Fly's session

Worked most of the dogs this am and hope to finish up later this afternoon with a few more. A few pics of Fly coming through the tight spot on the fence ( pressure ) and going in for a grip and going off contact as she leaves
the 'hot' spot...next shot shows her staying on contact with her sheep and she ended up settling down to working nicely. Less gripping today and once I put the camera away got some serious work done.
True's session ...working both ways , just building on yesterday. Still working tight. She has plenty of opportunity to take cheap shots but doesnt.
Came away with a big smile with Dare's session..helping her square up, on top of yesterdays's work. Just remembered I have bamboo poles from Joan and should be using them in pushing the dogs out and to help square them up ( thanks again Joan :)

Another day...

Didnt get a chance to work dogs in a second session as planned yesterday..had a heifer calving that took up my afternoon.No men around...a sure sign when a person becomes too handy for some of this farm stuff..."call me if you need help" as they go out the door. Only lost the calf once skidding her to the barn in the calf sled as she discovered 'legs'... managed as per usual around here :)

A new day today with decent temperatures remaining on the prairies...wind is up and is on the cool side but I'll take it anyways.Chores done before the sun rises as well worked 5 dogs again... ( Sting sat out this session so I could work Quade )
Another good session with Ms True....went in both directions , nice stop on balance...pushy like her dad with the sheep right on top of you or is that under you....sheep surfed a couple of times. Takes them off the fence , infact quite enjoys squeezing in through tight spots. Because she is tight she peels the odd one off but brings back right away to the group and will settle to a stop with her flock in a group. Will work on some of that as we go, for now more than happy where she is 'at'
Worked on Fly's fetching sheep down the fence line and abit of overflanking with that exercise. Used a stock stick with her as she needs just a bit more confidence in working by the way she comes in for a cheap shot and that she worries abit about the rake. Lots of praise when she is right, the cheap shot grips should extinguish themselves as she gets more comfortable.
Really enjoy working Dare...I think partly it's the level she's at...doesnt feel as much work on my part and the fact she's a fun dog much like her 1/2 sister Sting is to work. Doing walk abouts with Dare in the open part of the sheep pasture...dont like to crutch on a fence for long ...want the dog to read and rate his stock...and getting off the fence line helps the process...the sooner the better. No round pen here so a person works with what they have available...for me it's a corner of the pasture and fenceline and building out from there. Snow is tramped down in alot of circles along the fence line at the moment.
One more day off then a stretch of night shifts this week...

True's session...

Another decent day for weather and 5 dogs worked. Worked True instead of her dad to see where we were at with her. I had a few sessions on her before Xmas and was trying hard not ending our sessions with frustration with her ONE sidedness.Sheep were co-operative to 'a point' with staying with me , I was trying to put her off balance enough to see if she'd get uncomfortable enough to go the hard way for her. You know the magic cross a dog sometimes has problems crossing over...well these sheep have it to...there is a point where they wont step across either. So that wasnt working as well as I had intended...in hindsight should of maybe slipped a rope on one to lead it over the line they were reluctant to go across. So last year with trying to end on a good note we usually worked her good side and every once in a while tried to slip in her hard side....didnt feel like we were gaining much ground.
The month off was a good break for us. I left the rake at the gate incase I needed it and used my stock stick. The start was a little rough with sheep
splitting but after things settled down we had both directions going with a nice stop on balance...a break through today for True. Couldnt be any happier with that training session. Will see what tomorrow brings in that department if it was sheer luck with the adrenline or progress.
Fly works better with the stock stick than the rake... pulling them off the fence and moving few feet down the fence line...rating is coming along nicely. Dare just gets better all the time...her mental maturity showing up in the training sessions, getting abit wider on her flanks, finds balance nicely, doing more off the fence work with her....need to get rid of the rake with her. Working Sting with the stock stick instead of rake,she's rating and covering her stock with less help from a training aide. I shouldnt lose too much time with hormones etc after weaning, she's pretty level headed.
Will fit in a few sessions this afternoon taking advantage of todays sunshine..here's hoping we have a few more decent days.

