The name of this blog comes from the book that we have good intentions about writing, about escapades of border collies and sheep....that are memorable enough to be called "one for the book". It will also contain memories and updates of dogs, sheep and people, past and present.
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We were able to finish trimming feet on the sheep at the coop. I thought it would take three sessions but we got it finished in two sessions. A whole future weekend day is now freed up...I am so happy! Some of the sheep needed it more than others; some hardly needed anything or could get away without any attention...while others required a lot of work on their feet. You can't tell until you get them in position to trim.
We have been working on modifying the set of pens and alleyway to better resemble the "Bud box" system...we are not there yet but it is getting better. And folks are learning how to better handle the sheep through the system. I am sure this is part of the reason we were able to finish so much faster this time around. Big thank yous to Foothill Agrarian for help on this with videos and advice.
Also...regarding confidence... I've not had a dog yet (in my small number of dogs) who is so confident to move sheep that they don't need any help, ever. Maybe someday I will have "that dog". Meanwhile I work to build confidence. It is in the back of my mind every time I work dogs. If it goes out of my mind I will be sorry (and have been when I let emotion get in my way). I've had several lessons that were solely focused on building and maintaining confidence in my dogs and I go back to those principles time after time.
This week, and the past month, have been crazy weather...every five minutes it changes, it seems, and most of the minutes have involved heavy rain storms, flooding, high winds, relentless rain, and so forth. Today it was capped by hail! What is next? Locusts ?? Wait, don't answer that!! :-) This is semi-coastal, wine country, Northern California, the peaceful Mediterranean Climate...we are supposed to get Pineapple Expresses, but not relentless cold rain, and not hail, and not snow... I don't have any snow pictures but snow was *not* very far away! Yikes! I'm glad to have moisture... I do not want the "D" word (drought) but enough already... a moderate amount at a time and preferably not all at once... would be nice, okay? :-)
Ryme loves water...which is a darn good thing!
Jerry the llama finds nice green stuff near and in the water...
Ryme enjoying the water.. no we are not growing rice!
It is a challenge to find ways to work dogs around all the water...Olive on a drive
Olive again on a cross drive
Part of the wetland waterway system in action...winter!
Standing water in sheep areas... and a rainbow!
Hail on my pickup...luckily not large enough to cause damage...
Watch your step there, Ryme
"Snow" at the end of the downspout?
Wait! This is Wine Country!
The local "Valentines Day" trials have been postponed due to weather again...and again...there is one more kick at that can and if the Atmospheric River is turned into a flood then it is cancelled. I'm just hoping that the "biggie" trials in March will be unaffected...otherwise it does spark memories of the year the big oak trees fell down in the driveway and onto Calistoga Road at the Sonoma Wine Country trial...crossing fingers that does NOT happen this year!!
The dogs (and I!) are stir crazy...hoping we get a break for at least a few days so we can work on our sheepdog home work.We have things to work on, and it's Friday...so Dream Big!
This silly video is intended to make you (and me) smile on a Monday...it is Cap's first run with the quad and Spot is running steadily along side. The look on Cap's face as he tries to catch up with me, (I am sitting on the back of the side-by-side) is priceless! :-)
It's also to remind me of my happy place!
Cap and I had a lesson over the weekend...we worked on his outruns. I had trouble getting the situation set up by myself (sheep kept following me and would not stay put) but finally when sheep were held for us by a spotter and dog, it all came together. On the bye side, Cap is tighter than on the away side. On both sides, he is a bit tighter than you want and he does not (yet) go deep enough. We are taking a gradual approach. The more I work him, the better he gets.
On the bye side I am doing a little bit more influence on him, i.e. walking out ahead of him, sometimes stopping him and bending him out, etc. On the away side I don't have to do as much, I might walk out but not stop him and bend out unless he needs it. I think others are finally seeing what I have seen all along in Cap...his approach to the sheep is both businesslike and intense.
Spot got to run out along with the quad which is good exercise for him, but we did not have a lesson. We are on a budget. Two lessons is more than I can handle, right now.
