split off a single and had him work the single towards me and away from her friends. It was good practice for him learning to be calm and percise while making small corrections. It really helps to keen him up. I think he enjoys it. So yeah thats about all for now!

Long Time Gone

2008-04-23T21:31:00.001-07:00

Well a lot has happened since November and I have been bad about keeping up with the blog... Chesney and I continued training in Louisiana at a friends place. It's too bad it's the same thing week in and week out as far as the sheep go. That's ok there is plenty for us to work on. Most days though are lazy days while I go to class...

After we went home for winter break back to California we were promptly put to work in Anna's field, pulling T-post, rolling up fencing and dragging the posts to the spot the round pen will be built in. This round pen is not being built on a whim though, there is an important person coming and the round pen was his request. We are getting ready for Jack Knox's clinic. There is a buzz in the air at the pasture and spirits during the work are high. I'm excited to meet the man himself! The clinic came and went far to quickly. It left me longing for more time to pick at topics and listen to stories. My brain hurt. The most important thing that I got from Jack was, teach your dog to feel its sheep and things will come easily when the dog is ready for them. The three important pieces; Contact, Pace, Style! Chesney and I still strive for them everyday we work.

Speaking of working, after 6 months since our last encounter on the blogger, we have made great strides forward, with occasional steps backwards, but we are much farther along than we were! Since the clinic there has really been a turning point in both my approach to training with Chesney and my ability to learn and absorb new things from the sheep dog world. I can't learn enough, it's not enough for me to just work my boy once a week, maybe twice, I want to do it everyday, I want to immerse myself in the culture and life style of a shepherd. Anyways, back to reality. Promptly following the clinic Chesney and I had some rough spots to work through now that we were out from under the watchful eye of Jack, not to mention the few days following Jack's departure Anna left and we had the flock and pasture to ourselves to sort and figure out work alone. What a task! We managed with the help of Tucker B who saved some of Chesney's brain power by bringing the group in to be sorted and penned for Chesney to work. The first day it worked great, the second day Chesney had to do all of it and by the time we were sorted and ready to work... Chesney had no brain power left. His stamina for thinking has greatly improved since November as well.

So the few bumps in the road (like forgetting to bring the whole group, being too pushy, being tight at the top) have lessened and some gone away. He is much better about backing off his sheep. Hmmm wonder why? Maybe because he has a feel for his sheep and proper contact on them? Yes! First step to check off of THE LIST! Contact! Chesney turned 3 on February 24th and got to work his first season of momma's and lambs. He did really well. We competed in a trial in March, our first day we did very well and it was thought that we had the winning run... well should I say everyone except the one person who was keeping score... we got 3rd. Still not bad, improving from the last trial we ran in (which was a DQ) and the one previously on the field which was run in a lower class than this recent trial, so improvements all around on that first day. Then the second day... Hmm how to put this, well I guess I could just flat out say that when we got to the pen Chesney decided that for whatever reason he was done with his run and left. Left me with a rope in my hand and five sheep looking at me dumbstruck at the whole scene thinking that this is not how things are supposed to work. No kidding ladies. I walked off the field, and I really, to my surprise was not upset with him. I felt sorry for him, what caused the leaving, me? The sheep? No I don't think so. The stick in my hand? Possibly, he has always been funny about it, but it wasn't a problem the day before. Who knows. We sat at the truck while the lower classes competed. We needed alone time, he needed alone time. All he did was crawl under the truck and lay down with a disappointed look. It made my heart hurt seeing him like that.

After the melt down we went back to work the next week and did some fun things. No pressure, no learning. Just the basics. He still seemed bothered by something and started really slicing in on his "go-bye" side. I figure it would pass when his mind was right again, he just needed some time.

We went to a Bobby Dalziel clinic the first weekend in April, that was interesting. I like what he does with the long line and he worked well with Chesney, who came back from the clinic with a new mentality ready to work. At the clinic we had to set out for practicing a double lift with some of the other dogs. Chesney was a champ. He really enjoyed the task and even if he never makes a great trial dog, I think he would enjoy doing exhaust or set out as he matures more.

