Jude and I played around in the fog at Fido's Farm today. Movie link below...
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Friday, July 5, 2013
Double the Dog, Double the Fun!
In May this year I took the plunge and bought a trained sheepdog. Having a toddler, a full time job, and training Jude too, it really made sense to get a 2nd trial dog that is ready for the trial field. Even better, it made sense to buy a dog that I have worked with and trialed already for the last few years!
Diane Pagel sold me her imported bitch Sava, a small black and white smooth coat who turned 6 this April. Sava is out of Aled Owen's Roy and his Dot (Dot is out of Aled's old Roy).
Sava was winning ProNovice trials with Diane and Diane was planning to move her to Open this year. It just turned out that I will be moving her into Open instead! I click very well with Sava and she is LOVING house-dog life. At home she is a perfect little dog; on sheep and even chickens though, we have some level-setting to do with one another! I think in 6 months time, after working with her regularly, we'll fully click on the field. She does most of what I ask out there; sometimes she thinks her way is better though.
So, now I have two trial dogs. **insert happy dance here**
Jude and I continue our journey. Diane and I have worked through his set-out person issues; at our last two trials, he lifted with no issues there. However, he is SO BIDDABLE and so willing to work for anyone, that at the last trial, he was taking the commands the set out person was giving to her dog on his outrun. She said "lie down" to her dog and alas, Jude laid down. Of course, he laid down as he was told but looked at me at the post with a total expression of confusion on his face. I retired the run because he looked totally confused and I didn't see anything good coming out of this. Since that trial, I'm having folks hold his sheep and talking / commanding their set out dog. While set out people aren't supposed to give commands, it does happen, and my dog shouldn't react to that person. Onward!!
Diane took some great pictures of Jude and Sava at the last trial I ran both of them at. This was the Turner Trial in Oregon, on June 1st, 2013. The trial field itself is quite short. However, the pressure of a small field and tricky hair sheep pushed my dogs quite a bit. Jude gripped out on the 3rd leg of the drive on run 1, then we had that set-out snafu on run 2 when I RT'd him. Sava had a good, solid first run but she gripped out on the 2nd run on the cross drive.
Diane Pagel sold me her imported bitch Sava, a small black and white smooth coat who turned 6 this April. Sava is out of Aled Owen's Roy and his Dot (Dot is out of Aled's old Roy).
Sava was winning ProNovice trials with Diane and Diane was planning to move her to Open this year. It just turned out that I will be moving her into Open instead! I click very well with Sava and she is LOVING house-dog life. At home she is a perfect little dog; on sheep and even chickens though, we have some level-setting to do with one another! I think in 6 months time, after working with her regularly, we'll fully click on the field. She does most of what I ask out there; sometimes she thinks her way is better though.
So, now I have two trial dogs. **insert happy dance here**
Jude and I continue our journey. Diane and I have worked through his set-out person issues; at our last two trials, he lifted with no issues there. However, he is SO BIDDABLE and so willing to work for anyone, that at the last trial, he was taking the commands the set out person was giving to her dog on his outrun. She said "lie down" to her dog and alas, Jude laid down. Of course, he laid down as he was told but looked at me at the post with a total expression of confusion on his face. I retired the run because he looked totally confused and I didn't see anything good coming out of this. Since that trial, I'm having folks hold his sheep and talking / commanding their set out dog. While set out people aren't supposed to give commands, it does happen, and my dog shouldn't react to that person. Onward!!
Diane took some great pictures of Jude and Sava at the last trial I ran both of them at. This was the Turner Trial in Oregon, on June 1st, 2013. The trial field itself is quite short. However, the pressure of a small field and tricky hair sheep pushed my dogs quite a bit. Jude gripped out on the 3rd leg of the drive on run 1, then we had that set-out snafu on run 2 when I RT'd him. Sava had a good, solid first run but she gripped out on the 2nd run on the cross drive.
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| Jude, Run 1. His lift was a bit hard, thus sheep took off fast! |
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| Jude on the fetch. |
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| Jude at the post turn |
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| Jude - first leg of drive... he made the panels. He is a good driving dog. |
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| Sava and I waiting for the sheep to set |
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| Sava at the lift |
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| Fetching girl :-) |
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| First leg of drive I think |
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| Panels made, straight down the middle too! |
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| Sheep ran back to set out on the first cross drive. Sava peeled off the wall with no drama. Such a good girl! |
Thursday, March 28, 2013
How to Cook a Sheepdog
Preparation Time: 1000's of hours.
