Ye-Haw!

Its been a long rainy, cold, snowy, muddy winter.  Wet, cold, muddy spring.  But finally it was a good day to trim sheep's feet.  I do have a tip table.  My sheep don't like said tip table.  So a great opportunity to work on Rave power up, power off.  To greater and lesser success. 

First up, found out that one side of the large sliding door on the barn is off of its hanger.  So couldn't open the door.  Okay we can go through the stall on the other side that opens to the field and jury rig a chute to the tilt table.  My training buddy was going to help me with the foot trimming.  Actually we had decided to do this anyway as we didn't want to move the table.  It is HEAVY but we were going to have the sheep released from the table and go out that door.  So we quickly put up the little panels to through the stall and into the barn (the stall has an inside and outside door) and to the table.  Loaded sheep into makeshift corral.  Whoops.  Panels slipped and couldn't slide the gate on the table as the loop of the panel was blocking it.  Secured with baling twine.  Brought Rave in to push the sheep.  And of course they all went sideways and couldn't get into the chute.  Push and release and Rave being told Good! for the occasional nip, she liked that ;-), we finally got one backed into the chute.  That's when I discovered that I couldn't get to the sheep without going around to the side entrance to the barn.  So off I go, we get the sheep's feet trimmed and let him loose from the table.  I fully expected him to find the open door on the side but he wanted to stick with were he could see his buddies.  So needed to use Rave to push him out.  So Rave had to use her power and nip to load them up and then had to turn it off while we did the hooves, release the sheep, repeat until we had all 8 sheep done.  Yep, that's all the sheep I have.  Although my back would not like it one bit I wish I had 100 sheep to do.  By the end of that day Rave would have settled into it being a job and not an exciting adventure!
It's raining again.

Second Day, Much Like the First

Except Rave wasn't listening as well.  I had to give her a Get Out of That on the sheep.  Haven't had to do that much for awhile.  She wouldn't come out on her cross drive the two feet I needed so had to daylight.  On the ducks we didn't get the first center but did get the center on our second run.  Rain held off until we left which was very nice.  I got to use my new little portable camp stove again to make coffee to drink on the drive home.  I had a good time.  It is always good to get to a new place and see where you really are in your training.  New place and the nerves of trialing will show you what to go home and continue to work on.

A New Season

We are at our first trial of the season.  Traveled down to Utah on Friday and arrived at the trial site early Saturday morning.  This is a sheep and duck trial only but as I am not planning on doing many more cattle runs that was just fine.  I was pleased with the way Rave worked.  She wouldn't quite come out enough after the first panel to hold a straight line on the cross drive.  And we pushed the sheep a bit to hard pulling them off the fence for the center, but otherwise the runs were fun and I didn't have any panic feelings. I was nervous but not panicked.   LOL.  I certainly messed up on my second run on sheep.  Must be my age.   They had sheep set up for course A and ducks doing course B.  So after I had my first run of ducks we broke for lunch before the next trial started.  We were first up in sheep after lunch.  I don't know what I was thinking but I started up the arena like I was doing B course.  We got level with the chute before I realized what I had done.  I called Rave off and then sent her on a little outrun to pick the sheep up and head back in the right direction.  |Guess I wanted to make sure I got my moneys worth and use the whole arena!

The ducks were tuff but fun.  They were Indian Runners.  Rave has not had a chance to work runners and these were very light and did not want to go through the first panel.  After some jockeying on both runs we got them through.  Had to daylight my second panel on the second run.  First run had to really fight to get the pen.  Had one duck that wanted to split off and go around.  Once I had 3 in and then they popped back out but we did finally get them all in.  On my second run they went right in.  You should have seen my eyes pop as I shut that gate as quickly as I could.  On both runs I fumbled the repen gate.  I really need to get smoother on that. 

It looks like rain is moving in for today.  Hopefully it will hold off and if it comes it will be light.  We are planning on driving home, about 6 hours, after the trial.

A Nice Day!

