Worked Rave again today. And I slipped in my vow to be calm and patient. Brought the sheep out from the bed down area and put them out in the pasture. Then while my friend worked her dog I did my feeding chores. I decided as the day was nice to take the ducks out of their pen and let them have some stretch room. Their pen is a very long narrow run. I sent Rave in to pull them out. All our work over the winter on the sheep, staying calm, taking her downs etc. vanished. She wouldn't take her commands and instead of remaining calm my voice got louder and shriller. I really didn't want her to lay down in the mud and duck muck so I was just asking for a stop. And when she didn't give it I didn't escalate to the down. Ugh. Ended the session getting the ducks out and into the pasture that I wanted them in but both Rave and I where unhappy and did not enjoy the experience. ;-(
I put Rave in the backyard while my friend finished her turn which was going very nicely for her. I had decided that I wasn't going to work Rave again today as my attitude was not conducive to good work. Colt had started an exercise where he had put half the sheep in the free standing pen and was trying to pull the other half off the outside of the pen. Very difficult since these sheep well know how to use ring around the pen and with the draw of the other, older, sheep in the pen they didn't want to leave. We tried a few things, even with me trying to block the sheep from making the corner while Colt pulled them off and Sue acted as the draw. Yeah like that was going to work. The sheep just went right around me. Ha Ha. So we decided that I should get Rave. Its not that Colt wouldn't have gotten it, but she had already worked him on some new things in the first part of his practice and she didn't want to over do when he wasn't fresh. So Colt rested and I went and got Rave. We were able to pull them off we as we have worked on this and the sheep know Rave, and I assisted with a rap to the head of the most crafty sheep with a hollow, plastic paddle. Doesn't hurt them but makes a nice bang, and they decided to come off and be good sheep. So I took them across the field and was ready to drop them when my cell phone starts ringing. I ignore it, I know it is my son from the ring tone, and that he just wants to ask me a question. He is up at the house. Well he persists on ringing so I figure I better answer. In the process of fumbling around for the phone and getting it opened I loose the sheep back to the pen. Drat! Phone call dealt with Sue and I decide that it would be fun to use the whole group and have one of us hold the sheep with our presence and dog and the other send their dog for the outrun, lift and fetch and then reverse the process Playing catch.
It took a few tries to figure out where to place the dog to hold the sheep. And that you had to stay with these sheep until the dog pushed them past you. It went pretty well. Rave is a bit sensitive to other people correcting her, and although it was Colt that was being reminded to hold his stay while Rave picked up the sheep Rave worried that it was her that was suppose to stop. She also didn't like moving into Sue's bubble to push the sheep off of her. It was good to try to work through that and I think if we continue she will start to understand that it is only my reactions that matter. At least I hope so!
This was a really good exercise as the sheep have been leaving early and the dogs have not been having to find the balance point. I think they where both shocked when they had to start paying attention on their outruns! It was fun and a good way to get back into a positive mood from our earlier work.
But I am still very unhappy with myself on how I handled the duck problems.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
New Place
Well almost. We have been to Janie's a few times but not since last spring. So we arrived in my friend's new car. There was mud everywhere but fairly compact. It was a little nerve racking worrying about getting mud in my friends new car. And usually when I try to be careful I make everything worse!
The working sheep, mostly katahdin/dorpers where in a large field. I took Rave out and as soon as they saw her they started moving down the pasture. I put Rave in a down and attempted to get nearer the sheep. The continued to fade away. I was hoping I wouldn't end up at the end of the field but they finally settled and I was able to send Rave. I would have preferred to have her closer as my goal for this work was to just have Rave, and myself, calm in a new field on unfamiliar sheep. She she went well, staying soft, but it would have been nice if she would have kicked out wider. But she did not speed up coming around the top and took her balance point well. The sheep of course then drew to the exit of the field that was behind me. Rave brought them well but to keep up with the rate the sheep where moving she had to do a medium trot. I was hoping for a walk but not to be. We brought them into the smaller working area and took them to the sort pen. They all wanted in although Rave was quite far out and in a down. I was able to close the gate and only have 6 left to work.
