Last couple of days have been working Fly and True besides Sting and Quade.
Fly is going to be an easy girl to get going, much like Sting has been. With Fly
starting out much the same since I dont have a round pen and just working in a corner of the sheep pasture,taking sheep off the fence in different directions and settling back on the fence on balance.
She has a nice stop, even doing abit of work from the lift position to fetch sheep to me.She is a bit grippy when coming in tight on her flanks...but this behaviour should extinguish it's self once she feel comfortable /confident covering her stock over the next few days.
True, I really have to be patient with her as she is terribly one sided , so will take a group of sheep to a small cattle pen and set it up that she has no option but to go in both directions.
Sting and I brought the sheep out of the sheep pasture and worked them in a bigger area that isnt fenced in totally ( bale yard ) felt like we hit a nice mile stone in our training , she is SO much fun to work.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Updates on the crew...
Well I am way behind in results this fall on the crew out there. ( Please let me know if I missed anyone as I sure dont want to leave out anyone intentially )
-Mary Lou & Bacchus Q'D on two of his Started Agility runs
-Marianne & Cord earned their Agility Dog of Canada ( ADC title ) a couple of weeks ago
-Jyl & Magnym got his ASCA open gamblers title this weekend.
-Sandy and Wile E finished his Novice Rally O Title with 2 First in Class awards.at the Red Deer Show a couple of weeks ago. He scored a perfect 100 on Friday
-Sally and Lily Q in both Excellent B Standard and Jumpers with Weaves, earning 10 MACH points and her first double Q!
-Terry with Ralf two Q's in Rally with a High in class Advanced Rally and Miss Evo.. new Rally Novice with a 2nd place in class
-Dianne's Austin picked up his first Major at HMM.
-Jackie's Meg has earned in the last 2 months following NADAC titles NCC TGN TN-O
-Lisa 's Paris earned her RN at the Halifax Kennel Club show in September with a 99 and High in Class– She also earned her Advanced Agility Dog of Canada (AADC) and her Advanced Games Dog of Canada (AGDC) this year ( March and September respectively) and qualified for the AAC Nationals in Ottawa.Denim (Ziggy x Paris) earned a “Q” in AAC Starters Gamblers in October
-Jerrie & Desi Q'd her Open Gamblers run Saturday for her Open Gamblers title. Moved her up to Excellent for Sunday & she Q'd her first run there. Picked up 1 Q Saturday & both Q's Sunday for her Open Standard Title. Desi adds another HOF point for Walker's ASCA HOF Sire
-Jyl & Magnym got his ASCA open gamblers title this weekend.
-Sandy and Wile E finished his Novice Rally O Title with 2 First in Class awards.at the Red Deer Show a couple of weeks ago. He scored a perfect 100 on Friday
-Sally and Lily Q in both Excellent B Standard and Jumpers with Weaves, earning 10 MACH points and her first double Q!
-Terry with Ralf two Q's in Rally with a High in class Advanced Rally and Miss Evo.. new Rally Novice with a 2nd place in class
-Dianne's Austin picked up his first Major at HMM.
-Jackie's Meg has earned in the last 2 months following NADAC titles NCC TGN TN-O
-Lisa 's Paris earned her RN at the Halifax Kennel Club show in September with a 99 and High in Class– She also earned her Advanced Agility Dog of Canada (AADC) and her Advanced Games Dog of Canada (AGDC) this year ( March and September respectively) and qualified for the AAC Nationals in Ottawa.Denim (Ziggy x Paris) earned a “Q” in AAC Starters Gamblers in October
-Jerrie & Desi Q'd her Open Gamblers run Saturday for her Open Gamblers title. Moved her up to Excellent for Sunday & she Q'd her first run there. Picked up 1 Q Saturday & both Q's Sunday for her Open Standard Title. Desi adds another HOF point for Walker's ASCA HOF Sire
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Girls day out....
Been looking forward to hooking up 'with the girls' which consist of Joan Holmes, Jackie Tomayer, Lill Roth-Lee and Lyn Ferris. It's a kinship that picks up like it was just yesterday when we 'do 'get together....core of the conversations is usually working dogs and the tangents that flow out from that.