Required Ingredients:
What the heck does that mean? What is SEASONING? I mean, sheepdogs are usually English (Scottish, Welsh, etc.), therefore they lack seasoning, er, flavor. [NOTE: I'm 1/2 English so I can get away with saying this]
Wait.
So, I can't just rely on a trusty box of ready-to-make hamburger-helper, or in this case, sheepdog-helper, and throw him in a pressure cooker so that in 15 minutes I have a seasoned, hearty, flavorful sheepdog treat? I can't "set it and forget it?"
Darn.
Jude turns 3 on May 18. We've competed in a few pro-novice trials and nursery trials last summer and a couple over the winter. When I haven't been sick as a dog (having a toddler has not been good for my immune system) I have worked my dog in all kinds of situations. Prepping him for singles, settling him down (he's a bit of a hot head) and getting him comfortable in tight situations. Also, trying to work through his outrun challenges.
I allow him to rest and "raise" before I knead the heck out of his big white dough-head.
I came to the realization that "miles, miles, miles" and "seasoning, seasoning, seasoning" takes time, like the braising of a very nice rib roast. If you rush the process, you may forget an important ingredient, or could could even burn and spoil your masterpiece.
Required Ingredients:
1 sheepdog
1 humble handler
3-5 sheep
Season to taste.
What the heck does that mean? What is SEASONING? I mean, sheepdogs are usually English (Scottish, Welsh, etc.), therefore they lack seasoning, er, flavor. [NOTE: I'm 1/2 English so I can get away with saying this]
Wait.
So, I can't just rely on a trusty box of ready-to-make hamburger-helper, or in this case, sheepdog-helper, and throw him in a pressure cooker so that in 15 minutes I have a seasoned, hearty, flavorful sheepdog treat? I can't "set it and forget it?"
Darn.
Jude turns 3 on May 18. We've competed in a few pro-novice trials and nursery trials last summer and a couple over the winter. When I haven't been sick as a dog (having a toddler has not been good for my immune system) I have worked my dog in all kinds of situations. Prepping him for singles, settling him down (he's a bit of a hot head) and getting him comfortable in tight situations. Also, trying to work through his outrun challenges.
I allow him to rest and "raise" before I knead the heck out of his big white dough-head.
I came to the realization that "miles, miles, miles" and "seasoning, seasoning, seasoning" takes time, like the braising of a very nice rib roast. If you rush the process, you may forget an important ingredient, or could could even burn and spoil your masterpiece.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Summer Trialing
Well. It's been quite some time since I last blogged. It's amazing how fast the days go and how much I am able to cram into any given week. Josie is nearly 10 months old now, growing like a weed. Her teeth are coming in, she's crawling all over the place and she is babbling up a storm, even saying Dada, and as her grandma claims, says the word "pretty." I am pretty sure she said dog the other day while eating in her high chair with Mattie looking on intently. Jude is particularly fond of Jo, letting her pat his head and feel his face. At a recent trial we brought Josie to, Jude was sitting next to her and guarded her from other dogs. He seems to adore her already, which is good since the master plan is to have her trial him in about 7 years!
I miss Scott a lot. It's the worst though when I'm driving the dog-car to the Farm or driving to a trial and he isn't in the back seat. I miss being able to reach back and feel his soft fur and big, hard head. I also miss him when I get coffee through the drive-through in Snoqualmie... he always looked forward to that as the baristas would always give him not just one, but two dog cookies. They also remarked about how nice he took his treats and how beautiful his eyes were. He now sits in his little cedar box atop the bookcase above his bed in our family room.
So, the weekend after Scott died I had my first weekend of trials with Jude, running him in Nursery. It was the MacDonald's Memorial Day Weekend trial. I ran Jude all three days. It was bumpy but we did post scores in two out of the three trials. It was clear to me too that Jude had a bit of a phobia about set out people, so that was our homework going forward to the next trial. All in all, I had Jude entered into 12 nursery trials in which my goal was to get him qualified for the national finals in September - just had to place high two times. Unfortunately, Jude's birthday is May 18, 2010 meaning this is his last year he could qualify for nursery finals. Running a 2 year old can be interesting for any handler too!
In early June Diane and I drove down to Turner, OR to compete in a small-course one-day trial. Not letting the course size fool you (yes, it was just about a 150 yard outrun and 70 yard drive), the compressed area and the fact the course was next to a busy playground with a fair going on beside it was a bit distracting to Jude who is influenced still by outside distractions. Again, Jude was confused at the lift, wondering if he was truly supposed to get those sheep that the set out person and set out dog had such nice control of already! Although it's a bit of a let down to not get your sheep down the field and complete your course, the fact that Jude looks back to me for help and takes my guidance proves he is partnering up, trusts me and signals that things are going to get better as he and I get more 'miles' on sheep.