Once back home, I worked Spot and Cap on their respective plans. I put sheep on hay to work on Cap's outrun, since I was by myself and did not have a spotter to hold the sheep. He is doing really big boy stuff! It started raining the instant I got sheep sorted to work tonight, and it kept up raining until I was finished working Spot. What gives? There wasn't even rain in the forecast. I worked anyway even in the rain, slogging around in the mud. I only have so much time to work dogs and during the rain is when that time slot fell. Oh well! Super happy with Cap and what he is doing.
Mudder Collie
For Spot I am following my plan to increase his physical and mental stamina for a good and happy shed. This time he pushed sheep out to the hay and we did one easy outrun. Then I did two sheds, which were both happy and OK. I will continue with this plan; sometimes just going out and shedding right away, and other times doing a few things first (an outrun, some driving, etc. more or less) and then a shed. I want to figure out how to keep his head cooler so that the shed will seem easy to him by the time we get to it on the course even though it is always near the end.
I'm so glad to have Ryme back in the working crew as he got to set the stage for Cap and Spot. He loves to work and is the "sheep cop" who will correct any reluctant ovines who think late afternoon is the time to "go home" and not work with dogs. Uh-uh. Ryme says you are going out to the field, without any nonsense.
We have had so much cold rain. I am not complaining about moisture but I am getting worried about some of the sheep in this weather. They are our responsibility and are dependent on us for their care.
Coal's surgery and recuperation are now in the books. Whew. :-)
We went to his veterinarian this afternoon to have the little cosmetic "Rocky Balboa" suture removed from under his eye. She also thought his neuter incision looked very good. It is all healed up.
As it turns out, the pathology report showed that there was a tumor in each testicle, not just the enlarged one that prompted this whole ordeal. And each one was a different type of tumor. Who knew? They were both removed in the neuter surgery and the biopsy report stated that the surgery should take care of the problem. Neither tumor is known to cause further trouble in the rest of the body. Great news!
Poor guy. Coal has been all his life, Mr. Confident and Independent, and Nothing Bothers Him. But today while we waited in the foyer at the vet's office, he climbed halfway up in my lap, not once but twice. He has never done that before. Poor dude. He was a bit worried. He would not take a treat from the vet until we were all done. That is not like him but nothing major happened today for him. No more removed parts!!
I'm super happy to have my Coal back...I wish he were the young Coal but since that's not possible I will take the happy 12-year-old Coal. He seems to feel much better than prior to the operation so apparently the enlarged testicle situation was bothering him, with distention or something.
What I also noticed during his surgical recuperation was that he was much more active and sprightly while taking the pain meds that were sent home with him following surgery. I didn't really know before this happened, that he was in ongoing pain, but now I know. I started him on Duralactin (supplement) that the vet recommended, to give that a try. We got some more carprofen for "as needed use" today. If we need something more, the vet will work with us.
This is a little video of Cap's gather on the bye side (which is his tight side).
I'm super happy with how Cap is working. He is still tight on the side of his outrun, especially on the come bye side. The away side (not videoed) is much more open and flowing. And some of the time on both sides, he opens way up, goes deep and wide, as well. I am staying patient as this issue seems to be sorting itself out with continued work and distance (as I have been assured). I am keeping the faith. :-)
Cap is ready for little chores. Of course he does not shed, yet, but if I am creative I can do just about anything I need to do with him. The other day I found a ewe who needed to be marked and treated, as she had apparently cut (superficially) the skin below her jaw on one side. I am guessing she stuck her head through the fence to graze on something "greener" than what was on her side and then startled and cut her face on some fencing somehow... anyway I was out with Cap when I saw the issue, and just walked back "home" with the sheep and Cap pushing them behind me, quite reliably. We put them into the round pen where I could mark her... I went and got Ryme just in case, and the two of them held the sheep to me so that I could paint-mark the ewe and try to spray her cut with blu-kote. I ended up getting more blue spray on me than on the ewe but the dogs did a great job of holding sheep to me. Cap is one I can turn my back on and he will not take cheap shots or get in trouble. And he will defend himself if the sheep get nasty to him. I figured that Cap might learn from Ryme in this situation and I believe he did. The two dogs worked together well. It's really nice to have another dog who can do chores.
