'Training IN the Moment'...while a person can go out to the sheep field with an idea on what they want to work on...it all could change once you actually get out there....first thing that presents it's self to be fixed / 'worked on' before 'proceeding on'... ends up being 'The Lesson' ie)
Dog self releases himself ...then work on releasing to stock becomes the focus of that lesson....
Quade picks up chore work or a routine very quickly, so I have to make sure it's not sloppy work as that 'muscle memory' will show up in a trial as a default. Good work is good work anywhere's.
Because new places / new livestock seem to jack him up we've tried to change routines, work sheep in different parts of farm, take them down the road and work them in a different field etc.
My other option is to haul my sheep to an outdoor arena in neighboring towns to add change, havent made the time to do that yet, but know it's an option.
I dont live close enough to any training facilities to slip away for the day, have tried bringing in new sheep but ended up with more 'borrowed problems' from a management aspect ( pink eye, keds etc ) so having a lamb crop every year from 'my own sheep' has worked out as far as introducing 'new stock'.
Lambs are worked lightly from the 'get go' with their moms. The flock dynamics change over time from new mom's on the fight to protect their lambs to an agreeable lot just wanting to be moved to greener pastures. Always fascinating to see Quade go from grip to move a stomping ewe that's facing off to gently nudging young lambs into place ....all on natural instinct....got to love how this Breed can switch gears in a blink of an eye.
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