I worked on some out runs, lifts and fetch. We had trouble getting the sheep to me on the fetch, them pulling to the draw of the sheep in the holding pen on the side. I think having worked the sheep all winter that would just follow regardless of where the dog was showed today. Rave did not hold the side pressure to keep the sheep coming to me, falling into more of a follow. Once she got 'hard' in her body and started whining as she was waiting to be sent. I corrected her for that but not sure she understood what the correction was for.
We did a few more outruns, lifts and fetches staying calm. Not a large distance, just working on demeanor.
Colt took his turn and they did some very nice work. Then it was Rave's turn again. I decided to just work on instinct and staying calm. So I did walkabouts, walking backwards (I'll pay for that tomorrow with sore legs), switching direction often. No commands just letting Rave work. I would occasionally remind her to not push quite so hard. She enjoyed the work and so did I. We ended both feeling happy and eager for the next time we can make it out.
The working sheep, mostly katahdin/dorpers where in a large field. I took Rave out and as soon as they saw her they started moving down the pasture. I put Rave in a down and attempted to get nearer the sheep. The continued to fade away. I was hoping I wouldn't end up at the end of the field but they finally settled and I was able to send Rave. I would have preferred to have her closer as my goal for this work was to just have Rave, and myself, calm in a new field on unfamiliar sheep. She she went well, staying soft, but it would have been nice if she would have kicked out wider. But she did not speed up coming around the top and took her balance point well. The sheep of course then drew to the exit of the field that was behind me. Rave brought them well but to keep up with the rate the sheep where moving she had to do a medium trot. I was hoping for a walk but not to be. We brought them into the smaller working area and took them to the sort pen. They all wanted in although Rave was quite far out and in a down. I was able to close the gate and only have 6 left to work.
I worked on some out runs, lifts and fetch. We had trouble getting the sheep to me on the fetch, them pulling to the draw of the sheep in the holding pen on the side. I think having worked the sheep all winter that would just follow regardless of where the dog was showed today. Rave did not hold the side pressure to keep the sheep coming to me, falling into more of a follow. Once she got 'hard' in her body and started whining as she was waiting to be sent. I corrected her for that but not sure she understood what the correction was for.
We did a few more outruns, lifts and fetches staying calm. Not a large distance, just working on demeanor.
Colt took his turn and they did some very nice work. Then it was Rave's turn again. I decided to just work on instinct and staying calm. So I did walkabouts, walking backwards (I'll pay for that tomorrow with sore legs), switching direction often. No commands just letting Rave work. I would occasionally remind her to not push quite so hard. She enjoyed the work and so did I. We ended both feeling happy and eager for the next time we can make it out.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Brief Workouts
Worked Rave in the pasture. Continue to work on widening the out-run without a lot of success. I think I am asking her to go wider than she needs to for these sheep so she doesn't see the point. But I don't have any other sheep so she isn't learning that on other types of sheep she will need to go wider. Also working on the drive. Stood at the top of the gully and did a circle around the trees that are in the bottom of the gully. Continue to work on soft downs. I am not harshly reinforcing it. Just repeating the down. She is taking them but not on the first go. But she also isn't fighting it. When I was correcting her more firmly she did take the down quicker but her body and mind where tense. I think I will continue on this track of repeating it until it happens, but not letting her get the sheep until she does do it. I shall see if time improves the speed or if it gets worse.
I am keeping our work brief, don't want to drill Rave. I should do it several times a day for a very brief time, but that doesn't seem to happen. It is so muddy it just doesn't seem worth all the clean up effort.
I am keeping our work brief, don't want to drill Rave. I should do it several times a day for a very brief time, but that doesn't seem to happen. It is so muddy it just doesn't seem worth all the clean up effort.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Yip, yip
Worked Rave in the larger area again today. Still working on soft and gentle in approach on both our parts. Rave was not happy with the program today, yipping and complaining as she was waiting to be sent. But she remained soft in body once I sent her. Worked on pace. Lying her down at the top and whenever I wanted to change directions. She is taking her stops much better. Finished with a walkabout but the sheep were cheating. Following me regardless of were Rave was, so Rave got lazy and wasn't flanking. Smart dog. But I made her flank anyway. I also got lazy and didn't pay attention to making her square on her walkabout flanks. Got to watch that.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Keeping it Soft
Worked in the larger area today. Worked on outruns and stops. Kept it short and soft. Much better place for both of us.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Looking Back......and Forward
What a wonderful six years I have had with Rave. I had no idea when I started my search for a working aussie were we would go. After searching for kennels who bred working aussies I settled on one in Texas, Cut'n Loose. I contacted the breeder whom I found out was Jamie Burns and enquired about getting a puppy. I told her that I wanted one who could do it all. Obedience, agility, and most important stock work. I had just gotten a place with a little over 4 acres and a few sheep. Jamie was planning a breeding between Honey and Ted. I was really excited. She agreed to let me come out and pick one from the litter when they were 5 weeks old. On Dec. 17th Honey produced eleven puppies. I wanted a girl. She gave ten to choose from. What a honey of a Honey!
