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. 

Handler Error

What a busy weekend!

The days leading up to this weekend were busy, full of days spent at Ronnie's working dogs with Cindy, stretching Brynn out on long outruns.  She is consistently running 400-500 yard outruns now.  Since last week's adventure with the ewes and lambs it has been rather hard to rein her back in and get control back.  Oddly enough it seems to have improved her flow on the drive - not so much stickiness.  However it has been a challenge to dial her down a notch.

My brain still does not think as fast as she moves.  

 (All the pictures in this post were shot at an earlier time - I just put them in because I like to look at them).

I took a risk and put Brynn in Nursery this weekend.  Not because we have any hopes of actually qualifying for Nursery finals, rather it seemed like a logical step.  A challenge for her, and a HUGE challenge for me.

Holy mother of molasses, this weekend was a learning experience.  

The only option on this field for a outrun was on the left (comebye) restricted by a fence line (the fence was a pressure point for Brynn).  The sheep were set behind a large pool of water that covered the entire right side of the field (which is why away/right side outruns were not possible).  After the lift the dog needed to push the sheep through the water in order to have a straight fetch.  I think I would be close to say that approx 90% of the dogs were unable to have a straight fetch or even hit the fetch panels (in all classes) unless the dog was able to pull off a dog-leg fetch.  The minute the dog made contact with the sheep, they bolted to the left (the direction the dog came from) and ran like hell, refusing to go through the water.  Either that, or they bolted back up to the set out pens where the dogs were unable to lift them & called off. 

On Saturday, Brynn's outrun was quite nice, but she came in a bit too tight and the sheep bolted like hell, then she started to chase them, put too much pressure on them and they split up.  She brought two sheep down the field, at which point I tried to stop her and let the sheep regather - no dice. I said "Thank You" then walked up the field and helped Brynn put the sheep back together and out to the exhaust pen.

Sunday I knew we were going to have issues at the top again. Brynn still tends to come in a little tight on the top when she is unsure.  The course was the same as Saturday, the sheep were still set behind the pool of water.

Her outrun was wide and fast, but I had to give her several redirects around 10 o'clock.  She took my correction and kicked out, but not quite enough.  In my opinion she came in at the right spot, she was very careful walking up to her sheep.   The sheep bolted to the left again, Brynn maintained more control than Saturday, then I started to blow stops - which was stupid as rocks in a blender.  Why was I blowing a stop when her sheep were running hell bent for leather?  This only caused her to start chasing the sheep and at one point she circled them.  I am happy to say she did get control of them and some how we got them through the fetch panels.  Then they ran right past me on the wrong side of the post.  Ooops.

The first leg of the drive was a wee bit squirrely because I had to unwind around the post - then she settled down.  We made the drive away panels with a nice tight turn. The cross drive was a bit high but I got her back online and got across the field to the crossdrive panel - then I blew the wrong damn flank and she took it causing her to cross the course.  Then the sheep bolted for the exhaust.  I could have sworn we didn't break the plane at that panel, so I had her bring the sheep back online and we tried to hit the panels again, she got them through and went to the pen where we timed out.

Then the judge, Brian Ricards, who knew I was a 'newbie' came out of the truck to explain to me why I just lost almost almost all our drive points.  Because Brynn crossed the course and I reattempted an obstacle.  He said I made a legitimate effort to hit the obstacle. I should have moved on - by reattempting it I lost all but two points.  Big mistake, but a HUGE learning opportunity. We ended the run with a score of 26.  8-0-18-28-10

The score may be dismal, but I am happy, very happy. Brynn brought me sheep on a very challenging field.  She listened to me, took my flanks and ran her heart out.  The major errors were my fault and hopefully I will not repeat them again in the future.

• Crossing the course on the fetch or the drive will cost you dearly. ('Doh!)
• Stand on the side of the post where you want your sheep to go, if they are a farm flock.  If he sheep want come to you...then stand on the side of the post that they are supposed to go around.  (yep, I think I mentioned something about this from a clinic I attended?  Shows you how much I apply what I write huh?)
• If you blow the wrong flank and your dog takes it...don't blame the dog...you are the idiot with the whistle in your mouth. (another 'doh!)
• NEVER reattempt an obstacle - if in doubt, move on. (*sigh*)
• TRUST MY DOG AT THE TOP - she knows better than I where she needs to be - unless she is obviously wrong, when in doubt TRUST MY DOG.  
• Don't put chapstick on right before your run, the wax can muck up the holes in your whistle and sounds like you are strangling a pig. 

I hope someday I able to do this lovely dog justice as the handler she deserves.

We have gone from Novice/Novice to Nursery in less than a year.  Those are big steps for a new handler and baby dog.  We are up for the challenge.  It is going to be a fun summer filled with lots of learning.  Hope my head doesn't explode by the end of the trial season.