Today we got together to work dogs at various stages in their training at Joan's place and her flock of mainly Barb sheep. ( Jackie regrettably wasn't able to come at the last minute ) Weather was really decent for this time of the year which made the day more than enjoyable with good company.
Joan has a great set up with her sorting pens/round pen as well her arena was set up with panels for Course F to do abit of test driving that design with the dogs. While there we walked through the various sized corrals/pens on the farm to see if an ASCA Farm Trial Trial was feasible and discussed different ways to make the course flow. It was certainly do'able.
Of course first order of the day was to check out those darling pups that are boot'n around pretty good in the whelping box. (sidebar: L Bar J has a website and blog with the parents/litter on...worth checking out for any one
interested in a good cattle dog )
Sessions in the pen were great especially with the help from outside the pen with the more experienced 'eyes' adding to the progress with valued training tips.
Today we got together to work dogs at various stages in their training at Joan's place and her flock of mainly Barb sheep. ( Jackie regrettably wasn't able to come at the last minute ) Weather was really decent for this time of the year which made the day more than enjoyable with good company.
Joan has a great set up with her sorting pens/round pen as well her arena was set up with panels for Course F to do abit of test driving that design with the dogs. While there we walked through the various sized corrals/pens on the farm to see if an ASCA Farm Trial Trial was feasible and discussed different ways to make the course flow. It was certainly do'able.
Of course first order of the day was to check out those darling pups that are boot'n around pretty good in the whelping box. (sidebar: L Bar J has a website and blog with the parents/litter on...worth checking out for any one
interested in a good cattle dog )
Sessions in the pen were great especially with the help from outside the pen with the more experienced 'eyes' adding to the progress with valued training tips.
Looking forward to the next working session with the girls...
*
photo by Lyn Ferris
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Jot notes...
a few notes to myself...
Quade...have been labeling the stand when offered and now getting it fairly consistent. I get a better send on him as he is anticipating the flank and is set up for leaving at a better angle...with 'the down' he turns into the stock , so gets up coming into them...note to self to watch for that as well.
Walk abouts with Sting continue....takes less time at the beginning of the lesson for everything to gel into a nice relaxed walk about the small sheep pasture....going to take the flock out into the cattle pasture for a more open area ...Sting is covering her sheep well in the sheep pasture so just stepping up on an other comfort level for her and see if she continues to cover her sheep.
Will need to work on taking sheep through a gate in that lesson....also need to get rid of the rake.
Quade...have been labeling the stand when offered and now getting it fairly consistent. I get a better send on him as he is anticipating the flank and is set up for leaving at a better angle...with 'the down' he turns into the stock , so gets up coming into them...note to self to watch for that as well.
Walk abouts with Sting continue....takes less time at the beginning of the lesson for everything to gel into a nice relaxed walk about the small sheep pasture....going to take the flock out into the cattle pasture for a more open area ...Sting is covering her sheep well in the sheep pasture so just stepping up on an other comfort level for her and see if she continues to cover her sheep.
Will need to work on taking sheep through a gate in that lesson....also need to get rid of the rake.
photo by Terry Stickle / Practially Famous summer 09
Friday, November 20, 2009
2nd Agility class...
Just notes to look 'back on' from some future date to see how far we've come
Derby driving through 2 tunnels with curve in last one.
Holding his stays fairly good
Doing weaves with wires/open channel
Contacts with back chaining the bottoms
Doing the dogwalk with loaded targets
Took Fly to the class which follows Derbys.
She hasnt seen equipment since last winter class so
abit wild on contact equipment....worked on bottoms to
reinforce 2 On 2 Off ( I'm not interested in teaching any
of my dogs running contacts....I need a solid pause there )
Worked on a release to 2nd target from the contacts
Did some distance work being aware of my body language
with 'triangles' and 'indirect pressure' on dogs 'path'
Fly has solid start lines , everyone here is taught to sit stay
and proofed on that everyday at meal time and everywhere else
I can fit it in while doing chores/yard work. It's one lesson that
gets taught from the time they are pups and built up on with proofing.