I arrived in Texas when the pups were 5 weeks old and it was cold! I thought Texas was suppose to be hot. Well that was my first education. They may be hot but not in the winter. But the pups were all rolly polly balls of activity, Honey obviously taking very good care of her babes. Jamie let me stay right there in her house for two days while I made my decision, and so started what I hope will be a lifetime friendship. And after many trips to the puppy area to watch and interact with the pups one claimed me. No doubt about it. Every time I sat down she crawled into my lap. She would leave to wrestle with the other pups but soon be back. Now some of the other pups also crawled into my lap too, but the plainest little solid red was the one that kept coming back. So there you go, she picked me instead of me picking her. And when she turned almost 8 weeks old I returned to Texas to pick her up and fly her under my airline seat back to Idaho and house breaking in the winter. The family had decided by this time that she would be called Cut'n Loose Rant and Rave.
Months pass and she became such a part of our family it is hard to imagine her not always being with us. I trained her for agility and she could do all of the obstalces but agility soon gave way to working stock. I never got past 'sit' in training her for obecdiecne. She would have been awesome in both. It is to bad that I am not the type to 'do it all' although I thought I was when I sought out Jamie to buy a special dog that could do it all!
First introduction to sheep I learned real quick I was in way over my head with this little girl! Mostly a novice handler without a clue and a super talented hot little adolcent dog raring to go. Oh boy. Bet you can guess how that all went. Soon I sought out Roy Sage and our journey to be a stock working team began and boy has it been a struggle. I would like to say I was able to keep one step ahead of her but the truth is I was many, many steps behind her. But we struggled on. Me trying to figure out timing, pressure, direction and sheep plus a million other things. Rave wanting to go, go. GO. I must say we had some mighty interesting results. More than once sheep learned to be agility sheep and cleared the fence! I think Roy should be given a Knighthood for patience. It would have been so easy for him to step in and train Rave but he would chuckle and say, well lets set that back up again. And in doing so he let us both learn together. Our progress was slower and Rave will probably never be as good as she could have been, but the bond we have formed as we struggle to understand each other is worth it. At least to me.
Once I finally decided to enter a trial I went in with fear in my heart. And of course Rave picked up on it. I still struggle with keeping my cool at a trial but Rave has helped bring me along and it is not as bad as it was. I have learned that it can go pretty wrong and it is not the end of the world. We will still go home together as a special team. And it can go pretty right and we go home on cloud nine. ;-)
Worse thing that ever happened at a trial? A sheep ran into a parked car. Ouch. Everything was okay though. And I went home with new motivation to get a reliable stop. Several years later still working on that one. Gesh is that hard. Inconsistency on my part. Adrenaline on Rave's. So calm and confidence have been personal skills I have had to work on. And that is not coming easy for me either. Some are born naturals at training and some have to fight for every inch of progress. Bet you can't guess which category I fall into. But I am gifted with one trait. I am stubborn. And so I persevere, one slow inch of understanding at a time.
Best thing, besides the wonderful people I have gotten to know, along the way? There was a sheep run we had. We entered the 'zone'. Only time it has happened to us at a trial. Came close a couple of times but this one was perfect. Rave took control of the sheep and around the course they went. I did not need to correct her in any way, just give her a command when I wanted the sheep to turn and they were not course trained sheep. There was just me, Rave, the sheep, and the course. I know that there must have been at least a few people around. Certainly the judge and timers were there. But me, Rave, and the sheep where all that existed in our universe. It is so hard to explain how that felt. I may never feel it again. But I hope I do.
