The Real Time Canine

Week 123 - Steamboat Springs Trial

2011-10-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

Steamboat Springs, CO is one of the 3 most beautiful places I've ever been to a dog trial. Wooler, England and Carbondale are in that group. With the famous ski hill, Mt. Werner, looming over us, the trial field was set against the equally famous Yampa River right square in the middle of a just-harvested hay meadow. In fact, the last of the big round bales were just being carried off when I arrived 2 days before the trial began. Lucky me, I have dear friends who summer there, and I came early to hang with them.

I entered 3 dogs here, with Mirk getting the call both days, because it is with him that I have the most trouble earning points. This trial counts toward the 2012 National Finals in Klamath, OR. Star and in-training dog, Buff, got one run each. Buff on Saturday, Star on Sunday.

In one way this entry system worked in Star's favor. I made all my handling mistakes with Mirk and Buff on Saturday, and knew just what to, and what not to do with Star on Sunday. It didn't matter, but I didn't know that when I walked to the post with him. Because he needs so much more experience on big, strong, range ewes, like we were presented at this trial, only having one run worked against him. I truly wish I could have done it differently.

Nights here are cold, and I ran the heater in my RV for 15 minutes before leaving my warm bed in the morning. Once outside the door, I was greeted by hard frost that is quickly dispatched after the sun clears Sleeping Giant Mountain. Temperatures climbed steadily throughout the day, topping out around 80. The skies were cloudless, and there was only the softest breath of wind in our faces. A little warm for the dogs, but I absolutely reveled in that spectacular weather.

The field at this trial is small, but it's no push over, that's for sure. The layout of exhaust to set-out with irrigation channels spread across the field, and the sheer width of it caused problems for more than a few, Mirk included. A left-hand outrun started the dogs straight towards a steep embankment that turned most upfield towards their sheep and the mounted set-out crew, about 400 yards away. Off to the right is a vast expanse of open meadow with a lot of room to go wrong if your dog is wide, like Mirk on Saturday. On that side an out of bounds was declared at a low berm on our side of the river. I'm sure Mirk's nose crossed over even though he was never called for it. The bloodletting of outrun points and time, however, took him out of contention.

I felt the embankment to our left would cause Star to run tight if sent to that side. I trust his outrun and his ability to spot sheep, he is brilliant at it, so a right hand outrun didn't bother me at all, even after the mess Mirk made. He didn't dissappoint. Fresh from a couple days off, and keen to work, he took off flying, which really is a beautiful thing to watch. The dog also has something close to perfect balance, and he came screaming around at the top dead on, for a clean lift.

The sheep were heavy all weekend long, getting heavier when it got hotter, and Star ran in the heat of the day. After the beautiful outrun and lift, I was optomistic, but soon enough, he began to struggle on the fetch even though we sliced the panels in two. By the time we turned the post, the sheep were finished, and drove like slugs. My dog was beginning to lose his cha-cha, and I was beginning to lose hope of a winning run. Time was running out. We struggled, we worked, we coersced, bullied and doube-teamed the sheep, but after the turn at the drive-away, I considered my options.

Meeker next week, if I get really lucky, then the finals. I thought to myself; Better to call it good and go help my dog? Or, muddle along on a losing run? You see my point. I hadn't placed yet this weekend, but I still had Mirk to run, so I walked. I turned, waved and said thank you to the judge, Thad Buckler, then went and encouraged my dog to exhaust his sheep with confidence. A few hands said I should have continued, but they were wrong. With my just 3 year old dog going into the Nursery Finals in two weeks, I was right to retire. And I still have an outside chance at getting into Meeker. At this point, I am bubble girl. I am next to get in.

Mirk had an outstanding run on Sunday that was good enough for 6th place, and I am really pleased with him. I am spending the night at the trial field Sunday still undecided whether to take my chances and head out for Meeker on the hope of getting in. I double-checked my wait-list status, and with just 1 day left for anyone to cancel, I'll leave for Carbondale, where I can at least be useful.

Week 122 - Free to Be Ranch Trial

2011-08-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

5th Overall

Always breed for the outrun. I've been told that, and have believed it since the beginning. There are 50 points available on a sheepdog trial field with sheep to you feet. In other words, 20 points for the outrun, 10 for the lift and 20 for the fetch. If you can accomplish a clean outrun, no matter the distance, terrain, or weather, you are head and shoulders above the rest of the field. Far too many hands, it seems, don't understand this tenet of sheepdog training and trialing.

I don't breed, I buy, and I always buy for the outrun. Proving himself over long distance, and challenging terrain this weekend at the Free to Be Ranch in New Mexico, I know I acheived my goal with Star. Where many failed, he added the bonus of a successful lift and completed course during all 3 days of open as well, on hungry, long-yearling lambs that were set on hay, and pulled toward a strong draw during the 3rd trial. It wasn't easy pickings, and my not-yet-3-year-old boy handled it all with maturity and good nature beyond his years. He took it all in stride.

Day 1 brought us what was rumored to be between a 550 and 600 yd outrun. Coming from dought, the lambs were poor and hungry, and just as happy to ignore the dogs all together for a good meal. More than half the dogs that day were either disqualified or retired when they gripped, couldn't find sheep, or could not lift them. I admit that I was surprised when Star's outwork was perfect. He ran out confidently, and took my blast of a walk up as encouragement to bring them on. The finish was an any-two shed/pen, and we completed that by taking 2 off the back on the nose, because we could. Star flew through and held them to the judge's immediate satisfaction. No gimme considering we were running under Dennis Birchell, an Irishman who knows a thing ot two about a good run.

Day 2 was more of the same, but the drive was reversed, and, oh did I mention that it was big? I don't know how big, but every bit of 300 yards, I would wager. It was a long way on the cross-drive, and nearly impossible to hit a panel in that flat expanse of prarie with no more for landmarks than a bit of scrub here and there. Star ran wider on day 2 even though I sent him in the same direction, but made another quick lift. The lambs pulled to the left, and so far from me, Star was reluctant at the top to take my whistles and hold the line. The whole top of our fetch was off line, and the fetch panels slid by unbroken. That mammoth drive brought the same consequences, missed panels, zig-zag lines, and lots of encouragement necessary to shove leaden lambs around the course. They were heavy on day 2. At 6,000' feet elevation, I was breathless upon completion of that run, especially after having to lift the pen gate to open and close. It was not hung, and with no wheel underneath, rested heavily on the ground. It was a relief to finish, and I kept joking that I wasn't getting paid enough to work that hard.

One of the best things about the trial this year was the weather. After being frozen at Zamora, CA in February, soaked through at Sonoma in March, it was so nice to have the weather man smile of us. July is monsoon season in the Southwest and huge thunder stroms swirled all around us, only occasionally pelting us lightly with the warmest rain. The rest of the time was spent under high, dark clouds that kept temperatures, dogs and hands cool and happy.

We moved to the South side of the ranch on day 3, and things got tricky. The course was shorter, but plenty big enough at about 450-500 yards. 2 difficult elements were added; a rolling dip through the middle of the fetch that obscured dogs on the outrun, dogs and sheep on the fetch, and a powerful draw. It was a clinching 45 seconds waiting to see where dogs fetched sheep on the near side, and there was very little time to recover to make the panel that was set quite far back. Star drifted way right, and was again reluctant to take my come-bye flank. We brought the sheep back on line, but just slid past the panel.

The 1st leg of the drive was almost directly toward the pen where the sheep overnighted. It was a mighty draw requiring the dog to hold sheep from bolting all the way across. Some groups were nicer about it than others, and Star listened intently to do his best just losing them short of the panel. Again we missed, and the shoving began. With their overnight pen behind them, the lambs were not happy on the cross drive, and we were agonizingly slow...but successful. Unfortunately, our single was messy, taking it off the front with a little uncertainty, but the judge called it and we went to the pen. This one had a wheel and rolled easily. The lambs are well tended, and penning was a gimme all weekend. So, why did I let them get around it? Because I faded. I got to that point, decided it was going to be easy, and lost concentration. That is not how trials are won, which we weren't in contention for anyway, but that's no excuse. Those lost pen points cost us, and we won't find consistent success at this level with work like that. Lesson learned.

Leaving the ranch, I was consumed by Mirk's shoddy performance in the double lift. That's another story, but I lost sight of little Star man. It wasn't until I saw the overall scores posted that I realized how strong he had run. I did not enter him in the double lift, and without the double lift scores, Star finished 3rd overall, and even with them, he was 5th. He was only 1 of 5 dogs that scored in all 3 open trials. In a field of only 31 dogs that may not seem like much, but on those huge courses, he is a Gold Star in my book, and I'm looking more confidently towards the finals in a few weeks.

Week 121 - Nicomodes Gulch 2011

2011-07-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ready...Set...

Had I known what to expect at this trial, I would have gone anyway. The conditions are difficult, and the sheep were the biggest obstacle. They didn't want to line out, they didn't like the turn at the post, they were happy to run off in any direction, and to Star's chagrin, they were not overly impressed by the dogs.

On Friday, they gave us 4 head and 9 minutes, I think. The sheep were set about 450 yards out and deep in between 2 sets of trees. So deep, in fact, that the dogs running in the morning had the additional challenge of spotting sheep that were set in the shade making them all but impossible to see, even for the hands. I watched the first dog of the day, and when it was sent, had to make a concerted effort to find the sheep.

I wasn't worried. Star is a sheep-finding jesse, and just in case, has a tremendous re-direct. As it worked out, both skills were needed, but my little doggie did not disappoint. To send left meant he had to run around trees close to the sheep that would make them disappear to him, even if at some point he spotted them, and then him to me. An away-to-me outrun meant I could see my dog all the way, but he would have to go past the set-out pen.

Deciding that away was the lesser of 2 evils, that's what I chose. Star left my feet wide and fast heading for the farthest reaches of the field. About mid-way he seemed to pull in a bit, and I heard the words "trust your dog," then didn't. I knew he would kick himself out if he spotted his sheep, but many older, wiser dogs had not, and I decided sheep to my feet was better than a few points lost on the outrun. I blew the re-direct, and he took it so precisely that I had to cut it short so that he did not run out too wide. The instant I stopped the whistle, he stopped widening and together we were on the perfect path to sheep.

He did not stop short, but he did slow, which I am attributing to the 2 mounted set-out riders. I can't remember whether Star has ever seen horses at the top, but he persevered and came on to the lift. I blew a big walk-up, because I could see he was tentative, and it was just what he needed to boost his confidence. His lift was slightly off-line but a flank whistle or 2 had them coming straight to me. A little slow to react near the fetch panel caused us to miss it, but the running had been so erratic all day that Star was having one of the best fetches I had seen even without the panel.

All day the sheep had fought to avoid turning the post, and it was that spot that had me worried. There was a tight squeeze between the post, the judges trailer, and waiting handlers. The big, aged ewes had never been dogged, but successfully fought off coyotes and whatever else they have in the mountains of Utah all their lives. Star was not match for them, and they stalled around the post. To his credit, Star never quit trying, but after much shushing, here-here-ing, and watch-'em, watch-'ems, he was unable to shift them, and I retired, not all that gracefully. The scores had been dismal, a 58 was leading at that point, and I was reluctant to give up on what had been a stellar beginning.

I felt better about Sunday. The course was changed and they gave us 8 head of sheep to help them feel better about moving along, I imagine. They were happier in this bigger group. The drive was reversed to mitigate the sucking chest wound that was the draw to exhaust, and that worked well also. With 12 generous minutes to run, I thought we just might have a chance.

Earlier in the year at Zamora, Star had remembered perfectly the 550 yard, technically difficult outrun, and had navigated the entire uphill jaunt without losing so much as a point. On Sunday I trusted my dog, and was rewarded with a big, booming outrun of the kind I have come to expect. No hesitancy at the top this time, he was comfortable with the horses. A slight bobble on the lift, but nothing to get upset about, and Star brought his sheep straight through the heart of the fetch panel. OK, now I was having fun.

The turn at the post was a bit wide with some hesitation, but we made it and the drive started well. Unfortunately, it didn't go or end well, and we missed both panels, made ungainly, wide turns at both, and lost a lot of time with one ewe hanging back, one ewe leading the pack, and the rest of them taking their own sweet time about it. Star's drive was ragged, and I knew at the end of it that were would not be collecting a check.

The finish of this trial was split 4 and 4, put them through a Y-chute, re-gather and single. Star got as far as a stellar split, holding 4 away from 4 to the immediate satisfaction of the judge. Where many dogs struggled even to hold sheep in the ring, Star had calmly and decisively convinced them to go their separate ways, and it was been lovely to watch.

Once again, I have to remember what we did right with no more than that to hold me over until New Mexico, and the Free to Be Trial coming up. Nicomodes was a great test of the dogs, and I was pleased to see that my 2 year old nursery dog could stand his own in good company. Just a little more maturity please.

Week 120-Kelly Creek 2011

2011-07-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

Staying Cool at Kelly Creek

Day 231os
We had one last practice before leaving home for the summer, and for Kelly Creek, the 1st of 7 dog trials this summer. It was a hot day, so I didn't plan to put any pressure on the dogs. I wanted to simply remind them of a square flank, stretch them out as far as I could and tune up the finesse work of driving straight lines by taking whistles precisely. Star and Mirk worked beautifully, and Star had an epiphany. Timing is everything, right? We;re leaving for a dog trial, and Star passes a milestone. Sweet!

Star has always been reluctant to hold the shed or single if any sheep tries to break back. Until today, it always made him nervous, which resulted in his glancing to the cast off sheep, and so losing the sheep I mean to hold. It always frustrated me, but I know better than to correct a puppy in the shed ring when what you need more than anything in there is confidence. So, I made a decision early to stay the course, and just keep working at it. Today was pay off day.

As we practiced shedding, not only did Star hold the shed and the single, but he balanced the drive taking the shed off sheep away from the cast offs, and it was a simply gorgous site. I could see the light go on today, and his confidence multiply. OK, now we're ready for the summer trials.

Kelly Creek Dog Trial
From my experience this year, if you don't like Kelly Creek, you don't like dog trialing. Developed by an architect, and his now widowed wife, Patsy, the place is a virtual sheepdog wonderland. Patsy and her husband created it for sheepdog and agility dog training on acreage with huge specimen trees, meandering pathways, gurgling brooks, diverted waterways, 2 huge ponds stocked with cutthroat trout, and a small, but oh-so-treacherous trial field.

Star was 3rd on Saturday, and I retired with him on Sunday. From local Forest Service grazing leases, the fine wool ewes really were range ewes such as you see at much bigger dog trials, but we are in sheep country after all. They were big, strong, and used to fending for themselves, so the dogs didn't provide much of a challenge compared to mountain lions and coyotes that they're used to. Star was overmatched and made his way around the course slowly and very cautiously. On Saturday, his outrun and lift were perfect, and we sliced the fetch panel in two. Space was tight between the post and the fence and the turn was made more difficult by a poorly placed pen obstructing the first drive leg, but my dog was strong there on much "shush, shush" from me. All weekend long these bad girls refused to line out, and precious few runs occurred where all 3 panels were made, but it was the cross drive that laid us bare.

Set on the lip of 1 of 2 terraces running horizontally across the field, if you were high on the cross drive you lost sight of both sheep and dog. If low, the points were slashed, and in either case the unpredictable ewes made the panels almost impossible for most of us. In addition, it was a long way across, and Star had to hold untractable sheep while using every ounce of power he could muster to keep things moving forward. His work was halting and careful, but he never quit trying, never quit listening, and never lost his precarious nerve. He was slow, but he made it to the shed ring with a clean, fast, 2 - 2 split off the back on the nose, and we timed out at the pen for 3rd place on a dismal score of 67. I hate to place well by being the best of the worst, but we could just as easily been at the other end of that spectrum.

Sunday was a different story, Star and I both were wrong from the minute we set foot on the field. At this trial I had 3 dogs running, Star, Mirk, and a student's dog named Buff. What I discovered through the process is that you don't try as hard to win with each dog individually when you have more chances. In the short time I've been running Star, I have come to take him for granted, especially on the outrun, but I forgot to factor in the size of the field. It is small, the outrun only about 250 yards, and it is fenced, which can often make solid outrunning dogs run tight. I learned that lesson the hard way, and completely forgot it at Kelly Creek.

Star was looking to my right while I set him up on my left, which is always a recipe for disaster, and he was wrong from his very first step, and then he pulled in even more. He ran tight to the extent that he required a stop and re-direct to prevent a cross over, and we were off to a bad start. Star was slow to lift sheep which were far more comfortable standing up to the dogs on day two. The sheep immediately drifted off line to the side of the field which was home to the exhaust, and my usually precise nursery dog wouldn't take the come-bye flank. We barely made the fetch panel, but the entire top half of the fetch was way off line.

His best work on Sunday came at the turn. Over 2 days of trialing, our sheep hated the tight space between the post and the fence, but Star had them dead to rights here. To keep them moving forward I flanked him come-bye on a clockwise turn, then back away-to-me to keep the sheep moving forward, and then allowed him to drift on his own to cover and hold them tight to me. He handled it like a seasoned pro, and had a clean, tight turn that started us a dead-straight drive away. I can't remember whether we made the drive away panel, because all I can think about is the tortuous cross-drive. We were high, we were low, we disappeared below the terrace, and popped back up with sheep coming straight toward us. I couldn't really blame Star for just wanting to give them back to me. He was struggling.

In front of the cross-drive panel, and at the last minute, the sheep zigged torwards the exhaust pen low of the panel, and Star had to make a run for it to block them. Just accomplishing the block, it became a stand off between him and sheep, and I walked away from the post deciding to help my dog, give him a shot in the arm, and promote confidence in my good, young dog. Some said I should have continued on, but with the finals just around the corner, no one will ever convince me that fighting recalcitrant sheep for a probable finish out of the points and money is better than retaining and promoting precious confidence. I was right to retire, I just know it.

Week 119

2011-06-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

So, here's our trialing schedule for July, August and September.

Kelly Creek - Huntsville, UT 7/2-4
Nicomodes Gulch - Monte Vista, CO 7/15-17

Free to Be, Mountainair, NM 7/27-31

Kemmer - Kemmer, WY 8/26-28

Steamboat - Steamboat, CO 9/3-5

Meeker Championship - Meeker, CO 9/7-11 I'm wait-listed for this one and may not get in

National Finals - Carbondale, CO 9/13-18

In between these dog trials I will be on the Strang Ranch giving lessons and helping the Strang's prepare for the finals. And I'll be enjoying uncommonly good company, riding with Bridget, if she'll have me, and training my dogs every chance I get. I am truly blessed.

Day 228os
It's been bloody hot here all week, but I'm training, training anyway. Kelly Creek is just right around the corner, and the dogs aren't in shape as much as I would like. They are running well, all things considered though, and we are prepared for heat, if not for altitude.

Star man faltered in the heat today, and it seemed to zap his strength most of all. The sheep were hot, and heavy, and Star was sluggish, and slow. Not a good combination. After a few outruns, and the drudgery of shoving stubborn sheep down the fetch line, I fell back on work that's fun and fast. After some simple flanking drills, we reverted to shedding. Still running out in front of the shed off sheep, Star was gliding through the holes easily enough, and wearing with intention under my quiet "shush, shush, here, here" to hold his sheep.

I made it a short day for both dogs. There was little shade, the drinking water was hot, and the sheep were unhappy.

Day 229os
I loaded the dogs, and went to Coto de Caza in Orange County again to give lessons to some really nice people who are just learning. The area they have to work in is an arena made from PVC post and rail fencing. The sheep were quick to find a way out, making it difficult to keep them in afterward. Star took turns with Mirk doing sheep retrieval today, and made some new friends whom he impressed mightily.

Star has a tremendous personality and he makes friends easily. Today he made his retrieval and then would run to everybody there in turn for a pet and some love. It is as if he said, "I was wonderful, wasn't I? Did you see me? I was wonderful." And, of course everyone agreed. He exhibits the same behavior when we are anywhere working where there are other handlers. He runs back when I call him off, wagging his whole body and looking for praise, which is always quick to come his way.

Day 230os
Short and sweet again today. I have so much to do before I leave in 3 days that I don't have a lot of time for the dogs. But I squeezed them in today, then went home and worked on the trailer until 8:30pm.

We were in the big field with Buff's owner, who came for a lesson. Buff is going with me trialing this summer, and I have him entered in every one that would allow me 3 dogs. Because of cancellations at Nicodomes in Colorado, he's entered in all of them, except the Meeker Championship, but I'm wait-listed there anyway.

Just a few short outruns, some fetching and driving, and we were finished. On the first outrun, I set Star up in front of me, and he ran tight. Again, I'll not complain about that, because of his tendency to run wide. However, the next time, I stepped off to his side with him beside me, and got the most beautifully made outrun that he has given me since the dog trial at Zamora. I thought, "OK, now we're ready for the summer," and called it a day.

Next week's post will be from the Kelly Creek Trial in Huntsville, UT. Check back!

Week 118

2011-06-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

I am counting the days now. My first upcoming dog trial is July 2, 3, 4, so I will be leaving home for my 3 month sojourn around the 30th, and I simply can. not. wait. I am taking Buff, a dog belonging to one of my students, on this trip and she dropped him off today for a 2 week tune up before our very first trial together. We are cracking out as a team at the Kelley Creek Trial in Huntsville, UT over the 4th of July weekend. Such a lovely dog, I really don't have my hopes set too high for our first outing, because we have so little time together beforehand. His owner expects he will win. No pressure, I expect we will learn and get better together as the summer wears on. The worst part about leaving for a trip like this is that you are one day closer to coming home. I nevah want to come home.

Hot and Dry

Day 225os
I am telling you, I just love to watch this dog run out. Star is a heavy-bodied dog who floats like a butterfly when stretched into a searing outrun, and it is a thing or beauty. With his thick tail trailing behind, his footfalls are heavy to point that you can hear them, but he is so athletic and strong that he resembles a thoroughbred on the back stretch making it look easy.

Of all my dogs, Star is the heaviest, around 48 pounds. With that weight propelling great momentum, he is a force at top speed. He knocked me flat one day when he was playing, and I went sprawling from his strength. Like a football halfback, Star is a bit heavier, but agile and strong, and it hurts when he hits you.

Last winter I was struggling with Star's outrun a bit when he became over-wide on the come-by side after a senseless correction from me that he took to heart. Now, he seems a bit tight on that side. OK, so come-bye remains the weaker of his 2 directions. I have been setting him up a bit in front of me before I send him left, and his first gather is usually blind by design. I like to make him think, and look, and think some more. Remembering back to over-wide, I have been trying to compensate by setting him up this way, and it is not working. Now he is tight. I plan to go back to a more traditional start with Star beside me, and we will see how that works for us.

I practiced keeping him loose today by flanking him from side to side on the fetch. This is an exercise I replay often to make sure all my dogs are free-flanking. I flank them between 9 and 3 o'clock while fetching, the same while driving, and sometimes from the fetch, all the way around to 6 o'clock to drive sheep away. After the hiatus, Star was a bit slow to release, but not bad, and I loosened him up today. Unlike Mirk, that I felt I was chipping out of concrete to break him loose on the fetch, Star is pretty happy to be placed exactly where I need him. For some reason, though, he is slower to come around from a fetch to the come-bye side, and I can't help wonder whether it is left over residue from that poor correction all these months ago. He is so sensitive!

Day 226os
I ducked off and worked dogs by myself today, and it felt really good. With just enough room in the truck for everbody from Dexter to Price, it's always fun and the dogs love it. We started with Mirk unloading sheep, and I worked him first, as always. I have found that Price and Star will wait patiently for their turn, but Mirk is miserable if he doesn't have first go. It worked out to Star's advantage, because when finished, Mirk left sheep set for Star's first outrun, which I made blind for practice and confidence.

I sent him left first, and again he was tight. I flanked him off the fetch, into a drive, pushed the sheep back out, and tried it again. This time, I set him up to my left, but beside me, and he ran wide and deep, kicking himself out even further when he picked up his sheep. This outrun confusion of first tight, then wide is not troubling to me, because Star's senses are heightened from the pressure at a dog trial. Even if he starts wrong, which hasn't happened very often, he listens keenly, and will take any re-direct.

Fairly hot today, I was mindful of how tired he was getting. This day, I put him away after the first outrun giving him a rest while I worked Mirk again. Conditioning is becoming more and more important as the trials get closer, but it's easy to overheat a dog in Southern Calif weather, so I watch the dogs closely. I never miss an opportunity to practice shedding with Star, because he still has a way to go overcoming his trepedition when sheep try to break over him. Again today I had to quash my frustration as he stood flat-footed and watched a single return to the shed off sheep not confident enough to cover and hold her. Getting mad only exacerbates the problem. It is absolutely counter productive with Star to get mad. I made his shedding mistake a positive and set up another. The next time, after Star came flying into the hole we made together, I ran to the head of the sheep he was to hold, and I let him fetch them to me, instead of balance them away. He likes this much better, held them to me without any hesitation, and I will stay with it for a while, probably right up until trial time. Confidence is everything.

