Friday, February 19, 2010
Consistently Inconsistent
Consistently Inconsistent. That's me! I just scaned through some of my old entries and themes keep popping up. The enforcement of the stop is one of them. Hmmm, seems like as many times as I have mentioned that one that I would finally get consistent. Nope. Go great for awhile and then let it slide. I have been getting better though, really. Also the command is nice, the correction is seperate. Not the command repeated louder! And what about those plans, those exercises I am going to do? I say I am going to work on this or that but then when I get to the field I have totally forgotten and gone on my merry way doing a different this and that and the other thing without ever really finishing what I was working on last time. So am I being fair to my dog? No. Is she forgiving of my human foibles? Yes. That’s what is so wonderful about dogs!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Almost New
Went back to Kelly's place to rent sheep time today. We took a cattle clinic there last fall, worked sheep there a month or so ago, and now today so it was an almost new location with almost new sheep. The sheep where nice and dog broke although they did pull to the draw quite strongly. We where in a large rectangular field. I could wish for it to be a bit wider but it was plenty deep. My goal was to work on her out runs and to work on the square flanks.
First go I sent almost the distance of the field. The sheep started coming before Rave was behind them. Not sure if this was because the sheep know when the dog is coming around to head up field or if Rave was a bit tight on her outrun. I suspect it was a bit of both. We did a few of these and then proceeded to drive. I wanted to mostly do outside flanks to the away side as that is her weaker side but seemed to be doing mostly inside come bye flanks.
Second turn I shortened the outrun considerably. I also went right up close to the sheep and sent her on the come bye. I was very please with her on this one. He body stayed soft, she kept equal distance all the way around and the sheep didn't leave early. Of course I was right there with them so they stayed with me. I then tried for the away side but the sheep would drift to the draw as I took Rave back to set it up. Therefore the sheep where to close to the fence to maintain the same distance around. We did a few of these and Rave continued to perform them well. We then did a bit of driving in a square. Rave's attitude on this run was exactly what I wanted so I called a stop before something happened that I would have to correct. We left the field feeling good.
My friend had also come to work her dog so after we dropped the dogs off in my back yard to enjoy a bit of spring like weather and we went to lunch. By the time we had driven home from Kelly's, had lunch and returned to my house it had been about 3 or so hours so we decided we could do a quick run on our dogs. I sorted some sheep into the pens and Colt worked on his take pen skills. I then got out 5 ducks. I can't remember how long it has been since I have worked the ducks. As luck would have it I got a group that wouldn't stick together. A 3-2 split. At first Rave was having a bit of trouble and she would bounce between the two groups without actually putting them together. But I reminded her that she needed to keep them all together and gradually we where able to bring them into a single group. We didn't do any real take them somewhere in particular exercises. Just concentrated on moving them around and keeping them in a group. I was most pleased when I told Rave to slow down she noticeably checked her pace.
Accomplishments, Goals, and Plans
First go I sent almost the distance of the field. The sheep started coming before Rave was behind them. Not sure if this was because the sheep know when the dog is coming around to head up field or if Rave was a bit tight on her outrun. I suspect it was a bit of both. We did a few of these and then proceeded to drive. I wanted to mostly do outside flanks to the away side as that is her weaker side but seemed to be doing mostly inside come bye flanks.
Second turn I shortened the outrun considerably. I also went right up close to the sheep and sent her on the come bye. I was very please with her on this one. He body stayed soft, she kept equal distance all the way around and the sheep didn't leave early. Of course I was right there with them so they stayed with me. I then tried for the away side but the sheep would drift to the draw as I took Rave back to set it up. Therefore the sheep where to close to the fence to maintain the same distance around. We did a few of these and Rave continued to perform them well. We then did a bit of driving in a square. Rave's attitude on this run was exactly what I wanted so I called a stop before something happened that I would have to correct. We left the field feeling good.
My friend had also come to work her dog so after we dropped the dogs off in my back yard to enjoy a bit of spring like weather and we went to lunch. By the time we had driven home from Kelly's, had lunch and returned to my house it had been about 3 or so hours so we decided we could do a quick run on our dogs. I sorted some sheep into the pens and Colt worked on his take pen skills. I then got out 5 ducks. I can't remember how long it has been since I have worked the ducks. As luck would have it I got a group that wouldn't stick together. A 3-2 split. At first Rave was having a bit of trouble and she would bounce between the two groups without actually putting them together. But I reminded her that she needed to keep them all together and gradually we where able to bring them into a single group. We didn't do any real take them somewhere in particular exercises. Just concentrated on moving them around and keeping them in a group. I was most pleased when I told Rave to slow down she noticeably checked her pace.
Accomplishments, Goals, and Plans
- Rave was stopping very nicely for me today
- Rave stayed soft in her body as she worked the stock
- I kept my commands inviting (most the time) and remembered to give a reprimand instead of a harsher command
- Make an effort to work the ducks once a week
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Who's Holding the Reins?
A follow-up lesson with Dianne today. I need to step up more and take charge. When Rave is close enough to correct then correct! Rave and I have struggled with who will hold the reins. When we first started out she wanted to hold them. We are now at a place where we seem to both be holding one. Next step I will hold both of them ;-) Then I can give her her head at times.