So the story goes, we are now getting ready for a trial when we get back home this summer over Memorial Day. It's a good possibility that I get to sneak away for the day to Jack's clinic in central California. What a birthday present that would be! Not to mention when I get home I will have some Tucker stories and new pictures to add to this little blogger. Talk to you all soon!

Well on Our Way

2007-11-11T21:28:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I took Chesney out and ran him in local trial, due to lack of other types of Trials in this area and lack of my ability to travel long distances while at school. He got second with a score of 76. I was pleased to say the least. He was a little rough on the edges but that was expected. It was really good to see what stuff stuck with him and improved with time off and maturity. We also got to see what didn't stick so well and what we will continue to work on. I learned today that Chesney needs to still learn his flanks. He is purely reading my body language and goes the direction based on that. Fine with me. Just means we need to work on it. We also learned that when you lay a dog up for four months they are really excited to FINALLY be back working their sheep. That being said, when I sent Chesney on his outrun, well it was much more of just a run, there was no out in it, he went straight up the middle and ducked out to the go-bye and got behind his sheep. The plus in this... He didn't go busting through them and he went out (finally) to the direction I originally told him. Both improvements!

On the gather the sheep were moving at a nice CLIP, and Chesney finally took the second lie down I gave him that was preempted by... Hey you! What are you doing (while stepping into him). I guess he figured he might want to listen to me today. After that it was just sit back and ride the breaks the whole way. He was sharp taking his lie downs. He hit the dirt the fastest I have ever seen him take a lie down before, I was very happy. He was responding to the steady and taking his time when asked. We got them through the first gate (Yay!), and he moved them through the gate himself I didn't have to actually walk through the gate (not supposed to usually) then we moved on to the next. Through the second gate we only got one through because of my stupidity and bad positioning (once again I am ruining my dog and he is picking up my slack*sigh*). Then we were off to the pen. I noticed that everyone else who was having trouble with their pen were not beating their sheep to the gate. So I used Chesney to hold them off the pen while I opened it and then sent him around to put them up. We only played ring around the rosie once. Then he penned them nicely. Got them out quietly and we went to hold them. It only took me once to reposition myself and get everyone settled to stand for a minute. Then off to the Exhaust and That'll Do!

Everyone was exceptionally nice. A very welcoming crowd of poeple. I got a few numbers of people who are willing to let Chesney and I come out to their place and work with them. I'm excited for next semester to finally work my dog on a regular basis.

Sheep? Did someone say sheep?!?!?

2007-05-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a good day down in the pasture where we go sheep herding. Chesney did very well. We worked the sheep in the larger of the two paddocks and continued to practice our fetching and small outruns. Chesney at first was having a hard time listening to the "lie downs" I was giving him but settled in nicely and much quicker this time than he did last week. He made some new friends today. A little black/white girl named Piper who was so attached to her owner it was beyond adorable. Miss Tikkle was there and as sharp as usual. She is such a cool little dog. Then came Sprout, a young girl that was brought trained to work on a goat farm. She was sharp, good little dog that unfortunately was starting to develop so bad habits that Anna was trying to get her out of. Chesney and I got to meet Lucky. A very pretty red tri girl, who is also Tikkle's grandma! That girl can work some cows! She did well today. Then there is little Mr. Rain. Boy was he cute! Only about 3 months old and the sweetest little guy you would ever meet. Poor thing got a dreadful fox tail up his nose though and didn't get the chance to work before he was whisped away to get it taken out.