Day 227os
We started off today with a blind outrun, and Star pretty much ran straight up the middle. Of course he didn't know he was doing so, because the sheep were hidden, but he didn't take my 3 or 4 re-directs either, which was troublesome. I am still not worried about it, just aware of it. I will set him by my side at the dog trials to send on the outruns, and he will run out beautifully. I believe in him, and he's never let me down.

We worked on precision shedding today and with a mix of lambs, wethers and Dorpers, it was not always easy to take just the back two, and just what I wanted. I'll tell you one thing the dog does with spectacular skill; Star comes through the hole with intention and he always comes in behind me, which I just love. Asking Star through on the shed is like pulling the lever on a slot machine, and hitting the jackpot. And good news! Today a sheep tried to break back, and he ran to cover her, and he tried to grip! Now that might not seem like great shedding strategy to you, but it was a beautiful sight to me. It showed his burgeoning confidence, some latent courage, and some slow-growth maturity. He lost the sheep, but he tried. I was so pleased with. I set up another shed, and to shore up his new-found power, this time I made it easy for him. That-a-Boy Starman!

Week 117

2011-06-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Steady Star

My how time flies. It's been exactly 2 months since I've worked my dogs. Hard to believe, isn't it? And why would anyone who loves sheepdogs and trialing them as much as I do, who owns sheep, put it all away for such a very long time? Simple answer really...life. In particular, it was work that caused the hiatus. As much as I would like to, and as much as I believe it's possible, I haven't quite figured out how to make a living solely from the dogs. But, I'm working on it, and in the mean time, I have a day job. Or, more accurately in my case, a night job. I work nights to keep my days free for training dogs, and handlers, and tending my sheep. For the last 6 weeks, I've been taking a class relating to my job, and I simply haven't had the time, the energy, or the strength to work what amounted to 11 hour days, and rouse myself to the dogs. But we're back at it now.

Hardpan rodeo aftermath

Day 223os
I loaded up today and headed out to the big field. The foxtails are treacherous in the un-mowed portions, but the rodeo came and went over Memorial Day in that field, and about a third of the 40-acre portion was cleared for it, so we went there. The dogs were rusty, Mirk more so than Star. Mirk reverted to mediocre flanks that left the sheep wary, and I had to remind him where we left off. Star seemed a bit unsure of himself out there. Both were horribly winded in a short time, and it's not even hot yet!

Because the mowed area is so small, the outruns were short, but I sent Star blindly for his first, and he was actually a bit tight to the left, where he is normally too wide. Well, they're not remote control cars are they? Circumstance changes them, and apparently Star tightens up after time off. Not a bad thing, and I'll have to remember to let him have it for a while, and not do anything stupid like become frustrated, push him out, and get him too wide again. Really! That lesson should be learned by now. He ran out well, fast, looking the whole way. He was his usual focused self, and it was good to see.

I have quite a mish-mash of sheep right now, some fresh Cheviot lambs, 2 fresh Blue-faced Leicester lambs, last years "kittehs" (cheviots) and 3 Dorper ewes from last years lamb crop. A recent coyote attack has left me doctoring, doctoring, doctoring, I have a yearling Cheviot with a bad eye, and the lambs are too young, so today it was the healthy kittehs and 1 Dorper who thinks she's a Cheviot judging from how flighty she is.

After a few short and sweet outruns, we (figuratively) went to the shedding ring, which really wasn't much fun on this group who would rather run than shed. Star has such a cool demeanor, that he quiets the sheep and makes hard shedding pretty easy. He remembered the command "on your feet," which I have to use liberally on him, or he flops down to watch from his belly. Like a tennis player receiving the serve, it's easier to respond when your feet are moving, so I keep him on his, and either walking up quietly, or flanking calmly. He understands the job completely now, and has gotten really good at that part. He's not bad at coming through either, and did an outstanding job of holding a single today. She bobbed, and he weaved to keep her separate, and he did most of the work unaided by me. Good boy.

A bit of driving, flanking off balance, and we were headed for home. I kept the session short, so the dogs wouldn't get too sore , and because they tired easily today. 2 months is a long time to lay about just sucking up groceries. With just 3 short months until the National Finals, we'll be back at it hard now. That time will evaporate much too quickly.

Hay curing in the field

Day 224os
As a run-up to the National Finals this year, I have planned a trialing trip that will take me from Huntsville Utah, through Lacamas, Washington and all the way down to Mountainaire, New Mexico. As if that weren't enough good fortune, I will using the Strang Ranch, home of this year's finals, as my home base, and hanging out with some of my dearest friends in between these far-flung dog trials. But there's more... I am taking a student's new dog along to run in addition to my own, and the hits just keep right on coming! So, today was a day to work Buff, who is unfamiliar to me, but becoming less so all the time. What a lovely dog he is, so willing, such a keen listener, so kind to his sheep with flanks that are clean, clean, clean and a solid outrun. I am a very lucky girl.

More of the rust was removed today while working Star, and his confidence returned in good measure. There's more in there somewhere, and I will summon it up. That dog just loves to run out, and I just love to watch him. Today was no exception. Constrained by the mowed limits of the big field, the gathers were short, but Star man was his speedy, efficient self, and I was really pleased to see him remain on contact and avoid the pitfalls of too wide. I knew my hiatus would do the dog some good.

We practiced close work with things like turning the post, keeping the first leg of the drive straight from the beginning and cross-driving. I threw in some of the fresh, 3-month old kittehs to make things interesting, and driving a straight line was challenging with them in the mix. Then shedding and singling with Star's lack of confidence rearing it's ugly head on the single. Some dogs become more keen with a single to balance off the flock, but it makes Star nervous. Today, he started right through on my encouragement, but waffled when the single tried him all 3 times, looking back to the cast-offs, and lost her back to the others. I'm not concerned about it. Star's rusty, and typically rises to the occasion over time. He was singling confidently before the break, and I expect we'll return to that sooner than later. The sheds were no problem and I only needed to use encouragement when singling was not. Star wilts from the wrong type of human pressure, and thrives under an encouraging hand.

It was a bit hot today, and I again kept things short and sweet. I think I overdid it yesterday after such a long respite, so I was more careful today. All 3 dogs, Mirk, Star and Buff were very good for me, and I managed to quit on high notes them all, which I find to be so important in the scheme of things.

Load up please

Day 225os
Today was lovely, a gentle, cool breeze, bright blue skies and 3 talented dogs to work. An enthusiastic sheepdog trainer really can't ask for more than that. I can complain about the foxtails if I want, but I'd rather focus on the beauty of the dogs, the land and the day. The land is not at it's pretties just now with the soil packed to hard pan from the rodeo traffic, but it's still better than the foxtails. Hay is curing across the creek, raked into neat rows across 100 acres or so, and that's where we'll be headed after it's bailed. You have to make hay when the sun shines, and we haven't had enough of it yet to really cure that hay, but I'm looking forward to the day.

With Buff's owner, Mandy, in attendance for a lesson, she and I took turns working our dogs. Buff got a go, then Mirk, then Star until we had given them each 2 sessions. Star looked even less rusty than the 2 previous days, and began to show the polish and confidence he demonstrated over the winter. A couple short outruns, a bit of driving, then back to shedding practice. I had a plan for strengthening his ability to single, and was anxious to give it a go today.

Star is such a keen shedder. He completely understands the what and the why, even while he sometimes stumbles on the how, so today I figured a way to help him. Essentially, I went back to basics. After singling off a sheep, instead of asking Star to balance the drive and move her away, I ran to the head, and let him balance the single to me. Understanding the fetch better than he does driving a single, he balanced her beautifully, stopping more than one attempt to break back, and I was gratified to watch his success. I repeated the exercise to make sure, and he did a great job. More of the same in store tomorrow until Star becomes sure of himself.

With all these trials upcoming, I hope Star will be able to use his new-found singling talents. You are never asked to single until the end of any given course, and at the finals, the single usually doesn't come until the semi-finals of the open. So, if Star has to rely on this training, it means he's gotten around in good form. Always the optimist, I'm thinking positively.

Week 116

2011-04-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

After all our hard work and practice leading up to Zamora and Sonoma, I gave the dogs, and young Star man in particular, some time off. In my opinion, a break now and then does them good. It gives them a chance to refresh, reflect on the lessons learned, rejuvenate, just be dogs, and find their joy. That is the way I see it, but I am not sure the dogs concur. Left to their own devices, I believe they would simply work, work and work some more, but rest they did, and we are back at it now.

Nice tongue, Star

Day 221os
Reflecting back on Star’s melt down at the pen in Sonoma on the flat field, I was taking steps today to eliminate the problem going forward. We were working against the fence. With my back to the fence and the sheep between me and my dog, I shushed and choused the sheep to keep them moving away, which caused the dog to flank back and forth of his own accord to hold sheep to me that were attempting to flee in either direction. It is a fun exercise that most dogs like and Star was no exception today. The idea is to create excitement and keen the dog up, then allow him to teach himself how to stop fleeing sheep, and enjoy the process.

It worked for Star to a certain degree. He was definitely having fun, but I would like to have seen him come forward more towards his sheep whenever he successfully stopped them. In other words, he would flank quickly enough without direction from me to keep his sheep from getting away, but gave ground, moving away from them on his flank, which caused the sheep to stop incrementally farther and farther away from me, instead of continually closer as you need at the pen.

Watch it!

At the pen, it is critical for the dog to boldly come forward and move sheep into the small enclosure they would rather avoid. If the dog simply flanks and stops any escape, but fails to push them forward into the pen, tougher sheep will size up the dog’s lack of resolve quickly enough. They might stand in the gate, or even worse, become more determined to escape and simply walk right over the dog on their way out, al la Star on the flat field.

Even on the days we didn’t actually work this week, I used Star to put out the sheep and took a few minutes to repeat this exercise against the fence. With much “shush, shush,” and lot’s of happy “walk up” and “come on’s,” I was finally able to encourage him enough that he was able to hold sheep tighter to my body.

Day 222os
The unexpected residual benefit of all Star’s work against the fence was in his shedding. He internalized his lessons about putting more pressure on the stock, and today when I practiced shedding, he came through with more intensity, and more determination to keep them apart. He surprised me, and it was surely nice to see.

Hot two-beat trot

We were back in the big field today with Mirk and a new dog I have in for training named Buff. I wore a wind jacket, but the sun was shining, and after all the rain we’ve had, everything was bright and emerald green, even though the grass is just a shade below too tall to work. I am attempting to put together a plan whereby I will utilize the feed available on the big field, and keep it useable on a year-round basis. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Today involved a couple of bigger outruns, which left my dogs panting and showing me just how quickly stamina dissipates in the absence of conditioning. It has only been 2 weeks after all, and it was certainly not hot. With now 2 other dogs to work, I was able to rest Star liberally in between his turns, but decided to practice close work after just 2 outruns so as not to overdo it. That is where the stellar shedding became apparent, and Star’s driving, as always was precise, smooth and efficient.

A most unexpected event came when I sent, Buff, my in-training dog on little gather. I had worked him in a small pen at home 1 time previously and understood immediately that he was exceptionally well trained. He had only been in my possession for few hours before we went to the big field, and that time was spent in the company of all the dogs together, so we could establish our pecking order, and get to know each other. Buff fit like a pair of favorite jeans, intuitive, unafraid, attentive to me, and willing, so we headed out.

I walked him up until he could clearly see his sheep about 50 yards away. I knew by his speed and body position, creeping forward, low to the ground, that he saw his sheep, so gave a quiet “away-to-me,” taken brilliantly at great speed. Wonderful, I thought, then he widened. Then he widened more, then he widened alarmingly, was completely out of contact and heading to God-knew-where 500 yards away before I could react. My heart rate and my pace picked up immediately as I tried to at least stay in visual contact with him, calling his name, and blowing his stop whistle with as little panic in it as possible. Now down at the very bottom of the field, he was becoming obscured in the knee-high grass, and then he popped up…on the other side of the creek! Remember this is a 140 acre field and he was a good 500 yards away, ignoring me, heading away. I started running, never my strong suit, and continued to blow a stop. Well, at least I thought it was his stop, but it seemed to have no effect. I had listened to his whistles once on a tape recorder, but all of a sudden, I was beginning to doubt my powers of recollection.

Look back

I lost him in the deep grass on the back side of a hill, and by the time I got to where he had last been seen, it seemed eerily quiet to me. The creek flowed, the birds chirped, grass riffled in the wind, but no Buff. How am I ever going to be able to explain this one? I kept calling, and whistling, and walking. Nothing. More of the same. Nothing. Who can I get to come help me? No Buff. Which neighboring houses will I check first? Wait a minute. This is a sheepdog extraordinaire, right? So where are the sheep? When I looked over my shoulder and saw movement, I knew where to find him. Bringing me sheep at a pretty good clip, there was Buff, driving them straight as an arrow towards me. OK, let’s try that again, only shorter for a while!

Week 115 - Sonoma 2011

2011-03-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

Planning ahead

Day 220os
A week out from the Sonoma Wine Country Sheepdog Trial, a big, important trial for us, I am thinking about fine-tuning the dogs and instilling as much confidence as I possibly can. I had just the kittehs with me today, because they are light, light, light and good for the confidence part. They are also very touchy, so good for the fine-tuning part as well.

I started with bigger outruns for Star, 1 to each side, then shortened them up to a couple hundred yards. The shorter outruns keen up my dog measurably and, because it is so easy for him, they create the confidence I need going onto an unfamiliar field and fresh wool sheep. After the outrun, we practiced shedding and taking a single. On the hill field the finish is shed, pen single, and Star needs the practice. The kittehs don't split well, and so with an eye towards confidence, I made it as easy as possible, calling my dog through no matter where they split. As long as I got an easy shed, I called him through. Right now I don't need any mis-steps, only work I can praise, praise, praise.

Day 221os
With only 2 days left for practice, I kept things short and sweet today. I wanted to start, remain and finish on a good note, and that is just what happened. I had the kittehs, and 2 Dorper lambs to keep things interesting. I set them at the bottom of the hill shaded up under the big eucalyptus tree where they were impossible to spot. Guiding Star by taking steps in the necessary direction of travel, I told him to "look," then sent with a shush. In both directions today, Star started well, picking up pace along the way to finish spot on. From correcting him on the come-bye side weeks ago, he is still a little unsure that way, but much improved today, which was good to see.

Sonoma Wine Country Sheepdog Trial
I can safely report that my dog is completely unaffected by inclement weather. At Sonoma, he was tested absolutely. Throughout the dog trial, on either field, and both days, Star stayed true to form remaining steady, compliant and precise. The only hiccup to the entire trial experience for us occurred when I let him down Saturday at the pen during the first running on what is called "the flat field."

To be perfectly honest with you, I thought this trial might be a bit over little Star man's head. Both fields are small, but treacherous, and the trial always provides sheep that are fit and testing. Add to that the fact that water was to be found everywhere on both fields from puddles to muddy bogs, to rivulets to rushing streams, and you've got quite a challenge for a nursery dog.

On Saturday, Star ran towards the end of the run order on "the flat field," named that way, because compared to "the hill field," it is. The gather is short, maybe 200 yards, and my dog managed it with no trouble at all coming around at the top fence line to gather himself up and make a nice lift. The sheep would rather not breach strong rain run-off flowing across the fetch and drive lines, and I was liberal with encouragement, both voice and "walk-up" whistle to keep him coming forward. The post is set beside and a little behind the pen, so to make a nice turn there, you must be between the two. After a competent fetch that cost only 5 points, Star easily kept his sheep where they needed to be, and the most difficult part of the course was begun without any fuss at all. The instant the sheep were pointed towards the drive-away panel, I said "there," and Star stopped dead allowing the sheep to comfortably toddle up the drive line. After that it was just a matter of quiet flank and walk-up whistles with some soft voice encouragement all around the drive for tight turns, straight lines and a completed drive worth 26 points. That's when the wheels came off, at least for me.

On deck on the "flat field"

As you well know, Star-man is so sensitive to my pressure. All it takes to curb his enthusiasm is my least bit of frustration, a careless tone of voice, or too many decibels. I knew our run had been a good one up to that point. I was worried about penning to begin with, because we have not practiced it much, and it hasn't been a factor at recent dog trials where I could have developed confidence. The sheep were penning well, but still required convincing, some more than others, and there had been the errant ewe who ran off on previous runs. It happens. Where I should have used "here, here, watch 'em, shush, shush," I used "come on," in a growly voice, and Star slowed to a crawl giving ground to my demeanor on flanks necessary to stop ewes who were sizing up my dog. One ewe in particular knew when she had the upper hand, and after stopping a break or two, Star lost to her when she simply strutted right past him. We timed out leaving 20 precious points on the field and I was reminded yet again of a valuble lesson. No dog is perfect. Every, single dog, no matter how talented has bits and pieces that must be handled around. Going forward I will only encourage my dog, and not do anything to reduce his cha-cha especially where I need it most. It was a very expensive lesson that I should not have needed.

From 60-some dogs, Star finished somewhere in the top 20. The breakdown of points off looked like this:
OR 1 - Lift 1 - Fetch 5 - Drive 4 - Pen 10 - Shed 10 for a total score of 69 out of 100. Just for the record, a score of 89 would have put him 2nd. Argh!

The "flat field"

Star ran 2nd on Sunday on the "hill field," after 2 hours spent just outside the host farm's entrance watching a massive live oak being removed with chain saws and a tractor. Mighty winds had toppled the giant moments before we got there directly across the driveway, and it took 2 men with help from many volunteers to clear the entry and allow us to begin.

The "hill field" slopes up gently, then angles up sharply to level off again at the top where sheep are set just where you can see them, but not where you can see the dog's approach. There is really only one way to send, and that is right, either inside or outside a now-rushing stream that bisects the field from top to bottom. Star went the long way around, crossing the stream in a big, awkward leap after which he got confused and lost his way. A re-direct whistle put him right, but he was reluctant to cross back over the stream, choosing instead to run all the way to the top fence-line of the field where a huge culvert was gushing big water from under a road, and down the rock-faced incline. It's a pretty waterfall, but impossible to jump, and I was really impressed to see my smart dog wisely back-track of his own accord to a narrower place where he jumped across and headed up the hill to his waiting sheep. It is a good thing he is a clever fellow, because I never could have whistled that maneuver.

The blustery "hill field"

After all that excitement the lift was made on my repeated walk-up whistles. Remember, I can't see the dog's approach because of the hill, but the sheep came off straight and quiet with Star smoothly on contact just behind. The fetch was on a string to my feet where we avoided the pit falls of a muddy, slippery hillside by remaining true to the line where the ground was steeper, but drier. After an efficient turn around the post, our drive was underway. The sheep were soggy and as a result were working brilliantly. Willing to move, but slowly without rancor, they behaved like 4H lambs in front of Star's quiet resolve. After a clean drive-away panel, there is a sharp left turn after which you go up and through 2 oak trees marked appropriately with bright orange tape. After gaining the trees, we climbed again to level off for the cross drive, which panel was made without any fuss. Another tight turn and were were headed to the shedding ring.

The finish on this field has always been shed, pen, single, and without a complete finish of some sort, there will be no wine for you. Sandy gives wine and money as prizes. Frank Cashen, our Irish judge, had declared a split of any 2, a single of any 1, which I knew would help my young dog where he needed it most and the split came easily enough even if it was on the butts of sheep that were happily moving away. Remembering my bitter lesson from the day before, I shushed and "here-here'd" my now happy dog and the pen was made with quite a bit of handler help. Not wanting to put him off as I had done the day before, I left him alone after flanking him into position, and did the work myself with lots of cooperation from willing ewes that for the most part walked straight in. I have been involved in some very exciting penning in my time, and this was not that way, but it was good for 9 points, and on to the single.

We had a missed attempt, and I suspect the reason the judge did not call it was because while Star came through on the correct sheep, he never fully committed to her. It was hard to hear under all those clothes and weather, so the judge kindly spoke his request for us to re-single. Running out of a very generous 12 minute time clock, I chose to help my dog here as well, running a ewe off the front and calling him in to follow her off. Follow her he did, and this time with intention, so the single was called and we were off.

It had been a decent run, placing us 8th out of over 60 dogs, which was good for an excellent bottle of 1994 Clos du Bois merlot and $125. The points were deducted as follows:

OR 8 - Lift 1 - Fetch 3 - Drive 3 - Split 2 - Pen 1 - Single 8 for a total score of 84 out of 110.

Week 114

2011-03-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

Happy

Star's arena was dark this week as Mirk and I trained and prepared for a small, local trial where Star was not entered. With an eye towards the finals and my wallet, I only entered one dog, because Mirk needs the points and Star does not. With a lot of trialing ahead of us, Star already has 35 points, in 34th place in the standings, and is already quailfied for the open and the nursery finals. After Zamora and with Sonoma Wine Country trial coming up in a week, I thought it best just to let him cool his jets and relax. Plus it gave me more time to tune on Mirk.

Random Notes:
Next week is the Sonoma Wine Country Sheepdog Trial at Sandy and Arthur Milberg's farm in Santa Rosa, CA. Both Mirk and Star will be running on the small, but treacherous fields in the open. Sandy runs 2 fields and somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 dogs. Half on each field on Saturday, then you switch and run the other. Scores are totaled Sunday after the 2 trials and winners announced. This is one of my favorite trials of the year, because of the beauty, hospitality and, of course...THE WINE!

Check back Monday or Tuesday next week for a full report with pictures.

Week 113

2011-03-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome all! And I mean that literally as this is the very first RTC created not just for subscribers, but for all. It is a pleasure to have everyone with us, and I hope reading this will help you half as much with your dogs as writing it does for mine.

Spotting Sheep

Day 218os
After all their hard work preparing for Zamora, I thought it best to give the boys a break. I did not work my dogs at all the first week after the trial. Our Spring season is heating up, though, so it is time to get back to work with a small, local trial in a week, and the Sonoma Wine Country trial at month's end. With typically 80 dogs to run, there are a lot of points available at Sonoma, and we have to be ready. Last year Mirk was 10th there on the hill field, and I would like to improve on that significantly this year.

I had visitors from Italia, (I will never again refer to it as Italy,) come out today with a friend to watch the dogs work. The communication was spotty, but my Italian heritage was useful, as Antonella, Juno and I gesture wildly when we talk. We made due. My friend, Jan, interpreted, and explained that in as much as Star is so advanced for his age, that he is a very good student. I never looked at it quite that way, but Jan is right. He has learned his lessons quickly, and has, in essence, skipped grades along the way.

I had the Dorpers on site today, and noticed that Star is moving them along easier than ever before. He is definitely growing into his power, and even demonstrated an appropriate grip here and there. Unprovoked by me, it was his decision, executed perfectly with good timing and a very welcome sight. It tells me he is thinking on his own and has learned when and how to do the job at hand most efficiently. You gotta love a dog that thinks correctly for himself. Training was short and sweet today. Just a couple bigger gathers, a bit of driving and a few quiet sheds.

That'll do boys

Day 219os
Today was another light day. I asked Star for a couple big gathers and practiced off-balance flanks on the fetch. I finished up with a bit of shedding, and was happy to see this job is getting easier for Star. He definitely understands the purpose now, and comes through on the right ones every time. There is no hesitation in his work, and he is clearly starting to really like it.

I left the Dorpers at home, and brought their lambs and the kittehs, which made a nice mix of light and stupid. Always interesting. There is a wether in the mix, that would hang back. Good practice at keeping everything together. Not that Star needs the practice. He is determined at all costs to keep everything together, which is why it was so hard to teach him to shed in the beginning. But, when most of the group is toddling off, he had to take an off-balance flank to bring up the straggler when what he wanted to do was flank the other way and head the ones that were moving away. It was good practice for Star to listen carefully, and take my flanks anyway, even when he thought I was wrong. I am never wrong, after all. Or am I?

Day 220os
Today was a day of the biggest outruns I could set up. About 440 yards on the part of my training field that is not planted to rye grass hay. When I am working big like this, I use Mirk to move the sheep out where I want them, and Star is usually sent blind, not having seen where I put them. Since the field is almost as long as it is wide, he really has no idea where to look until I show him. His sheep could be anywhere. I start Star on the side I want him to go, then walk with him towards the sheep a few steps saying "walk up... look." Each time he is successfull finding his sheep, our trust in each other grows. Mine that Star will find them, and his that they are out there somewhere. I have been setting things up like this for Star almost since I first taught him an outrun, and he has become an excellent spotter, looker, and finder of sheep. In the beginning, I set up short blind outruns usually hiding the sheep behind a boulder or in a clump of tall grass. Today was a day for the big ones.

Star has been faltering at home, (certainly not at Zamora,) and has been running wide. Today I put sheep down by the creek so when I sent to his worst side for that, come-bye, a tree-line and the edge of the field kept him close. He went out unsure the first time, once slowing to look back, then over the opposite shoulder at me. A couple "shu-shus" and he was off like lightening. Good to see. I don't mind having to encourage him once in a while. It's all part of the process for a young dog.

Brat!

