Ewesful Acres Day II & III

First I have to say THANK YOU to everyone who has written to me.  I am overwhelmed with your compassion and thoughtful emails.  I cannot verbalize how much it means to me. 

This Saturday & Sunday we ran at the Ewesful Acres Trial run by George and Sue MacDonald, Longbranch, WA.  We were scheduled to run Friday too.  I had signed Brynn up for PN and Beth for Ranch.  But a fever and yucky headache caused me to scratch. 

My lesson for the day on Saturday.  Listen to my dog & my gut. 

Brynn told me which way she wanted to go before we even walked to the post - by where she positioned herself at my feet and where she stayed on our walk to the post - she chose Away.  When I closed my eyes and visualized the run before we went out on the field...I saw Brynn going away. 

Then, why Heavens name did I try and make her go come bye? 

Was I beaten by a stupid crook?  Seriously?  WTF? 

The post was a corner of the Maltese cross.  That confused me.  When standing there, I was only able visualize  sending Brynn come bye. 

Obviously I was wrong - she crossed.  Not once, but three times.  Each time I called her back.  Then turned to the judge and he said "let her go away" and I did. Whoosh, she went on a beautiful outrun.

  Picture shot by Diane Pagel on Saturday, using my camera (Thanks Diane!)

I am happy though.  My goal for the day was to get her to slow down and acknowledge me on the fetch.  She did, she brought me the sheep albeit reeeeeeally fast, but they slowed down and went around the maltese cross nicely and we started our first leg of the drive - then she hooked them and I retired.  

Sunday dawned bright and clear.  We made our way back to MacDonalds.  Nursery ran first and I was second with Brynn. 

At the handlers meeting the judge, from England (coincidentally the same area my brother lives with his family, Derbyshire) patted me on the back and said "let her go right this time."  I laughed and agreed. 

Picture shot by Diane Pagel on Saturday, using my camera (Thanks Diane!)

Brynn left my feet beautifully on her outrun.  At about 2 o'clock she stopped & eyed up the sheep.  I gave her a quick short correction "Ah" and she moved a bit, got stuck again, so I yelled "Get Back!" which she took and disappeared from sight.  The next thing I saw were the sheep, coming VERY FAST and off line.  I whistled, talked, hawked up a loogie or two (ah ah ah).  She slowed down but we missed the fetch panels.

Picture shot by Diane Pagel on Saturday, using my camera (Thanks Diane!)

Then I did my second brain dead thing for the weekend.  The handlers post was the pen.  The sheep were supposed to circle around the pen for a left hand drive away. 

  Picture shot by Diane Pagel on Saturday, using my camera (Thanks Diane!)

So in my infinite novice wisdom I moved to the wrong side of the pen, then the sheep circled around the wrong way.  Yeah me! 

I turned and asked the judge, "do I unwind" and he said 'yep' which we did.  It actually proved to be a good thing - because it helped her to take a bit of time and listen.

  Picture shot by Diane Pagel on Saturday, using my camera (Thanks Diane!)

We started on our drive away.  The panels were in a ditch and partially blind.  I have no idea how we did it...but we got them!  The pace was faster than I wanted, but Brynn was taking my flanks and kept her head on & I managed not to project a bunch of anxiety to her through my voice.   Since I couldn't see the sheep or her I had to guess where she was and flanked her for the cross drive.  I flanked her a bit much and it wobbled, went offline enough to put them through the fetch panels then back online where we just missed the cross drive panels.  Then she brought them down to the pen - again too fast. 

  Picture shot by Diane Pagel on Saturday, using my camera (Thanks Diane!)

I left my stick leaning up against the pen and could have used it to prevent the sheep from trying to run over the top of me a couple of times.  But Brynn was too close and moving too fast.  The sheep circled twice & it was a bit haywire.  I got her backed off & slowed down a bit let things settle and tried again and we got our pen! 

We finally finished a nursery course!  I wish you could have seen the look on Brynn's face.  She was very proud of herself.  I was proud of both of us.  I was able to keep my anxiety under control, I felt very positive and kept telling myself that we could do this.  And we did. 

It is nice to know someone will qualify because we provide an additional number to make the class and we certainly shore up the bottom.  Dianne Pagel called it 'subsidizing'.  I had to chuckle at that... Someone's gotta do it.  I am happy to help out any way I can.

Brilliant Brill

On Sunday when I stopped by Cindy's house before the trial I found Brill sitting in his crate.  This was unusual.  I asked Cindy why Brill was banished to his crate.

She smiled, let him out of his crate, pushed him out the front door then closed it and told me to watch.

After Brill showed off his new talent for me I grabbed my camera, positioned myself in the front yard and waited.



Brill has figured out how to open the front door, by catching his paw on the latch.  He was a bit slow when I shot this video - as he can now open it with one hit. 

He is too smart for his own good.  Next thing you know he will be doing taxes. 

Briggs, Brill & Sheep

Remember my friend Cindy's puppy Briggs?  This was the puppy I was going to steal.  But she threatened me with death & dismemberment so I let her keep him.

Just a few short months ago Briggs looked like this.  (Photo by Dianne Deal)

Right after he came home

A few weeks later I shot this picture of him with Cindy..

Today he looks like this.  My how he has grown.  One day he will grow into those ears. 

Such a handsome little guy.

Cindy has been doing a lovely job with him. Socializing and loving on him.  He is a happy well adjusted pup.

When Dianne was here last month she put Briggs on sheep.  Since the sheep are hair sheep and very light she used an older dog to keep the sheep together & settled, allowing the Briggs to succeed.  We all had so much fun watching this little guy turn on.  It was a blast!   Dianne left Cindy with instructions to put him on sheep once a month, nothing stressful, just exposure.

Last night we got to have fun again.  I went out into the field and sat down with my camera.  Cindy used her other dog Brill to hold them together.

Briggs watches them

He walks up nicely & they begin to move

Feeling a little more confident

Oh yeah...there he goes

And there is Brill beside him

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Booooyah!  Someone is having fun!

Brill would circle wide, Briggs stayed in closer

He almost looks like a dog now!

He is very thoughtful about the sheep, what he was doing & engaged.

Until he saw me sitting on the ground.  Uhhhohhhhh INCOMING!

Then Brill decided to face off a ewe that was being a royal pain in the arse.  Sometimes they just need a little attitude adjustment.

And sometimes the dog provides you with an opportunity to deliver a stern correction.  Always a chance to learn. 

Oh boy...I predict a learning experience just ahead. 

Uhhhhmmmm....Brill....

Cindy yells "Knock it off!"   That was a cheap shot! 

Logical consequences.  Showing Briggs what NOT to do.

No sheep were harmed during the making of this blog post.

And neither were any dogs. Brill was none the worse for wear.  The bell ringing he got hopefully will stick in his head for a while. 

Briggs was a happy dog and the session ended on a positive note for him. 

I was uber happy because I got some awesome shots!

Now off for the weekend to Lacamas Valley Sheep Dog Trial where I am first on the wait list for Novice/Novice with Beth, second with Brynn.  Keep your fingers crossed someone scratches and we get to run!