Also, in early June, Diane took Jude to the Wessels Dirt Blowing trial and ran him three times there in Nursery. At that trial, he had issues at the set out again. The first day, but improved and completed the course the following two days. Jude was getting better and better at each trial, but he was clearly showing his young age and inexperience and the fact that my training with him hasn't been the most rigorous. I'm finding that it's quite difficult juggling a full time marketing job, an infant, being sick all the time (and yes, I am sick again) and then training your sheep dog when you don't own any sheep (we do have chickens though)! Considering all these "distractions," Jude is doing very well I think.
The next trial we ran in was the Eweful Acres trial at Sue and George's. This time, Diane ran Jude all three days as she had a good run with him on Friday and I was feeling sick still from a bad cold I caught in mid-June. Jude ran well for Diane but there were some trouble-areas again, including the lift and 1st leg of the drive, that were hard for Jude.
After Eweful Acres, the following weekend I had two more nursery runs on Whidbey Island. Now, the Whidbey trial has always been defeating for me and Scott, simply because those hair sheep RUN and Scott always had a hard time running fast enough to catch up to them when they bolted to the exhaust. Well, Jude ran very well, especially the first day and I think I got a higher score with him than I ever did with Scott on that field! Jude is a very fast dog and had no issues getting to those sheep and getting between them and draw. Jude is fantastic at feeling his sheep and covering the pressure on all elements of a run - he never fails to recognize those draws at a trial or at home during training; the only problem I have is getting him to trust me to let go of that pressure! The 2nd day of the Whidbey trial was a bit troubling from a points-accrued perspective. I think we crossed the course on two elements and that totally kills one's score. Regardless of the cross-overs though, my dog listened to me quite well, taking redirects on his outrun and even doing a look-back to get a ewe that took off. Again, indicators that he is trusting me, listening and trying his best.
After Whidbey I had two more opportunities to get Jude's Nursery legs. Honestly though, I had let go of qualifying Jude a few trials ago and changed my focus to using these opportunities to improve, train and have fun. I have to keep reminding myself he is only 2 and only gets to work sheep once a week and I don't want to ruin him by putting a ton of pressure on him in a trial environment - the last thing I want is for him to sour on the trial field. As he isn't the most confident dog right now, I know he will certainly grow into one if I work him the right way, which I think means don't put too much pressure on my dog and let him feel his sheep and get a hold of sheep. Again, building that partnership and trust is paramount. So, as I let the Nursery Finals goal go, our goal now is to run in the Finals in Open in 2015 - I think that's feasible!
So, my last nursery trial - the last 2 opportunities we had for our Nursery dream, was 4th of July weekend in Roseburg, OR at the Magnolia Farm trial. This was my first time running at this trial and it didn't disappoint! Jude and I did well on both runs we had, finishing 4th out of 13 dogs on Saturday and 3rd out of 11 dogs on Sunday. We were just out of qualifying but honestly, I was so happy with my dog and my handling.
The weekend after Magnolia Jude and I then ran in a time-points arena trial at the Mount Vernon Highland Games. Getting Jude on new sheep in a new environment was my goal for entering him here. Arena trials I liken to a pressure cooker really, and for a hot 2 year old dog, I knew this was going to be challenging! Our first run we gripped out because I put Jude in a bad spot and with a fleeing single leaning hard against a gate, Jude had no other option than to grip to peel her off. The 2nd round on Sunday, I think because of the grip on Saturday, Jude was over-conscious and slow, and we timed out at the 4th element. He and I both had a ton of fun at this trial and learned that we need to work on up-close, practical skills more!
Below are pictures taken at the Magnolia SDT and the Highland Games. So while we didn't win any of the trials we ran in, Jude definitely gets a winners gold-star from everyone who sees him run when it comes to enthusiasm and his pretty-boy style! I have to say, he is one of the best looking Border Collies I've ever seen (of course, I'm biased but he is stunning, really).
I miss Scott a lot. It's the worst though when I'm driving the dog-car to the Farm or driving to a trial and he isn't in the back seat. I miss being able to reach back and feel his soft fur and big, hard head. I also miss him when I get coffee through the drive-through in Snoqualmie... he always looked forward to that as the baristas would always give him not just one, but two dog cookies. They also remarked about how nice he took his treats and how beautiful his eyes were. He now sits in his little cedar box atop the bookcase above his bed in our family room.