We have had two other runs that were special. Not our first Finals run on sheep in Colorado, although that was wonderful. Making the cut when I had no expectations of doing that at all. Wow, what an experience. And certainly not this year's Finals were we were not clicking as a team although Rave did do some nice work despite me. I think it was our first duck run in advanced. Again this was at our local trial but a different year. It had the potential to be a 'zone' run but I was just to plain nervous. I was not ready then to let go and let it flow. Still have a really hard time with that one. But Rave did awesome on that run. We had a few competitors who were regulars in Finals attending our trial that year. They were standing around chatting and enjoying the day when we went in. No one paying much attention to the new kids, thank goodness. Well I was told that soon after Rave started her turn they all got silent and started watching. And it was a run worth watching. We even got the ducks into the center pen and ran the course in about 1:30. And the other really nice runs were at Nationals this year. I qualified for Cattle Finals but I did not enter it. I just don't feel we have the experience to work cattle at that level. But I did enter one of the pretrials and the National trial on cattle. And although both runs were really nice the first pretrial run was fantastic. Rave took charge, heeled, headed and did everything I asked her. If I had done the handler part better we may have even won the class. But alas I stood at the gate to the center pen and kept the cattle from going in. Despite that she was able to get two in and finished 5th out of a class that was over 30. Sorry Rave for letting you down. This run was extra special as I will not be working cattle with her anymore. She does so love to work cattle that I feel badly about that and if given the chance to work 'nice' cattle we may do a practice run now and then but no more trials. Being unable to work them very often and her having her title I just don't want to risk it.
And I must mention my terror of the center pen. I fought and fought to understand the pen. I couldn't get the angles or the positioning. I couldn't get Rave to slow or stop. But slowly, ever so slowly it came together. I think it took me about 3 years to start penning with any consistency. And you know what? I still have no confidence in it and am always slightly shocked when the stock goes in the pen!
So what is ahead for us? I plan to still trial although not planning on going to Nationals or Finals this year. I really would like to try for Post Advanced sheep. I don't know if we will be able to find large areas to train for it or find a trial that I can get to that even offers it. But it is a goal. But more importantly to continue to strive for that 'zone' feeling. I am working on centering myself and feeling the moment. Trying to learn to stay relaxed, not tense in expectations of what might happen but concentrate on what is happening.
I love this life I have. Working stock, caring for my sheep and ducks, having a wonderful family that encourage me to live my dream.
I hope your New Year is wonderful. Happy Herding.
I arrived in Texas when the pups were 5 weeks old and it was cold! I thought Texas was suppose to be hot. Well that was my first education. They may be hot but not in the winter. But the pups were all rolly polly balls of activity, Honey obviously taking very good care of her babes. Jamie let me stay right there in her house for two days while I made my decision, and so started what I hope will be a lifetime friendship. And after many trips to the puppy area to watch and interact with the pups one claimed me. No doubt about it. Every time I sat down she crawled into my lap. She would leave to wrestle with the other pups but soon be back. Now some of the other pups also crawled into my lap too, but the plainest little solid red was the one that kept coming back. So there you go, she picked me instead of me picking her. And when she turned almost 8 weeks old I returned to Texas to pick her up and fly her under my airline seat back to Idaho and house breaking in the winter. The family had decided by this time that she would be called Cut'n Loose Rant and Rave.
Months pass and she became such a part of our family it is hard to imagine her not always being with us. I trained her for agility and she could do all of the obstalces but agility soon gave way to working stock. I never got past 'sit' in training her for obecdiecne. She would have been awesome in both. It is to bad that I am not the type to 'do it all' although I thought I was when I sought out Jamie to buy a special dog that could do it all!
First introduction to sheep I learned real quick I was in way over my head with this little girl! Mostly a novice handler without a clue and a super talented hot little adolcent dog raring to go. Oh boy. Bet you can guess how that all went. Soon I sought out Roy Sage and our journey to be a stock working team began and boy has it been a struggle. I would like to say I was able to keep one step ahead of her but the truth is I was many, many steps behind her. But we struggled on. Me trying to figure out timing, pressure, direction and sheep plus a million other things. Rave wanting to go, go. GO. I must say we had some mighty interesting results. More than once sheep learned to be agility sheep and cleared the fence! I think Roy should be given a Knighthood for patience. It would have been so easy for him to step in and train Rave but he would chuckle and say, well lets set that back up again. And in doing so he let us both learn together. Our progress was slower and Rave will probably never be as good as she could have been, but the bond we have formed as we struggle to understand each other is worth it. At least to me.
