Fun Day training

Update on things here at the farm: Gem was purchased by a lady in Wisconsin to help her with her flock of sheep and goats. She will be working with Beth Miller on her training. She went to a very nice home.

I went to a Fun Day in Aledo, Illinois at Dawn Bromleys place. A very nice facility with wonderful stock to work. Met a few new people and a few old friends were there. Mary brought some dogs to work. I brought KeenEye, Gerti and Tam. I took KeenEye and Gerti out on the JHD course just to work them. Walking backwards and fetching without too much circling or pushing was the goal. Also, was trying to build work ethic/interest in KeenEye. Neither KeenEye or Gerti have been out to any place with dogs, people, and stock before. Both were put on the line harness to start their runs. Each did very well. We walked the course and through some panels with a repen. Both were controable and listened well. Didn't need the line really. Mary got some good pictures for me. Both did well around the other dogs too and riding in the new dog box and Gerti waiting in her crate.

Took Tam on the ranch dog course. We sorted our 10 sheep in the pen easily. Let them drift off, then did an okay outrun (not her best thing) and had a nice drive going on to the first panel and then lost it when the sheep veered off and she started flipflopping and then fetching them back to me. Ughhh! I went with her to drive them through the panels. Continued on to the next arena, another sort,  and she did very well at the foot bath putting them through and then a pen. I can see that she really doesn't understand flanks without me using my arms as a visual. Another example of this is that we used her to help hold a cow in the corner for a pour on wormer and I was trying to direct her while I was outside against the fence and she just didn't have a clue. Very dissapointing. I will have to go back and figure out how to teach her proper flanks when I have time. And obviously it's not my strongest area.I hope I can do it correctly with the rest of my dogs to avoid this in the future.

Also, used Gerti to bring the sheep from the pens to the small field. It was a very long fetch basically and she was pushy but listened soooo well. She had a tough time around the barn as the sheep didn't realize the gate was open for them. She had to work on retrieving them a few times and walking with me against the fence. Did very well. I can almost see her brain soaking stuff in. I believe she is incredibly smart. I also noticed she has a very good natural flank and not too bad at the walk up either. Really pleased with her fast progress with each training  lesson.

Aug. 22-

Well, here is a little catch up on what I've been doing. Had entire flock in small field to work dogs with. Got Gem going good both ways around them and stopping okay. She's really fast and is in close to them. Does not bite so far that I've seen. Made a video and started a series for youtube on Beginning Sheepdog training for each of the young dogs. Worked Rose. She works further away and at a slower pace and is a bit one sided. Will bite but not bad. I can trust her not to hurt them. Need to work on the directions. Took Clyde out. Stayed far back and then dove in and tried to take them down. Would not back off when I told him to...had to catch him and put him up. Had to doctor two sheep for bite wounds and a gash. He may need to go straight to cattle only. Took KeenEye out and he would not work at all. Kept running for his kennel and I kept retrieving him. Decided to use Tam to try to get him going. That eventually worked and once he got going did well and got keener. He will bite but not bad. He is very sensitive to the handler and is a worrier about if he's right. Had Gerti out with the sheep in the paddock. Works about midway...not too far out and not too close in. Changes directions easily and will stop and down. Calls off well with no lead. Going to be very nice to work with.

Aug-29: Worked Gem on entire flock in small field again to show her to a lady who is buying her. She did well. About the same as before. She took her home to Wisconsin for a trial period. I also worked Gerti again on the sheep in the field and she did well again. About the same as before. Took KeenEye out on the long line and drug him up to work. Got him following along behind and moving around them. Let go once and he went back to the barn. I went back and got him and took him back. I got him balancing on the sheep while holding the line loose except when he tried to veer off toward the barn. Circling quite a bit, changes okay but I think he dives in on his of side. And just when I thought he was starting to enjoy himself I praised him up and took him away. He is going to be a bit of work to keep him on but once he's going he's good with presence and some bite. He's just such a worrier.

Lesson learned
Today we had a little mishap and I learned a forgotten lesson from clinicians in the past. "Just when you start teaching the drive, your gather will fall apart." I found that out today. We have jumping cows. No fence will hold them on our place except the pen that they are usually kept in. We have been moving them from that pen to some grass in our garden and middle area surrounded by other pasture, paddock, and fences. It keeps them from hopping the fence in the cornfield...mostly. I have been using Bandit to drive them back and forth from these areas. Today they decided to head that way and smash a few fences. They ended up in the small sheep field and one went over into the cornfield. I just happened to be back there and grabbed Bandit. He went in the fence and I sent him on the away side....probably not a good idea as his presence made the others pop over the fence and run into our front yard and then on the gravel road in front. I sent him to fetch them...instead he turned them and started to drive them up the road...ahhhh! I called him back quickly and put him away fast. The cows were headed at a good pace to parts unknown...no longer caring to graze anywhere. I grabbed Tam and we both jumped in the truck. I literally sped around them and stopped them in their tracks. They turned around and I jumped out and let Tam out to drive them back. I got back in the truck and reversed down the road as we went. They tried to run into my neighbors driveway and again I sent Tam to stop them and get them back on the road. All from the truck. As we went I noticed that in my hurry to get the cows, all my mail that I had just gotten from the mailbox was strewn all over the road. I had set it on my tailgate and in my haste forgot about it. So now I'm jumping in and out of my truck picking up my mail as I am reversing and the dog is driving the cows. Thank God for my old dog Tam! I should have gotten her from the beginning to handle this situation. A lesson was learned in that it is a MUST to work on both gather and driving or you may lose it when you need it most.