Random Notes:
There are a few unusual words and acronyms that I use in my writing, so here is a short glossary to help you understand what is going on.

RTC - Real Time Canine, which is the title of my journal, chosen because just like Harry Potter, it chronicles Star's life and training neither past or present, but in real time

Kittehs - I recently bought some Border Cheviots that a friend commented would work and flock like kittens. He was right, and I have referred to them as "kittehs" ever since. It is an appropriate nickname.

Day 218os - The number represents the number of days that Star has been in training since the very first day I put him on sheep. Since the day I got him at 10 weeks old Star has been learning, and I have chronicled all of that in previous posts. But the number represents actual training days on sheep which began when he was about 7 months of age.

Week 112 - Zamora 2011

2011-02-25T15:07:00.000-08:00

It is with some regret and a little mixed emotion that I begin composing the last private RTC. We have been a good group, you and me, and the discipline of writing has helped me stay on track with Star. Thank you for that. Thank you for your patronage, attentiveness, friendship, support, and commentary. I have enjoyed every minute of it, and hope you have as well.

Exhaust sheep? What exhaust sheep?

Zamora - Open 1
I have made the trip many times to Zamora, and because it poses challenges like nowhere else, it is one of my favorite dog trials. The seemingly endless hills that we run on appear out of nowhere and jut out sharply from the otherwise flat, agricultural expanse of the Sacramento Delta Region. One minute you are sailing down I-5, the next you are a few miles away on a winding, 2-lane road looking for the old red barns at the base of the trial field. It was windy and cold when I arrived Thursday night, with just enough daylight to air out the dogs and remember why I love the place.
Friday morning dawned cloudy and oh-so-cold. The weather man said 30% chance of rain, so the fog caught me off guard. At the trial field, we were unable to see even the post from the nearby parking area, and the trial was delayed by hours. As a result, the shed was eliminated leaving us a 90 point course, and 9 minutes to run instead of 11. With more than 80 dogs to compete over a day and a half in open #1, something had to go. I applaud the organizers for not running to a standard, or shortening the course, neither the outrun or the drive. It is why we come to Zamora after all, and the gather remained somewhere in the neighborhood of 550 yards with a 200 yard drive. Standing there on soggy ground, in inclement weather staring at that huge hill, the thought occurred to me that it might be a bit much for little Starman. And that was before I found out we were running on only 3 head of yearlings. Oh my! What the weatherman should have said was 30% chance of rain all day, because it began shortly after the fog lifted and did not stop.

Perfect Start

The post was an elevated platform welded up by a handler, and named after long-time Border Collie supporter, Guido Lombardi, who just happens to be last year's inductee into the ABCA Hall of Fame. The Lombardi Tower was placed below a rushing stream which had to be crossed by the dogs running out, and after the drive, by dogs and sheep to get to the pen. The drive ended, and drive points awarded at the uphill creek bank on the way back. Very few made it that far, and they were the ones that won the day with scores in the low 60s. After a day and a half of running all those dogs, no one had gotten a pen, with most either getting lost on the outrun, or like me with both dogs, timing out around the drive.

I wasn't worried about Star's run, or the least bit nervous, because I looked at it as a training run, with absolutely no expectation of anything. Honestly, I was thrilled just to see him start in the correct direction and head uphill. He is such a marvelous spotter of sheep, even as far as they were set, I knew he had seen them, so I figured; "what the hell." Not only is the hill steep vertically, but it undulates greatly horizontally as the dogs run up. Almost from the minute you send them, they lose sight of their sheep. Because the dogs must travel up and down as well as out and around, I have no reason to believe that they can see their sheep again until they top out on the last rise just before the set out. If they cross over the highest ridgeline too soon, they won't see sheep again until they come around at the top, if then, and many overshot, crossed their course looking, came on flat and tight, or just plain got lost. There were a few that made a big circle to finish back at their handler's feet. It is a long walk up that hill to find your dog when there is no telling where they might have gone.

Fetch on a String

If your dog runs tight, you run the risk of them being sucked down into the gully by the terrain, and cross their course. At Zamora, that is quite common. What is uncommon is the 20 point outrun, which may have been accomplished by a few. Maybe not. Re-direct whistles were heard repeatedly throughout the weekend. Star ran perfectly, starting up and angling nicely. He dropped over the first hill, reappeared on the next running just below the ridgeline of the farthest hill. After another up and down, he was still right on the ridge, and I was starting to feel lucky...I mean hopeful. Then he dropped over and was lost to me. All I could hope was that the fence would turn him, and he would reappear behind his sheep. I waited...then I waited some more losing precious time off a short clock. I blew "walk-up." Nothing. More "walk-up" then his name. Calling his name again, I blew a recall just before he flew out from about 11 o'clock, and presumably the set out pen, onto his sheep. I could see he was sizing things up, so I encouraged with a whistle to shift sheep that were set on hay. After an instant's hesitation, he had them and down they came.

It was rainy, windy and cold, and the yearlings tried the dog every which way but loose with Star taking every whistle as if on rails, first coming on then giving ground, trying to discover where to be and how to handle sheep that were completely unfamiliar to him. It was a young dog's fetch winning a few stand-offs, losing ground to the hills and time to the clock. A cone across the creek from the post designated the turn into the drive. Beaten by the sheep to that point, Star had to unwind about half way around the cone, but had his sheep settled beautifully thereafter. The turn was wide, but the first drive leg was relatively steady. Panel made, tight turn on precise response to my whistles, and I was really starting to like my dog. There is no part of this course that is level, but the cross-drive is somewhat flat and the sheep seem content to toddle across in full view of the hand when given sufficient personal space. If they run, you will lose them, they will split, they will disappear, they will dive into the creek where they will lie down and give up. All was lost to the dogs that lacked patience. Star flanked cleanly, but slowly, and it took a bit of doing to get them across. Another panel made, another tight turn, and we were home free...except for the clock.

One down, one to go

2010 National Champion, Patrick Shannahan was judging from inside an old rusty pickup, and I heard the door creak before I heard Patrick call time with Star about 20 feet short of his drive points. I hollered "NO!" and spat out my whistle, because I knew that Star's work had been good enough to place in the points if we completed our drive. We scored 31 points for the outrun, lift, and fetch with up to 30 more lost to the drive. I gave up the sheep to the exhaust dog, then trotted past Patrick's window, banging and said "that was my nursery dog!" It's supposed to be fun to run a dog, right? Yes...yes it is, and I have not had that much fun running a dog in years and years. Our run flowed smoothly, and it felt really good.

Zamora - Open II
The forecast for Saturday was cloudy with some showers, which was fairly accurate. I stopped at the Exxon station on my way in for a Mocha Coffee in a tall cup, and was glad for my layers upon layers of clothing, because it was cold with a bit of a breeze. There were a few dogs to run from the first day, then another 20 or so to finish up Open I before Open II could begin. Both my dogs had run Friday, with Star up around 24th in the afternoon on Saturday, and Mirk idle until Sunday, mid-day. I was hoping for clear skies during our run, and got them. Before the 2nd open, it was decided to move the post beyond the creek, eliminate the pen, and include a single leaving the time at 9 minutes. With everything moved to the far side of the even more rain-swollen creek to save time, the only thing that had to cross were the hands for the meeting and the hands and dogs for the running. It was a great decision, made up a lot of lost time, and worked well for everyone from judge to exhaust.

A long way across

Star is a calm sort of dog. He doesn't get his tail in a ringer before his run, and happily played beside the creek with random stops to look up the field when sheep were being set and fetched. I had told a friend that the good dogs would remember the way on the outrun, reflecting later that my statement may come back to haunt me. I had a good feeling about it on my way to the post, having made things easier by again refusing to have any expectations for my dog. I set him up near me, and sent him with a shush, figuring that the word "away" might start him too wide. He was off on a perfect path, neither too wide nor too tight, and it only got better as he ascended the hill. Running hard, Star Crossed over the first hill, and reappeared on the next just below the ridgeline traveling parallel to it. I had the thought that if he stayed on that path, he would be absolutely perfect, and that is just what he did. The outrun was now about 500 yards from hand to sheep, but much farther by the dog's route. It takes a long time for the dog to get to the top on an outrun like that, so I had plenty of time to watch Star run and run and run. Knowing he was on a perfect path removed all concern, and I simply stood there feeling nothing but pure enjoyment. Star is a good dog. He knew the way.

He flew around at the top, nicely off his sheep, overflanking to about the same spot from which he appeared the day before. I knew where the set out was, and knew that he was not lost, but covering the draw, which was proven absolutely when the sheep lifted smartly, quiet and straight as an arrow right at me. I never saw the breakdown of scores, but think it is possible that Star had no points off on the outrun or the lift. It was that pretty. Soft, soft whistles on the fetch brought wide, sweeping, open flanks that the sheep just loved, and there was no hesitation from Star at any point. He had schooled up on Friday, and looked like he knew what he was doing on Saturday. About mid-fetch, the sheep tried him uphill with intention and speed, causing Star to fall behind and lose the fetch line for an instant. A series of hurry-up flank whistles together with "here, here," put the sheep right back on line, then another bobble on the other side. A bit off line approaching the post made the sheep disappear behind a hill for a bit. All I could see were the tops of their ears and my dog disappearing to cover. Again, I said "here, here," to bring him in tighter, and everybody showed up for a turn at the post that was just wide. With things well in hand, and the sheep settling nicely, we began the drive.

Setting up the single

Unless you have seen Star work, you cannot appreciate how precise he is when I tell you that he took every whistle precisely. Not only is he immediately responsive, but he will bend, speed up, or slow down a flank, and he will stop exactly where I need him to. For these reasons and more, he is a driving machine, and this was no exception. Sheep love Star, he does not scare them, and they move off him like water in front of your hand on a swoosh. I can bend him, start him and stop him, or even reverse him mid-stride wherever necessary to hold the line exactly. Just about however the sheep jog in front of a panel, he can save it and is so happy to do so. He does not get rattled like some dogs do when you literally throw them a curve. The drive away uneventful, the turn tight and crisp. All the way along the cross drive, the sheep ambled quietly toward the panel, and Star moved easily behind watching intently every move they made. Another tight turn, and they were headed towards me walking easily.

It was determined that hands could leave the post after making or breaking the plane of the cross-drive panel. The shed was a single, and there was no pen. The ring was imagined between the cross-drive panel and the post, and the ground there was flat but sloping. Sheep love to run a hill. Either up or down, doesn't matter to them, just so long as they run. That fact made the single a bit tricky, but Star knew his job, stayed calm on his feet, just like I have taught him at home. With only 3 head of yearlings, we had to work a bit to get a gap. I lined the sheep out away from the exhaust hoping the slight draw would cause one to turn from the others, then commit making Star's job as easy as I could make it. Patrick allowed us any single, be it head or tail, and I was confident that Star would be up to either task. He did not dissappoint. The hole appeared quickly and I called Star through. To be honest, I didn't see him come through, because I was watching my sheep and poised to give a flank if necessary to help him hold her. It was simply not necessary. He must have flown through, because upon my "shu, shu, watch her," he materialized instantly from behind me, creeping forward with all eyes on the prize. It was a solid single.

On 77 points, Star and I placed 2nd behind Geri Byrne and Jim with a stellar run and 81 points. Another dog had tied our score, but my dog won the tie based on his Outrun, lift and fetch points. The breakdown looked like this: Outrun - 0, Lift - 0, Fetch - 5, Drive - 7, Single - 1

Happy Handler

Random notes:
Mirk deserves honorable mention. He was one of the unfortunates that did not finish his drive in the first go-round. In fairness, he was the last dog to run on Friday, and the light was fading fast. It was cold, raining, getting dark, and I hustled a dog that should never be handled that way. After getting lost on the outrun, the results of the hurry-up offense were dismal, and I left the trial field frustrated with my dog. Sunday was by far the best day of the trial weather-wise. It dawned clear and cold without a cloud in sight. We were all just so happy to see the sun, no one complained about the cold. Mirk ran mid-day in open II, and things warmed up to the extent that lawn chairs had sprung up all over the place. Again Mirk struggled on the outrun, with a friend later claiming she had 13 points off that phase alone. From the lift on, however, the dog ran like buttah, taking every whistle, using his abundant power sparingly to finish with a spectacular single that will stay with me a while. On 74 points out of 90, Mirk lost a 3-way tie to finish in 8th place, and just like that, I had both dogs in the top 10.

The pictures on this page were taken by dear friend, Larry Klingman, who together with his beautiful wife, Joella, made the trip to Zamora simply to serve as talisman and woman and bring me luck with loads of laughter. Thank you very much you two.

Week 111

2011-02-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

Argh! Late again. I am so sorry, but life is just swirling around me right now. I have company, leaving for a dog trial in 2 days, training hard, yada, yada, yada. Thank you for your understanding. I know you do, because you always do...and I appreciate it mightily...Blessings

Bottom to Top

Day 214os Short and sweet. That's the way I kept it for the most part today. My dog is trained, my dog had a minor setback, my dog's handler needs to "put the dog back in the dog," as they say, so I made it easy, fast and fun. Just what little Starman needed, and he had it...fun that is. Lots of it. Then, just to make sure I was covering all my bases, we had a little love-fest by the truck before heading out for creek-time and a nice long walk. All this in beautiful, sunny, warm, so Cali weather that made for a spectacular day starting and ending on a positive note.

Day 215os
My dogs were so good today! With one slight exception working Mirk, most of what I did today was praise enthusiastically, applaud, (yes I clap for my dogs,) and exclaim "beautiful work!" at the top of my lungs. The dogs and I had so much fun. I started by leaving the kittehs near the top of the hill, walking to the bottom and sending from there. It was every bit of 400 yards, and part of me said; "keep it short and sweet like yesterday," but I risked it anyway, and Star rallied.

Go big or go home, that's what I always say. Coming off a couple days of short, fast gathers with renewed confidence, I thought I would be able to propel him correctly, and I was. I sent come-bye first, because it will be my choice at Zamora next week. I know that field. He started out a bit wide, but I said his name, and he pulled right in. Then, he began to cross, so I blew a soft come-bye whistle, which he took, but then began to slow. With some shushing and walk-up whistles, I propelled him beyond the boulders that were by then obscuring his view of the sheep and was gratified to see him go full tilt when he spotted them. He covered deep and soft, making a beautiful job of the lift and fetch, and flanking all the way around when asked to push them back out for Mirk. Relief, joy, pride, it was all there and I shared it with Star who knew he had done good.

Working Mirk, I had to correct for a better stop, but worried what that would do to Star's fragile psyche. He was tied close by. When I am preparing for a dog trial, I want my dogs as confident as I can make them, and usually spend the last week doing everything I can to accomplish it. With that in mind, I walked out to Mirk, and schooled more quietly up close. I schooled both dogs by rounding an imaginary post and driving a bit with Star his usual precise self. His work had more heft to it though, which is another sign of confidence. Afterward, I swapped ends and went to the other side of the field. From where I was working, the come-bye side of the field is wide open making it very easy for Star to be too wide. From the other end, he would be blocked by a line of trees.

By the time we got to the other end, the sheep had wandered making the outrun about 44 0 yards. Star is such a keen spotter, and walked out with me intent on finding sheep. Such a nice feature that. I never, ever have to encourage him to look, and he doesn't give up if at first he doesn't succeed. I do love that about him. I set him up on my left, walked him up a bit and sent with a shush. Off he went running the entire length of that field at top speed. The sheep were impossible to see from where we started, and boulder outcroppings obscured them further along the way, but he was never deterred. He never offered to pull in once, and I could tell when he did spot them, because he widened every bit that he could to finish beautifully on balance at the top. I left him completely alone on the fetch except to blow a soft walk up now and then. Here's a tip for you; when you want to straighten a fetch line, it can often be better accomplished with a walk up whistle over a flank. If a flank whistle causes the dog to widen, the sheep will then drift farther off line. If your dog has good balance, a walk up whistle will propel him forward, but he will stay on balance and hold the line on his own. Star is just such a dog, so all I did was blow walk up and allow him to figure the line on his own. It can be very hard to trust your dog and blow the walk up instead of a flank when sheep are drifting off line. But, if you try it a time or two with success, you will handle better for it.

Hot dog

Day 216os
Another glorious day, and more great work from Star. The big booming outruns have returned in all their glory, and even Star's shedding was exemplary today. I think he has finally internalized the whole concept of it and found the joy. So nice. He even once came flying through uninvited, but I did not say one word, I just let him come and praised him mightily. No discouragement, not even a little bit at this point. I want him thinking that he is 10 feet tall and bullet proof. I asked him through on the heads for the most part, he took his sheep with courage, confidence and speed, and he had fun doing it. You can't ask for more. Now we just have to practice it until he learns every sheep trick in the book, and can foil them all.

Star had beautiful outwork today. Once again, I stayed focused on the left, or come-bye side. Working first from bottom to top, the tree line was on our right, leaving Star most of the field to go too wide when sent come-bye. I set him up on my left and first walked forward with him, giving him a walk-up, then a come-bye flank. He started tight, and I was glad of it. The sheep were obscured by topography, about half way out he started to pull in, and that is the good news. He was not too wide. Had not started too wide, and did widen going out. I whistled him out, and he finished brilliantly. At the dog trial next weekend, I will set him up more to my left, and hope that without the walk up, he will start right. I followed him up the field and after he lifted, flanked him all the way around his sheep from about 300 yards away just to make sure he stays supple and listens. He was and he did.

Once again, we swapped ends, so I could work Star to the left blocked by the line of trees. After working Mirk, I set the sheep as far away as I could without crossing the creek, another 440 yard outrun that was very long and very narrow. Star would have to go all the way to the bank of the creek to be correct, and that's just what he did. So nice to have my dog all back together, and just in time for the hills of Zamora.

Day 217os
More of the same today, we started with the creek to our backs and wide open spaces on the come-bye side. After that I again swapped ends and sent Star on a 440 yard narrow gather. He started correctly on the first outrun of the day, then over-widened. I said his name and blew "walk-up," which had the effect of slowing him to a stop before he took off on my shush and finished well. Much trepidation from Star when I flanked him around come-bye on an inside to put the sheep back, so I walked up the field and made it more exciting. Could have been the baubled outrun, could have been the distance, could have been the heat, but I just think that Star has good days, and then he has great ones. I repeated the same outrun, but this time said "here" just as he began to widen, which pulled him right in without loss of speed. He had not been very receptive to my walk-up whistle when I used them to pull him in, so I tried another ploy. It worked and after a bit more practice, we now have a specific word that means "too wide."

It was hot today, and of course, I forgot the water bucket. We can always go to the creek, and did, but I like to have water at both ends. Once working the other way, Star accomplished 2 long, narrow gathers with the tree line holding him in, and we set up some shedding on the kittehs. I was gratified to see him fly right through. Hey, I think he's got it.

Cool dog

Random Notes:
About Mirk, I have to share with you that I had a revelation while listening to Richard Millichap on a video working one of his young dogs. All of his dogs are on the same whistles. He trained Mirk and they worked side by side on the hill for a few years, before he came home with me. I learned them, I could blow them note for note, but no two whistles are ever quite the same. Plus over time, I had unintentionally altered them changing the length and timing from one note to the next. There have been times when my whistled command left Mirk standing stock still, or even looking back wondering.

I've had him for almost 3 years, and even after all that time, the sound of those whistles coming from my computer had Mirk rustling in his crate. I turned off the sound, but listened intently after he went outside. Yup, my whistles had slipped enough that I could see why he might be confused. Interestingly, it was the stop whistle that had undergone the biggest modification, and the one with which I had the most trouble. In Wales, Mirk, and his half brother, Lad, would stop so hard that their bodies rocked forward when their feet stopped moving. Here at home, I could duplicate that with Lad, but never with Mirk. After watching the video, I went out and tried to match more closely the stop whistle I had heard. The difference was so dramatic that it shocked me. The dog stopped on a dime...and his body rocked forward. I wonder what else I am missing.

Week 110

2011-02-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that you guys have been with me for over 2 years. The very 1st RTC was created in November of 2008, and it has been a good ride. I appreciate your patronage more than I can say. Thank you.

Uphill Swing

Day 212os
OK, I have Star's outruns screwed up...again! It all started last week when I widened him around the end of the e-net fencing. Seems innocuous enough, doesn't it? Not to little Star man. He took it to heart, and is now too wide from my feet. I was so frustrated with myself today that I cannot even tell ya! I should know better, I should be much, much softer and gentler with this dog no matter what he does wrong. He never needs to be spoken to harshly. It's just not necessary.

I first sent him on a fairly big outrun of about 350 yards, and I again sent him from where he could not see his sheep. He squared off completely at my feet, and took the long way 'round. I stood there thinking, "well, that was dumb." I then shortened up his outrun, making sure that he could easily see his sheep before giving the flank. Still too wide, so I said his name to pull him in, which bothered him, but he kept going. After a few repetitions of this maneuver with only marginal improvement, I decided to work on shedding. My thought was that it would keen him up, create excitement, be fun.

Today I had all of my sheep with me, the kittehs and the Dorpers. Adding the Dorpers to the mix for shedding makes it easier, therefore more fun, and allows me to get in the middle of everything to shush, chouse and just generally give Star a shot in the arm. It also allowed me to work on shedding off a few sheep at a time and keep him excitedly on task. It worked, Star made some beautiful moves and by the time we were finished, was coming through like a shot. Good to see.

The other thing that was good to see was a little brace action as we finished. I sent Star, then Mirk for all the sheep that were a hundred or so yards away in plain view. Star got there first, but slowed when he saw Mirk coming, then stopped altogether. My plan is to let Star figure this out on his own, so I just kept whistling steadies for Mirk, which kept Star pretty much rooted to one spot. To his credit, though, he kept creeping up the hill and eventually took over completely once I downed Mirk near the top. The fact that Star will come on at all is a huge improvement, and I'm glad for it.

How was that?

Day 213os
I had all the sheep with me again today with Star STILL showing hesitancy on the outrun. I decided to take it off the table completely, and just work on other things. I used just the kittehs for a bit of driving and we practiced making smooth turns around the post. I use the boulders in the field as targets to practice accuracy for panels at a dog trial. Star was smooth and steady, so lovely to steer and Mr. Precision when it came to stops and turns. Forgetting the outrun SNAFU was just what he and I needed, and we both had fun. Lots of praise and one-on-one bonding afterward to try and get us moving forward again.

I kicked out the Dorpers for more shedding practice, and Star was really good today. Very keen, very quick to come through. Shedding set up another opportunity for us today, and for the 2nd time, I schooled Star on a turn back. We shed off the Dorpers, and together moved them uphill towards the trailer. Once at the top of the hill, I walked towards Star through the Dorpers and said; "that'll do," then a quiet look back whistle followed by; "look back." Now granted, Star knew the kittehs were below him, but on my "look back," Star's head snapped so fast it surprised me, but I managed a quick away to me whistle, and he was off like a shot. Now that brought a smile to my face, and also conjured a word of caution received from an International winner. He told me never to practice the look back over much, because the dogs take to it so easily. Over doing it will cause some dogs to look back unprovoked, which causes points to fly off on a trial field. Warning heeded. Star is one of those dogs.

Day 214os
Man, it was pretty today. I actually had my wits about me, and set up outruns that were easily managed and fun for Star. His path, his enthusiasm, and his confidence returned a bit today. It made me think that I need to take him back to the small pen at home, and send him for small gathers there. It's what I've done in the past when we hit this rock in the road, and worked beautifully. The problem was created on the come-bye side, and that is where it has stayed. That's the side we worked on for the most part today, and what I did was send him left from my right side, leaving him alone once he was off. I also set him up in front of me, giving a walk up, then a shush, or giving a walk up and going with him a bit before sending him. His work was much improved. Yes, we're definitely going back to the small pen, for some short, fast gathers.

A little R and R

Week 109

2011-01-29T12:07:00.000-08:00

With incredible weather in store for us, the dogs and I have been busy. Honestly, this week's report is a shadow of what it could be. I have been outside a lot. As always, I am so glad to have you with us.

Nice Line

Day 208os
It was almost too hot to work dogs today, and the grass was almost too tall. Those of you living in the cold country must think I'm lying, but that's just the way it is here in sunny, Southern California. The bad news is that we are over-crowded, over-taxed, and over-regulated in my home state. There is always a trade off.

The big field where I train my dogs has 2 distinct areas, created by seasonal Keys Creek, which cuts off the upper third and is running strong right now. There is the flat portion, where I can get those booming, 500-600 yard outruns, and there is what I call the hill field. The flat portion is annually planted to rye grass, causing me to remain at the other end from any day now, until they harvest the grass hay sometime around April, May, June, depending on rain. Today I was on the bigger, flat portion trying to get a few more of those monstrous outruns in before Zamora, and before it is planted. Like I said, it was too hot, and too tall, but I have to go for it while I can.

Most of the time today, all I could see was the top of Star's head as he was running out, and sometimes he disappeared completely. I could see the taller, whiter sheep, though, so I could tell where the dog was by watching them. I set up 500+ yard outruns, and sent Star in both directions. Because of the heat, I wanted him to fetch them a bit, then flank around and put them back where he found them for Mirk. No sense bringing the sheep all the way too me. Too much work for them in the tall grass, not to mention the dog.

