Quick Tyler Update

Just a quick update about Tyler.

Not sure if many of you remember this adorable little guy. He came as a foster from a shelter in Idaho through Joan at IDAWG



He was adopted by Harry at K9SAR to train as a Search and Rescue dog.

Harry sent me a picture of Tyler with his sister Willow. He isn't so little anymore! (Tyler is on the right)



I just love happy endings.

Brynn's First Day Outside

Who is an adorable, furry, four-legged, razor toothed destructomatic?



Brynnie-Butt as we so fondly call her now.





The vet gave us the green light to play outside in limited amounts. Yesterday our friend Vicki brought five of her fully vaccinated adult border collies over for our weekly doggie play-date at our isolated spot on the river.

Brynn was so happy to be outside!





So many new experiences!



Look Mom, look what I found!



Nom, nom, nom...



Mom, why are you laughing at me?



Brynn was happy to sit on the rocks and watch the older dogs play in the water.





She figured out how to stay out of their way.



Yep, I think I will stay out of their way too.



A few times she ventured down to the water to explore when the older dogs were further down stream. Ranger kept an eye on his new little sis.



Brynn is fascinated with Beth, who just ignores her.





Bonnie checked on her frequently.

Uhoh, the big dogs are coming back!

Mom, I think I will stay up here for a while.



Nom, nom, nom....I found a piece of bark to chew on.



The sun is so nice and warm...I think I am falling asleep. *sigh*



No I'm not...just foolin' ya!



I like to talk alot



Don't be fooled by this picture. She may be cute and sweet, but she can rip upholstery off the underside of the couch faster than you can blink.



Time to go home...

Craig - A Story of a Sheepdog

Here are three videos from YouTube documenting the training of a sheep dog in 1946 at Ryecroft Farm, Dore, Sheffield. It is narrated by the son of the man featured in the home movies.

It is broken into three parts & quite entertaining!

Enjoy!

Part One



Part Two




Part Three

Evil Beth and Weaving Ranger

'Evil Beth' made an appearance during our lesson with Karen Child on Tuesday. FINALLY someone else saw what I deal with in the field with her alone. Karen was surprised at the change in Beth from the last time I had a lesson with her (before the Scott Glen clinic). At the clinic Scott told me to back off on correcting Beth, let her build the enthusiasm for the sheep and her work. I have done that, but now she is a MONSTER! Enthusiasm for sheep is not a problem - respecting me is another issue all together different.

I felt terrible for Karen at the beginning of the lesson. When she asked me how things were going with Beth - I burst into tears. I explained to her that I was so frustrated I didn't know which end was up. I have had so many conflicting instructions on how to deal with Beth.

Beth is challenging me even more now, refusing to lay down until I yell it at her four times, she blows off my flanking commands, crosses over on outruns, and won't listen when I call her off - when I turn my back to walk over and set up another outrun Beth shoots away and harasses the sheep.

Beth also refuses to get wet or step in mud. It is quite hysterical to watch this little dog, running hell bent for leather, suddenly screech to a halt and tippy toe through the mud, or even worse, go around it completely - going between me and the sheep to avoid it.

Seeing this it made Karen determined to force Beth to deal with the mud. So we set it up with the sheep in a corner surrounded by mud. Then repeatedly sent Beth on outruns so she would have to go through the mud.

Beth didn't like it at all. The first few times we sent her, she crossed on the outrun, then ran down the fence line on the side that did not have as much mud on it. This had the opposite result we wanted because it drove the sheep in the wrong direction - then Beth started chasing them down the fence line away from us. Next thing I know Karen is running across the field at waving her hat yelling "lie down" (because I couldn't move fast enough ) Beth even blew Karen off. It was ugly.

After several attempts she finally did it right and went, somewhat gingerly, through the mud. What a party we had when she got those sheep to me!

Additionally Beth was flat out refusing to 'lie down' anywhere near water or in the mud. Karen had me go over and force Beth into a down. I had to do this twice. I made sure I didn't set her up for failure and tell her to lie down in really muddy spot, it was only slightly muddy.

Karen said she needed to respond to my 'lie down' command with a 'YES MA'AM" and plop right down. Beth doesn't do that. She may stop and look at me, or sit, or lie down slightly then leap up again and flank all on her own. It is frustrating, I could have sworn we were past this nonsense.

Later in the next lesson, Karen had me walk the sheep in a figure 8. She stood approx 50 feet from the post. Beth had to keep the sheep to me as we walked past Karen. This was to start desensitizing Beth to lifting sheep off another person and keep them with me. Each time we got near Karen, she asked me to put her in a lie down...then Karen would reach over and try to pet Beth. It took a bit to get Beth to lie down near Karen. Then when Karen went to her and tried to pet her Beth GROWLED at her and looked like she was going to take her hand off at the wrist. Karen decided to not pet her that time. As we kept doing this and Karen kept praising Beth....she finally warmed up a bit and Karen was able to pet her.