So, the weekend after Scott died I had my first weekend of trials with Jude, running him in Nursery. It was the MacDonald's Memorial Day Weekend trial. I ran Jude all three days. It was bumpy but we did post scores in two out of the three trials. It was clear to me too that Jude had a bit of a phobia about set out people, so that was our homework going forward to the next trial. All in all, I had Jude entered into 12 nursery trials in which my goal was to get him qualified for the national finals in September - just had to place high two times. Unfortunately, Jude's birthday is May 18, 2010 meaning this is his last year he could qualify for nursery finals. Running a 2 year old can be interesting for any handler too!
In early June Diane and I drove down to Turner, OR to compete in a small-course one-day trial. Not letting the course size fool you (yes, it was just about a 150 yard outrun and 70 yard drive), the compressed area and the fact the course was next to a busy playground with a fair going on beside it was a bit distracting to Jude who is influenced still by outside distractions. Again, Jude was confused at the lift, wondering if he was truly supposed to get those sheep that the set out person and set out dog had such nice control of already! Although it's a bit of a let down to not get your sheep down the field and complete your course, the fact that Jude looks back to me for help and takes my guidance proves he is partnering up, trusts me and signals that things are going to get better as he and I get more 'miles' on sheep.
Also, in early June, Diane took Jude to the Wessels Dirt Blowing trial and ran him three times there in Nursery. At that trial, he had issues at the set out again. The first day, but improved and completed the course the following two days. Jude was getting better and better at each trial, but he was clearly showing his young age and inexperience and the fact that my training with him hasn't been the most rigorous. I'm finding that it's quite difficult juggling a full time marketing job, an infant, being sick all the time (and yes, I am sick again) and then training your sheep dog when you don't own any sheep (we do have chickens though)! Considering all these "distractions," Jude is doing very well I think.
The next trial we ran in was the Eweful Acres trial at Sue and George's. This time, Diane ran Jude all three days as she had a good run with him on Friday and I was feeling sick still from a bad cold I caught in mid-June. Jude ran well for Diane but there were some trouble-areas again, including the lift and 1st leg of the drive, that were hard for Jude.
After Eweful Acres, the following weekend I had two more nursery runs on Whidbey Island. Now, the Whidbey trial has always been defeating for me and Scott, simply because those hair sheep RUN and Scott always had a hard time running fast enough to catch up to them when they bolted to the exhaust. Well, Jude ran very well, especially the first day and I think I got a higher score with him than I ever did with Scott on that field! Jude is a very fast dog and had no issues getting to those sheep and getting between them and draw. Jude is fantastic at feeling his sheep and covering the pressure on all elements of a run - he never fails to recognize those draws at a trial or at home during training; the only problem I have is getting him to trust me to let go of that pressure! The 2nd day of the Whidbey trial was a bit troubling from a points-accrued perspective. I think we crossed the course on two elements and that totally kills one's score. Regardless of the cross-overs though, my dog listened to me quite well, taking redirects on his outrun and even doing a look-back to get a ewe that took off. Again, indicators that he is trusting me, listening and trying his best.
After Whidbey I had two more opportunities to get Jude's Nursery legs. Honestly though, I had let go of qualifying Jude a few trials ago and changed my focus to using these opportunities to improve, train and have fun. I have to keep reminding myself he is only 2 and only gets to work sheep once a week and I don't want to ruin him by putting a ton of pressure on him in a trial environment - the last thing I want is for him to sour on the trial field. As he isn't the most confident dog right now, I know he will certainly grow into one if I work him the right way, which I think means don't put too much pressure on my dog and let him feel his sheep and get a hold of sheep. Again, building that partnership and trust is paramount. So, as I let the Nursery Finals goal go, our goal now is to run in the Finals in Open in 2015 - I think that's feasible!
So, my last nursery trial - the last 2 opportunities we had for our Nursery dream, was 4th of July weekend in Roseburg, OR at the Magnolia Farm trial. This was my first time running at this trial and it didn't disappoint! Jude and I did well on both runs we had, finishing 4th out of 13 dogs on Saturday and 3rd out of 11 dogs on Sunday. We were just out of qualifying but honestly, I was so happy with my dog and my handling.