Bea & First

I made an unexpected trip to Idaho the first weekend of April to drop my son off in Boise. 

Of course I brought the dogs along and Dianne graciously was able to fit me in for some time.  

It was a much needed breather on a very stressful trip.

While I was there Dianne put Bea on sheep!  

Bea was cautious, and oh so careful.  

Dianne said that Bea wants to be perfect

She is confident

Yet controlled - maybe a wee bit too controlled for a puppy her age.

So Dianne tried to get her jazzed up a bit

Have some fun

It sort of worked

But she was still very serious

Then Dianne said, "Let's RODEO!"

Dianne had an idea.  Bea's littermate First (the puppy Dianne kept from this litter) has not seen sheep yet.  She wanted to put him in with Bea.  He would be enthusiastic & have fun, which would in turn lighten Bea up.  It would also help First become a bit more controlled and keen.  

She is a brave woman.  

And it worked...

Bea lightened up considerably.

Then the rodeo started, but Dianne maintained control 

Dianne would split the sheep up, Bea & First would put them back together.  Bea seemed to take the responsibility of putting them back together a little more seriously than First. 

The sheep were not thrilled

Yeeeha!  

Bea in hyperdrive!

Yet still thoughtful

First, what a happy face! 

As quickly as it started Dianne brought an end to the session.  Just fun stuff for now - no training, as they are much too young.  It is so tempting to start your pup when you see so much potential, however you can ruin them.  Their little bones and bodies are not grown yet and can be damaged too easily.  Not to mention what you can do to them mentally by putting pressure on them too soon.  With a pup like Bea I am going to take my time, we are in no hurry, the risks of starting your dog too young, outweigh the benefit.  

Isn't it amazing to see how completely different two dogs from the same litter are?  Just like my children, they all have individual personalities and working styles.  I find it fascinating. 

As far as appearance, they are similar.  First has a rough coat, Bea smooth, other than that they are evenly matched physically.  First is just a bit larger than Bea.

Two gorgeous pups, littermates, brother & sister.   

What do you think?  Do they look related to you?

Orchard Run Bea & Orchard Run First 

(Bett/Riggs DOB 10/10/10)

Lambs!

Our little ewe lamb, Tulip is growing.  

Is there anything cuter than a lamb? 

This spring's crop of lambs at Cindy's are adorable.  They even smile. 
Okay, not really...I have no idea why this lamb is showing me her teeth. I can pretend she is smiling.

I love the knee spots on this little ewe lamb.

Most of the lambs are black and white

There always has to be a different one.  Meet Johnson.  

A strapping young ram lamb

His father, John is a big meaty Katahdin.  He looks like his dad.  Hence the name "Johnson".  

Johnson is the only ram lamb out of 21 that got to keep his boy bits when we banded last weekend.  I had my first experience banding lambs.  Yes, that was an experience. 

Lucky boy, he didn't get a rubber band put round his....well, you figure it out. 

I love watching sheep eat.  

Truly there is little else in this world that calms the soul like watching sheep eat.  

Unless of course you start thinking about the cost of alfalfa and round bales, then throw in concerns over pasture management, foot rot, fencing, and all the other things that can devour your pocketbook when caring for a flock of sheep.  

What was I thinking when I bought sheep?  Dear Lord ... wasn't the price of border collies daunting enough?  Vet bills, trial entry fees, lesson fees, food for the dogs, gas to get to trials, GAS! WTF  have you seen the price of gas lately? And I wanted sheep?  I dont even bear the brunt of caring for my own sheep on a daily basis, that falls on Cindy.  How does she do it?   She is my hero. 

GAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!  Insert panic attack here.  

KNOCK IT OFF!  Breathe...look at cute lamb pictures.  

Awwww look at them, fascinated by the cone.  

"Helloooooooooooo, anybody down there?"

"Kill the cone!"

"Party 'round the cone! Milk bar not included!"

SPROING!  

"Let's indiscriminately leap into the air and drive Camera Face crazy trying to focus on us in the twilight!

Photo fail

Leaping lambs are hard to capture, especially when there is no rhyme nor reason to any given trajectory. 

Another photo fail. 

"Hey there, I was just leaping in the air when a new feeling overtook me.  Let's bash our heads against each other!"

"Its fun, huh?"

"Lots of fun, lets all do it!"

Awww lambs are so cute.  What was I so worried about?  

Seriously, after the border collie's drive us into the poor house at least we will always have something to eat.  

"What?"

Lamb, it's whats for dinner.  

(well, not really...at least not for a year or two...and we usually only eat the BOYS!)

Girls rule and boys get eaten. 

(Oh, and if you are one of those PETA nut jobs and want to send me some crazy, wacked-out email about how meat eaters are destroying our planet and other drivel.  Do me a favor?  Bite my meat eatin' arse. :)