Once I finally decided to enter a trial I went in with fear in my heart. And of course Rave picked up on it. I still struggle with keeping my cool at a trial but Rave has helped bring me along and it is not as bad as it was. I have learned that it can go pretty wrong and it is not the end of the world. We will still go home together as a special team. And it can go pretty right and we go home on cloud nine. ;-)
Worse thing that ever happened at a trial? A sheep ran into a parked car. Ouch. Everything was okay though. And I went home with new motivation to get a reliable stop. Several years later still working on that one. Gesh is that hard. Inconsistency on my part. Adrenaline on Rave's. So calm and confidence have been personal skills I have had to work on. And that is not coming easy for me either. Some are born naturals at training and some have to fight for every inch of progress. Bet you can't guess which category I fall into. But I am gifted with one trait. I am stubborn. And so I persevere, one slow inch of understanding at a time.
Best thing, besides the wonderful people I have gotten to know, along the way? There was a sheep run we had. We entered the 'zone'. Only time it has happened to us at a trial. Came close a couple of times but this one was perfect. Rave took control of the sheep and around the course they went. I did not need to correct her in any way, just give her a command when I wanted the sheep to turn and they were not course trained sheep. There was just me, Rave, the sheep, and the course. I know that there must have been at least a few people around. Certainly the judge and timers were there. But me, Rave, and the sheep where all that existed in our universe. It is so hard to explain how that felt. I may never feel it again. But I hope I do.
We have had two other runs that were special. Not our first Finals run on sheep in Colorado, although that was wonderful. Making the cut when I had no expectations of doing that at all. Wow, what an experience. And certainly not this year's Finals were we were not clicking as a team although Rave did do some nice work despite me. I think it was our first duck run in advanced. Again this was at our local trial but a different year. It had the potential to be a 'zone' run but I was just to plain nervous. I was not ready then to let go and let it flow. Still have a really hard time with that one. But Rave did awesome on that run. We had a few competitors who were regulars in Finals attending our trial that year. They were standing around chatting and enjoying the day when we went in. No one paying much attention to the new kids, thank goodness. Well I was told that soon after Rave started her turn they all got silent and started watching. And it was a run worth watching. We even got the ducks into the center pen and ran the course in about 1:30. And the other really nice runs were at Nationals this year. I qualified for Cattle Finals but I did not enter it. I just don't feel we have the experience to work cattle at that level. But I did enter one of the pretrials and the National trial on cattle. And although both runs were really nice the first pretrial run was fantastic. Rave took charge, heeled, headed and did everything I asked her. If I had done the handler part better we may have even won the class. But alas I stood at the gate to the center pen and kept the cattle from going in. Despite that she was able to get two in and finished 5th out of a class that was over 30. Sorry Rave for letting you down. This run was extra special as I will not be working cattle with her anymore. She does so love to work cattle that I feel badly about that and if given the chance to work 'nice' cattle we may do a practice run now and then but no more trials. Being unable to work them very often and her having her title I just don't want to risk it.
And I must mention my terror of the center pen. I fought and fought to understand the pen. I couldn't get the angles or the positioning. I couldn't get Rave to slow or stop. But slowly, ever so slowly it came together. I think it took me about 3 years to start penning with any consistency. And you know what? I still have no confidence in it and am always slightly shocked when the stock goes in the pen!
So what is ahead for us? I plan to still trial although not planning on going to Nationals or Finals this year. I really would like to try for Post Advanced sheep. I don't know if we will be able to find large areas to train for it or find a trial that I can get to that even offers it. But it is a goal. But more importantly to continue to strive for that 'zone' feeling. I am working on centering myself and feeling the moment. Trying to learn to stay relaxed, not tense in expectations of what might happen but concentrate on what is happening.
I love this life I have. Working stock, caring for my sheep and ducks, having a wonderful family that encourage me to live my dream.
I hope your New Year is wonderful. Happy Herding.
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