Coal made his RESDA Open debut at Petaluma's Sonoma-Marin Fair on Sunday. I was quite pleased with how he did, getting 31 1/2 points (out of 50 possible) on three light, frisky Barbs in a tight little arena where he'd never been before. Plus there was all the commotion of the fair including sights, sounds and smells he'd never experienced before (a dairy cow up close and personal!). We ended up 12th of 21 dogs -- which I consider pretty awesome for a barely 22-month-old puppy.
A few photos are here:
http://web.mac.com/jackmathieson/RESDA/SonomaMarine2008.html
And results are here:
http://web.mac.com/jackmathieson/RESDA/SonomaMarin_Resulsts.html
Both Coal and Bid will run in RESDA Open in two more weeks in San Rafael.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
RESDA in Boonville, CA, June 8th
We carpooled up to beautiful Boonville in Mendocino County on Sunday for a Redwood Empire Sheepdog Association trial.
http://www.resda.com/
The trial was held at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in a rodeo arena that is irrigated grass. No foxtails! The sheep were range ewes who have been used for a couple of trials earlier this year, but are not worked often. They figure out the dogs very quickly.
Bid ran in Open and had a beautiful outrun, lift and fetch and panels. We blew it on the freestanding y-chute and pen, though. The Open dogs ran on 3 ewes. I was pleased that Bid was happy in his work. He listened well and tried very hard.
http://web.mac.com/jackmathieson/RESDA/JohnsonMem2008.html#5
Coal ran in Pro-Novice in his RESDA debut and handled the new situation and arena pretty well. His class got 5 re-run sheep and many of the young dogs were drawn to the exhaust rather than to the letout. Coal and I were able to avoid this problem and overall, his work was very nice and he listened well. He ended up 4th in the class. He just needs more mileage and exposure to new sheep and situations.
It was a nice day in good company at a lovely location.
http://www.resda.com/
The trial was held at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in a rodeo arena that is irrigated grass. No foxtails! The sheep were range ewes who have been used for a couple of trials earlier this year, but are not worked often. They figure out the dogs very quickly.
Bid ran in Open and had a beautiful outrun, lift and fetch and panels. We blew it on the freestanding y-chute and pen, though. The Open dogs ran on 3 ewes. I was pleased that Bid was happy in his work. He listened well and tried very hard.
http://web.mac.com/jackmathieson/RESDA/JohnsonMem2008.html#5
Coal ran in Pro-Novice in his RESDA debut and handled the new situation and arena pretty well. His class got 5 re-run sheep and many of the young dogs were drawn to the exhaust rather than to the letout. Coal and I were able to avoid this problem and overall, his work was very nice and he listened well. He ended up 4th in the class. He just needs more mileage and exposure to new sheep and situations.
It was a nice day in good company at a lovely location.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Naughty Sheep, Bad News/Good News
The sheep have so far not been able to graze the multitudes of grass at their new digs because they have been very naughty. They ran away the evening of Memorial Day through the woods and creeks and were found noon of the next day at a neighboring ranch. After being returned, they have been jailed in their pen until more fencing can be upgraded and added. We tried to take them out to graze under supervision last Sunday, but three ewes bolted again into the woods. They were out overnight but found their way back to their mates in the pen. What a frustrating experience. To be continued.
Coal somehow managed to get a foxtail in his "posterior" sometime in the past few weeks. After three visits to two different veterinary establishments we finally have success. The foxtail has been removed and he is well on the way to recovery. So much for my economic stimulus package!
Bid turns nine in a couple of weeks and for this and other reasons he went into the vet as well for a checkup and blood work. The good news is that all of his tests came out perfectly normal, including thyroid.
We are hoping that things settle down with both sheep and dogs, that the foxtails drop off sooner rather than later to become dust, and that our many upcoming sheepdog trials go well. Whew!
Coal somehow managed to get a foxtail in his "posterior" sometime in the past few weeks. After three visits to two different veterinary establishments we finally have success. The foxtail has been removed and he is well on the way to recovery. So much for my economic stimulus package!
Bid turns nine in a couple of weeks and for this and other reasons he went into the vet as well for a checkup and blood work. The good news is that all of his tests came out perfectly normal, including thyroid.
We are hoping that things settle down with both sheep and dogs, that the foxtails drop off sooner rather than later to become dust, and that our many upcoming sheepdog trials go well. Whew!
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