I have NEVER seen Beth bare her teeth at ANYONE! My guess is Karen has her number and Beth knows the jig is up.

To sum this up in a nutshell: We have a dysfunctional communication issue that can only be solved by remedial sheep therapy - beginning with smaller field & going back to basics. First thing, working on 'lie down means lie down' not a suggestion to run in the other direction. *sigh*

I can't wait until John stops working all this overtime and can start working Beth again. She is his dog, not mine & it is clearly starting to show.

Can we tell I am a wee bit frustrated???

Now some good news! RANGER IS WEAVING!! Finally! He is weaving six poles consistently with a spot on perfect entry - he is ready to move up to more! We took a break in agility class so I would have time to get Ranger weaving. He already has jumps, tunnel, chute, dog walk, beginning on the teeter. We were stuck on the weaves. Now that he has that we can move forward! WOOHOO!

You know..I kinda like this whole unemployment gig. I just wish I didn't have to go back to work at some point. I could very easily live a 'lady of leisure' lifestyle. Yep...dogs, dogs and more dogs. Now, where is my box of Bon Bon's...

Clinic Drop-Out

This weekend was the Karen Child Clinic - "Tips and Tactics for Success on the ISDS Course". The clinic was for all levels and focused on tips and tactics - not training. Each person would run a section of the ISDS course with Karen talking in your ear, giving suggestions and help.

This was one of those "What Was I Thinking" moments. Why exactly did I sign up for this clinic? *bangsheadondesk* Not only was this clinic clearly inappropriate for us but my mind was not with me - it was with Brynn at the vet.

When it was our turn to go to the post I tried to set Beth up for a 'go-by' outrun. She ignored me and placed herself for an 'away'.

I corrected her and set her up for a 'go-by'.

When I turned around to stand at the post, she snuck over to an 'away' position. Aww crap...this wasn't going to be pretty.

I calmly made her come back to my other side for a 'go-by'. She grudgingly laid down, looking at me like she wanted to eat my left knee-cap. She was channeling the "YOU ARE AN IDIOT" glare right into my soul.

When she focused her indignant glare on the sheep I sent 'Evil Beth' with a nice calm sweet "gooooo-byyyyyeeeee".

Beth considered my 'go-by' a mere suggestion. The outrun appeared to be going nice and wide for all of about 3 seconds - when suddenly she crossed over in front of me in a flat out run heading for an 'away' with a smug little smile written all over her snout.

Karen is shouting "lie down" in my ear. I am shouting "lie-down". Karen is yelling "SAY IT LOUDER". I am shrieking 'LIE DOWN' like a hormonal fishwife, running across the field flailing my arms as in the throes of a grand-mal seizure.

Beth ignored me. I could hear her laughing "HA HA catch me now biatch". She went in for a 'slice & dice' hitting the sheep like a atom bomb. But what she expected to happen - didn't. The sheep stuck to the set-out like glue.

As we are running across the field we watched her circling the handler & sheep at the set-out seemingly confused. The sheep were afraid of her.

With Karen's help we fixed it. But it was ugly, very ugly.

*sigh*

Then we tried it again.

This time I sent Beth on an 'away' because she thought she knew more than me again. Fine, let her run through the swamp - but nooooo - when she got to the swamp - she used that as her excuse to dart in and hit the sheep like a bomb AGAIN! Grrrrrr....(which is why we didn't want to send her on an away in the first place!)

Same result followed, more ugliness.

We did however get a very nice pen on the first attempt. I think it was a lucky fluke. The sheep dashed into the pen as the only means of escape from Evil Beth.

Obviously we are not ready for this level of clinic. Karen told me if her dog did that in a trial situation she would let them run on the 'away' because she knew it would be a disaster if she tried to change it. The trial is not a time for training - it is the result of hours of training.

But things have a way of working out. My friend Jeanne was at the clinic with her two dogs auditing. She really wished she could be in the clinic with her new dog Rocky. She recently purchased Rocky (who is already qualified for the nationals) this clinic would be extremely beneficial for them both. Me and Beth? Not so much...

I suggested to Jeanne she take my place in the clinic (the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday) in exchange I would take her private lesson with Karen on Tuesday and she can buy me dinner when we go to the Pat Shannahan clinic in two weeks. Perfect, win/win situation.

I am concerned that Beth is going to put on her "Miss Manners" routine during my private sessions with Karen on Tuesday.

Someday I am going to have enough skills to thwart her little devious scheme and her arse is toast. Oh yeah...someday, in my dreams.