Here is a little video of shedding practice with Spot tonight. He has been a little reluctant to come through lately, which I attributed to some lack of confidence. In the past he has mostly been a good shedder. Sometimes he doesn't like to come through, whether it is too much feel, too much eye, or just that he is worried or anxious. It has happened in the past when a sheep has gotten away with beating up on him.
I am trying to work out a new plan for strengthening his shedding skills for trials. The shed always comes near the end of the run, if not the very end. By then the dog has run the whole course. He may be tired or running out of "gas". We need a good, clean, quick shed in order to get a good score, and go on to the pen if there is one, or just to finish before the clock runs out. And showing good stockmanship too, all at the same time. Whew...no pressure whatsoever!
In this video I took Spot out only to shed. I didn't use him to set the stage for this exercise. That is the advantage of having two more dogs who want to work. Believe it or not, it was young Cap who set up this situation. At evening chores, the sheep are very slow and just want to go in for the night. I have other plans, including some dog work on them. They are very piggish and slow... but might be good, so I thought, for shedding. Cap helped me to set the stage. I went back to the truck and got Spot, who was fresh and ready to go. We walked into the field and worked on shedding.
Now my goal is to somehow build up the time that he can work before shedding, and still complete a good, clean shed, without getting too anxious. Also, he has to flank cleanly or we can't shed at all. In this video he is flanking very cleanly. As time went on we did four or five more cuts on this group and it started to deteriorate. His flanks must be clean or we can't shed. I will chunk all this down and come up with a plan that we can practice on. Like any muscle, or skill, it will need to be built up in small stages.
Today's theme, Wednesday, was Be Happy. I tried my best!
It's not often that one really nice thing happens in a day, but two really nice things, well that is downright unusual! But since Tuesday's theme is "be in the moment" I am taking it in stride that there are two nice things to celebrate, today. Trying to stay in the moment and enjoy both, for today.
First, I have been following the USBCHA results page to see if Spot really did place at the last Pt. Pleasant trial, and he did! Spot was sixth! This meant that Spot received his very first HA points. That is a milestone for him that has been a long time coming. And that is with missing a drive panel (my mistake). I was very happy to see this posted today.
And second, Coal's veterinarian phoned with his biopsy results today which were good, positive results. The castration surgery should have taken care of all of the issues. There was actually a tumor in each testicle. And each testicle had a different type of tumor. It's a good thing this was caught and taken care of. I told the vet how much more lively and happy that Coal has been after his operation. Even the next day, he was woo-hooing all over the place, as much as a 12-year old dog can be. I don't think it was just the pain drugs (although that may have had something to do with it). He continues to be happy and wants to play even though he has taken all the pain drugs and has been off of them for a few days. The tumors must have been bothering him in some way and now they are gone. I was super happy to get this news today. A big weight is lifted. :-)
A fun time was had by all at the recent NCWSA workday...we were welcomed so graciously by the hosts. Nice field, nice sheep, good cameraderie. There were some new faces and some familiar faces. We had eight minute runs to work on what we wanted to focus on in our turn with each dog. A few people paid for a second run but most were satisfied with one run. I was happy with both my dogs. I ran both Spot and Cap and tried to work on what we need to improve. I'm super grateful for this opportunity!
A course was set up for those who wanted it. I ran the course (mostly) with Spot, but not with Cap. Spot ran out well and lifted beautifully; no help required. I am working on his steady, down, and flanks on the fetch -- I want him to be more responsive there, and so that's what we focused on. I drove the drive twice, as we never have a chance to run a set course with panels. I did not make both panels either run! OMG we (I) need more practice judging where he needs to be on cross drives...
I also tried to single a ewe and while I had a couple of nice openings, Spot is reluctant to come through...which I already knew but now I know that's what we will really be focusing on when we have a chance to practice in upcoming weeks. He has so much feel that sometimes he is reluctant. We will work on it. Keeping his flanks open and clean is also a constant upgrade/process. Overall I was very pleased with Spot though.