It truly felt like spring today and it sure was nice to be out.  The mud is dried up and the grass is starting to grow, although not near fast enough to suit the farm animals as they won't be turned out into the pasture until it is about 8 inches long.  I am letting the ducks out to go graze however, they have to brave the dangers of predators but they really need a break from their pen and it is cutting down on the fighting if they can move out over larger distances.  The interesting thing is they have divided themselves into two flocks.  One heads one direction the othe heads the opposite.  These ducks have always been together but still they are two flocks.

First up I sorted the sheep into the pens.  Then Rave and I worked a singleton.  We haven't done this since last spring I think.  Rave had a bit of a problem getting him going.  The sheep started playing keep away behind me.  So I moved up against the fence and with a bit of cow ponying Rave was able to take him and go down the arena.  It was a very good exercise for both of us.  He pulled hard to the draw and Rave had to move up to almost his eye to hold him.  I learned quickly that I was stopping her from doing so as I was anticipating her turning him back.  So after a bit of jocking back and forth we both got our picture straight and Rave was able to take him around the arena and pull him off the fence for the center.  I thought maybe as a singleton he would be threatened by the pen but not so, he saw it as sanctuary and went right in.

Next turn in I took the heavy sheep and took them out of the pen.  After finding a collar for Rave I hooked up the long line and we worked on the slow and fast exercise again.  I would give the walk-walk-walk-walk command and have Rave speed up, checking her if she tried to swing around to head.  Then I would request her to slow down.  I did get a change of speed but not dropping back to a walk, but a nice controlled trot.  I thought that was an improvement.  I am finding if I do this exercise once every two weeks or so Rave listens a bit better.  With Rave I wouldn't do it more often as I think I would frustrate her.  There where many times that she wanted to move out or up to hold the sheep in a group and I interfered from her using her instinct to automatically fix things.  But I do think it is helping for her to feel that she can use speed to tuck a sheep back in and then drop back to the slower pace to control them.

I really enjoyed being out in the warm day.  Hope we have some more like it.

Cacophony! Sheep, Goats, Lambs, and Kids

We went out to Roy's for a lesson last evening.  Its so nice that we are on Daylight Savings now and our evenings are longer.  Roy will be off to Canada to teach a herding clinic so won't be here this weekend.  And next weekend is our first trial of the year!  It is imperative to get on some stock a bit more difficult than my sheep.  I really need to replace them but when old Lola (whatever Lola wants, Lola gets) looks at me, stretches out her neck, and tips head what am I to do?  Anyway we arrived at Roy's and a cold front was moving in complete with blowing winds and dramatic skies.  I got Rave out and we proceeded down to the new working arena.  Now besides sheep there are goats raised at Roy's house.  And those goats have the cutest, friendliest kids you have ever seen.  And have I mentioned that Rave is fascinated by goats?  Absolutely adores them.  She hasn't got to work any but I think she would prefer to clean their faces than work them anyway.

So Roy has a nice group of sheep waiting for us.  We are going to work on the center pen.  But as it turns out this is also moving day!  The sheep with lambs and goats with kids that were up by the house are now old enough to come down to a larger pen next to the arena.  As this is a working farm and the goal is to move stock as easily and smoothly as possible they waited until dinner time and place the hay in the new pen for the stock.  Then the moving began.  Roy was in the arena with Rave and I and we were moving our 5 sheep around the course.  And here comes the herd accompanied by Roy's family and dog.  Baaaaing and Naaaaaing as sheep, lambs, kids, and nannies jostled and found there way to the new field, gate and then moms and babes trying to locate each other.  Rave was fascinated by all the hubbub.  And by the goats now just over the fence.  She kept stopping and looking over at them, sometimes even moving that way, as I constantly called Rave, Rave to get her attention back on her measly group of five.  Soon all the babes found their moms and they all fell into munching on their dinners and quiet resumed.  Of course now fat cold raindrops were falling, all over my glasses so I could no longer see.  I must of thought it was spring or something.  I didn't bring warm enough clothes, I didn't bring a hat (I hate to wear hats) I didn't bring a tie back for my hair.  Fortunately it didn't last to long.  Just long enough to make a huge tangle of my hair and give me the shivers that lasted the rest of the evening.