Gerti and Bandit

I'm cramming a few sessions in one entry. I've used Bandit to move the cows around once or twice a day for several days now. He is working so well for me. Taking stops well. Learning sides but not great yet. I hope he will be ready to do the cattle trial in October. And, I used Gerti one evening to put the cows away. This was her first time (off leash) on cows. She handles remarkably well for not knowing anything yet. She is going to be soooo much fun to train when I finally get a chance to really get going with her. Need to sell some other dogs first. 

Gem's first time in the field

Today is Gem's first time in the big field on all the sheep. At first she was going too fast as I got her to circle and after a bit we slowed down and started doing a good job. Took a down when asked but was sticky on the walk-ups and flanks. Had to go to her to send her. Took a short video of her and put it on youtube. Trying to get her ready to sell. Also July 19: took her to town with us and worked on obedience at the park. Took a few videos of her and put on youtube. She was very interested in stalking birds while we were there. i had Marty try to get a video of her but he didn't work the camera right and didn't get it. Will try again another time. Or get some video of her on ducks.

Chore time
It's been a bit busy the last few days. 4-H horse activities, folks coming to look at sheep, a lady came to work her dog, etc. Today I had a headache so just did chores. I had to move cows to the middle area. Put the geldings out there too. Out of hay. Having some delivered tomorrow. Used Bandit for chores. He is listening and learning very well. We did a short outrun. He likes to walk straight up so we worked on kicking him out to the fence. He is slowing up to drive really nice for me too. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and be able to work more dogs.

Happy Fourth of July
Today is the fourth of July and it is sprinkling and has been all night. Not planning much training today just doing chores and then heading off to a cookout and fireworks. While walking to the back to feed lambs Gerti decided to join me by squeezing under the fence.  She never stays back if she can figure out how to get to me. So I grained the lambs. The ewes were out in the field. They were grouped together nicely and  it made for a nice outrun. Why not, I thought? So Gerti and I (off leash) walked halfway to them. I downed her facing left and sent her. She made a nice outrun and lift. A little speedy and they ran for the pens so she tried to get around amd head them, but  I slowed her up and they went in their pen. Then I called her off nicely. I was so happy with the ease of her handling. And this was her second time on sheep! She is going to be a lot of fun to train. 

First training entry
Today sorted off some sheep with Tam and put in small yard next to kennel. Took KeenEye out first. He did well staying against the fence and taking the sends with the whip. Eventually I let loose the line and we did some circling both directions. He is better one way but is starting to get it. Did the same with Gem who seemed to get it a bit faster. Also did better straight walk-ups and downs. Took a break and went in later with Clyde. Also, (note to self) Valentine was one of the three sheep I was using and she baled over the fence real quick. Ended up using a white one and Tres. Worked fine. Clyde does not like anything to do with being leashed and does not take the leads and sends well. He does have a nice walk up and down and will bite if needed. Have to watch him when I drop the line. Calls off easy though. Doesn't change directions well yet. He has the least amount of training time of the bunch. Next was Rose...this was her first time on stock since she was a baby. Originally we were holding off because Tessa was using her for dog obedience in 4-H this year. But, she dropped out after the first month so I am going to start her. She did quite well. Got her staying on the fence and changing directions okay. Was very hot and humid out so didn't overdo it. We had a few crashes but wasn't bad. And, just for the heck of it I brought Gerti out for her first introduction to sheep. My growly, little dog with the attitude was a little bullied by the older ewe. I was very surprised. She got the lead and send fast, the walk-ups and downs and circled and changed directions pretty good. But the ewe was trying to intimidate her and was facing her down. She tried a couple crash dives at her and once I got her to bite her nose but the ewe kept it up. Gerti was overheating so we quit at a good place. Next time I will make sure she wins.

First entry

This is my first entry. I will learn how to blog as I go. Never done it before. The main focus of this blog is my training process with the dogs.  As of today, July 3, 2009 I have several dogs in training. There are the two from Tam X Spot who are 1 1/2 yrs old; KeenEye and Gem. The other brother and sister; Clyde and Rose out of Cassidy and Bandit, also 1 1/2 yrs. Not getting much work at all right now. I am hoping to prepare the first two for goose work if possible. Last two will work cattle. Then there is Bandit who has yet to be trialed at all. He is currently getting the basics on cattle and some on sheep. I also have a real project dog who I have been making videos of and putting on youtube. Blue is his name and he started out to be quite skittish and impossible to touch. He is getting better all the time. He was given to me because he would not look at cattle. He does now! I have a video of him on his second time out. Also, just got Jake, a pronovice dog. He is also Gerti's father. Gerti is out of Tam. Almost a year old now and will be starting her soon.

Yesterday I took Gem and KeenEye into town. They have not had anything done with them for about a month now. They haven't left the farm since I don't know when. Worked on that'll do, down and stay at the dog park. KeenEye was the most nervous and panting. They did bark a little at people as we drove through town and stopped at the square, not bad though.