Back to Basics Once Again

Worked at Roy's last night.  It was hot so we tried to keep things quiet.
First group was a very heavy set of sheep.  Great for working on push.  I decided to work on taking sheep in unexpected places.  Rave has pretty much figured out that once we pick up the sheep and head out that is the direction we go.  So if I want to go somewhere else, such as in a different venue, then she thinks I have made a mistake in my command.  Not that she wouldn't usually be right in that assumption.  I still find myself saying away when I meant go bye and vice versa!  So we worked taking the sheep to the far corner behind the bush.  It was really fiddling work as she had to apply pressure to one sheep, then lean over and apply pressure to the next to get them to move together.  It was also a great exercise in self control and patience on both of our parts.

The second group was a much lighter group.  So we worked on doing figure eights around the end panels, and taking them through the panels and turning and going right back through. And also worked on the corner get back and flank exercise that we learned at the Roger Stevens clinic.   Ended with a run around the course and through the center chute. 

I was happy with the work that we did last night. 

Slump

We seem to be in a slump.  Both of us.  I am not keen, and Rave only wants to work the goats.  Well Rave wants to mother the goats is more like it.  She still sees them as babies.  They still see me as momma.  So goats gather at my kness and Rave licks their faces.  And Rave is so distracted by the goats that she doesn't want to work the sheep.  Will keep trying for a month or so but if it doesn't improve as the goats get older I will have to take them back.  Rave may always see these goats as being needed to be babysat instead or worked.  That said when needed she did go up on top of the hay stack and bring the babies back to earth.

The goats, as goats, are a great lot of fun.  Because they were bottle babies they are really bonded to people.  So you go out and they all come running for some petting.  Streaching up their little necks to look at you and wagging their tails when you pet them.  They also nibble on your shirt.  They are a laugh a minute.  But heaven help you if you want to get into the barn without them.  Six little goats all pushing their heads in the door, between your legs, around your back. 
Rave has worked 'regular' goats.  Meaning adults who were not bottle raised and she had no problem with working those.  But she seems to think that these goats are babies and need baby sitting not worked.  I think she would have made a great mother.

Lighten UP

I had a lesson last night with Roy.  Rave did pretty well but I have lost our 5th gear.  In attempting to make her less pushy I have lost the speed when I really need it.  Also had trouble with getting her to reverse direction on the drive.  She knows that she is doing a cross drive and even though I wanted to go the other way she figured I was making a mistake and continued on her straight drive.  It was a nice drive LOL.  So I gave her a very harsh verbal correction. I have to change that.  Stop her.  Let her settle a bit and think before I give her a change that she might figure is a mistake.  Wonder how she came to that conclusion?  That I don't know what I am doing LOL

Is it Good or Not Good? That is the question.

I worked the bottle baby goats today with Rave.  Split them down to 3.  Suzie, Peapod and Scaliwag.  Suzie became a believer right away so I took her out.  I then spent the next half hour telling Rave to get'em on Scaliwag and Peapod.  And although she loves to heel cattle she seems to think it is not acceptable to heel a baby goat.  Licking is much preferred.  But I did jazz her up and she started doing fly byes, not what I want but at least she is getting a bit more aggressive.  And then when she could get them going she would flip them.  Not good.  So I would growl and tell her to get back and then they would end up in a stalemate.  But we kept at it and moved the two of them down the arena.  Occasionally Rave would reach for a leg, both front and back, but she never bit.  So we continued in fits and starts, overflanks and turn backs.  Two goats standing next to me hunched up and daring Rave to try to move them.  Occasional break aways with Rave in hot pursuit and a turn and then a turn back.  Not a good way to teach the little Kidds to move off.  It was all pretty messy and ugly but I think in the long run it will be a good thing.  Or I will mess Rave up forever!  And I felt so sorry for the little Kidds.  They wanted to stay next to me, their 'adoptive momma', and looked so betrayed that I wasn't helping them.

Yikes!

Spotted a coyote in the neighbors field.  He lost 5 lambs earlier this year to them.  Hope I can keep my little goats and lambs safe.  And the poor duckies who are food for everyone.  Not sure I can outwit a coyote!  I am keeping the horse in the field between my neighbors and my place.  The goats, sheep and ducks closer to the house.  But sooner or later they will have to go out.  The grass will not be enough near the house for all summer.  The horse likes to chase the smaller animals so I don't usually put them together.  But maybe I will have to for the coyote protection the horse gives.  They will stay up near the house at night.

Time Goes Bye

Its been awhile since I have posted.  I have had an overseas trip, I went to a clinic and we put on our club trial.  We had a great turn out for our trial with really nice people and dogs so it was fun although a lot of work for just a handful of people.  Every year we wonder if we will be able to swing it again.  But we manage somehow.  We always have nice people who step up and help out.  Wow, thanks to them!

Rave did well at the trial.  We did the new ASCA D course on Friday which was all off the fences and it was really fun.  I don't know how it would go if you had crazy wild sheep though.  Pretty hard to make those turns if the dog had to stay way way off the stock.  Our ducks were very challenging, just barely out of the peeper stage and they required a delicate balance between push to keep them going, especially in approaching the corners and back off to keep from getting them to tired.  We use a big duck arena, 95 x 95.  The biggest challenge was getting them off the fence.  Once that was accomplished the center was fairly easy if the dog didn't push to hard.  Our trial apparently is at an awkward time frame.  Hatcheries just aren't hatching and shipping ducklings as early as we need them to make sure they are fully adult and fully legged up.  We will suck up the cost of feed and winter these over and see if we can get them working smoothly.  Otherwise we will be looking to rent.  Our cattle were very nice.  Sheep worked well too although became pretty heavy by Sunday afternoon.  But once started they drove nicely.  They are pretty clever at the center pen and if the dog puts on any incorrect pressure they won't go in. 

The biggest news is that I borrowed 6 kids, aka baby bottle feed goats!  Now if that isn't a challenge.  They are great for fetching.  Love to follow me around and get petted.  But driving is another story.  Rave does not think babies should be bitten, so she licks their little faces.  Not real effective.  LOL  But we are gradually getting them to drive, with lots of encouragement.  I am pretty excited about it as I think it will really help in the long run for Rave to really understand driving and to learn to not over flank.  Won't happen overnight but I figure by the end of the summer we will either have it or we never will.  Time will tell.