Rubber Legs...

Wow a break in the weather...been outside since 6 am doing pen checks and helping get caught up with bedding and moving hay bales around / barn cleaning etc.
One of those 'feel good' days where it's quite enjoyable just being outside. Worked 5 dogs this am....mind you my legs feel like rubber after tromping through snow in winter boots ( who needs ankle weights with those on :) but not going to complain ...overall good sessions with each dog. Dare and Fly, havent worked them since beginning of Dec....the odd cheap shot as they try to slice in. Dare needs to be reminded to stay parked when first starting out but both girls covering their stock well and settle into a natural stop on balance....pretty well things are where we left off. Even worked Sting a few minutes...she's due in just over 2 wks so a light session with a few flanks / walk ups and call it a day.Came away very pleased with the girls this am.

Worked the boys Quade and Derby. Quade out in the stubble field since we could move around with the small amount of snow fall to date. Havent worked Derby for awhile but he did just fine in the sheep pasture...worked on bringing stock to me from the fetch position and finding his stop on balance.
Suppose to have a few days of decent weather ...so tomorrow want to get in more training sessions before the weather changes.

New Years baby....

Bitterly cold out still, the big deep freeze outside hovering in the 38 below range with a wind chill factor added on to that. Checks are every 3 hours around the clock with two alarm clocks set so we can leap frog each other on who's turn to check the cows. Already had one diesel heater puke on us in the first 48 hrs. First calf of the season a lovely heifer who's head
wouldnt come up in to place for the cow to deliver without some help. She's doing well in the barn and once the cold snap is gone in the next day or so, the pair will be outside in pen with a good calf shelter/lights. Always good to see the initial weights are moderate with the new bull we used last year.
Too cold to do any training sessions until it warms up just abit more. Dogs are 2 and 3 legging it.
Both Jinx and her daughter Sting getting thicker, whelping dates end of January...guess I'd better get organised by next wk on that!
This week busy doing all the paperwork for the new business adventure and waiting on re - zoning the church property to Commerical zoning.

House of Dog....

Reality hasnt hit me yet but I've just had my counter offer accepted on an old Church in town. My hobbies have outgrown my small house and there was never a place to train at home...important when you live where snow/winter takes up the better part of a year ...or it seems to :) As well the fact that its 3 hours on the road to do classes in my location.
So I now, will own a building that will have a fully matted top floor for my Agility / Obed / Show training sessions and a basement set up for bath/grooming...the lighting is perfect for taking pictures. There is enough room to offer small classes to offset building expenses as well an area that will make a great place to park my dog library of photo albums, magazines, videos , breeding files etc etc.
Heck there is even a small kitchen for dog friends to sit around and visit over coffee.
Sounds like my kinda heaven.....

Blue Moons ...

2009 ends with a 'blue moon' as in once in a blue moon phenomena ...the next time new years eve will encounter a blue moon will be in the year 2028. The year also ended with miserable cold weather which is typical of the holiday season here on the prairies. Came home from a night shift and grabbed the camera...note: I need to look up how to set the
camera for nite settings but ended up with a few to reflect back on. The early morning light was some of the prettiest pink red skye line in awhile....took a few from the pasture gate before my fingers were froze stiff with the added windchill factor.
Wish I had the camera with me a few days ago as 2 days in the row were winter rainbows...think these show up with sun dogs.
You know you have damn cold weather when those are in the skye :)
2010 brings in a new decade with the new year.... what is instore for each person depends much on if you just go along for the ride or decide to get behind the steering wheel and put yourself in the drivers seat. I think people are generally happier if they take control and chart
their own courses...so what did you plug into your 'GPS' this year ?
Don't let life pass you by waiting on the next blue moon to come around....