We where driving to targets today. They where in a triangle. It is just like driving in a square but only its a triangle. So why did I have trouble with my position? Trust. I didn't quite trust that I would be able to control things from the inside since we where in an open field. The same field we always work in but as we where doing something different I was thrown off. I had a hard time keeping my line straight which became quiet obvious as we now had a target instead of just 'picking a point' and going to it. That point had a tendency to move when I needed it to. It will be very difficult to work on this at home as I don't really have enough space to get a drive of adequate length in. It is a lot easier to keep straight in a small area. I have really got to stop stopping Rave short on her flanks to reposition. I have heard this many, many times from many, many people. But I can't seem to 'see' where I need to stop her. Guess I should let her go a bit past my comfort zone and that will be correct!
Accomplishments, Goals, and Plans
We where driving to targets today. They where in a triangle. It is just like driving in a square but only its a triangle. So why did I have trouble with my position? Trust. I didn't quite trust that I would be able to control things from the inside since we where in an open field. The same field we always work in but as we where doing something different I was thrown off. I had a hard time keeping my line straight which became quiet obvious as we now had a target instead of just 'picking a point' and going to it. That point had a tendency to move when I needed it to
Accomplishments, Goals, and Plans
- Rave stayed back from her sheep better during the drive today
- We are penning nice dog broke sheep
- Need to improve my reading of where to place Rave
- Need to insist she takes her commands properly
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Its a Deal
My friend and I attended a one day clinic with instructor Dianne Deal. It was held locally which was very nice, put on by Gem State Herding. Thanks Gem State! It was cold and windy but a great time.
My goals for the day where to work in front of an audience, work a new place, and work new sheep. All of which I accomplished! Hee hee, great to have goals so easily meet. Secondary goals where to have Rave remain 'soft' and working with me and me remaining calm and not over reacting.
I lost a bit of my stop. Rave was a bit to tense. I was a bit to tense. But nothing bad happened. We could have worked better. I again was stopping her short on her flanks. Bad human! My voice went up on my corrections. I didn't remember (most the time) to call her towards me before sending her on her flanks, especially her away side.
We worked on penning. Rave was still coming in on her flanks at the pen, and I really wasn't correcting for it. I really need to insist that she not come in until invited to do so. But we did pen the sheep multiple times, she did remain patient and walked up slowly and calmly or holding her place as needed. She is learning to enjoy penning. We just need to fix the tendency to take a few steps in when she flanks or stops. And we need to keep working on the square flank in the field, no speeding up as she takes the flank.
It was fun to get out and work a new place and new sheep. Just wished they could have turned off the wind!
My goals for the day where to work in front of an audience, work a new place, and work new sheep. All of which I accomplished! Hee hee, great to have goals so easily meet. Secondary goals where to have Rave remain 'soft' and working with me and me remaining calm and not over reacting.
I lost a bit of my stop. Rave was a bit to tense. I was a bit to tense. But nothing bad happened. We could have worked better. I again was stopping her short on her flanks. Bad human! My voice went up on my corrections. I didn't remember (most the time) to call her towards me before sending her on her flanks, especially her away side.
We worked on penning. Rave was still coming in on her flanks at the pen, and I really wasn't correcting for it. I really need to insist that she not come in until invited to do so. But we did pen the sheep multiple times, she did remain patient and walked up slowly and calmly or holding her place as needed. She is learning to enjoy penning. We just need to fix the tendency to take a few steps in when she flanks or stops. And we need to keep working on the square flank in the field, no speeding up as she takes the flank.
It was fun to get out and work a new place and new sheep. Just wished they could have turned off the wind!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Away, Away, come away with me...
Where the grass grows green and the winds blow free. Well I don't like the wind part but green grass sure sounds good!
I have been taking a big step backwards (literally), going back to basic training and working on squaring Rave's flanks. I have gone back to the very fetchy sheep or the whole group and walking backwards! Yikes. My muscles have forgotten how to go backwards. I think I will be sore in the morning.
So I walk backwards watching Rave and going in a square, asking for flanks at the corners, attempting to make sure she squares as she takes the flank. The come bye is coming nicely. At least close at hand. That is her preferred side. The away she is still slicing. Weather permitting we will try again tomorrow.
Forecast is for snow and cold, warming to thaw and mud, followed by snow and cold in repeated cycles for the next few days. Sigh. I am so ready for spring. Poor Jake the Llama has dark brown feet up to his ankles from the mud. He is ready for some spring too. And as I allowed my grass to be grazed down to much this fall I have kept my sheep off the pasture and dry lotted all winter. Are they ever ready for some spring. But they will have to wait until April or maybe May if the hay holds out to have free range on the pasture. Poor things. (You should see them, butterballs describes them best!)
I have been taking a big step backwards (literally), going back to basic training and working on squaring Rave's flanks. I have gone back to the very fetchy sheep or the whole group and walking backwards! Yikes. My muscles have forgotten how to go backwards. I think I will be sore in the morning.
So I walk backwards watching Rave and going in a square, asking for flanks at the corners, attempting to make sure she squares as she takes the flank. The come bye is coming nicely. At least close at hand. That is her preferred side. The away she is still slicing. Weather permitting we will try again tomorrow.
Forecast is for snow and cold, warming to thaw and mud, followed by snow and cold in repeated cycles for the next few days. Sigh. I am so ready for spring. Poor Jake the Llama has dark brown feet up to his ankles from the mud. He is ready for some spring too. And as I allowed my grass to be grazed down to much this fall I have kept my sheep off the pasture and dry lotted all winter. Are they ever ready for some spring. But they will have to wait until April or maybe May if the hay holds out to have free range on the pasture. Poor things. (You should see them, butterballs describes them best!)
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