Wish it wasnt 3 hours on the road to do agility ....if it was closer I'd try
and get in at least another session during the wk. Between calving season and winter storms in Jan, it's going to be tough getting to the 2nd set of classes so will have to try and make it to the odd drop in training nights.
I need to find a building to rent in my area to set up my equipment for winter training.
Derby driving through 2 tunnels with curve in last one.
Holding his stays fairly good
Doing weaves with wires/open channel
Contacts with back chaining the bottoms
Doing the dogwalk with loaded targets
Took Fly to the class which follows Derbys.
She hasnt seen equipment since last winter class so
abit wild on contact equipment....worked on bottoms to
reinforce 2 On 2 Off ( I'm not interested in teaching any
of my dogs running contacts....I need a solid pause there )
Worked on a release to 2nd target from the contacts
Did some distance work being aware of my body language
with 'triangles' and 'indirect pressure' on dogs 'path'
Fly has solid start lines , everyone here is taught to sit stay
and proofed on that everyday at meal time and everywhere else
I can fit it in while doing chores/yard work. It's one lesson that
gets taught from the time they are pups and built up on with proofing.
Wish it wasnt 3 hours on the road to do agility ....if it was closer I'd try
and get in at least another session during the wk. Between calving season and winter storms in Jan, it's going to be tough getting to the 2nd set of classes so will have to try and make it to the odd drop in training nights.
I need to find a building to rent in my area to set up my equipment for winter training.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Getting up right and leaving....
I'll probably be spending alot of time working on this to finese what we have
....doesnt help that I've done too many flanks via sling shot when starting a fast dog.Which results in some poor form ....all they think about is getting there as 'hard and fast' as they can which flattens the shape of the outrun. At the time I was thinking I was taking advantage of a dog on the right lead to flank with some distance so I could hustle my butt to slow them down at the lift...thankfully I get to a few clinics and come away with more insight in what the dog is thinking & better ways to do things.
The criteria is getting up more relaxed therefore more thoughtful on how he leaves....which will help him bend around his stock.
So starting from square one in each new place we take the stock, will build up on that. Basically is tapping the ground with the stock stick to remind him of 'space' and/or pointing at his inside eye (direct pressure/release when they give ) pending on what it takes to change the demeanor to thinking
his first steps at the beginning not the end result....
If they dont get up right, then down and reset it up...remember to watch where your position is ,if the dog downs in a different spot...the angles will change....as well make sure the dog does not gain any of your 'ground' when doing this excerise as he basically is taking away your space by coming forward...put them back. Remember...On a flank the sheep should only see your dogs 'sides'
You own your space something to be mindful of and to keep reinforced...
All training may hinge on 5 principles but the dog needs to be in a thinking mode to learn any of it...the sooner the dog is thoughtful in his session...the more will be accomplished in a few minutes vs going through the motions with more time involved.
....doesnt help that I've done too many flanks via sling shot when starting a fast dog.Which results in some poor form ....all they think about is getting there as 'hard and fast' as they can which flattens the shape of the outrun. At the time I was thinking I was taking advantage of a dog on the right lead to flank with some distance so I could hustle my butt to slow them down at the lift...thankfully I get to a few clinics and come away with more insight in what the dog is thinking & better ways to do things.
The criteria is getting up more relaxed therefore more thoughtful on how he leaves....which will help him bend around his stock.
So starting from square one in each new place we take the stock, will build up on that. Basically is tapping the ground with the stock stick to remind him of 'space' and/or pointing at his inside eye (direct pressure/release when they give ) pending on what it takes to change the demeanor to thinking
his first steps at the beginning not the end result....
If they dont get up right, then down and reset it up...remember to watch where your position is ,if the dog downs in a different spot...the angles will change....as well make sure the dog does not gain any of your 'ground' when doing this excerise as he basically is taking away your space by coming forward...put them back. Remember...On a flank the sheep should only see your dogs 'sides'
You own your space something to be mindful of and to keep reinforced...