Star apparently forgot this lesson from the other day, and was reluctant to come off the pressure, flank around inside and start the drive. I had to walk up the field a bit, speak to him, and help. I noticed that a hurry up flank has meaning to him now, because of all the previous work, setting up a strong draw and making Star flank off-pressure and inside to stop sheep from escaping. That lesson he retained, so I used the hurry up whistles to get him going when he would have preferred not to, and it worked well. It is very rewarding when I take time to notice how all the training pieces fit together, and recognize the hidden picture hidden within the jigsaw puzzle. That's what happened today.

Day 209os
The farmer has begun plowing the flat field, so we were back on the hill today. The goat guy has 300 goats behind e-net fencing there, but he was around the corner, and out of my way for the most part. It was hot again today, but this hill hasn't been planted in years, so there is old feed, and new grass coming, but it's not near as dense as the part that gets planted. The low parts of the hill field are choked with tall weeds of the kind that grow in moisture, but I'm glad to see that the goat guy has fencing set up to turn his goats out there, and mow it down. Without him grazing the weeds off every year or 2, the hill would be too choked with brush for me to use it. Not a big fan of goats, I do appreciate their particular talents.

I used Mirk to set the sheep about 300 yards out, then took turns with both dogs making outruns. Mirk slows down measurably in heat, and it's almost painful for me to recognize the difference between him in cold weather, and him in hot. He hates it hot, and today I watched him amble down the long hill casting wider and wider. In fact so wide, that at one point I thought; "what the hell is he doing?" Then I watched him head for the creek, and I thought he had quit me for water. Without reason, he then stopped all together, reversed direction and started back, and my blood pressure spiked. I blew a stop and an away-to-me, that he took, cast out again, and disappeared over the bank of the creek before showing up too deep, and way off contact with his sheep. After retrieving Star, I stood and watched him do almost the very same thing, foot step for foot step, and became perplexed to say the least.

The next outruns were made in the other direction without incident, so I sort of forgot about the aberration, and went about my training. More off balance work on the fetch today, and both dogs were more pliable after yesterday. Actually, today both dogs steered like Ferraris, and I was having a grand time. Gorgeous weather, beautiful field, compliant, well-trained dogs, nice sheep. Fun! There is a practice used to train horses whereby you teach them things like lead changes in rough, uneven, or even freshly plowed ground. The idea being that if they learn to make smooth flying-lead-changes on bad ground, they will look like Baryshnikov in a well-groomed show ring. It seems to me that yesterday's work in dense rye grass had the same effect on my dogs today. Hmmm...

After a short rest, I started down the hill to a flat area for shedding practice. Star has a very nice way of settling sheep, which causes them to come apart slowly on his appropriate pressure, where they fly apart haphazardly under Mirk's brashness. Attitude is everything, and Star is patient and kind. As I've said before many times, Mirk is not a precision instrument, but will always get the job done. With sheep like my kittehs, shedding is a lot more fun with Star. Unlike Mirk that I have to hold back, I must encourage Star to remain on his feet, but his technique will win the day far more often on the trial field.

After working, I took all the dogs to the creek for a dip, and that's when I discovered what had caused them trouble on the away-to-me outruns. A large section of the field had been fenced off with e-net which wasn't easily visible empty. The dogs had run out, encountered the fence and found a way around, taking them into the creek and way deep of their mark. Oh, now I see...Unfortunately I had no way to take back the corrections I had barked to the dogs. Border Collies, the resilient breed.

Pretty Does

Day 210os
The weather cooled off today, but was beautifully sunny and warm. It was the kind of January day that you can't even imagine when you are snow-blowing your driveway in Northern Michigan. With the trial next month in Zamora on my mind, there is a lot of training going on, and not a lot of writing. The days are running together for me journal-wise, but the dogs are getting much needed attention.

Today was not a great day. Occasionally, I rent sheep for practice, so I had the Dorper ewes on the hill field for that purpose. Yes, I could bring the Dorpers and the kittehs over, separate them and let my customers have a go on the Dorpers, but that just seemed like too much work, so Star and Mirk both were less than stellar on plodding sheep. It is interesting, though, how the difference changes the dogs ability to hear me. Star was less than responsive to my flank commands on the fetch, and got stuck behind his sheep. Where he flanks off freely for the most part on sheep that are moving easily in front of him, it is so much work just to move the Dorpers, that he is too busy to hear me. I had to walk up the field more than once to remind him who was running the show, and it is quite unusual for me to have to raise my voice as I did today. A little goes a long way with Star man, and I am careful, but the correction helped, and he was sharper on my whistles afterward in spite of the sour sheep.

On a happy side-note, when finishing up today, I sent first Star, then Mirk to gather up and load the sheep. I wanted to see if Star had over come his fear of the brace. Star left, seconds later, Mirk right. Star had just lifted when Mirk got there, and I was pleased to see that Star slowed, but kept coming. Mirk immediately passed him by, and took control of the sheep, but Star kept coming about 15 paces behind. All the way up the hill they moved together that way, until Mirk stopped when the sheep approached me. But Star kept coming, passing Mirk this time to follow his sheep all the way into the trailer, and stop staring through the doorway. My little man is growing into his power.

Day 210os
The dogs and I made the most of another glorious day, working on the hill field, then playing in the creek. I brought the kittehs, and the dogs sharpened on flighty sheep with increased keenness and motivation. We worked on outruns and driving. We worked from bottom to top and started from a place where the goat man's e-fence was off to my left to get a maximum outrun of about 440 yards. This meant that again the dogs had to hit the fence, turn uphill running alongside, then cast out wider once they got to the end of it. The situation always makes for a good learning opportunity, that went a bit awry with Star. The first time I sent Star, he didn't cast out at the end of the fence, so I stopped him way short of his sheep, recalled and enlightened him. Remember, a little goes a long way.

The next time I sent him, he went straight to the fence, and turned left instead of right, which would have caused him to go the long way around. Silly! I stopped him, and walked him up to the end of the fence, then said "come-bye," at which he squared off too much, and ran out looking, and not seeing sheep with which he was completely off contact. I just let him go. He went so wide that he crossed the dirt road, and headed for the oak trees before realizing that he was completely lost, and turning in to get his bearings. Unable to do that, he stopped and looked for sheep. Too wide is just as bad as too tight, so I recalled him again to set it up differently. "If you're going to be that stupid, you can run twice as far!" I can count on one had how many times I have recalled Star from an outrun. Never a good idea with a young dog, because you don't want them ever to think that it's OK to come back empty handed. I only did it because he is mature enough now to handle it, and he was very wrong. Star was reluctant to quit looking for sheep all the way back, and I absolutely love that about him. I felt bad that I had caused the problem in the first place with over-correction even though it was only over-correction to Star. It is the reason he is so easy to guide. He is absolutely keen to take direction when lost. He never quits looking, listening and trying until he finds his sheep. Nice feature that, and existing because he trusts me. "If she says so, they're out here somewhere."

Aahhh...

Week 108

2011-01-29T12:01:00.000-08:00

Triailng season kicks off here in earnest next month. First Zamora, then Sonoma Wine Country SDT in March, and I'm ready with 2 open dogs this year. I am so excited! Welcome all, it's so nice to have you.

It's good to be Star

Day 205os
We worked on the single today. I kept thinking, I need to go back to the round pen exercise with Star and tune up his shedding. That in addition to practicing the single, but I didn't do it. Lazy...so lazy. Star has not yet internalized the single as much as he has the plain old shed. He has learned how to hold 2 away from the rest, and become fairly comfortable with it, but holding the single evades him. Today, when the single bobbled to break back, he stood with his feet in concrete, confounded by what to do. He wants to gather all the sheep up anyway, so my thinking is that it just does not make sense to him for a loner to be in the wind. Unlike many dogs, he does not find the single fun at all. Hmmm...what to do...

We made a few little gathers today, and Star was a little reluctant to release the pressure and take my come-bye flank. This because the pressure was on the other side with the sheep wanting to run uphill to the trailer. I made him do it anyway, just to keep him supple and willing. Reluctantly at first, he complied, but it got easier after a time or two.

The Bull Pen

Day 206os
After working in the field today, I loaded all but one of the kittehs into the trailer and had Star practice taking the single off the trailer. The idea is to allow the dog to figure out how to control a single. The exercise works better when you put a single outside a round pen, where she can see the others standing inside. Today's practice was beneficial, but too easy. Without being able to see her sisters, the single kitteh was perfectly happy to come off the trailer, then run like a scalded cat looking for company. Hmmm...maybe I will try it with 2 in and 2 out tomorrow. Together, the 2 outside may be a little more determined to stay with the trailer.

Outruns were the order of the day and I set it up so the dogs had to run blind horizontally across the hill field. With next month's Zamora trial in mind, I did it that way to simulate what they will encounter at the trial. The outrun at the trial is big, over 500 yards, and dogs have to run up a long hill with a steep dip running vertically between 2 shoulders the whole way. In other words, no matter whether you send left or right, your dog must run up a shoulder to be correct, and because of the distance, and topography, the sheep are very hard to spot. For Star, it will be imperative that he take my re-directs, because it's not likely he will be able to read that hill the first time up. The good news is that as long as he doesn't run too wide, which I don't expect, I will be able to see him and help him all the way.

Again, I practiced releasing the pressure against the draw. The sheep wanted to break to my left, so from the fetch, I asked Star to flank come-bye and go the long way around to catch the fleeing sheep. No problem, he knows the drill. Then there was some very competent shedding, and Mirk had a go. I used Mirk to shed off 2 sheep, then drove them up towards the trailer, leaving the other 2 at the bottom of the field. I used this opportunity to give Star an introduction to the look back. I flanked him around the 2 nearest us at the bottom of the hill, and had him fetch them towards me. I stopped him, and walked towards him telling him; "that'll do...look back." Then I gave a flank, causing him to flank towards the ones we had just quit. I repeated the exercise, but gave him a little more time between "that'll do," and "look back." This time, he looked uphill where he might or might not have suspected there were more sheep. As soon as he was looking in the correct direction, I flanked him and headed up with him to keep him on the right path. He found the other sheep where they had drifted to the trailer, and brought them off. "This is going to be easy," was my first thought. We called it a day and headed to the creek for a dip.

Cooling his Jetz

Day 207os
Today was not interesting because of any work we did. It was what happened leading up to the work that was pretty darned funny. I had the Dorper ewes in the big field for a lesson today, so they are what Star worked as well. A few small outruns, a bit of shedding, a bit of driving and some practice taking a single off the trailer again. The single Dorper was harder to take off the trailer and keep off than the Cheviot yesterday, and I could see the wheels turning between Star's ears. More of the same is needed, he's getting it.

The Dorper ewes have lambs on them, so I needed to sort off the lambs, then load the ewes. I kept the lambs and the Cheviots in the overnight pen, taking the ewes into the lane that leads to the big field. Instead of going to the big field, it was my intent to load them in my horse trailer that was sitting in the lane. Before Star could get around them, they skittered all the way down to the pasture. They knew it was pasture time, you see. I took Star down with me to bring the ewes back, which takes a bit of doing, because the sheep don't want to return. I know you'll be shocked and amazed to learn this, but I got mad at the recalcitrant sheep, as well as Star's inability to muscle them. Star read the scene perfectly, and said "I'm outta here," heading back up the lane without me and without the sheep. Coward!!! I let him go, and pulled Mirk out of the dog yard to finish the job, which he did, no problem. He loaded the Dorpers, and we moved the lambs and Cheviots into the big pasture, then went to look for Star.

No Star. Couldn't find him anywhere. I looked and looked, called and called and even resorted to my recall whistle at one point. No Star. There's no way out of my completely fenced yard. I dog-proofed it when I had the fencing built, and the last time I had seen him, he was headed up the lane towards my house. No way he could have gotten by me on the tiny, one-lane driveway, so where was he? I walked up Lilac Road to the neighbors and asked whether they had seen him. Maybe my fence wasn't as dog-proof as I thought. They hadn't seen him. I searched around the perimeter looking under every bush and behind every rock. He was nowhere to be found. Every time I started to really get scared, I would tell myself, the yard is dog proof, he has to be here somewhere. Thinking he somehow squeezed himself through the tiny cat door into the garage, I checked there. No Dog. Maybe the back door to the house was open, and it somehow closed after him. I looked inside...no dog. I got all the other dogs out of the dog yard thinking they would draw him out. Didn't work. I took time to clean the dog kennels hoping that he would settle down and come out from wherever he was. Still no dog. I looked under the trailer, under the barn, finally deciding I would just sit quietly on the porch and see if he would come to me.

On my way to the porch it dawned on me that the only place I hadn't checked was IN the horse trailer. But the sheep were in there. He couldn't be in there? Could he? Well, the trailer door had been open when Star headed up the lane...hmmm. I opened one of the back doors to the trailer, and the Dorpers were pressed up against it, headed my way. I peeked in, but no dog. Thinking I better check both sides, I opened the other trailer door, and there was Star, in the trailer with the sheep where he had been for about 20 minutes. I was so relieved to see him, I dropped to the ground and gave him a huge snuggle. Of course I wasn't mad, and he seemed no worse for wear, so we headed off and had a good day's work. Crazy dog!

I Found Him

Week 106

2011-01-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Snowbirds on the Border Sheepdog Trial this week. Plus no good trial report is complete without the preamble, so I have included our preparation as well. Welcome all, and thank you for your interest. I appreciate that.

Happy New Year Every One

Day 202os

No good dog trial narrative would fail to include the preparation, and that is what I did yesterday and today. Yesterday in the small field, and I remembered, and used a valuable tool that once helped me with Price in the shed ring. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I taught Price to shed, and I mucked it up, but good. At one point, he refused to come through at all, and why would he? I corrected him for the wrong things at the worst possible times, and poor Price had absolutely no idea what it was that I wanted. What I did with Star yesterday is how I fixed Price, who eventually came to be a master shedder.

I put about 10hd of sheep in my round pen yesterday, and then used Star to let them out 1 or 2 at a time. When you do this, the dogs quickly understand that it is there job to hold some back. Unlike shedding out in the open, which has no real purpose that the dogs can easily grasp, inside the round pen, they can easily internalize a purpose to the job, and they love it. Once there are sheep inside and outside of the pen, there is a huge draw to the gate, so not only are the dogs always coming through using their eye, it is all very up close and personal, which never fails to create excitement. Additionally, the round pen serves to hold the sheep together, which makes it easier, and a lot more fun for me and the dogs. As smart as Star is, he caught on immediately, and enjoyed himself thoroughly.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Day 203os

A funny thing happened on the way to the sheep today. I sent Star left on a little outrun of about 400 yards, and once he became just shy of the top, he stopped, jumped back, turned away from his sheep, trotted off and then started back. I thought; "what the...?" After that he came on to his sheep perfectly, and worked well. I wondered if there was a snake, or something in the grass, but December is surely not snake season. Afterward he worked so well that I had forgotten about it altogether by the time we walked down to the creek to cool out. Once there I saw what had happened. The goat guy had kept goats in that part of the field at some point, and the e-net fence was standing directly in the path of where Star had made his outrun. He must not have seen it until he was right on top of it, and it startled him. I was glad to know what he had overcome without any help whatsoever from me. Very smart.

Until Tomorrow

Day 204os

Since we are preparing for Snowbirds on the Border Sheepdog Trial this week, the dogs are undergoing some fine tuning. These past 2 days Star has been better, (much better,) than Mirk, because Mirkie is not really a precision instrument. Star is happy to stop and turn on a dime. He is so keen to take my whistles, no matter what I ask, no matter how fast he is moving when I ask it, and today he demonstrated that in grand style.

Star is also getting bolder, more sure of himself. The Chevies are still as flighty as ever, and in the hill field where we were today, they know the shortest way back to the trailer. I asked Star to cross drive them towards and away from the trailer, so we could practice pace. The sheep will run unless given sufficient personal space, and I was happy to see Star accomplish just the right amount of pressure to make a nice job of it. They did escape once, however, scurrying all the way up the hill to the trailer. I had flanked Star to cover, but they squirted determinedly, so I gave him the hurry up offense, and sent him quicker, but their head start had been too much. At 400 yards away from me, I was anxious to see if he knew enough to get 4, flighty lambs off the trailer started towards me. He took his time. At first he gave too much ground, and I could see the sheep moving back and forth in front of the trailer, with Star moving back and forth around back. I blew a series of quiet walk up whistles, suggesting to him no to flank, but walk on steady. I saw the sheep move straight away from the trailer, but turn to look at the dog. Not enough pressure. Next I saw a lamb try to duck back, but he stopped her cold, and I thought "this is really good for him." Another duck or two from the lambs, but Star knew the game by now, and he had them headed straight towards me.

I am allowing Star semi-silent fetches more often than not. He tends to over flank when left on his own, which causes him a lot of unnecessary work. It is best for him to learn the lesson on his own. If he gets completely off course, I blow a flank, but otherwise, I've been leaving him to his own devices, and it seems to be working. I can always give him a steady whistle to eliminate the over flanking, and I do, but it is really a beautiful sight to watch my dog holding the pressure of his own accord to bee line sheep to my feet. I will not always be available to help, so I need him as independent as possible.

With a strong draw to the sheep trailer, I am using it to make sure Star's flanks are free. So, if he is fetching to me, and the draw is to my left, I will flank him right, or come-bye, away from the pressure, which allows the sheep to escape. Not only is he perfectly happy to release the pressure and obey, but the drill has taught him to flank with speed instead of lolly-gagging as he was before on the stoney Dorpers. This exercise has also allowed me to sharpen his gears. In other words, I can now give him a regular flank whistle, which gets me a flank at regular speed, or I can blow a speedy flank whistle, and get after burners. Very handy.

Lastly we worked on shedding, and I am so happy to report that after 1 quick lesson in the round pen, Star has sharpened measurably. The other thing he demonstrated to me today was his ability to wait quietly until I asked him to come through. I use "on your feet" to keep him standing, and he was much better with it today, only hitting his belly a time or two. While shedding, he is becoming comfortable remaining on his feet without moving, and developing a shoulder-lean as well. In other words, I can direct the sheep one way, or the other, and Star will follow the sheep's direction by leaning towards it until I ask him to either flank or come through. This is a skill common among great shedders, and this development makes me really happy. Pretty is as pretty does, and Star was simply stunning today.

A Star is Born

Snowbirds on the Border - Day 1

In his 1st open, during his nursery year, against 63 other dogs, little Star man placed third, and I could not be more proud of my dog. He was far better than I ever would have hoped, and scored a 78 without a pen. That means he only lost 12 points around the small, but tricky course. The yearling sheep are Suffolk-cross, ewe and wether lambs, completely happy to stand and fight, or run off, 1 at a time as often as not. A lot of dogs lost their sheep around the course, and few panels were made. Of those that were, few were made cleanly. We made all our panels with only 1 bobble at the fetch gate when Star spent 30 seconds stopping them from circumnavigation. The drive panels were made clean as a whistle with crisp turns on my "hurry-up whistles" made to stop the drifting sheep from widening. The fact that Star took every whistle on a dime, including the stop, and the bend-flanks, made for straight lines and tight turns. Wary of the spectators, the sheep held their ground around the post, and Star had the best turn I saw, remaining cool and calm with deliberate steps to accomplish the task like "buttah." I really appreciated him there.

The outrun is small, maybe 250 yards, but it has a waist. Like an hour glass, there is lots of room in the first third for the dogs to cast, then the field narrows before opening up again leaving space to cover without upset. Many dogs pulled in at the middle, and Star was no exception. I blew a strong come-bye re-direct, which he took on the fly and flying, immediately spotting his sheep when he hit another gear and widened again on his own running flat out with confidence landing perfectly on balance, nice and deep. The sheep were set on hay, and some dogs struggled because of it. Star came on smoothly, but I gave a series of 2 strong walk up whistles, and I may have over-compensated. There was a tiny explosion quite possibly initiated by my dog, but no harm done. Already, there was a strong draw to my left, so I followed the walk up whistles with an immediate away-to-me bend-flank, and the lift, after the tremor, was dead on. He had them.

The fetch was on a string with Star bending as requested to hold the line until just the other side of the panels, when the sheep hesitated. Star had to use a bit of muscle to persuade them through. After the turn at the post, the first drive leg was easy, and again, I was pre-emptive with a "hurry-up" flank around the turn. Star drove like a rally car at Monaco; speedy, precise, with tight braking, and exciting to handle. Many dogs went wide at the panels, allowing sheep to either run uphill towards the set out, or past the cross-drive panel towards their over night pen. Star flanked squarely, stopped on the head of a pin, moved the sheep evenly, then softly stopped again to release the pressure and slow them down. The sheep cruised all the way around the drive. The cross drive line became a bit high, but with one adjustment we sliced the panel in half. Another tight turn where most were not, and Star took each whistle precisely for a laser straight last drive leg. I make up a lot of points on the competition on that leg, and I always wonder why others don't do the same thing. It is basically a fetch, the easy leg, and the most over looked. I stood at the post thinking "Velvet Elvis," Amanda Milliken's description of her good dog, Clive, at Sonoma last year. My dog was that smooth.

Our judge from Kentucky, Bob Washer, gave us the benefit of the doubt on the shed and made it any 2 of the 5 head. Heads, tails, it didn't matter. Whenever they give you a head start in a foot race, I say; "take it!" Star eased them gently into the shed ring, applying his lessons from home, with patience beyond his years. The sheep broke once, but Star covered long before they came anywhere close to the edge of the ring, then we harmonized on perfect pitch for a sharp 2/3 shed. I was not the least surprised to see him come right through. We had 2 full minutes to finish, and it was "my bad" at the pen. Star was giving ground on flanks, which was counter-productive. The trait is not uncommon in youngsters and usually evaporates with experience over time. Over compensating, I put too much pressure on flighty lambs that became unsettled, and they squirted a time or two, but Star contained them within the plane of the gate. If only I had...well, never mind, because Star did a compelling job of plugging the holes and was learning on the job. By the second break away, he had trained his sheep not to, and the judge called time with all 5 standing stock still in the mouth of the pen. I was beaming at that point, and jogged off praising my doggie to some muffled applause from my peers.

The first trial was run over 2 days, Thursday and Friday. I went back Friday for Mirk's run and checked Star's score. 78 points and it went like this; 1 off the outrun, 2 off the lift, 3 off the fetch, 6 off the drive, 0 off the shed, and 10 off for no pen. Mirk's run was efficient, but messy, ending at the pen with yet another clock exhausted . Much improved, Mirk handled better for me than ever before, and I am happy with his progress. Star beat him handily, however, which gave me a chuckle. Mirk scored a luke-warm 66, but managed 9th place, and some much needed open, qualifying points.

Off-loaded Outerwear

Snowbirds on the Border - Day 2

By California standards, this has been 1 icy cold dog trial. Highly uncommon here, the morning temperatures have been in the low 20's. As a result the sheep are responding to the dogs with random unpredictability, especially early. One second you see sheep stepping beautifully down a perfectly straight line. A split second later you have a fleeing single in the camping area all by its lonesome. Many runs have started well, and ended just like that.

Fortunately for me, Star's run started well, ended well, and went quite well in the middle too. I can describe for you how it went every step of the way, but easier to simply read again the recount of day 1. Three exceptions; No re-direct on the outrun this time. Star knew exactly where they were. My timing was bad, at the fetch panel causing us to miss, and we successfully penned. 63 dogs run, and this is how Bob Washer scored the run; 1off the outrun,1 off the lift, 7 off the fetch, 2 off the drive (2!!!) 0 off the shed, and 0 off the pen. Losing just 11 points all the way around the course, Star scored a total of 89 points and placed 3rd again in the 2nd running of the open.

I only completely internalized the scope of my nursery dog's accomplishments when I tallied them in my head during the ride home.

Third place in each of his first 2 open trials...during his nursery year.
Qualified for the national nursery finals at his first dog trial of the season.
Garnered 22 open points, which is likely sufficient to qualify him for the national open finals.
The only dog to place in the money in both open runs at the dog trial.
Won prize money totaling $600.

I only have 1 thing to say; I guess I better teach him a look back now.

There is one more item of note that I am happy to report. Star's demeanor at the trial was impressive. Before, and after his run, and while we were killing time, Star was perfectly happy to be out and about, calmly walking on his leash and even sleeping under my chair beside the trail field in full view of the action. In contrast to Mirk that is in constant motion, sniffing, peeing, twitching, whipping, jingling, and annoying me to utter distraction, Star just hangs out and patiently waits his turn. Nice feature that, and while I would like to take credit for some of it, and do, mostly he was just born that way.

Handsome Devil

2010-12-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

Pretty is...

Tuning up today for Snowbirds on the Border Sheepdog Trial. Pretty is as pretty does, and Star man was very handsome today.

