New Chore Dog...

Sold the pen of calves so just have a few bulls in one pen for chores besides my small flock of sheep until the cows come home from the pasture ( no snow cover yet so we can leave them out for awhile )
So not much of anything for chores except it frees up a pen to bring the sheep in over the winter for training. Havent quite gotten back into the training groove since Nationals...but have been using Sting for my sheep chores ( I try and do a training session before feeding them )

Actually is quite enjoyable to be working a dog that is so biddable...no arguements with her. Still overflanks some but blocks and pushes out nicely...still have to make sure the block doesnt flip her 'away' from stock instead of squaring up....have to watch my timing on that one. We can work the entire flock with her. After the training session her job is to watch the gate so feed can be brought through and then hold the sheep off the hay feeder so it can be all forked in. It's a treat not to have to babysit those two jobs with a green dog as I go about the chore part.

I come away from each session with a smile on , I'm going to have so much fun with her:)!

photo taken in spring

Derby / The Derbster aka

' Ch Sonrise Run For The Roses DNA-VP ASCA major ptd '
Derby finished his Canadian Championship in very limited showing as well picked up his first ASCA major going BOB !
Signed the Derbster up for Agility classes in November which should be right up this dog's alley... looking forward to his first set of classes. Havent decided who I'm putting in the 2nd level yet but spoke for a spot in those as well...

photo by Heidi

Chance's R , he's a character....

One of the highlights of the Nationals trip was catching up to Nancy and Chance.
Although we have visited over the years by phone and email , the last time we got together for a visit was the year of 9/11 at the ASCA Nationals in Greeley, Colorado ..... that's been more than a few years ago....but seemed just like yesterday when we got together over the week.

Hard to believe that Chance is now 9 years of age, he hasnt aged in looks nor does he act like an old dog ( he made sure to remind us of that fact :) He's still quite the character ! Thanks again Nancy for being the perfect home for Chance, he looks wonderful.

This year was a special treat for me to see the 'next generation' ( his kids ) do so well on the National circuit and meet their owners. Not hard to forsee a bright future with each and everyone in their endevours.I wish you all good luck and have fun with those sidekicks.


Photo courtesy of Mary Lou Booth ( Thank you ! )

Age Old Clocks...

Arrived home this am from work to be greeted by a noisy sky of canadian and snow geese on their annual pilgramage south.
Literally 'miles' of individual flocks streamed by as dawn was breaking. Wish I had a far reaching lens to capture how they really fill the sky... am always sad to see this part of the migration process ...means winter is around the corner whether I like it or not. The following days (wks for the late stragglers ) will see that age old clock chime in to see them on their way.

..a person has to click on the pics of Snow & Canadians flying over neighbors farm to enlarge them to view better

Stella's got her Groove back...

Sorta....at least worked 3 girls that havent been worked for awhile.
Jinx is a hoot to work and has more training on her than her 2 daughters but
still need to brush up on the foundation work and see where my holes are.
She does reach to catch the outside eye and squares off when asked. Need to
work on owning my space ( note to myself....I also need to work less sheep at a time with the girls )
Dare starts off trying to come in tight so need to work on our releases to stock, she comes to balance nicely and holds her stays now. She tends to be grippier of the 3 girls with a few splits.
Sting can be abit one sided but she blocks easy like her mom now ...it helps that she works off her stock more than her sister so I can be in a position to help her....also helps when a person isnt trying to wade through a flock of sheep
vs a few head :) I just have to be careful with my timing she doesnt flip away from the stock instead of squaring up properly.
Overall was pleased with all three training sessions with the girls. They are more than happy to pull them off the fence or out of corner,keep them grouped and content to come to balance with them on the fence / in a corner. They call off stock and reset up for a flank with no cheating to get to their stock.
We're off to a good start to finding our training groove again.
photo by Amber Carlson taken at Sheep Camp

Derby at his first National circuit

Sonrise Run For The Roses ~ Derby
bred by Fran Haskins / Sonrise(hill)

handled by my sister Deb on the 2009 Nationals
circuit of Pre Shows / Nationals in Greeley , Colorado
in the Open Red Merle Class :

1st place at ASC of Utah - Judge Shelley Hollen
1 st place Southern CO ASC - Emmy Adasiewicz
2nd place High Plains ASC - Judge Libby Graham
1st place Nationals - Judge Laura Shivers

Basket of Hope

re: The Blue Isle and Caitland Cancer Raffle Basket Challenge
** Thank you Heidi Erland** for spear heading the project and
THANK YOU everyone for the generous support of this project.
Our Basket value was well over ** 4 grand ** and VERY popular
with all those purchasing tickets. I'm not sure a person could of stuffed more
tickets in the box!
The 2009 Challenge Quilt block went home with Heidi & features Ray Schafers dogs on it.The Quilt will be displayed at the next Nationals in the Blue Isle/Caitland benching area and is hoped to travel to all future Nationals to help with the awareness of the need for Cancer Research in our Breed.
Basket was won by Judge Sharon Sparks with the
2009 Cancer Raffle 'far' exeeded last years raffle income.
http://alpensky.smugmug.com/Canine/ASCA-Nationals-2009/ASHGI-Raffle-Photos/9823933_eGNAF#667513990_cN4Ld is a link to a gallery of ASHGI raffle photos taken by Heidi



photo by Heidi Erland