So now that things settled down Rave could again concentrate on her little group of sheep.  I tried really hard to not micro manage, but finally couldn't stand it and started blurting out stuff. ;-(  Rave does like to take the sheep faster than I am comfortable with.  She seems to handle them at trot just fine but I start to panic and start shouting lay down, away, come bye, stop, stop slow down.  How's a poor dog to think?

I think my pen work is getting better.  I seem to be holding up my side better and not trying to make poor Rave do the whole thing.  And it is funny.  Can't tell you how many years I have heard "watch your sheep".  Now I am doing it and I need to watch my dog!  Rave was slicing on the back side as I concentrated on the sheep's heads applying my pressure to turn them on my side of the pen as I sent Rave to bring them around the back side of the pen.  I needed to correct her for slicing but I didn't see it until it was already done.  Got to watch that next time!

We took quite a long first turn so we kept the second turn short.  Did an outrun from the pen.  It was okay, definitely a swing out but not as wide as I would have liked.  I should have called her back but I let it go.  She needed a reminder to ease up as she lifted off the fence. Went around the course one more time and we were done.

A good lesson but one that was slightly unfocused by both Rave and I.  And I cranked the car heater up for the hour drive home.  That was nice.

Spring is Really Trying

Despite earlier forecasts of rain it dawned bright and beautiful.  But cold.  There was a sheet of ice over the water for the stock.  And of course the wind was blowing.  But the skies were blue and that is a big improvement.  I even saw some robins out this afternoon.  The ducks are laying and fighting and the horse is starting to shed.  Not to mention the dog hair in my house.  And much to my sorrow, the downside of good weather, flies are starting to turn up in the house.

I worked Rave in the arena on a rope again today.  Really working on the speeding up and slowing down on command.  Speeding up is going quite well.  She is pushing the sheep without slipping out to the head.  The slowing down not so good.  Not awful mind you, she does throttle back, but doesn't drop back into a flat footed walk.  That has always been difficult for her, the flat footed walk and after jazzing her up right now she can't quite manage it.  But I am pleased that there is a noticeable change of pace. 

I also worked on squaring her away side.  I would give the away and would watch closely.  If she didn't square she got a bit of a tug on the rope.  She started squaring after a couple of tugs.  Will it carry over when the rope is off?  Time will tell.

We also worked the ducks and I was most pleased with her there.  We were really acting as a team. 
A good day!

A New Way

Roy turned his arena sideways, made it a bit wider and longer.  No more uphill to contend with.  That hill was the bane of our lessons.  The chute was lined up with the draw going up a pretty steep slope.  So the dog had to contend with the sheep first trying to angle across to the draw as they came out of the second panel at a race missing the chute (or pen) and if the dog was able to stop the sheep and get them through the center, the sheep, then racing, would go through up to their draw as the dog was left behind from the flank back of the chute to put them through.  Which tended to make my dog flatten out on the back as she tried to cover the escape.  And it was also hard to stop her on the back as she knew the sheep would accelerate up that hill to the draw.  But now the way from the chute is level.  It is easier to get her to listen and respond now that she isn't so worried about the escape.

The sheep were very honest today as the switch was just made yesterday.  So they had very little draw to pull too.  It was great fun.  First time, as usual I was trying to micro manage giving every command on the cross drive to bring her out a bit or slow her down.  After we completed that go Roy told me I needed to stop commanding, or trying to anyway, so much.  And lets see how she handles the cross drive if I remain quiet.  Yikes.  That was much harder than I expected.  So I was practically biting my lip to keep from shouting slow down.  But as it turned out she was right.  She corrected her positioning on her own and pushed the sheep at a gentle slow trot across to the second panel without me saying a word until I gave her the command to pull them off the fence.  Trust your dog!  So I will try to keep my mouth shut and let he work!

We did have trouble on the far side of the arena holding the sheep to the fence.  The sheep leaned on Rave as there was a slight draw going that way where the ewes with lambs were penned.  And Rave gave to the pressure allowing them to drift out although still going forward.  So that is something that we are going to be working on.  Not sure how to get her to hold that pressure so it will be interesting to see what Roy has us do over the summer.  It sure is good to get back to taking some lessons.  It has been a long winter.