Week 105

2010-12-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

In the beginning

Some minor medical issues have kept me away from training this week. I am well now, and completely on the mend. Since I have nothing new to report, I thought I would take a look back at how far we have come. Here are some of my favorite excerpts from the past:

11/23/2008

When a dog puts his feet on you, it's a sign of disrespect and of it's dominance towards you. I believe they can differentiate between play time and otherwise, but usually, when aged dogs put their feet on one another there's going to be a fight over dominance. In order to raise a well mannered puppy, you cannot allow it to be disrespectful and this starts from it's earliest contact with you. It's much, much easier and less stressful for everybody if you teach respect from puppyhood than it is to re-train a 40 pound dog that's jumping all over you as well as everyone and everything else.

Star has known no other way since I've had him. At 10 weeks, he has already learned the lesson and rarely puts his feet on me. He has learned that if he wants me to open the kennel gate, to be fed or petted, he has to have all 4 feet on the ground . Consistency is absolutely crucial to accomplishing this and I do mean every single time. Here's what I do. When he jumped up on the kennel gate, I growled at him. "Aahh!" Then when he put his feet down, I opened the gate and let him out. In the beginning I would open that gate as soon as he got down, but overtime I required that he stay on the ground for longer periods before I opened it. It took no time for him to learn the lesson and now just a quiet "Aahh" gets him off that gate and keeps him there if he gets excited and forgets.

I know of one person who's dog was so unruly in his kennel that they had to put plexi-glass on the gate to keep him from hurting himself. I'd rather just teach mine to be well behaved. When the puppy put his feet on me, I simply and gently shoved him down with my hand and gave the same growl. The growl lets the puppy know that it's doing something wrong. Just pushing the puppy down isn't enough. It might be considered play. You have to push him down with the growl as a correction. The push doesn't have to be and shouldn't be harsh or scary. It should be gentle, but resolute and it absolutely must be consistent. Consistency is the key to the whole thing and this holds true for everyone that has contact with the puppy. If you don't allow him to jump on you, but others in your family do, you'll just be wasting your time and confusing your puppy. Be consistent!

Day 18os 5/10/2009

I introduced Star to whistles today. Usually I wait until a dog is solidly on voice commands to do this, but he took to it just as easily as he did voice commands. Going forward, I'll likely use both interchangeably. I like the idea of training voice and whistles at the same time and because of Star's sensitivity to my voice and mood, I think he might like whistles better.

Last Friday Star went to the vet and had a foxtail removed from his ear that he picked up in my 3 acre training field. Even though the sheep have grazed it, the plants just head out closer to the ground. To avoid the foxtails, I'll be working away from home on a grass field that's available to me, and that's where we were today.

Still preferring the away-to-me side, I set up a walk about so that he had to cover on the come-bye side to keep from losing his sheep. I still prefer to let him work this out on his own, rather than force the issue. I sent Star on bigger outruns today, maybe 100 yards, and he was pretty nice. He didn't cross, went out with fair enthusiasm and made a fetch with a bit too much pace, but not enough for me to correct him in any way or attempt to stop him. He was not rash and there was no chase or grip. I am teaching him that his first and foremost job is to bring me sheep, and I let him do that pretty much at will. It was hot today and Star got his first taste of working sheep in Southern California. He got hot and when he headed for the shade, I simply walked off with the sheep. When he came back to work on his own, I gave him a flank, downed him and called him off. After working the other dogs, I let him gather the sheep and load them in the trailer. Not only did he do that with enthusiasm, but tested his nerve twice by going in after them with a tentative nose bite just to be sure. Good boy.

Day 88os 12/6/2009

We worked again on getting him deeper at the top of his away-to-me outrun. The first time I sent him, he flattened out, which causes his tail to rise and his gate to become ragged when he comes to balance at an odd angle to the sheep. It is plain to see from his body when he is wrong. This time I stood by the sheep and backed up as he came near balance after speaking to him at the point of his outrun where he flattens.

I am still allowing him to turn in and come on to the lift with intention, but noticed that he defaults to a come-bye flank when I steady him with a whistle just after the lift. A quiet "here, here," brings him back on task, but I would like to avoid the default flank all together. We practiced a steady with an immediate "here, here," and after 1 or 2 tries eliminated the default flank on the steady whistle.

Back to the outruns. I sent him a few more times with me at the sheep correcting at his "flatten" spot, then tied him in the shade to soak. I was interested to see if he would internalize the lesson and improve. After a short break I sent him away-to-me from my feet and was gratified to see him carry all the way beyond his sheep to finish in a nice arc on balance. Hope the lesson holds tomorrow.

Day 124os 4/25/2010

Today, for the first time shedding, I was able to call him through away from the fence. He is not following my body, however, and has many times turned on to the wrong group. I have not, and will not correct him for anything as long as he keeps coming through the hole. To avoid it, each time he started through, I crossed my body in front of him, between him and the sheep, turning the shed into a fetch instead of letting him circle all the way around, and spoke to him, "here, here," to keep him on the right group.

It worked, but even when he was able to catch the sheep before they re-grouped and fetch them to me, he would stop and turn to the cast-offs. That hesitation caused him to lose the sheep he was supposed to holding, and I had to work at it to maintain my good attitude. He is absolutely determined to keep things together, and you gotta love that! I was not frustrated with him, but by the sheep's sour nature and their insufficient numbers. I kept thinking; "I've got to get more sheep."

Any negativity on my part, however, manifests in Star, so I have to be careful with my emotions while I work him. Today I did this by reminding myself how young he is, and how well he works for me in almost every regard. In other words, I used gratitude, and it alleviated my frustration.

Day 157os 7/25/2010

I stepped out into the most beautiful morning today. Cool enough for a light jacket which I wore almost the entire time we worked. I really opened things up today, and set up outruns that were every bit of 500 yards, maybe farther. Price and I drove sheep to the farthest reaches at the low end of the field. Back near the truck, I took Mirk and Star, one at a time, onto a little rise to send them on their way.

That little hill did nothing for the dog's ability to spot their sheep, they were too distant. But it gave me a great vantage point to watch and enjoy my dogs, and I do love to watch them run. Star went out on blind faith, finding his sheep easily after crossing the wash to my left. At one place on the first outrun, he appeared to be dangerously close to crossing, so I gave him a re-direct whistle at the exact moment he decided to widen and look further. Learn anything lately, Amelia? Trust you dog, damn it!

Random Notes:
Snowbirds on the Border Sheepdog Trial is coming up in a couple short weeks, and Christmas is upon us. I'll be spending lots of time in the training field, and I hope your season is joyful and filled with the love of family and friends.

Week 104

2010-12-16T14:52:00.000-08:00

Slow week here at BorderSmith. I only had an opportunity to work once or twice, but they were glorious days. In the spirit of the season, I wish all of you all the glory that you can have.

Assistant Trainer

Day 200os
Today was a lesson day here at BorderSmith Kennels, so Star worked as assistant trainer, and he was good help. We were in the big field using the Dorpers, and unfortunately Star did not have any time on the fresh sheep. That's OK, we'll be back tomorrow. The goat guy moved the big mob down to the bottom end of the field far from where we were working, but the nursery pen is still close by. Star's main job today was moving sheep away from that, back to an area where the lesson could continue unencumbered by that slight draw. With 6 inches of volunteer rye grass to keep them busy, the Dorpers aren't moving too fast in any direction.

Perched on a rock distant from the truck, I was guiding the lesson, and would call Star out whenever I needed some help. Happily obliging each time, he retreated to his spot next to Mirk, who was on the end of a chain, and waited to again be called into service. There was one instance where a little more oomph was necessary, and so Mirk got the call, but, all morning long Star was useful, patient and responsive at the same time. Each time I used him, he would come out looking for sheep, and it took a series of walk up and flank whistles to guide him, but I don't think there was ever a time when I had to move my feet and help him find his sheep. He is a thinker this one. More than once, he had to worm his way around the goat nursery pen and return the Dorpers to our working area. Useful, and so nice that he understood the job, and never once got hung up on the pen trying to bring the goats.

Photo credit: Jan Elliott

Volulnteer Rye Grass

Day 201os
Today it was just Mirk and Star with the Chevies on the big field. With the goats in the creek 500 yards away, I was able to set up some bigger outruns. The goat nursery pen interfered, but only slightly, and it caused Star in particular, to have to think his way around it. With the sheep on a little rise 300 yards away, I sent him away from the nursery, come-bye.

After ignoring the pen yesterday, he shaped his outrun in that direction today, but I was easily able to re-direct him with 2 stops followed by 2 come-bye whistles. On the second flank whistle he looked upfield, spotted his sheep, and took off like a shot. He followed that outrun with a beautiful lift, slow and smooth, and followed that with some beautiful off-balance work on the fetch. With the chevies moving easily in front of him, he sharply took each whistle to flank off balance, and I eventually flanked him all the way around between me and the sheep to drive them back out to the point of origin. Star's work was immediate, precise and he was happy doing it. Good to see.

The 2nd outrun was away-to-me and Star had to pass by the nursery to accomplish it. Since he was essentially headed right towards them, he hesitated and looked at the goats. How could he not? On my walk up whistle, he carried on snaking past the pen, then looked upfield and headed off. Not for the first time, I stood there thinking; "clever dog." Another pretty lift, more crisp off balance work, and he brought the sheep to my feet. That meant going right by the goats, and the draw is stronger on the chevies. Star continuously took a series of come-bye flank whistles to find success, and the sheep were at my feet.

Now the draw was to the trailer, and I set it up so Star was driving away from it. Then, as I did the other day, I gave him a flank, causing the sheep to flee towards me and the trailer, and Star to have to pick up the pace to stop them. He forgot this lesson from last week and dawdled, but was immediately reminded when he lost his sheep. We started again, and practiced a few times. He began to cover and catch his sheep each time, but after the first time, he started cutting the corner and slicing. So, I positioned myself closer to the sheep before I gave the flank, which caused him to open up, and cast out to catch them.

Time for shedding, or in our situation of only 4 head, splitting. The sheep are already wise to the splitting game, and it is getting harder. Star internalizes the task completely now, but wants to walk up eyeing the situation carefully, and lie down. No good. Things move too quickly. I use "on your feet" to keep him there, and say it as soon as I see his joints start to bend. Sometimes he beats me to the ground, but he understands the meaning of the phrase, and more and more often complies right away. Star is also beginning to respond to the urgency of the situation. If he doesn't come through quickly with momentum, all is lost, and he is beginning to rise to the occasion every time now. The chevies are just what he needed to finish off shedding school.
Photo credit: Jan Elliott

Mirk - Safe Distance

Random Notes: All dogs have holes. Some dogs have fewer than others, but every one of them has issues that you have to handle around. It's always a question of which ones can you live with, or not. Which ones you are good at working around, or not. This morning when I was using Star to put sheep out, I kept having to lie him down on the way down the driveway. I don't really mind if the sheep beat me to the road, but I worry about the dogs getting there ahead of me, because my neighbors are not always considerate. Star kept blowing me off and walking up on his sheep. Star needs all the initiative he can muster. I never impede that, and I never correct him for it. Once to the road, a bit ahead of me, he started to flank between the fence and sheep, knowing they must be turned to get where they go. I just stood quietly, and watched him work. Pretty as you please, he got around them, and smoothly started them back towards the gate while I stood silently watching. I very much appreciated my youngster at that moment, and wish for all of you that you experience the very same thing more often than not.

Week 103

2010-12-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

I am gearing up for another dog trial in about a month, so we trained hard this week, and there was much to share. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I did the work. Cheers all and welcome and thank you.

Close and Personal

Day 195os

We were blessed with another of those perfect days. One in which the sun was shining, a Fall crisp in the air, gentle breeze, blue skies, and...and...and FRESH SHEEP!! Did I mention how much I am enjoying the kittehs? I mean Cheviots? Well, I am...immensely, and more importantly, so are the dogs. Wish I had 300...no, 350 of them. Over to the big field today, and Price got the call to load the kittehs, because it had only been done once before, when I bought them. That time it took 2 of us with handy little panels and 1 useful dog to get 'er done. No panels today, and only me with my trusty right hand man, Price. Sure wish he could breathe, and so must he have by the time we were finished. They're a flighty bunch, my little kittehs.

The goat guy has 300hd of Dorper cross goats grazing on my (she writes wishfully) big field with 2 guardian dogs outside the hot wire, so we had to be careful. With a hundred acres or so, you would think there is enough room for all, but the situation limited my much loved, HUGE outruns. I carried a big stick just in case, but the LGDs settled down quickly enough and ignored us. Still, we kept our distance. I had a run in a few years back with one when Price was lifted off all 4 feet, then shaken, not stirred, so I am mindful always.

I spent much time with Mirk today perfecting the square flank. I doubt there will ever be a day when he won't need reminding, but he is much quicker on the uptake than ever before. I know he knows. He loved the Chevies and we practiced being precise. That is as unnatural for Mirk as it is EZ for Kensmuir Star, and the contrast is striking. It's good to have 2 completely different dogs to work. Keeps me on my game. The good news is that what frustrates me about one, is easy for the other. The bad news is that both frustrate in some way.

I found a way to keen Star up on the sheds today, and used the technique liberally. I simply put him on one side of the sheep, jazzed him up by spooking the sheep, then called him through whatever hole appeared, regardless of which sheep went where. Ah Ha! Another club in the golf bag, another tool in the box, another spice in the cabinet. I do not play golf, repair, or cook, but I can train a sheepdog, and shooting Star (oy!) found an edginess I have not witnessed in him previously. He lost his nerve a bit driving the shed sheep away, but I stayed with him, and made him stay with the sheep. You can almost see his relief when, at last, he is allowed to put them all back together. Double-edged sword that togetherness instinct.

Get moving!

Day 196os

Today didn't start out all that well, but if I could go through something like we experienced and then have the day out working that we did, I would take it gladly. I was using Star to separate the Dorpers and lambs from the Cheviots with the intention of moving the Dorpers to the small field by my house and loading the Cheviots into the trailer.

Taking the Dorpers out of the overnight pen, Star took the wrong flank and left a ewe and lamb behind. Meanwhile the others had toddled all the way down to the field. Those sheep knew full well it was field time and after walking down to bring them all back, put them together and try again, we had a hard time. I tried to stay in my happy place, but I was frustrated with Star and he reads me quite well. I stayed with it. Without too much more fuss, we got all the Dorpers moved, and then it was time to get the Chevies out of the overnight pen, and load them. They know the way to the small field and the trailer was between the overnight pen and that field. If I held my side, and Star did his, it would work. But, he was going to have to do what I said while I was holding my side, which involved a bit of flapping. Star didn't like it, slowed down and overflanked with his head down, tail tucked and ears drooped. No good. We were getting nowhere. I got Price, and Star ducked into his dog house. I'm thinking; "he's young, Amelia, he's young, and look how long it took you to learn to rope!"

Once over at the big field, we put it out of mind. I was happy and Star was as keen as ever. It you can't be happy on 140 acres of 6" volunteer rye grass with the sun shining on you, fresh sheep and good dogs, then you need to find something else to do. My dogs worked great, my heart was soaring, and it was a gorgeous day.

Bring 'em

Day 197os

I've been busy this week training almost every day. Tomorrow I have a lesson, so that means I will be back at it again. A good thing. The more I work, the more fun we have, and the closer we become, me and my dogs. They become comfortable in a routine, and because they are improving all the time, it is more enjoyable for all of us.

I feel like I've turned a corner with Mirk, and we are hitting a groove. He has some idiosyncrasies, that dog, but I am learning to work with them, and he is trusting me more and more. All I can tell you for sure is that it feels really good, and I am getting some lovely work out of him. I just did not know what we were missing until the trials last summer, and once I did, I got to work on him. It has been 3 solid months of ironing out, but now were smooth. My whistles are soft now, because he is listening, and I am not speaking to him much at all. He was really good for me at Porterville in September under uncommonly challenging conditions. I look forward to seeing how he handles at Snowbirds on the Border coming up.

Working Star today on the Chevies was all about precision tuning. With sheep that move when he flanks, he is learning to come forward all the time. On the Dorpers, he could square off, over-flank, and still have plenty of time to get to the top. Not so with the kittehs, and I encouraged him to pick up the pace on every flank. He had to lose them a time or two after they squirted while he was dawdling around them before he understood what I was saying, and I am not altogether sure he believes me entirely. We'll see.

Prologue

Day 198os

I gave a lesson in the big field today, and the weather was postcard perfect for it. I find it really hard to get down to business in that situation of striking green grass contrasted against bright blue skies, fresh sheep and warm sun. Who wants to practice on a day like that? We eventually settled in for some really nice work after overcoming early challenges that involved extracting the kittehs from the goats after the Chevies ran head long inside a hot-mesh enclosure that thankfully was not hot, guarded by an ancient livestock guardian dog that was decidedly off duty. Oh well, those situations just build character as far as I am concerned. My dogs waited patiently back at the truck while I eased the kittehs back outside the pen.

Today I reinforced the fact that the kittehs will not wait while Star dawdles. After sending him on a little gather, I allowed him to pick up the pace behind them on the fetch to the point where they were squirting well ahead. Then I flanked him to come between me and the sheep on an inside flank, and drive them away. He took his time at first and the sheep got all the way to me and beyond before Star caught them. I set it up again, and this time gave much encouragement to cover all the way around before they got to me. Lots of voice and whistle encouragement, hand clapping and shushing. He still doesn't like the come-bye inside flank at distance, so that is the way I made him come around. Star found success, and then he had it. "Oh, they will get away if I over flank slowly. I get it now!" It felt like Star was encased in cement and I chipped it away. Slowly it cracked and big chunks fell away with Star in motion. Then all of a sudden he is running like the wind with small bits of the material stuck on here and there, but mortally flying now. That is what it looked and felt like. Hope the lesson holds, and I will know more tomorrow.

Day199os

Another glorious day today, and I mixed it up a bit. Instead of working on the idle hay field, I went to the other end of the field, which is never planted. With the goats in the way at the other end, I felt the need for some bigger outwork today. The cover grew quite high last year making the field eventually unusable, but that growth has been beaten back by time and weather, so it is mostly passable now. Still pretty thick in some places, it is certainly no worse than UK bracken, and I thought it would be good for my dogs to persevere in spite of it. Coming from Wales, of course Mirk would have no trouble, and didn't, finishing up with bits of vegetation stuck all over his tongue, and panting happily. More precision, and attentiveness from him today, she writes smiling. There was the odd bobble here and there, but not much.

For the first gather, I sent Star right, which took him through the thickest brush. He had seen the sheep at blast off, but lost them soon enough once engulfed. It had the effect of pushing him to the outside edge of the field, and it occurred to me that he might be running terrain. In other words, remembering the lay of the land, and heading to where the sheep are normally set. This time, however, they were closer than that, but soon enough he came right, and made a nice job of the lift and fetch. I recalled him and sent him again to my left, and took time to notice something about my dog that I am just very excited about.

Star loves to run out. He comes off his chain as keen as can be and looking, looking, looking for sheep. It is so easy to set him up, because all I have to do is wait until his nose is pointed in the right direction, say the flank, and stand back, because he is off and I don't mean maybe. I can give him a walk up first if he is looking too wide, or I can stand him beside of me and a little behind to widen him. And I know that no matter what happens, I can always guide him to his sheep, because no matter what he is doing, I always get an immediate response to a re-direct. I think it goes back to his early days when I hid sheep from him. He learned to listen and to trust, but none of that would have been possible if he hadn't been determined to find his sheep in the first place, and that was all natural in Star man.

Yesterday's lesson did hold, and Star was much keener to complete inside flanks at distance and prevent the sheep from escaping. That was nice to see, and I really appreciated my fresh sheep today. We finished up with splitting. It started off with Star failing to break through quick enough, but he rose to the challenge on the second pass. After the first ragged attempt, I simply gave him a flank, shushed him and said "get 'em, get 'em." That bought us new found enthusiasm, I set up the split again, and this time Star shot through and carried the split off sheep away crisply.

I let Star gather and load the sheep for me today, and had him complete a silent gather in the process. Star has a tendency to wear a bit behind his sheep, and I have a feeling that comes from shoving stony Dorpers around for so long. The kittehs won't tolerate it, zigging and zagging, causing Star man to always play catch up. I thought the best way for him to learn was to teach himself, so I simply stood on a boulder, sent him and watched. Sure enough, he wore, and the sheep zigged, but sooner than later Star realized the error of his ways, and settled in nicely behind them. He brought them a bit fast, not too bad, but it was nice to see his enthusiasm, and I left it alone. It caused him trouble at the trailer with the sheep a bit buggerd, and again he had to work a little harder than he should have to get them loaded. More youthful exuberance is just what Star needs, and I drove away thinking; "good day."

Week 102

2010-12-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

I am having fun with my fresh sheep. So too the dogs. We are again under blue skies, and I am thinking about our next dog trial over new year's eve. Welcome to this week's RTC, with my thanks for joining us.

Balancing the kittehs

Day 192os

It's been 3 weeks since I've done any real training, and I went back to it in very modest style today. First off, I stayed home, worked in the small field, and used the Dorper mamas and babes together. The lambs are almost as docile as their mothers and worked very well. They simply stayed in the middle somewhere and did what mama did.

At the barn, Star focuses on the lambs while I am feeding, and it was interesting to see him working with them in the mix. Excited by their presence, I caught him once or twice staying with one and begin to leave the others behind on the drive. Each time his good breeding took over, and he balanced the drive to take them all. Very tempting, the little ones, but great instinct prevailed, and I was very happy to see it.

Setting up to split the kittehs

Day 193os

That was so much fun! I worked Star on the Cheviots by themselves, sort of, and without a doubt it is just what he needed. They had the same effect on Star that the Scottish Blackface sheep had on Price when we were in Scotland. Star had to become deliberate, thoughtful, and oh-so-careful. In both cases, it was a beautiful sight to see.

I used Star to move all the ewes and lambs down to the little pasture by my house. Then we shed the Dorpers and lambs from the Chevies, and drove them to the bottom end of the field. I called Star off, flanked him around the Chevies, at which they ran like scalded kittehs, and I witnessed Star's light come on. They juked, he jived. They skittered, he found appropriate pressure and pace and exquisite balance. Star's expression became more intense, he dropped his head, and went to work for about the third time in his life. 1 and 2 being at the Meeker practice field, and exhausting on the Meeker trial field. But that was different. This was fun! With the sheep constantly trying to go back to the others, Star drove them to the top of the field, and learned in the process to be mindful. Instead of shoving plodding Dorpers, Star was catching and guiding little kittehs who moved in front of him like a school of fish. Star was enthralled.

Once at the top of the field, I flanked my dog all the way around, and the little ewes shot back towards the others. Star picked up the pace, but was aimed at covering them all. When he got just past the fleeing Cheviots, I gave him a steady, said his name, then "here, here," causing him to look at them. Then a walk up to bring him on, and he had them. The Cheviots stopped in their tracks before turning back towards me. This is where it got pretty. Every step of the short fetch those ewes tried him, and he rose beautifully to the challenge. He became deliberate, precisely attentive to his sheep, and very, very careful not to lose them. Instinctively, he found just the right amount of pressure and pace to bring them quietly, simultaneously raising his approval rating measurably. It was just so pretty to see that I repeated the exercise with Star who understood the task perfectly on the very next pass. I quit when the sheep also figured it out after 2 or 3 repetitions. Then we set up the split.

I only have 4 head, so I intended to split them 2 - 2. At first it was hard enough just to get on opposites, and I used the top fence as an aid. Again, picture a school of fish moving from the wave of a hand, and you have a pretty good idea of what this looked like. It wasn't going to be easy, and the first attempt brought us a single that by itself proved to be too much for my youngster. Confused, he lost her. Another try, this time with more patience on my part. If I could just catch their eye, they would fly apart like a muffled explosion, and that's exactly what happened. Star worked with me brilliantly. He knew exactly what was what, and came right through on the back 2. Managing to hold them for a bit, he eventually lost them, but it was a lot to ask, and I had nothing but praise for my good, young dog. My appreciation for Star swelled today. On the right sheep, he might just be hard to beat.

Trying to keep kittehs in the same frame as the dog

Day 194

Oh boy, another glorious, sunny southern California day out working dogs. Sorry all ya'all in the colder climes, it's sunny, breeze-less and about 70 outside right now. Oh, and the grass is green, the stock are all slick and fat, and the dogs are happy to be back to work. There are so very many things that frustrate me about living here, but the weather is decidedly not one of them.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I now have an eye towards Snowbirds on the Border trial over new year's eve. Training-wise, I am gearing up and my little Cheviot/kittehs are just perfect for the task. Usually at that trial, we have growthy, freshly shorn lambs that are a commercial cross of merino and suffolk. Not much fight in them to speak of, but leaderless and smart enough to rapidly internalize the draw. Even without good practice on my own sheep, they are Star's kind of sheep. That is, the kind that move easily off the dog and require precision.

We worked the ewe flock as a whole today, then practiced shedding the Dorpers from the kittehs, which is no mean feat, but still requires some effort. There are a couple Dorpers who are quite comfortable with the kittehs, so I ended up with a Dorper ewe and lamb or two that needed to be extracted each time. Very good for little Star man, but there were more challenges to come.