All training may hinge on 5 principles but the dog needs to be in a thinking mode to learn any of it...the sooner the dog is thoughtful in his session...the more will be accomplished in a few minutes vs going through the motions with more time involved.
pictures taken by Practically Famous / Terry Stickle summer 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Eye Contact....
Too much eye contact...mine with the dog.
Know I have a bad habit there and need to be more conscious of when I'm doing it. Making hard eye contact or alot of eye contact with your dogs eye pulls them in tight...Twigged into this when working on releasing my dog to stock for his out runs... I was still doing it....one of those ' V 8 moments ' as I'm working through this part of training.
Wind basically died down with the sun trying to shine through the clouds.
Worked in the small cattle pasture as abit of grass there from first cut of hay...enough to let the sheep settle to a graze as I worked on sending my dog....basically was trying to set the criteria that the dog had to get up right and if he didn't ...no sheep and we set it up again with the idea ...we have all day to accomplish this.
When he was right he was allowed to finish all the way to lift > then fetch back to me. With the sheep happily grazing they needed a dog engaged to lift them which is what a person wants...the dog to feel that bubble and push it forward at an appropriate pace back to you. The dog never gets
to learn 'the feel' of that bubble if the sheep always leave before the dog makes contact with them.
Quade and I have come along ways and considering how we spent the first couple of years we may take alittle longer to retrain a few bad habits than if we started with a clean slate...however I couldn't ask for a better dog to teach me to improve my skills as a handler....I wouldn't be without him for getting the work done around here. (Infact while I was gone to the states my son was using him for cattle chores and those 2 have never worked together...they managed just fine )
Anyways our journey certainly has made it easier to train and work the other dogs here....what took me the better part of the year to accomplish a certain set of skills on a dog is taking me far less time with fewer holes to fix.
Worked Sting in the sheep pasture, mainly off the fence and doing what I call 'doodling'.... basically a walk about with the dog balancing the sheep to me ....serpentines, figure 8's, 1/2 circles, stair steps ,etc...with a stop / settle in the middle of the pasture mixed in there....all keeping in mind everyone's space.
She's coming along just fine.
Know I have a bad habit there and need to be more conscious of when I'm doing it. Making hard eye contact or alot of eye contact with your dogs eye pulls them in tight...Twigged into this when working on releasing my dog to stock for his out runs... I was still doing it....one of those ' V 8 moments ' as I'm working through this part of training.
Wind basically died down with the sun trying to shine through the clouds.
Worked in the small cattle pasture as abit of grass there from first cut of hay...enough to let the sheep settle to a graze as I worked on sending my dog....basically was trying to set the criteria that the dog had to get up right and if he didn't ...no sheep and we set it up again with the idea ...we have all day to accomplish this.
When he was right he was allowed to finish all the way to lift > then fetch back to me. With the sheep happily grazing they needed a dog engaged to lift them which is what a person wants...the dog to feel that bubble and push it forward at an appropriate pace back to you. The dog never gets
to learn 'the feel' of that bubble if the sheep always leave before the dog makes contact with them.
Quade and I have come along ways and considering how we spent the first couple of years we may take alittle longer to retrain a few bad habits than if we started with a clean slate...however I couldn't ask for a better dog to teach me to improve my skills as a handler....I wouldn't be without him for getting the work done around here. (Infact while I was gone to the states my son was using him for cattle chores and those 2 have never worked together...they managed just fine )
Anyways our journey certainly has made it easier to train and work the other dogs here....what took me the better part of the year to accomplish a certain set of skills on a dog is taking me far less time with fewer holes to fix.
Worked Sting in the sheep pasture, mainly off the fence and doing what I call 'doodling'.... basically a walk about with the dog balancing the sheep to me ....serpentines, figure 8's, 1/2 circles, stair steps ,etc...with a stop / settle in the middle of the pasture mixed in there....all keeping in mind everyone's space.
She's coming along just fine.
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