Weather holding....

Weather holding for decent temps...really a bonus to get training done this time of year , the down side is if we dont get any snow....we'll be desperate for pasture and putting up feed for the next winter. Usually farmers and ranchers put up enough feed to get them through a few years in a row...but no one has been able to do that the past year or so. Cow herds have already been culled down several times along with people making an early exit from this part of agriculture. Really tough to be in the cattle business without off the farm income to patch a person through....
Worked Fly and True again today.
True's lesson went well today, need to work on ending the sessions as she will cut past you to work the stock...so more 'that will do' lessons where we end the session and walk away to leave and reset it up for a few more 'ending's'
Fly's lesson was the opposite...wanting to cover her sheep while they were getting out of dodge when we come through the gate...
so starting the lesson on my terms. Worked on squaring up our flanks and more work in the open.
Fly is almost where I have Dare working.
Off most of this wk so hope to get in as much as possible work wise with a few of the dogs.

Cooler out today with a raw wind to go along with it. Worked Fly and True today.
Did more in the open part of the sheep pasture with Fly .....walk abouts , staircases and changing direction
and having her reading her stock and rating them. Still wants to come in tight on her top but not gripping as much.
True...ended up with a small battle with taking her 'away' flank. After a few tries wasnt getting anywheres so I left
with the sheep to a different part of the pasture. She ended up wanting to work the sheep enough that it worked and
the lesson progressed from there to taking her flanks both ways. Did some 1/2 moons on the fence and moving the sheep
up and down the fence line as well fetching them off the fence with some walk abouts. Lesson ended with some that will do
work since True wasnt convinced the sheep work was done for the day.

Best advice is simply get out and take pictures...

Came off a stretch of nights this am and took a few pictures of 'first light' before tucking into bed for a few zzzzz's. My goal is to take as many pictures as possible ....experimenting with different times of the day so I learn as much as possible about my camera /lighting and it's kit lens before I get to the city this spring. ( I already know I need a tripod and more lens....have a long list of 'would love' to have's .... but reality is deciding only 'one' for now )
Didnt work dogs today, caught up on cattle chores / bedding etc and happened to have the camera with me to redo the same subjects only in setting sun light to compare.

Photos working with first light....

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...