I sent him on little gathers for the all the sheep, then shed off the Dorpers, worked the kittehs at one end of the small field, then split them a time or two. Repeating the exercise from 193, I flanked him around, made him cover just the escaping kittehs before they re-joined the Dorpers, and then split them. That exercise is good for him, because, unlike the Dorpers, the kittehs are fleet a-foot and there is no time to dawdle on the flank. Accustomed to the lumbering Dorpers, Star would just lope around them. Another level of intensity is required on these fresh sheep, and he has keened up. The first time on the split, Star man did a masterful job, but lost his nerve when the split off kittehs tried him fairly hard as they got closer to joining the others. Star second guessed, and all was lost, so he flanked, and covered them all. I do wish this insecurity would pass and we could get on with it. I set up another split, and this time it held. Good boy.

Week 101

2010-11-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

A compilation of events conspired to put me somewhere south of productive this week. As a result, and such as it is, here is this week's RTC. As always, I appreciate your patience, support and continuing readership. Thank you.

So what were those pesky events anyway?

Don't touch my babe

First off, my Dorper ewes are still overly cautious of their babes making any dog work on them undesirable at best. My ewes are proving to be very good mothers, milking like Holsteins and fiercely protective. I will breed them all again.

So, where is that box stall you promised me?

Then we had an uncommon amount of rainfall. It is still raining as I write, and it's a bit nippy by Cali standards. Was that a huge guffaw I heard from you hearty folks in the truly cold country? OKOK, I deserved that.

800 mg Motrin! You're missing out if you haven't tried it

A latent back problem was exacerbated at work, and I got a cold. My sore back is the result of mild scoliosis, previously undiagnosed and discovered in an X-ray, but the cold was not bad.

Fresh Sheep

And finally the addition of fresh sheep, which are simply too fresh to tolerate any of my dogs except Price, the world's steadiest sheepdog. (for my money, any way) Well, Star man did great with them too, but stock and dog went to opposite corners of a 3-ac pasture when Mirk approached, so I left them to settle. Bill Gary described these 9 month old Border Cheviots as "little kittehs," and he's not far off.

So what were the dogs up to?

Now 6 month old Jed busied himself grinning and playing

Star man did chores as needed

Price defended his canine superiority

Mirk patiently waited. for. me.

And Dexter made sure his winter duds fit right and looked sharp

That is all...

Week 100

2010-11-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

This week's journal was a report on the long-running Porterville Fall Driving Trial held for something like 27 years in California's heavily agricultural San Joaquin Valley. Hat's off to the hard working club that has produced it all these years. We had no cooperation from the sheep, or mother nature, but all that could be done, was done to make it the best it could be. Star ran twice in the open, and once in pro-novice. Stupidly, I forgot a change to the scheduling, and missed the nursery, where he really belonged, but my talented youngster ran well, and learn he did.

Here's an excerpt:
Shining brightly on Sunday, my youngster made go of it with a valiant effort. Since he knew the way from Saturday, I sent left again, and was rewarded with another perfect outrun. With increased confidence over previously trodden ground, I think he ran quicker this time and showed more confidence walking up for the lift. The sheep came right off the hay, but leaned back to the set out, and Star was slow to cover. To his credit, he angled the sheep towards me, but any chance for the fetch gates was lost to him. We got them back on line just below them though, and Star was taking every whistle. He was taking every whistle, but without enough oomph to be completely effective. All the previous work we did taking off balance flanks on the fetch came to fruition, though, and Star hardly put a foot wrong. Without that practice, those sheep would have simply leaned on him all the way back to the set out. Such was the case for more than a few of the open dogs.

Around the post was problematic for most dogs, because once behind, the ewes could feel their overnight pen, and stalled or made an outright break for it. At this point some hands did the "flank and down" taking all or most of their dog's power away. Many dogs gripped off at this point frustrated by lack of confidence, lack of power or handling. The dogs that were successful here showed patience and power, and were left on their feet. The judge was allowing sensible grips, because it was the only way for most. Oh so keen at this juncture, Star started the turn wide and I had to call him in. To let the sheep get the upper hand here meant that you may never regain it, and many runs ended before the drive began. Driving was tedious for us with the sheep stopping to turn on the dog over and over again. More than use his teeth, Star used his body to slam the sheep more than once, and we completed our drive, but the points had flown off. Once in the shed ring, time was called just as we were setting it up. Star knew what was coming, and positioned himself appropriately, and that was the only disappointment of the weekend. I had so wanted to test his mettle with a shed.

Week 99

2010-11-15T13:45:00.000-08:00

Preparations for the dog trial were in place this week. A touch up here, a reminder there, but most of what occurred was aimed at leaving both of my trial dogs feeling confident and powerful. Having been to Porterville many times, I knew what was in store.

This weeks lessons:

Make it small
Make it keen
Calm before the storm

Here's an excerpt:
Worked in the small field again today. Lazy, I am so lazy! But, on the other hand, it might be just what my dogs need. The confined space keens them up measurably, and allows me to more quietly use my voice and body position to accomplish their training. In other words, bringing things back "at hand" is often a good idea. Star in particular enjoys it, and runs full throttle around sheep that are right in front of him comparatively.

Nothing new today. More flanks on the fly and direction changes while running out. Star did a really nice job in shedding practice today. Not only did he remain focused entirely on the shed off sheep without once looking back, but he came through with more intention, and drove his sheep away with more confidence. It was good to see.

Week 98

2010-10-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: Jan Elliott

We have 3 or 4 trials coming up in the next few months, so there is lots of training going on around here. I have also had a dog in for training, which is highly motivational, and gets me out in the big field more often. All of it means that Star man has been receiving lots of attention and benefitting mightily. At just 2 years old last month, I notice his maturity has increased, and his confidence. It is just what I expected, and right on time from my past experience with other dogs. 2 and 4 years are milestones for a sheepdog's maturation, and it almost seems like you get a new dog.

This week's lessons:

Precision
Hold it!
Be the dog

Here's an excerpt:

Shedding breakthrough today! Yeah! I don't know whether it will persist, but for the first time Star took the initiative and made a strong showing of holding shed off sheep that wanted to break back over him. The first time, he reached up and grabbed a jowl, but lost her. The second time he simply flanked and covered the ewe before she got past him, which is my preference and highly desirable. Both times were unbidden by me, and I was thrilled. We completed a few more sheds and I again ran to the heads of the shed sheep, simply to reinforce his confidence and remove the pressure of him having to do all the work by himself. What a good dog!

It was my intention to load up for the big field, but fatigue got the better of me, and we worked in the small field at home. Small gathers, reverse flanks on the fly, and widening the off-balance flanks on the fetch and drive were what we worked on today. In case you don't know what the hell I'm talking about, reverse flanks on the fly means I give the dog a flank while I am standing with the sheep, then give a flank for the opposite direction while the dog is still moving. Not only should the reversal be immediate, but it should be square, and this is a good chance to make sure a dog is flanking freely and listening. Star was. He is really good at it. To keep him pliable, I also sent him to gather, then stopped him and reversed his direction of travel a few times on the way out. Another great way to make sure he's listening and compliant, and again, he was.

Week 96

2010-10-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

This was one of those weeks where things started out badly, then got better, then I had an awakening. Awakenings are always good. By week's end, I was feeling better about Star, and Star was feeling better about life.

This week's lessons:

No way, absolutely not, too scary
She likes me. She really, really likes me
Pay attention please

Here's an excerpt:

I had a minor epiphany today regarding Star. I trailered out to the big field so that a student of mine could have some quality time on a great field. We took turns working our dogs. While I was out working Mirk, she sat down, leaned against the truck, and cuddled up with little Star man. He looked so incredibly happy, and needy, appreciative, relaxed and peaceful. It made me think that, as I suggested earlier in the week, maybe that's just exactly what he needs more of from me. While she was out working her dog, I tried it. I sat on the tailgate of my truck with Star's head in my lap. I hugged him, stroked him, and otherwise made him feel very loved, and safe, but the best part was that I enjoyed it as much as he did. I felt drawn to that dog as never before, felt an attachment that I hadn't, felt a stronger bond than I've known with him as a result. He responded by worming closer than ever. He kept giving the nose flip whenever I took my hand away, and looked meaningfully into my eyes with his face just inches away from mine. I'm not saying I don't give Star affection, but this was different, and we both felt it.
As I have said, Star is just my "kinda there" dog. He doesn't seem to need much of my attention, is the one that perplexes me most, and consequently that I like the least. Do not misunderstand that to mean that I don't like him. I really like him, but in my kennel, he is the one I like the least, if that makes sense. If I didn't like him, I would have moved him on long ago and not spent this much effort on him. His odd-ball behavior can be so frustrating at times, but then he goes out and gives me a beautiful, booming outrun that curls my toes, or the squarest, most precise flank you could ever hope for, a stop on the head of a pin, or floors me working good sheep away from home, and I think; he just needs more time. Any way, today I may have found part of the problem.

Week 96

2010-10-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, the ups and downs of training a sheepdog. The week started out so well with both Mirk and Star running their best. Star gave me some pause for frustration later on, but it's all good. It was just Star being Star, and we all have our moments, don't we?

This week's lessons:

Nice, clean grip
Listening intently
Really?

Here's an excerpt:

Star man's outwork was perfect in both directions. He even showed more determination on the fetch, and moved the loopy Dorpers with more ease than usual today. I had used him to move sheep up on a hill when I first got to the field, and saw him do something he's never done before, that pleased me mightily. One of the ewes turned back and looked at him as he was driving them away. He simply reached up and took the cleanest nose grip that you could ever ask for. Then he quietly went straight back to work. It occurred to me that I have been wishing this dog would grow into his power and confidence, and that was a great indication that it is happening. Then it occurred to me that Star has overcome many other things that took him longer than I thought they should have, and that consideration gave me more to look forward to.
Once I put him to work, he delivered gorgeous outwork. Solid, confident, and well-shaped outruns followed by stronger fetching, and even more willingness to take my flanks off the fetch. He was solid in both directions today, and gave me some very nice sheds as well. We even practiced singling. He needed some help holding the single, but had no hesitation coming through. During one fetch, he was reluctant to take a come-bye flank, so I moved closer to him, and asked him for repeated come-bye flanks all the way around a couple times. It seemed to break him loose, and he was better for it. After that, I flanked him from side-to-side both fetching and driving just to keep him pliable.

Week 95

2010-10-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

I admit it. I only worked my dogs once this week. Yes, I can be very lazy, and yes, that is part of the story of my dogs. Sometimes they have to be that good without consistent training, and sometimes they are not up to the task. Good bad, right, wrong, challenging, or challenged, it is always my responsibility to see that my dogs get what they need in the way of training, and this week...I didn't.

This week's lessons

Resiliency
Short and sweet
Worry-wart

Here's an excerpt:

There was one hiccup today that has proven to be a problem from time to time, and it doesn't occur while we're working. It occurs afterward. The dog in for a lesson is proving to be a tough nut to crack, and there's a bit of strong correction that takes place when she works. Star does not like it at all. He has never personally received anything half as strong, it is unfamiliar to him, and makes him very nervous. When the other dogs works, he goes to the end of his chain to hide as far under the truck as he can. When I called him off today, instead of going to the truck, he ran into some tall brush nearby and refused to come out. He has done this on one other occasion, and it was when I had that same dog in for training. It took some coaxing to get him out and then he headed for the truck and water. I do not like to see him scared, and am considering leaving him at home when I give lessons. On the other hand, I'm undecided, because he needs all the big-field work I can give him, and there is a part of me that thinks he should just get over himself, and grow up. Time will tell on this one.

Week 94

2010-09-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

Demo time with demo-dog at SoHo

Two weeks turned into 3, but we're back and, for the most part, back to work. After a major trip like ours, I always find it hard to get back into our normal rhythym of training, but I will begin again soon enough, as Star's nursery season is upon us. This is his year, and Carbondale, CO is his finals. The push is on to get qualified, and to get good.

This week's lessons:

Smooth sledding, I mean shedding
Go East young doggie
The gate trick re-visited

Here's an excerpt:

It is quite hot here today, so Star's work was short and sweet. He prefers to lie down when the going gets tough, so I am reverting to the gate trick. I used him to move sheep to the little field and had him push them through the gate instead of opening it to let them pass. My gate swings easily, and has a chain on it for fastening. Once the sheep get to the gate, with Star behind them, I hold the chain and slowly let it pass through my hand as star applies pressure to the sheep. And, I don't let it pass easily. Star preferred to lay and wait, but I added lots of encouragement to get him and keep him on his feet. Slowly, the gate swung open, and Star pushed them through. Once inside, we worked on shedding with the added "shush" described above to keep him on task. It's really hot, and that is all...

Week 93

2010-08-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

There was quite a bit of up and down this week as Star hit a rough patch. I can trace it all to an in appropriate correction I gave him a few weeks ago that caused him hesitancy in his outwork. We are endeavoring to correct my mistake using a few different techniques getting with mixed results. Gone for 2 weeks, I leave for The Soldier Hollow Classic and Meeker Championship sheepdog trials in 2 days, however, and I am confident that the change of sheep, scenery and job description will work wonders for Star and re-boot his connection to the work.

There will no posts here or to The RTC II-Jed for the next 2 weeks, but please check back often to the BorderSmith Blog. I will be blogging from the road with commentary, pictures, results and dish from 2 of the year's biggest sheepdog trials. Stay tuned...

This week's lessons:

In the groove
Out of the groove
Half a pound of cure

Here's an excerpt:

In the big field again, I used to Price to set sheep on the high end, then took Star and Mirk and began walking to the bottom. Learning from yesterday, we stopped half-way, I staked out Mirk, and sent Star for his sheep over a distance of about 200 yards. Even though they were slightly obscured behind some low brush, Star ran out well away-to-me, found them easily, and looked quite keen during the entire process. I allowed him to fetch them a short way, then together we drove them back up on the hill for Mirk. This is my last full day to tune up for SoHo and Meeker, so I ran the hair off Mirk before giving Star another go. I had Mirk leave the sheep a few hundred yards away, and sent Star away-to-me. With the sheep in plain sight, he ran out like a shot, and looked every bit his old self doing so. I called him off, we walked a few hundred yards away, and I sent him again only this time, come-bye. I was watching for it, and he again pulled in while eyeing his sheep. No good. I again called him off and we walked a short ways away. This time, I left him lying down, walked to the sheep, and sent him come-bye using the presence of my body to push him out wide on his outrun. Not only was he nice and fast and keen, but he made a beautiful gather. That worked so well that we repeated the endeavor for the same result then re-grouped for shedding.

Week 92

2010-08-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

My turn, my turn

Mirk bore the brunt of my focus this week as I prepare for Soldier Hollow and Meeker. Star will be working on the trip, doing a demo at SoHo and exhausting at Meeker, but he is on my back burner just now as far as trainig goes. That certainly doesn't mean he got the week off, however.

This week's lessons:

Why oh why?
!##% *^!(!!
Just a minute

Here's an excerpt:

Back in the big field today, and Star was all over the place. I set up big outruns of 500 yards. I don't care if he's running wide just now, I'm making final adjustments to Mirk for trialing, and Star will just have to play along. Still cautious away-to-me, I gave the odd whistle as he was running out and helped him retain impulsion. The whistle also kept him happy, and he was better to that side than the other. He ran out quite wide to the left, and would have missed his sheep altogether if not for my "there" whistle. He disappeared through the wash, then ran out around the big hill, instead of across it. When he appeared again, he was too deep, missin his sheep, and continuing on. You know, I just can't feel frustrated with him just now. He needs my acceptance and encouragement, and his work wasn't that bad anyway. I just left him to it with lots of praise and enthusiasm when he was at hand. I feel like I caused this slump he seems to be in, and together we'll just have to figure out a way through. I have absolutely no doubt that our up coming road trip will propel him in the right direction. I have never had a dog that reacted any other than favorably to the new and different away from home. It will likely be just what he needs.

Part of the problem too, I believe, is that he is getting only cursory work. He's there, he's young, he needs to be trained, so I work him. Clearly Mirk is my focus right now, and feeling the unmitigated glare of my scrutiny. Little Star man only has a supporting role. The producer of Soldier Hollow, Mark Petersen, has asked me to put on a demonstration at the trial for the masses. I will use Star as the demo dog, and at Meeker, he is signed up to exhaust. He will be getting work, he will be getting attention, and he will be getting socialized in grand style. All good.

Week 91

2010-08-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Star had more opportunities to travel and work different sheep on different fields. I also recognized that he may benefit from more socialization. The economy has meant more time at home, and Star hasn't had the benefit of attending many dog trials, so I made a point of including him in more extracurricular activities, and he made his first-ever trip to PetCo.

This week's lessons:

Recovery
Working big
Introduction to the look-back

Here's an excerpt:

By the time he got there, about 500 hundred yards away, the sheep had split up, and 3hd were well in front of the other 2 on his side. He only saw the 3, and turned in on them. I tried to whistle him around on the others, but I think I might have been late. It's hard to tell at that distance, because your depth perception isn't always accurate. He lifted the 3, I decided to make lemons into lemonade, and started jogging up the field. I wanted to get to Star early enough that the 2 laggers would be close enough to facilitate my look-back lesson. When I got to him, they were another 100 yards further down-field. I flanked him come-bye around the 3hd, then told him to stand. I walked past the sheep he had and started in the direction of the others. I blew my look-back whistle then said; "that'll do." Star tried to flank come-bye to hold the 3 hd to me. I kept walking, repeated my look-back whistle, and said again; "that'll do." He began to flank again, and I repeated my lesson, then said "here," which caused him to look towards me now well past his sheep, and see the others. At that point it was a simple matter of giving him a verbal "away-to-me," and he was off for them like a shot. Dogs tend to love to go back for more sheep. They are getting more sheep after all. To them, that can't be bad. This is a lesson easily learned by Border Collies when taught correctly, and because of that, I will use it sparingly. Honestly, I had planned to introduce it about now anyway, but then thought better of it after last week's surprising incident. I decided to stay with what we know in the interest of confidence, instead of introducing something new. But the opportunity presented itself today, and it was just too good to pass up. I don't know when I'll have the opportunity again, and I don't know that I want it for a while.

Week 90

2010-08-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

Star and I went visiting this week. We practiced in a new, bigger field, on new and improved sheep, and Star showed his approval in the work. With just a few more weeks before The Soldier Hollow Classic and Meeker Championship, we will be out and about more and more and it will be very good for my youngster.

This week's lessons:

It's not the end of the world
Where did you learn to move like that?
When the going gets tough...

Here's an excerpt:

Sheep were being held for him by my friend and her dog, and I was quite happy to be told that Star never glanced at the set out dog on his way by with the sheep. That a boy! And he had fun on the fetch. Instead of having to push sluggish Dorpers, these sheep moved off easily, to the extent that his pace required an occasional steady whistle instead of the accustomed shushing encouragement. Nice! We were both having fun. He needed some support to accomplish the off-balance flanks on the fetch, but what I really liked was the fact that his flanks were animated and he didn't give ground at the outset. The pressure of the heavy Dorpers causes him to over-flank, but because these sheep were moving forward, the arc of his flanks had to match their momentum and he was a different dog. So nice to see. This is a reminder to keep in mind the type of sheep you train with when you are working your dog. I could have called Star bad, and attempted to fix the perceived problem when he gave ground to the Dorpers on his flanks, but I would have been wrong in doing so. Different sheep bring out different reactions from a dog, which is why some dogs are inconsistent from trial to trial, or are only successful at home, or do not handle fill-in-the-blank type sheep. The truly great dogs are able to rise to the occasion on all types, and the truly great handlers understand the difference.

Week 89

2010-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Keeping things short and sweet, we never left the small practice field. As an accomplished Scottsman once told me; "just because you practice in the little field, doesn't mean you can't play with the big boys." Star's best work was done in practical work, and I was left with the impression of a very useful dog.

This week's lessons:

Don't let him get to you
The rolling stop
In and by

Here's an excerpt:

I like this dog more each time I work him, and today my "like" started in the driveway. We worked in the little field across from my house, and while walking to the field, Star would not lay down when asked and I asked more than once with some intention. Why would I like that, right? Well, here's why; Star has always been hesitant about things. He questions, he thinks about it first, and he worries. So, when I see him become his own man, so to speak, I like it. One size does not fit all. I do not treat one of my dogs like the other. They are all uniquely different with individual temperments, personalities and talents. When Price did this kind of thing as a youngster, I corrected him. Without it I never would have gotten a 1 whistle down from him. Likewise Mirk. He's 7 and still has to be reminded. Star, on the other hand, needs confidence and an environment where he can find his power, so I allow the California stop from time to time, such as on the driveway this morning. Letting him have the reins and running through me a bit will help put the "dog" in him, as they say.

Week 88

2010-07-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

It was a beatiful week here at BorderSmith Kennels. Each day that I worked the dogs, the weather cooperated beautifully. We had overcast skies, cool breezes, and low temperatures. The dogs made the most of the favorable weather, and everyone worked well.

This week's lessons:

That was just a little wide
Another set-out dog?
An excitable boy

Here's an excerpt:

To keen him up on the shed, I went back to crossing in front of him when he came through the hole, turning each shed into a fetch. I have been calling him straight through to my feet, and while he complies happily enough, I am missing the speed and confidence that is required to be highly effective in the shed ring. He responded well to that regression, and was coming through faster each time. He knows the job, and anticipates what is coming when a I set up a shed. He simply needs to enjoy it more, and we achieved that today. He looked good. To finish the day, for fun, and because I can, I used Star and Price together again to gather and load the sheep. I sent Star first, away-to-me, and seconds later Price, come-bye. Star is faster and got there first. In youth, Price would glide across the ground as fast and keen as any dog I've ever seen. His footfalls are heavier now, his breathing labored, but he is still as keen as ever. I do not know how much longer I have to enjoy my big, white-headed dog, but I plan to make the most of it.

Week 87

2010-07-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

I had lots and lots of good work from all my dogs this week. I pushed Star as far as I could and he was up to the challenge, getting better all the time.

This week's lessons:

Your trust
My trust
Teamwork

Here's an excerpt:

As we walked from the truck today, I told him to "look" and pointed in the direction of the sheep. He scanned the field without spotting them, but when his head swiveled in the correct direction, I sent him with a shush. Uncharacteristically, he became unsure, and about 100 yards away, slowed and looked back to me. I gave him another shush, and this time there was no reservation. I watched him as he pulled in and widened out once or twice. Then he pulled in just about to the point where I started thinking about him crossing between me and the sheep, and that's when it hit me. He is mature and well-trained enough to trust that there are always sheep out there when I send him. I need to return the favor. "Trust your dog." Those words were said to me at a trial once after I had given Mirk an unnecessary re-direct that cost us a few placings. I lowered my whistle. At about the same time, Star spotted his sheep, kicked himself out, and finished right where he was supposed to.

Week 86

2010-07-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

It was a big week here at BorderSmith, literally and figuratively. Star worked big, in the big field, over big distance, and my new pup, Jed arrived. Star worked beautifully over ever-increasing distance, and little Jed is settling in nicely. More on that later.

This week's lessons:

What's a set out dog?
Oops, I am so sorry
Could use a little help here

Here's an excerpt:

There is a line of brush that intersects the field where a wash prevents planting. Mirk always wants to find a way around it, but Star ran through it like a football player busting the "go team" banner at homecoming. Watching him, that's just how I felt, "go Star!" Without seeing his sheep, he went out with faith on my "shush." His trajectory was good on the come-bye side, but I decided to re-direct him, just to make sure I could. He took it like a champ, widening without missing a step to continue on in style. He landed nice and deep at the top, and then it happened, just what I had been hoping for. Unaccustomed to the set-out dog we had today, Star lifted his sheep then went over for a sniff! Afterward, my friend, Llona, who was holding sheep for me said that he gave the "oops, I'm so sorry, please excuse me" expression when I hollered. I could see for myself that he immediately returned to his sheep. I could have prevented it with a walk up whistle, but he would have learned nothing. Better to let him make the mistake and correct him for it. I was gratified to see him lift without a hitch the next time up the field.

Week 85

2010-07-08T10:30:00.001-07:00

Oh, it is so nice to back on the big field. My dogs were rusty, and really needed to be stretched out. We worked on big outruns, Star rallied, and it all came back to him as he began to run out easily finding sheep that were hundreds of yards away.

This week's lessons:

Does this look familiar?
Hey, while you're out there
Come on...come on

Here's an excerpt:

Once today, he started beautifully then went too deep. I blew a stop when he got to 12 o'clock, which he took, turning onto his sheep instantly. The sheep were about 500 yards away. Good boy. Another time, the sheep had moved closer and he could see them. He started too tight, but widened out and finished perfectly on balance and nicely off at the top. He has gathering ability that I will always be able to trust. Plus, he is so willing take direction, that I know I'll always be able to guide him. Good boy. Wow, that's 2 "good boys" in one paragraph.