The weekend after Magnolia Jude and I then ran in a time-points arena trial at the Mount Vernon Highland Games. Getting Jude on new sheep in a new environment was my goal for entering him here. Arena trials I liken to a pressure cooker really, and for a hot 2 year old dog, I knew this was going to be challenging! Our first run we gripped out because I put Jude in a bad spot and with a fleeing single leaning hard against a gate, Jude had no other option than to grip to peel her off. The 2nd round on Sunday, I think because of the grip on Saturday, Jude was over-conscious and slow, and we timed out at the 4th element. He and I both had a ton of fun at this trial and learned that we need to work on up-close, practical skills more!
Below are pictures taken at the Magnolia SDT and the Highland Games. So while we didn't win any of the trials we ran in, Jude definitely gets a winners gold-star from everyone who sees him run when it comes to enthusiasm and his pretty-boy style! I have to say, he is one of the best looking Border Collies I've ever seen (of course, I'm biased but he is stunning, really).
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| First Leg of Drive at Magnolia SDT Saturday. We made the panels. |
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| Cross Drive at Magnolia SDT Saturday |
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| Jude tucking in an escapee at Magnolia SDT Saturday |
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| Coming to the Pen at Magnolia SDT Saturday |
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| Jude pushing to hard on the fetch at Magnolia SDT Sunday |
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| Jude settled on fetch (note both ears are up!) at Magnolia SDT Sunday |
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| At the pen - Magnolia SDT Sunday |
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| Timed out but a good job for 3rd place - Magnolia SDT Sunday |
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| Jude driving ewes through first obstacle - MVHG Sunday |
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| Jude keeping distance to make the obstacle - MVHG Sunday |
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| Getting them through the laundry chute! - MVHG Sunday |
Saturday, May 19, 2012
A Good Dog
A working dog
A loving dog
A steadfast dog
A family dog
A mindful dog
A silly dog
A beautiful dog
A stubborn dog
A trustworthy dog
A naughty dog
A dependable dog
A free-spirit dog
A teaching dog
A forgiving dog
A special dog
A willful dog
A loving dog
A strong dog
A smart dog
A genuine dog
A fuzzy dog
A gracious dog
A perfect dog
A good dog
Del'Mar Scot
6/6/1999 - 5/17/2012
6/6/1999 - 5/17/2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
New Kids on the Flock
Listen up everybody if you wanna take a chance.
Just get on the floor and do the New Kids' dance.
Don't worry 'bout nothing 'cause it won't take long.
We're gonna put you in a trance with a funky song,
'cause you gotta be
Hangin' tough, hangin' tough, hangin' tough.
We're rough.
Just get on the floor and do the New Kids' dance.
Don't worry 'bout nothing 'cause it won't take long.
We're gonna put you in a trance with a funky song,
'cause you gotta be
Hangin' tough, hangin' tough, hangin' tough.
We're rough.
We have some newcomers to the Edgewick Farm flock of chickens. The fab-five are Buff Brahma Bantams. Brahmas are supposed to be the 'gentle-giants' of the chicken world. However, these are bantams, so they've been miniaturized, so they may be a bit more frisky, or perhaps have a touch of Napolean complex. One thing is certain though - they're buff and they're hangin' tough.
They are growing up in a corner of the chicken-yard, separate from the big birds. I am not sure who is a hen and who is a rooster yet, so for now, their names are tentatively Donnie (Dawn), Danny (Danielle), Joey, Jordan and Jonathan (Jonna). They're very cute and very smart - they have already figured out how to get out of their coop in the morning and back in at night. Really, it's the little things that count when it comes to chicks.
My main flock of chickens has held steady at 7 over the winter. We have:
- Kip the White Leghorn Rooster
- Fannie the Sicilian Buttercup
- Camilla the White Silkie
- Mergatroid the Russian Orloff
- Holly the Barred Plymouth Rock
- Brigit the Rhode Island Red
- Kendra the Rhode Island Red
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| The flock, pecking around in the herb garden |
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| Kip and Fannie, hanging by the bird bath in the lavender garden. Note the New Kids in the background and their little corner-of-heaven |
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| Mergatroid the Russian Orloff playing hide and seek behind the Sage Bush |
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| Kendra and Camilla |
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| Mergatroid stealing the spotlight from Kendra |
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| His Highness, Kip |
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| Kip loves his girls |
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| Uh, what's that? |
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| Scott! It's Del'Mar Scot - the well-bred 12 y/o Border Collie who has a strong resume of working cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, llamas and geese. His job now: head poultry dog. |
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| Every old retired stock dog should have his own flock of chickens to work everyday. |
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