After Chesney's first trip out on the sheep the second time we were asked to move the sheep to the outside main (rather large) pasture. I was kind of nervous but I had faith that Chesney would listen well and things would stay relatively under control. For the most part they did! I was struggling and fumbling a bit on the hills and gopher holes as I was walking backwards and a rather brisk pace to try and keep ahead to the sheep's fast pace because of Chesney's quick pace! Phew! Alas to no avail I got trampled on... And it wouldn't be the last time for the day! So out in the big pasture we practiced our fetching some more. And some gathering and getting around the sheep and at the top of them cutting in on a straight line... It was good. We put them away and Chesney rested for his third time out which was going to be "functional work" as I like to call it.

On to the functional work... We helped with turning the sheepies out for the night. Chesney and I went to get a rather large group (or larger than we've ever worked with). There were some real buggers in that group and one male tried to stand up to Chesney, who stood his ground and forced the sheep to move! Way to go Chesney! I had him circle a few times each direction so he could get a feel for them and also get used to working in smaller tighter spaces. Once I opened the gate the wanted to break, but I was ready for it and got Chesney in a good position to be able to stop them. Which he did quite well. We took this group of sheep for a "walk" then turned them out and headed over to the other smaller group to get them turned out. I went into the larger paddock with Chesney at my side (good dog for staying with me!) and we were going to get the 5 or so sheep out of the small pen they were in to join them up with the 3 school sheep already in the paddock. Well it seemed like a good idea to take Chesney in there with me. This pen, let me explain, is about 4'x10'... not very big for a dog, its person and 5 terrified sheep! This has disaster written all over it! One of the sheep head butted Chesney, who stood his ground and changed the sheeps mind that that might be a good idea.

Now, getting 5 sheep out of a pen that small past a dog is exhilarating to say the least! Yes this was the second time of the day I got trampled. Quite funny actually because I should have seen it coming! Get up dust myself off and try to collect my dog who is running a muck after the scattered sheep. Comical.... Right!?!? Not so much. Finally I get everything under control and in good spirit take a bow to all those who were watching. Chesney and I get the sheep out into the open pasture and take them for a walk again but only a short one because Chesney had over heated and was going to injure himself if I didn't stop him. We went to water and he sat in the trough for a good 5 minutes. All in all it was a great day and I couldn't ask for a more rewarding thing to do with your naturally born talented sheep dog!

Just me and my boy

2007-05-23T16:09:00.001-07:00

Now that I have ten minutes to myself while my little man takes a power nap. They are all power naps, never really long enough to get anything done without his help. But I love him for that. Chesney is my handsome Border Collie. His name Chesney well lets just say his full name is Livin in Fastforward! That boy is just on the go all the time. He came into my life at a much needed time. In May of 2005 this fur ball of a 12 week old pup came bouncing into my life after the loss of my Sheltie the previous Thanksgiving. Getting Chesney was an important moment for me. It was getting him that helped me move on from a long two years at a college that really didn't turn out to be the right choice for me, and Chesney was going to be with me for our long trek from California to a new school in Louisiana! Here is where his and my real journey began. Learning from eachother. Chesney has taught me that I have the ability to give such love and care to another being that I thought I never had. I found this when I thought I'd lost my boy forever. He escaped one night and was gone for a hour (felt like years!) At that moment and time I truley realized just how much I cared and loved him. After that moment, not a day goes by that I think about how much this little dog really means to me. Thanks bud!

Now enough of the mushy stuff, here's a little bit about Chesney. He's fast, athletic, and driven, loves working his sheep. He thinks about wanting to work the cows but thats still a challenge in its own that neither I nor him are ready to take on yet. He loves his soccer ball more than his frisbee, but loves his frisbee more than his ball. He loves his rope more than all those, but loves his Sheep and Border Kitty most of all!

Some about me... Well not really much to say to tell you the truth. I play division 1 soccer in Louisiana after transfering fromplaying division 1 soccer at a school in Nothing (I mean Northern) California (jk being a Southern California girl my whole life, Nor. Cal. is like another state!). I am studying Athletic Training and would love working in that field at the college level along with being a Firefighter in California! I will forwarn you that most of my blogs will indeed be about me and my dog, but I will in time throw in other stories along the way!