Week 84

2010-07-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

This time last year

This was an up and down week. Started down, then moved up quickly. I have not worked my dogs over big distance in a while, and it showed. Star rallied nicely though, and wound up impressing me...again.

This week's lessons:

No, you're not in trouble
You can't push a rope
Look at that dog go

Here's an excerpt:
He's such a funny dog and sometimes I get awfully tired of cheerleading as I had to today. But then he does something brilliant, like stop on a dime, make a spectacular shed, or take a well-timed, appropriate grip, and I remember that he's not even 2 and growing into himself each time I work him. When things go all hooki-lau at distance, I can either stand flat-footed and scream at my dog, as if that will do any good, or I can bring it all back close, and refresh. Screaming would fail miserably with Star, but I prefer an alternate route with all dogs. Besides, who wants to spend their days standing and screaming?

Week 83

2010-06-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

This week was a bit of a mixed bag. We were here and there doing this and that. A little shedding, a little international shedding, a little work in the big field, and lots of rest in the shade. Summer is here after all, and things are heating up.

This week's lessons:

Shed and then shed again
Shed 'em and drive 'em away

The training wheels are off!

Here's an excerpt:

Observation. I am noticing a new maturity about my dog lately that is a new development. At 20 months, and approaching 2 years old, it is to be expected, but I just noticed it today, and I am very glad to see it. Star is beginning to reach his first level of maturity. In the past I have noticed huge differences in my dogs at 2 years old and then again around 4 years old. It seems as if during the first 4 years I have gotten a different dog when each has reached those milestones. On that basis, Star is right on target. He goes about his work with a clearer understanding, less hesitancy, more enthusiasm, and ever-increasing skill.

His shedding has become quite proficient, and today he demonstrated his mastery in fine fashion. I was able to call him through not once or twice, but 3 or 4 times on the same group of 12 sheep, thereby beginning to teach him the international shed. I could see after making 3 or 4 cuts, he became mentally tired. He demonstrated that by slowing and widening unnecessarily on the come-bye flank when I used it to set up the next cut. When I saw that, I called him off and let him rest.

Week 82

2010-06-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

It was hot this week, and we are all having to acclimate once again to the Southern California summer. Working dogs means breaking it up with lots of shade and lots of water. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

This week's lessons:

I know it's hot
Momentum
Lack of momentum

Here's an excerpt:

Instead of giving Star a flank command when sending him on an outrun, I simply set him up on the side I wanted him to go, and gave him a shush. This put the initiative on him to decide from the direction of my body, which way to go, and how wide to run out. It also caused him to look intently, and gauge his distance by feeling the sheep. His success was evidenced by the fact that, after he spotted his sheep, he cast himself out wider and deeper. I set him up on whichever side I wanted him to travel, then told him to "look." I could see that he was using my body as a guide, just as I've taught him, because he looked at me, then for his sheep. I waited until his nose pointed in the correct direction, then gave him a shush, and off he went. Sending him in that manner kept him from squaring off at the start, and running out too wide. Each time I sent him, the sheep were obscured below a low hill, so he was never sure exactly where he was going. He has become quite good at finding sheep, though, and had no trouble today. It was a beautiful thing to see him pick them up, speed up, and cast out to land wide and deep on balance. Lovely.

Week 81

2010-06-08T11:44:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce you to my friend, Stephanie Summer's online webstore, Operation Sheepdog Herding. Stephanie is a good friend, and a good sheepdog handler who has created this store where sheepdog enthusiasts and all dog owners can find just what they're looking for in one convenient location. Please visit Operation Sheepdog Herding, and have a look around with my thanks.

This week's lessons:

Staimina
Endurance
Shedding

Here's an excerpt:

A little light came on today during shedding practice. Star shed off all but 3 of the Dorpers, and I could see his interest was peaked when they tried to break back to the others. He never would have been successful on faster sheep, or ones that were trying harder, but he was successful stopping those, and it was good for him to win one. He hesitated a bit when they first tried him, but moved to stop them, found success, and moved again more boldly. This is exactly how Star has learned everything. He is at first hesitant to try new things. Then he finds some small measure of success, and becomes more and more willing as time goes on. He is not the type of dog that I will give up on. Star man needs lots of time, encouragement and patience, but he has shown me enough mettle at different times to make believe in him.

Week 80

2010-05-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

Star and I continued to practice his shedding this week, and it's getting easier for him. The weather is warming up here in sunny So Cal, so the works are shorter in duration, but as productive as ever.

This week's lessons:

Repeat shedding
Speed shedding
Hold him

Here's an excerpt:

Star either had some luck today, or is finding his power to turn back sheep trying to break over him and join the cast offs. I am not sure which it was, but at one point, Star shed my ram away from his best friend, and the ram tried to break past him and join her. I am not sure whether it was skill or luck, because I just caught it from the corner of my eye. I saw the ram make a break, and I saw Star shuffle his feet. With that, the ram almost jumped to turn away from Star and stay with his group. I gave Star the benefit of the doubt, and praised him up for the effort. The final chapter of learning to shed for Star is to stop sheep in their tracks that are trying to break. His ability to do that will determine his success in life as a sheepdog, because without it you can never rise to the top.

Week 79

2010-05-23T18:45:00.001-07:00

This was a blurry week. The time went by too quckly, and I am not completely sure how I spent it. There was some dog training that occurred, but on another's dog, so this week I considered how my circumstance lends itself to successful dog trialing. Reading about others' adventures training and trialing as the season begins to heat up, caused me to remember what a past International Supreme Champ taught me one day. Evn though I'm training on a little league field, doesn't mean that I can't compete in the big time. I just have to want it badly enough.

This week's lessons

The daily routine
Getting creative
Bicycle, what bicycle?

Here's an excerpt:

I watched the Bluegrass scores on my computer, and caught the results of Big Willow the same way. I read blogs written by folks who are training and trialing all over North America right now, and I wish I could do the same. My dogs and I will have our chance a little later this year, and I'm grateful and looking forward to the travel and the test. I considered recently that it may be a little harder for me to be competitive without the advantage of more sheep, more work, and more variety, but then I remembered what Bobby told me, and I simply determined to work harder/better/smarter with what I have. For me, that means getting off my butt, loading sheep in my trailer and making an effort to get out and around. It also means calling on my friends to share their sheep and training fields, and lowering my long-ignored bike from the rafters, and getting the dogs in shape. My ex had a favorite saying with lots of stories of his own to back it up. He said you have to want something badly enough to be good at it. He spent his whole life wanting it badly, and was as good as it gets in his sport. I still have a ways to go.

Week 78

2010-05-16T13:35:00.001-07:00

Star and I continued through shedding this week, and it was 2 steps forward and 1 step back. On 2 days he was brilliant, and then he slid back 1 day. 2 out of 3 is pretty good for one so tender, working with uncooperative sheep, while the weather heats up.

This week's lessons:

slow and steady
Put your right foot in
Put your left foot out

Here's an excerpt:

He's beginning to get it. There is a bit of a glint in Star's eye now when I call him through, and he comes right on. He is still a little unsure of himself when they try to break back over him, and he does lose them some times, but he is beginning to understand how to avoid it. I learned something today, myself. I have been calling him through, then attempting to help him hold the shed off sheep. It was confusing him, and it was causing him concern. He thought he might be doing something wrong, and was a bit hesitant as a result. Today I simply called him through a hole that we made together, crossed in front of him, ran to the heads turning the shed into a fetch, and allowed him to sink or swim. I gave him lots of encouragement in the process, but he overcame his hesitancy and tried harder. I set it up again for the same result, and then quit while Star was winning, and retreated to some exercises that are fun for him.

Week 77

2010-05-09T15:39:00.001-07:00

Photo credit, Jan Elliott

It's foxtail season here at BorderSmith Kennels, and training was kept to the minimum of what was necessary. It was more of the same for Star as he continued his lessons on shedding, and he continued to improve.

This week's lessons:

No need for support
Rear view
Getting "juked"

Here's an excerpt:

It worked again today. This time away from the fence, I was able to call Star man through to shed off the sheep that were moving away. In other words, I called him through on the butts. After 7 days of shedding practice, (I counted them,) Star is easily coming through now without hesitation...on the butts. He is still reluctant when they are looking at him, but that's OK. I have to be happy with the progress he's made by going from staunch unwillingness to separate sheep to sliding right through in only 7 lessons. I am also encouraged because he flanks squarely most of the time, and comes in behind me, which is my strong preference. If you have ever had livestock running at you trying to get past, or if you are a football player, you know that the more room between you and the animal/ball player running at you, the better chance/more time you have to read the moves and stop it. It's the same for the dogs, and by coming in behind the handler on the shed, it gives them more room and time to shut down the shed off sheep if they try to re-group.

Week 76

2010-05-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Cool weather and cloudy skies brought out the best in all my dogs this week. The sheep liked it too and were cooperative as a result. Star and I continued shedding practice and it was 2 steps forward, 1 step back. By week's end we were making real progress.

This week's lessons:

It's foxtail season, be careful
What's the difference?
They're looking at me...

Here's an excerpt:

I learned something today while working on shedding with Star. It's easier for him to come through on the sheep's tails than it is when they are looking at him. This is true with the sheep we are working now anyway, and might be different on another type. When he comes in on the heads of my sheep, instead of turning away from him, they are trying to break back to join up with the others, and they are trying very hard. Star worries about it, because he doesn't know yet how to stop them, or even that he can. Honestly, even Mirk has trouble holding them sometimes, and will occasionally have sheep spread wide apart all over the field. The difference is, he knows what to do about it...and he likes it. At this point, I really don't care whether he comes in on the head or tails. I just want him to internalize and enjoy shedding. I called him through once on sheep that were moving away. I crossed in front of him, and turned it into a fetch. He happily flanked behind me, and fell right on balance to easily fetch them to me. I thought; "ah hah!" and called it a day.

Week 75

2010-04-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Shedding. Star and I have returned to shedding 101, and there was marked improvement this week. With less and less hesitation, little Star man began to understand the task at hand, and successfully shed off, held and fetched sheep to me. It should't be long now, and I will be able to run him in open.

This week's lessons:

Wait right there
Follow me
And here's the reason

Here's an excerpt:

Ah...improvement. Today Star not only came through more readily, but managed to keep the two groups split on one occasion and fetch quite a ways before I laid him down and let him re-gather all the sheep. Star did some really nice work for me. One mistake I see hands make is expecting their young dogs to hold the shed for too long when training it. The shorter each individual exercise, the less pressure, and less opportunity for error. In the beginning, I only expected Star to come through the hole in whatever manner. Then straight to me. Then I asked him to come in facing the right group. Then come through and lay down in the middle. So today, after he did all that, and had a nice fetch going, I quit while we were ahead. In other words while he was absolutely right, and before something could go wrong like the sheep breaking over top of him, or one hanging back.

Week 74

2010-04-18T13:40:00.001-07:00

With friends at the Sheepdog statue in Meeker, Colorado

This was a busy week here at BorderSmith Stockdogs, but not much went on in the way of dog training. I am writing, instead, about one of my favorite aspects of trialing; camaraderie. Enjoy, and thank you for checking in on us.

Here is an excerpt:

Some of the smallest suggestions have resonated the most within me. At Meeker one year, I asked a hand why the dog on course had gripped off after the drive-away panel where things were relatively easy compared to what they had been on the way there. "Because he was too busy before," came the insightful reply. "I want to be able to drive a straight line," I lamented to a brilliant handler. I was told to simply shorten my "there" whistle. That's all there was to it, and my handling was transformed. While watching others struggle in the shed ring, an uncontested master of our sport commented to me; "nobody just goes in and takes the shed out here, do they?" To this day I never fail to hear those words while shedding and singling. The subtleties have had the greatest influence.

Week 73

2010-04-13T17:46:00.001-07:00

I was gone to the Deer Creek Trial in Porterville, CA over the weekend, and had a great time as usual. The trial is held in a cow pasture running between 2 shallow, slow-moving creeks. The dogs work, then the dogs play as shown in the photo. My dogs were successful, I had a lot of fun, and Star learned volumes about big, scary range ewes running in the nursery and pro-novice.

Here's an excerpt:

The rain threatened sincerely on Monday, but I entered Star in the pro-novice anyway. He was getting good mileage on bad sheep, and that's not something I can duplicate at home. Just as I sent him off, the heavens opened and the rain came down. I had to shield my face to be able to see down field. I never blew a whistle to Star until well after the lift. His outwork was gorgeous, and right on target. He came on a little strong at the lift, and had them running by the time we missed the fetch panels. That was OK, I steadied him and tried a come-bye flank. He gave ground, and I had to resort to my flank, walk-up, "come on" from the day before. The sheep were as determined to break around the post as I had seen them all weekend long, and Star did a grand job of stopping and sending them on their way. It was pretty to watch that stylish young dog work so hard and take charge.

Week 72

2010-04-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Introducing something new in training is always fun and exciting. It's nice when you have the right tools to do the job properly, but I don't have enough sheep to easily teach Star to shed. I have begun that task anyway.

This week's lessons:

Shedding 101
Oh yes you can
All fun

Here's an excerpt:

This might be slow and painful. Little Star man has a strong (very strong) inclination to keep things together, and I don't have near enough sheep to do this properly. "This" being, teach him to shed. But here is what it looked like today. I backed up to the fence and put the sheep between Star and I. I have 1 high-headed, Suffolk-cross ewe that likes to lead the way, and I let her lead. I then stopped as many of the Dorper lambs as I could and tried to get Star to come into the tiny space resembling a hole. Nothing doing. He just laid there eyeing both groups determinedly before finally saying "to hell with it" and flanking around to put them back together. That's OK. I could tell he at least thought about it for about a mili-second, before flying off to do what in his mind was surely the right thing. And, make no mistake about it, it is the right thing to do 99.9% of the time. At this point, no matter what he does, I will absolutely NOT correct him, be upset with him in any way, or even show the slightest irritation. Right or wrong, whatever he does, he will get praise just for being ready.

Week 71

2010-03-30T12:17:00.001-07:00

Photo credit, Amanda Milliken

This is the last of my Sonoma series, but in as much as I am still recovering from the trip, I did not get much dog training in this week. I have chosen instead to write about tips to maximize the dog trialing experience for you and everyone else.

Here's an excerpt:

There is a finite amount of daylight on any given day, and I prefer to be as efficient as I can with the amount I have to run my dogs. I am always ready when the sheep are, and no matter how near or far I am to the post before my run, I am sending my dog the instant the sheep are set and settled. I have practiced this timing over the years, but I am good at it, because I am aware of it. I desire not to waste another competitior's, or the trial host's time. At Sonoma, with more than 40 dogs to run on each field each day, in early Spring, and with a lunch break lasting a good hour, there's no time to waste fiddling around at the truck, comparing notes with other hands, setting up your photo-op, or glad-handing the judge on the way to the post. There are folks behind me who are just as excited to run as I am, and I owe it to them to use my time, and theirs, wisely.

Week 70

2010-03-24T11:43:00.001-07:00

We were entered at the Wine Country Sheepdog Trial last weekend on California's stunning central coast, in the heart of the state's world famous wine country. The weather was perfect, the sheep were grand, the trial was spectacular, and Star ran his 18-month-old heart out for me to finish 7th among 14 entries in the nursery.

Here's an excerpt:

Maybe because of the unfamiliar sheep, or the presence of a set-out guy and dog, little Star man erred on the side of caution and slowed considerably on his away-to-me outrun. Left was a good option, and right went past the set-out pen, but I went that way anyway, because it has always been his preferred side. The sheep were only 150 yards, and I knew he would easily spot them and focus his attention, so I wasn't worried about passing the set-out pen, and he didn't even glance at it on his way by. It was well beyond that when I worried that he would trot, or even stop, and gave him a redirect, which was all he needed to hit another gear and finish his outrun nicely. He overflanked slightly though, and the sheep wanting to go that way anyway, were drawn off line costing more points. The sheep drew determinedly to my right, and Star took the flank 2 or 3 times to cover. Because he gave ground each time he flanked, they were outpacing him on the way back to the set out, and he eventually lost them to the pen. There at least he had them stopped, and I'm not quite sure what he did to bring them to the bottom side, but after a second, there they were. Assuming he would never get them off the pen, I took a "retire" step away from the post, before I saw that he had them heading my way. I stayed put and did some enthusiastic shushing, which meant all the world to that little dog, and on he came. I was approached later by more than one hand expressing that it was a good job for him to have gotten them away from that pen. I agree.

Week 69

2010-03-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

Are you ready Star? Well, are you? Only 3 more practice days before the Sonoma Sheepdog Trial, and we surely took advantage of this one. There is no training going on now at the practice field, only fine tuning and confidence building. With Star, I am keeping things short, sweet, light and happy.

This week's lessons:

Make it snappy
Mixing it up
Are we having fun yet?

Here's an excerpt:

Star man is handling easy for me at this point. He reminds me of a rally car with good speed, great steering, and very precise braking. I schooled him on responsiveness in preparation for the upcoming trial, and mixed up the whistles and flanks adding a shush as needed to keep him keen. I gave him clear whistles in rapid succession, and what I was doing was keeping his confidence up while making things snappy. I carefully kept all my whistles soft, because to do otherwise would likely scare him, but I was flanking and stopping him, changing his direction, speeding him up and slowing him down with whistles that came in rapid succession.

Week 68

2010-03-07T13:02:00.001-08:00

The good news is that my entries were accepted into the Sanoma Sheepdog Trial held in Santa Rosa later this month. This trial is one of the biggest, best run trials on the West Coast, and I am very excited to be going. It is a 70-dog trial. Mirk will run in open, Star in the nursery. This week was spent in preparation.

This week's lessons:

Wide, but not that wide
Over the river and through the rye
The start is the start

Here's an excerpt:

He came to the top on one of the outruns to discover that the sheep had lined up in the dreaded 3 - 4 defense. That is 3 had drifted some distance from 4. I watched while Star figured it out. I helped, but only with a few quiet walk-up whistles, because I thought it a better lesson for him to learn on his own. I was happy to see him eye both sets determinedly, and work the corners until everyone came together. When I first started Star we followed the lesson plan on never leaving anything behind, which was his inclination anyway. You can teach it to them, they can be predisposed as Star was, or they are born knowing, but it's an important lesson for the dogs to internalize from the outset if you want to find success working livestock.

Week 67

2010-03-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

Price, the old master

This week I am looking back on the progression of my abilities as a sheepdog trainer. It has been a long, twisty road from the beginning until now, and just about everything has changed for me. It all started with Price, the dog shown here, and together we learned how to sustain a successful working relationship. It was harder for me than for him to learn how to do that.

Here's an excerpt:

Things were beginning to get easier for me and my dog, and Price was really starting to blossom. He had been like a race horse carrying too much weight to the post. He was running, but not easily, and not at anything close to top speed. As I began to let up, open up and leave him alone, his entire demeanor changed. The one thing that never changed was his unwavering commitment to the job at hand, and now he was free to do it. Suddenly, I was conducting the orchestra, and the music was soaring.

Week 66

2010-02-22T12:31:00.001-08:00

I have acquired a ram here at BorderSmith kennels to cover my Dorper ewes. He is 1/4 Dorper, 3/4 Cheviot, and very handsome. Star made the proper introductions this week, and got his bluff in early. Working in the big field this week, we had help in the form of a good friend come to work her own dogs. She held sheep for Star who had a test on the lessons of the past few weeks.

This week's lessons:

Show me what you learned
Pass with flying colors
Kick back and chill out

Here's an excerpt:

Making every attempt to tighten him up on his outrun, I set him up to my right, as if I were going to send away-to-me. Then I gave him a walk up and a shush, before blowing a come-bye whistle after about 20 yards, followed by a shush. Where previously he would have squared off and headed for the hills, this time on the come-bye whistle, he bent out looking uphill for the sheep running freely on a nice path. The field is terraced, and as he neared the top of the first one, he pulled in a bit when he lost sight of the sheep. I was happy to see it because at this point I will take too tight over too wide, and he wasn't too tight anyway, but was just pulling in from loss of visual contact. I blew a come-bye re-direct, and again he did not square off, but simply bent out on a nice path to his sheep. Once he regained sight of the sheep, he kicked himself out further, and I blew another soft come-bye whistle to support that decision. He finished nicely on balance at the top and passed the test with an A+.

Week 65

2010-02-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year in Southern California that makes foxtails, rattlesnakes, and brutal summer time heat all worth living through. While the rest of the country is buried under snow and cold, we have warm sunshine, gentle breezes, and loads of green, green grass. Star has become a little unhinged in his work, and instead of continuing down that path, we backed up and started some things over.

This week's lessons:

Be direct.
It's a lot more work that way.
Shedding? What's shedding?

Here's an excerpt:

In the small field, and with shedding on the agenda, I started the day with a few small gathers and some driving. Star continues to grow stronger from shoving my heavy Dorpers around, and commits to some pretty nice work behind them. I noticed a tendency today to slide off to one side or the other, however, instead of staying in place and finding his power. I asked him to drive and stayed within 20 or 30 feet of him giving him a little "hey" when he took a step to either side. The nice thing about Star is the smallest correction garners the biggest benefit, and that tiny, little correction deterred him each time from a mis-directed step causing him to stay true to the line. Just beautiful. A tune up was necessary, but it wasn't a complete engine tear-down, just the quarter turn of a screw.

Week 64

2010-02-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

This was a week of ups and downs for Star and for me. I ended the week feeling a bit like Star looks in this photograph, confused, but hopeful. I returned Timmy to his breeder deciding that it is better to let fate play it's hand, than to keep one that does not fit into my program. Weather and my lingering cold kept Star from doing much in the way of training.

This week's lessons:

It never hurts to look
Don't slow me down
All is well that ends well

Here's an excerpt:

Instead of heading where the sheep were waiting right in the middle of the field, he took off for the farthest reaches of the pasture, checking every nook, and cranny, and corner, and dip. He looked around every boulder and beneath every tree just to be sure I wasn't trying to trick him. The interesting thing about his foray was the fact that he was maneuvering at top speed, never slowing, never hesitating, and never questioning, so I just let him go. Had I thought he was lost, or simply running out too wide, I would have stopped him to help, but it was clear to me that he was playing the game I have so diligently taught him over the last few weeks. He was actively looking for sheep, and in my opinion, running terrain.

Week 63

2010-01-31T11:24:00.000-08:00

Photo credit; Jan Elliott

All the look, listen, trust me lessons paid off this week as Star was put to the test. The sheep shifted far from the set out, and he had to take several stop whistles, walk-up and re-directs to find them. Using his determination and focus, and my vantage point, we collaborated to find them, which made Star the winner. Game over for that day.

This week's lessons:

Stop, listen and look
Never, ever give up
It's always fun when you win

Here's an excerpt:

I see too many people hesitate to help their dog, and I don't understand why. It's like the vacume cleaner that won't pick up the penny. Instead of just bending down to get it, we keep running over it, shake the nozzle, or pick it up and inspect it before running over the penny again. Picking up the penny is the vacume cleaner's job, right? I think it must be the same with our dogs. After all, they are supposed to handle the sheep, but if they are struggling, it's no benefit to let them continue. Help them, teach them, and continue until they can manage it on their own. Never be afraid to help your dog. Unlike standing by, getting frustrated, blowing ever harsher whistles, raising your voice, and blaming the dog, there's no shame in helping.

Week 62

2010-01-24T12:12:00.001-08:00

We received lots of moisture this week, as the heavens opened and deluged us with angels, I mean rain. Southern Californian's NEVER complain about rain. Or at least we shouldn't, we only get about 5 inches per year. The Zamora Sheepdog Trial is next month, so we worked when we could. It was more of the same; challenging Star on the outrun.

This week's lessons:

The pressure release valve
Swamp work
Interference

Here's an excerpt:

Off he went, nice and wide, and directly in the path of the hunters that were now walking towards Star. "This will be interesting," I thought, but also that it would be good for him to handle interference. Carrying huge bags slung over their shoulders, the hunters looked like camouflaged Santas, and Star slowed noticeably when he spotted them. The hunters slowed too, and I can only imagine what they were thinking. Apparently, though, they weren't too scary, because Star moved past them without deviating from his path, shifted back into high gear and finished his outrun nicely. I promise you, that experience will come in handy sometime, somewhere.

Week 61

2010-01-17T11:51:00.001-08:00

Listen and trust. Listen carefully to my whistles, and trust that I will help you find sheep that you can't see. Those are the lessons impressed upon Star this week and he internalized them beautifully. I sent him blindly, I sent him far and wide, and I sent him for sheep in areas of the practice field that he didn't even know existed. Clearly, it became an enjoyable game to him as he took each re-direct and encouragement to "look" for his sheep with eager enthusiasm.

