It seems like several friends have posted that they got their females spayed lately...it is the off season and if you are going to have major surgery done, now is the time, when there are no trials to go to nearby. Spot joined into this activity, as he got neutered on Friday. So far he is rarin' to go. I decided to have this done (after setting up two appointments in the summer and then wimping out and cancelling them) to see if we can diminish his hormonally-driven behavior that has started to become a problem at trials. I can't get his nose off the ground before we run, and a few times he has run over to visit with the setout dog at the end of his outrun, instead of focusing on lifting his sheep as he should. This is extremely frustrating for me, after putting so much work into his training. As if we didn't have enough problems in trialling, he has started doing this, maybe 25% of the time. He never does it at home, or in lessons or clinics. Just at trials. Very frustrating. So I just decided to try to end the problem with neutering since I am not going to breed him. I certainly hope that it works. So far he seems unconcerned...it will be a week or so before he can work again although he says he is ready *today*. That Scrimgeour stamina gene...oh my!!!
Ryme turned ten this past week, on December 6th. He is still a little bit lame, which is a bummer. He is getting better, but it is a very slow process. He is still my very good boy. :-)
Ryme really wants to work. I am still hoping that he can go back to work once his leg is healed.
It is very strange to go work dogs and only take one dog...as a result of all of the above. Cap is the only one left (Coal does not work any more) right now. Cap is just such fun to work...he is constantly asking the question, "what next, boss?" and wants to please. We have just barely started inside flanks. He knows the stop and walk up whistle. I am blowing the flank whistles when he is already doing them. He doesn't know his sides on command yet, but he is improving on those. After our lesson last week we are mainly working on gathers, with a little bit of driving.
You will have to take my word for it, but these pictures above are showing Cap and me, from our lesson last week. The clouds were gorgeous that day...winter is the best time to train, as far as I am concerned. Other than the short daylight hours, I love the softer ground, greener grass, and cooler temperatures that all allow you to train a bit longer and work things out with a younger dog.
I've put up a few Christmas decorations. It is a good time of the year, the off season.