When it came Cap's turn it was starting to rain. He worked like a champ though. I focused on short gathers for him and just general obedience and things we've been working on. Cap is a listener! He wants to please. Some of his flanks are still tight along the sides but they are improving. His at hand work is lovely. He is getting an inside comebye flank but has yet to be convinced of the necessity on the away side...we will get it. I am using the whistles when he has already taking the flank and/or blowing the whistle when it is an obvious flank to one side or the other... the so-called "natural" flank by some. Overall I am super pleased with Cap and he got some nice compliments from the crowd.
NCWSA is trying to revive itself and I am trying to support that effort in any way I can. There were some new folks there, at least one person was there for her very first outing with her dog away from either home or lessons. This is where the club can really shine -- to bring on new folks who need support, as well as to support the long-timers in their new dogs and puppies to get them out. And for a dog like Spot, I need outings on different sheep in different places.
While the weather looked very iffy for the day for most of the work day the skies held off. It was only on our drive home from the event that the skies opened up.
A BIG thank you to everyone that made this event possible! :-)
It was the weekend, so I was supposed to Find Awe, and find awe, we did. On the drive over to Elk Grove, there was the most fantastic sunrise that I have seen, maybe ever. It lit up the whole eastern sky when I hit about Napa...others at the trial commented on how beautiful the sky was in the early morning...one of the rewards of getting up so early to get to a dog trial, I imagine!
The first day of the trial, felt like we were very "cobwebby" for lack of a better term. It was our first trial of the new year. Spot did "OK"... we got the sheep and never lost them, and got a score, although it was a low one. I felt good and happy. It was a nine minute course on a beautiful sunny day... it was wonderful to sit in the sunshine and enjoy the dogs and sheep. Left hand drive, split the four sheep into two and two in the shedding ring, and then a freestanding chute with an immobile wing, and a rope to hang onto...always an inventive obstacle at Pt Pleasant! But fun. We were up dog #5. No time to get nervous! I sent Spot to the right, which seemed to be the way to go, and that is his more open, flowy side. I did not blow any keep-going whistles, which in retrospect was a mistake. He got to about one o'clock and stalled. It took four Away whistles to get him over behind the sheep and then he was a freight train on the upper half of the fetch. Finally I got ahold of him just below the fetch gates... whew! As someone I know would say, "within rock chucking distance" (or for us, about the maximum distance of our practice field... sigh...). From there the drive was choppy but we managed, we got to the shed ring and I could not shed. The sheep are always hard to shed there and while we have done it in the past, I couldn't do it that day, and they were probably a bit boogered-up due to being run on the fetch. So the clock ran out on us. Still, I was very happy. We didn't lose the sheep and there were two really good chances to do that...on the upper part of the fetch, and turning the second drive panel. In both cases they really booked and Spot was not covering the best. Spot tried hard and I would support him more, the second day.
On Sunday, we were up dog #17 after heavy fog delayed the start of the trial for over an hour. The course time was reduced to eight minutes. It was a right hand drive, the unusual chute, and then a single in the shed ring. I sent Spot away again, and this time I blew one "preemptive" whistle about 3 o' clock to say "keep going, keep going, you are right" and it worked. The top end was much better. I had to work hard to get ahold of him but that I did, we made the fetch gates and the first panel and barely missed the second drive panel (too bad!!!)... not his fault, mine... then the chute nicely done...and a single (which felt like a Hail Mary to me, but others said it was OK). A completed run! Oh my!! 72 points for (I think) 6th place...to be confirmed. I am super happy with how calm and relaxed Spot was the whole weekend...which I attribute to him getting neutered in December. It's a very significant change in him. He was still fairly hard to stop, especially at distance...so I have to continue to get out of the comfort zone and work on that.
Hello Spot! I am happy with you!
After a lot of talk on the internet about us losing so many trials in our area, and how expensive they are to put on, and how I would like to have more in our area, and how we can support them... I volunteered myself that day to two trial hosts. I'm going to be busy at a couple of the upcoming sheepdog trials...which could not be better for me! :-)