This week's lessons:

Look
Listen
Trust

Here's an excerpt:

More distance and more trust today and I'm pleased to report that little Star-man handled it well. We worked from the other end of the 40 acre field, from bottom to top, where the hearing is spotty. While the field rises up, it does so in terraces with little peaks and valleys and the odd boulder outcropping to challange you. I set the sheep far to the right and completely obscured by a small rise. I couldn't see them, and neither could Star when I untied him. I set him up for a left-hand outrun, showing him the way with the direction of my steps, and told him to "look." I waited until his head swiveled in the right direction, then sent him with a quiet "come-bye." He ran out with authority and speed, requiring no help whatsoever to land spot on balance behind his sheep. I did little to straighten the fetch line, because I wanted to reward him for a job well done. Sometimes when we get too picky about all the little things in practice, the dogs feel over burdened. With the youngsters especially, I like to let them have their head quite a lot to make sure they are having fun and figuring things out on their own.

Week 60

2010-01-11T14:07:00.001-08:00

This week I gave Star a break after all the hard work he made in preparation for last week's dog trial. This edition of the RTC contained my perspective of the trial itself together with Mirk's results. He is the open dog I ran.

Here's an excerpt:

Mirk ran 13th on Friday, so I had the opportunity to see a good number of hands maneuver the small and deceptively tricky course ahead of me. Just like every year, the lambs were recalcitrant without an older sheep to guide them and were set on hay where they would just as soon stay, thank you very much. As usual, many dogs struggled to lift them. Most of what I saw at the lift were hands who have interfered with their dogs much too much, taking the power out of them in training, sacrificing effectiveness for perceived obedience or perfection. It always saddens me to see Border Collie dogs wearing at the lift, eyeing their master over the sheep in case they're wrong, finally surrendering to lie down and wait for the inevitable, whatever that is to them. I hate it actually, and I see it a lot. Then the discussion afterward that goes something like this; "My sheep were so tough, did you see that?" "Joe Hand sure got lucky. His sheep just marched around like 4H lambs." No credit given to the good dogs, and none to the effective trainer and handler. And it's the same people saying the same things, who perform with consistent mediocrity as a result of their self-serving excuses. I see it at every trial I go to.

Week 59

2010-01-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

At 15 month's of age, and a scant 13 months after receiving him as a puppy, Star won his first-ever dog trial. This weekend he won day 1 of the nursery division at Jennifer and Ron Ewer's On the Border Sheepdog Trial. I've heard it said that the nursery is the potpourri of herding and so it was with Star. From the 6 of 8 dogs that finished in the 2nd nursery, Star was dead last.

This week's lessons:

focus when distracted
Just like practice
That's a lot of sheep

Here's an excerpt:

"From the entire weekend, there is one sight that still makes me laugh and will likely continue to bring me joy. On the first day Star and I exhausted our own sheep. As he approached the exhaust pen he was treated for the first time ever to the sight of hundreds of sheep milling about. The look on his face reminded me of the feeling I experience each and every time I visit the Grand Canyon, disbelief, awe, some kind of rapture. There is something so very innocent and pure about running a talented nursery dog. Nothing is taken for granted and each accomplishment is a happy surprise. The youngsters are clean, fresh, untainted, and there is never a time when the dogs are more reflective of our own abilities and shortcomings as trainers and handlers. After our second run and even though it was clear we hadn't run as well as the day before, I walked over to the blind where a friend was watching, and said; "That was so much fun." "

Week 58

2009-12-27T10:22:00.001-08:00

Star's first dog trial is next weekend and he is entered in the nursery. Am I nervous about it? Nah, he's trained, ready and capable. He's also quite young for such a feat and I have no other expectations for him other than he will learn.

This week's lessons:

I'm right here
Fast and fun
You're a big dog now

Here's an excerpt:

After a rest at the truck, I sent him over the same distance again, and again he began without having seen the sheep. He started very well, but 2/3 of the way out, pulled in sharply and looked back to me. On my stop and re-direct whistle he began again strongly, soon picked up his sheep, kicked himself out and finished well at the top with a light courtesy whistle from me just to make sure. Because he became unsure, I blew that whistle just to let him know that I approved, and give him a confidence boost. Does it bother me that he is still turning in sometimes? Not even a little bit. He's 15 months old and, at this point, if he needs a little help on a 300 yard outrun, I am more than happy to supply it. The difference between the outruns on day 98 and 99 are that today I sent him blindly. It seems that when he can see his sheep from the outset, he is more confident. I will continue to give him a mix of blind and not to keep him challenged and thinking.

Week 57

2009-12-20T00:50:00.001-08:00

Star and I went visiting this week and he had the chance to work fresh sheep in a new field and to lift off other hands and dogs that were holding sheep for us. All new experiences and all in preparation for his first dog trial at month's end. He really took it all in stride and looked like an old hand doing so.

This week's lessons:

Standing out in a crowd
Go ahead and have fun
Quit picking on your little brother

Here's an excerpt:

We went to a friend's place to work today and Star had an opportunity to lift sheep that were being held by other handlers with dogs. Before I sent him on his first outrun, a call came on the radio; "where do you want them?" I answered; "where all the dogs are." Since we will not likely get another chance before the dog trial on January 1 and 2, it was my intention to go from 0, (no one holding sheep,) to 60, (everybody holding sheep,) in one session. Star had to learn some time and there was no time like the present.

Week 56

2009-12-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

As a wee pup in Wisconsin, Star is 2nd from the right

The outrun is coming into place for little Star man and all of a sudden he looks like a big dog to me. He has always handled like a sports car and becomes more precise with age.

This week's lessons:

I will help you
All the way to balance
No one's default

Here's an excerpt:

I had Mirk leave the sheep at the bottom of the hill about 300 yards away and then spent a bit of time making sure Star saw them way down there. He has become very adept at spotting sheep. I sent him away to me and he cast out brilliantly with good, strong pace and disappeared down the hill. He popped up again on the next rise and was right on track for a perfect outrun. He disappeared again and apparently lost sight of his sheep, because when he showed up again, he had turned in and was looking back to me for guidance. When he got it, he kicked out and shifted back to high gear. When he was near balance, I remembered this time to give him another away-to-me whistle to make him feel good about himself and let him know he was doing well. He interpreted it correctly, overflanked a little, then came on for a nice lift.

Week 55

2009-12-06T11:31:00.001-08:00

All of a sudden I have 6 dogs in my kennel and I have a lot of chores to do. 3 of them are actively in training and then there is semi-retired Price, young Tim, the new kid, and little Dexie, the min pin, who really doesn't count. I am sending Star on ever longer outruns now with his at-hand work fully developed. As the distance grows longer, the holes begin to show up and Star man is overcoming them 1 at a time.

This week's lessons:

Over flanking is better than stopping short
Your body doesn't lie
What I'm talking about

Here's an excerpt:

We worked again on getting him deeper at the top of his away-to-me outrun. The first time I sent him, he flattened out, which causes his tail to rise and his gate to become ragged when he comes to balance at an odd angle to the sheep. It is plain to see from his body when he is wrong. This time I stood by the sheep and backed up as he came near balance after speaking to him at the point of his outrun where he flattens. I am still allowing him to turn in and come on to the lift with intention, but noticed that he defaults to a come-bye flank when I steady him with a whistle just after the lift. A quiet "here, here," brings him back on task, but I would like to avoid the default flank all together. We practiced a steady with an immediate "here, here," and after 1 or 2 tries eliminated the default flank on the steady whistle. Back to the outruns. I sent him a few more times with me at the sheep correcting at his "flatten" spot, then tied him in the shade to soak. I was interested to see if he would internalize the lesson and improve. After a short break I sent him away-to-me from my feet and was gratified to see him carry all the way beyond his sheep to finish in a nice arc on balance.

Week 54

2009-11-30T12:36:00.001-08:00

I am continuing to improve Star's outruns in the big field. Exhibiting confidence issues, he still turns in or stops to look at me if he loses sight of his sheep while running out. At 13 months, it is no big deal and I am happy to report that he will take a re-direct without hesitation, which exhibits his confidence in me at least.

This week's lessons:

Wider and deeper
Away-to-me revisited
Some things are just easy

Here's an excerpt:

We worked today on the away-to-me outrun. I haven't been doing much of it because it was to the left where he struggled the most, and so where I hadn't before, today I noticed a tendency to come in flat at the top. I shortened things way up, stood near the sheep and sent him from a hundred yards or so to the away-to-me side. It was my intention to give him a voice correction at the point where he flattens out, but Star man is much smarter than that, and took my presence as a reason to cast out nice and deep. I repeated the exercise and gave him the voice correction anyway, then let him have his sheep on the fetch while I turned my back and walked to the trailer. Star performed the task of loading them with his usual efficiency and off we went.

Week 53

2009-11-23T10:31:00.001-08:00

Introducing Tim! He is the newest addition to my kennel here at BorderSmith and I am thrilled to have him. He is 4 months old and a granson of a former International Supreme Champion, Bobby Henderson's ##Sweep. I have previously raised and trained 2 ##Sweep progeny, and I can not express how excited I am to have another. Star was on injured reserve all week with a puffy ankle, and I laid him off to rest it. He came right again after just a few days and will be back at work next week. In the mean time, please welcome Tim.

Here's an excerpt from this week's Real Time Canine:

Little Timmy is a model citizen and Joy did a great job with him. He understands correction, stays quiet in his kennel, walks on a lead, keeps his feet on the ground, (for the most part,) and has been either under my feet or in my lap since I got him. Anything can happen, and he is as much a gamble as a pup born of questionable heritage. I hope his good breeding will shine through, however, and I will give him every opportunity. I can't believe I have him actually. It's hard to imagine that he even came to be after such a series of twists and turns. They say to let the pup pick you and in a way, Timmy did just that. I picked and chose and looked, listened and watched. I spoke to strangers and friends alike and then all of a sudden, here he is, sleeping peacefully in a crate at my feet. It's right where he belongs, I think

Week 52-1 year in training video

2009-11-15T12:25:00.001-08:00

Almost one year ago today, on November 23, 2008, I traveled to San Diego Airport and collected Kensmuir Star after he was flown to me from Kensmuir Working Stockdogs in River Falls Wisconsin. His training began immediately. At 13 months of age, he is trained to nursery level and entered into his very fist dog trial. For the past year I have kept a weekly journal of his progress, The Real Time Canine, which has been my pleasure to write and provide for my subscribers. I appreciate you more than I can say. Thank you for being such an attentive, supportive and generous audience. In honor of Star's first year I asked my friend, Jan to make a video. I present it here with my deep gratitude for her generous efforts, her time and talent. Please enjoy the results of Star's first year in training.

Week 51

2009-11-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

This was an up and down week for Star and I. I am trying to stretch out the distance on his outruns, and Star is telling me in his way that he is not ready. We had some mis-steps early on, but finished the week in grand style.

This week's lessons:

Follow my lead
Trust me
Learning the way

Here's an excerpt:

I worked Mirk first and left the sheep about 300 yards away, up the hill and settled down in a little dip. Star came off his chain looking for sheep, and not finding them. He had absolutely no idea where to look, worsened by the fact that the sheep and old cover are exactly the same shade of pale. Anticipating that he would cross, I sent him come-bye while being watchful and it didn't take him long to turn in. His odometer is set at about 100 yards and I am working to re-set it. I gave him several stop, re-directs, which he took, but never far enough. He never saw the sheep almost the entire way out, and when he did, it was all over. His tenuous confidence was shaken by then, but relieved to find his sheep, he hit another gear and flew across the mid-line of the outrun to land on the away-to-me side and begin his fetch. OK, so I sent him too far.

Week 50

2009-11-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

Star took some initiative this week and impressed me with his maturity. He demonstrated "feel" at the top of his outrun by gauging flightiness of the sheep on his own without any prompting from me.

This week's lessons:

Turn in, gather up
I can do it on my own
Load 'em

Here's an excerpt:

I noticed a tendency to read his sheep at the top today, and instead of turning in and rushing things, I saw him gather himself up before the lift. I have not stopped or otherwise steadied him on his lift at all, because I suspicion that I will need more dog there than less with him, especially when he gets a first look at range ewes. I have left him completely alone at the top to encourage all the confidence I can, but today it appears that he may develop some feel on his own. Star has never encountered sheep that he cannot move, but sooner than later he is going to encounter sheep that intimidate him, so I am doing everything I can to engender power.

Week 49

2009-10-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

More than Star this week, it was I who was learning, or at least being reminded...again. While correcting another dog that was here for lessons, I noticed the effect on Star who was feeling the tension and fairly unhappy. I kenneled him where he felt safe, toned down my efforts and remembered how much intellingence in Border Collies is tempered with sensitivity.

This week's lessons:

Body language
I don't like it when you do that
All is well that ends well

Here is an excerpt:

All is well that ends well and even though Jan's dog started rough, she finished well. By the end of the lesson she was flanking between the fence and the sheep, tucking in the ends and listening beautifully without any desire to chase. I worked Star the next day and he was as keen as ever with no apparent damage done by the tension from the day before. Having said that, I am sure I could create permanent damage if I continued to subject him to tension and going forward I will take precautions to make sure that doesn't happen. I know that my little man is sensitive to pressure and needs encouragement, not intimidation. This week I had a good lesson in that and yet another reminder to be very, very careful with pressure and correction. A little goes a long way with most Border Collies.

Week 48

2009-10-25T12:44:00.001-07:00

I had the tremendous pleasure of judging the 2009 Strang Ranch Sheepdog Trial in Carbondale, Colorado. In the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains and just 20 minutes from Aspen, the scenery was world class, as was the hospitality of the Strang family that has owned this little piece of paradise since the mid-1960s. Professional horse trainer and trial producer, Bridget Strang worked very hard to put on her first-ever sheepdog trial and it went off without a hitch.

Star got a respite while I was away and, together with all the other critters at BorderSmith Kennels, was being cared for by my beautiful daughter, Megan. Thanks honey. He will be back hard at work next week.

Week 47

2009-10-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

This was a busy week for Star. As the date of his very first dog trial approaches, I am ramping up his training and pushing the limits. Star is responding well, and is slowly but surely growing into his power.

This week's lessons:

Tight spaces
How far can you go?
How fast can you run?

Here is an excerpt:

Finally, back to the big field again today on a gorgeous, Southern California Fall day. High clouds, intermittent sunshine, cool breeze, lower temperatures. I downed Star beside the trailer, out of sight of the sheep to get them out, but when I went in to get them, I looked down and there he was glaring at them from the back of the trailer. Back out, downed him again, back in to get them, and there he was again. This is significant, because little Star man is becoming pushy and I'm very glad to be able to report that. Third time was the charm and he stayed put long enough for me to unload the sheep, then flew around to head them and drive them briskly away on my steady and walk up whistles. Initially, I had to encourage him to drive, now I get to steady him sometimes. Good news.

Week 46

2009-10-04T12:47:00.001-07:00

All is right with our world this week and Star is continuing to train up smoothly. As the weather has cooled, I am able to put a little more training pressure on him and our sessions are a little longer now. He is only 1 year old after all, and I am still giving him lots of opportunity to grow, strengthen and mature.

This week's lessons:

Here, not there
Don't be fast, be smooth
Tracking sheep

Here's an excerpt:

"Star was strong and snappy today. He is showing me more confidence every time I work him, which I did today on my quietest whistles. He flanked on the fetch easily and did so while fetching and off the pressure. He took beautiful half-flanks while driving and quietly handled my sheep in whatever manner I asked of him. I sped him up and slowed him down and his gathers were brisk and gorgeous. He was so precise on his flanks while driving and it's a joy to see his precision when I steady him and walk him up. His turns were flawless today, square without giving ground and just on the edge of the pressure where I like it."

Week 45

2009-09-29T12:16:00.001-07:00

A good week all around here at BorderSmith. Allen Mills', Sis, an own daughter of my Price, was 10th at the National Nursery Finals and followed that up with an amazing 3rd place finish in the double lift finals of the open National Finals the same weekend besting 148 of some of the very best dogs in the country. Congratulations to Allen and thanks for doing my old boy proud.

Played out on my far smaller home stage, Star came on nicely and did some good work. He came off adversity one day retaining his lessons and moving beyond them with confidence. Then he got even better as the week progressed.

This week's lessons:

Head's up at the gate
Penning
Squeezed through a tube or shot from a cannon?

Here's an excerpt:

After enthusiastic gathers in each direction, we practiced off-pressure flanks on the fetch, and I reminded him again about handling sheep gently there. I'm thrilled to report that he needed that lesson again, as I much prefer too much dog to too little. Great! I added a little twist today and we practiced penning and flanking at hand. With sheep near the mouth of the pen, Star was a little reluctant to flank, preferring to hold them to me without regard to the angle, or my direction. He certainly wasn't completely unwilling though, and made some very nice moves.

The weather is finally cooling as we move into fall. I am looking forward to leaving the 3 acre field behind and moving to the big field and new challenges that it provides.

Week 44

2009-09-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

Star passed a mile-stone this week. With 60 days of training on sheep under his belt, he has crossed some hurdles and is really starting to come on. He learned a few new lessons this week, and polished his skills as we at last had some cool weather and got back on the big field for a day.

This week's lessons:

Trust me, I know where they are
It's a big ol' world out there
Flanking against all instinct

Here's an excerpt:

At first, he flanked to a point, then tried to reverse instead of going into the tight quarters and tons of pressure from me and the sheep. It only took a bit of encouragement and repeated flank commands from me to get him all the way through, and after that it was easy. Then I made it harder. Once the sheep begin to move away from me from Star's pressure, it's as if he is being squeezed through the hole until he hits a certain point, then shoots out the other side. If he had a thought bubble above his head while doing this, it would read; "Wheeeee!!." There after it became easier to get him to come through, and he did so brilliantly in both directions without the least bit of hesitation. To make it harder, I flanked him through, then stopped him when he was precisely between me and the sheep, and had him drive the ewes away. No problem. Star man was a very good boy today.

Week 43

2009-09-13T11:18:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Star man is 1 year old today and what a nice young dog he has grown into. Needing only practice and polishing, this little dog has come a very long way in a very short time and I am very, very proud of him.

This week's lessons:

The quick step
Don't be fast, be smooth

Here's an excerpt:

Star got stuck in the shade today and was treated accordingly. I went to him, got after him and sent him on his way. The good news is that after driving, flanking inside in both directions in route and being recalled, he came right to me. When he gets to me now, I send him on an outrun without him stopping him before I send, which is very exciting and fun for him. The idea being that he will want to recall off the drive and come to me, because he gets to GET SHEEP! Always fun for a good dog. So now he's running to me in anticipation instead of sulking off to the gate in confusion. It's a never-ending process this youngster training, and I am endlessly balancing correction with progression and fun.

Week 42

2009-09-06T12:12:00.001-07:00

It's Star's birthday this month, and in fact next Sunday he will be 1 year old. This dog has come a very long way in a very short time, and I am thrilled with him. I have asked a great deal of him and he has answered almost every call. Now I have great expectations of him, and it is up to me to help him find those answers as well.

This week's lessons:

You have to do it anyway
I can do it myself
Sheep intimidation 101

Here's an excerpt:

This dog loves to gather, and while I'm still keeping everything small, he lights out with enthusiasm and speed that is a joy for me to see. In my mind's eye I can see him speeding to the top at the Bluegrass and Meeker, swiveling his head and looking the whole way. I took a minute to widen his outrun to the left today, which is still a bit tight midway out, and the unfortunate side effect of that was that he overflanked and gave ground on the come-bye flanks at hand. As Star ages and we move to bigger areas, it will be interesting to see if this resolves itself and I have every reason to believe it will.

Week 41

2009-08-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

With the temperatures in triple digits, it was simply too hot to work Star, or any of the dogs. So, this week I take a look back at when we started, how far we have come and where we are today. Here is an excerpt:

At almost exactly 11 months of age, I recently put Star's name on a sanctioned nursery entry form to be run not far from my home over New Years. My little guy is growing up and has come full circle from a rambunctious puppy, to an over-burdened youngster, to a well-trained young dog with confidence and ever-burgeoning self-esteem. It feels to me that he has turned a corner to enter the next phase of his life.

I will be judging a dog trial in Carbondale, Colorado, 30 minutes from Aspen this October 16-18. It is being held in preparation for a possible National Finals bid in 2011. Please visit the Strang Ranch website for more information and an entry form. It is a breathtaking venue, and whether you plan to watch or compete, I hope to see you there.

Week 40

2009-08-23T13:09:00.001-07:00

Star man learned a valuable lesson this week about who sets the pace and when to call it a day. It's hot here, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but I make the rules, and all of the decisions. This week's lessons:

Flow and go
When not to brush up

Here's an excerpt:

Star man made a very nice move today. I sent him on a little gather without noticing that the sheep had split. A few were brushed up under a tree about 25 yards behind the others. He started to turn in on the first group when his head swiveled as he noticed the others. Without any help from me, he smoothly kicked himself back out and gathered them all. I almost cried. I get so excited when a youngster's little bulb begins to glow. Today it was all about drive, drive, drive. We cross-drove, drove away, flanked off the pressure and turned the fetch into a cross-drive, drove sheep away after turning the post, flanked beautifully inside and out while driving, and we had fun doing it! There is still a little hesitancy about starting a flank while driving, but it is diminishing each time I work him.

I put Star's name on an entry form this week. I plan to run him at the Canine's and Ewe Trial over New Years. I have no expectation for success, but Star is ready for some experience and this will do wonders for his self-esteem.

Week 39

2009-08-23T13:01:00.001-07:00

It was a breakthrough week for Star man. His maturity and confidence caught up to his talent this week and he is beginning to make a dog, as they say.

This week's lessons:

Flow and go
A little feel

Here's an excerpt:

I can send him on a gather and get a decent outrun in both directions. Originally he was better to the left than to the right, but that has reversed, and he's a little tight on the come-bye side. I will leave that alone until I see how he is in the big field. He is running out and fetching with enthusiasm. He will flank off the pressure on the fetch to straighten the line. There is some hesitation with it some of the time, but some of the time, he gives it to me easily. Those flanks were sometimes too wide and it wasn't from the pressure of the sheep. It appeared to be out of caution and uncertainty, so I'm not worried about it. When he gave ground on the flanks, I simply said his name, or "here, here" to pull him in. Today he was turning sheep around me and driving them off willingly and happily. That was nice to see from a dog that was reluctant to drive just a week ago. They change so much at this age. He was driving away a hundred yards or so and would flank on the drive as well, inside and out, and I could stop him anywhere on his flanks to straighten the line.

Week 38

2009-08-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

Star got over the hump this week and began to show improved confidence and maturity. My efforts to keep him on his feet and get him driving really started to bear fruit and by week's end, he was showing great style behind his sheep and some very pretty inside flanks.

This week's lessons:

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
"There," not there

Here's an excerpt:

Star and I finished up this week making great strides, so to speak. As the week wore on it became easier and easier to keep him on his feet while driving. I observed and learned the rhythm of when he would lie down, and anticipated it with a walk up whistle, which by week's end, kept him driving forward. He still needed the occasional shush, clap and "come on," but with less and less frequency and animation on my part. There was a bit of correction involved by Saturday as well. I was able to walk directly behind him while he was driving without him becoming fearful, so when I did give him a "come on" from behind him, I said it, and he reacted to it as if it were a correction. In other words he would change his mind and continue driving to avoid it. Star did not have sufficient confidence driving for me to correct him for lying down previous to this, but it worked well by the end of the week.

A few subscribers have suggested that I recount my exploits with the other dogs, while Star is being re-set. In the next few weekly digests I will talk about Imported Mirk. What he was like when he first came across, and what it took for us to become a team. Please subscribe now to learn about Star's progress and now, to learn about Mirk's big adventure.

Week 37

2009-08-02T10:46:00.001-07:00

The dogs days of summer are upon here in sunny Southern California, and it's hot. For this reason, because I am starting over with Star after 2 weeks off, and because of his tender age we are taking it slow. I see increased maturity and confidence in Star after his summer vacation and his progress is slow, but steady. Without question the dog has talent, and now we begin to find out whether I do as a trainer. He is not necessarily my type of dog and is challenging for me to train in many ways. The bottom line is that this youngster is teaching me a great deal.

This week's lessons:

Working and learning
A bit of tenderness
Slow and steady

Here's an excerpt:

All week, we've begun each day with simply wearing sheep to me. Initially, it takes a bit of encouragement to keep Star on his feet, but as he warms up, it gets easier for him. Every day, using voice and whistles, I practiced his flanks and finished with a couple small gathers with me positioning my body near the sheep to reinforce and keep his outruns wide and deep in both directions. He prefers to slice on the away-to-me side some of the time, but a quiet "ahhh" from me, and he hitches up and kicks out. His come-bye flanks have always been clean and remain so. What I've noticed about Star since his 2 weeks off is a bit more maturity and a bit more confidence. I'm choosing to bring him back slowly. Partly because it's so hot and partly because I am basically starting over with him. In a sense he is getting a refresher of everything he learned early on, as well as a chance to internalize each step at a slower pace than the one I initially set. At this point, he is responding to the approach and I see improved confidence, maturity and skill in him every day.

I have been asked to write about the other dogs and their training in addition to Star's daily lessons. In future digests I will talk a bit about Mirk and what it is like to handle a mature and talented imported dog that was trained by someone else.