Leaning Tree Australian Cattle Dogs & Border Collies

Good News, they all want to work!!!!

2011-10-24T09:02:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we took all of the Tory x Ricky pups to sheep one at a time. I took the video camera along just in case one or two decided to light up. Previous livestock exposures yielded two pups that had strong interest while the other 5 really didn’t appear to see the stock. Well, it all changed yesterday, here they are, 13 1/2 weeks old and showing their stuff. The first 5 videos are of the pups who showed for the first time yesterday.

Black & White Male at 13 1/2 weeks old

Tri-Color Male at 13 1/2 weeks old

Black & White Female at 13 1/2 weeks old

Black & White Female at 13 1/2 weeks old (Lil’ Weasel)

The next two videos are of pups that showed interest previously:

Black & White Female at 13 1/2 weeks, 2nd time on livestock

Tri-Color Female at 13 1/2 weeks, has been interested in stock since 10 weeks of age

I hope those viewing enjoy getting a chance to see an entire litter showing what they have all at one time in the same situation, this crew is a lot of fun, wouldn’t mind keeping the whole lot.

There are a few people that have been waiting to see what this mating yields from a working standpoint so that they can make their picks, once picks are made we will post updates as to which pups are still available.

The Patty x Ricky litter will be the next litter that we will be videoing within the next couple of weeks, 4 males and 3 females

This is Patty:

A Glimpse into the Future

2011-10-07T09:33:00.001-07:00

The other evening we caught a glimpse of what our Tory x Ricky cross has to offer.

This little tri-color female is 10 weeks old at the time of this video

Off to Oklahoma City

2011-09-18T14:59:00.001-07:00

Wayne and the boys on their way to the Oklahoma State Fair Cattledog and Sheepdog Trials, wish them luck. Ricky will also be competing in the Cattledog Futurity while he is there, the futurity is limited to dogs under the age of 30 months as of January 1st 2012.

Here’s a video of Jake and Wayne doing some prep work this past week:

Jake bringing the cattle down to the arena

Working with a Head Dog

2011-09-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

Jake is a head dog, he really prefers to avoid heeling at all costs. About the only time you see him heel is when he can't access the head, he will heel in an attempt to get the cows to move over so that he can catch their eye....head head head..

We took Jake down to the Circle C Rodeo Arena in Alden to see how he got along on some rodeo stock, good practice for the upcoming Oklahoma State Fair. He was able to get the steers and one cow moved around and put where Wayne wanted them, sure would have been nice though if he would heeled once or twice, but that's ok, he got it done.

Thank you Jake

2011-09-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

Leaning Tree Sally

2011-09-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video of one of our Kess x Ricky pups, we call her Sally, she has only been out on sheep a few times and the calves once. We look forward to seeing what she looks like in a few more weeks compared to when this video was taken.

Tory x Ricky Puppies - 3 1/2 weeks old

2011-08-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Tory x Ricky pups arrived on July 20th, 2011

2 Males and 5 Females

Tory is a daughter of Tom Forrester's Pete and McCall's Jessie

Ricky is a son of our Jake and Vicki

Tory was handled by Bob Johnson of Tingley, Iowa in the Nursery Division of the 2011 National Cattledog Finals where she placed 9th

B/W Females

Tri-Color Female

B/W Females

Tri-Color Male

B/W Females

B/W Male

B/W Female

Tri-Color Female

B/W Female & B/W Male

B/W Female

Tri-Color Male

Leaning Tree Nap (Dixie x Ricky) - 6 months old

2011-08-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

Nap is one of our 6 month old pups by Ricky out of Dixie. He is just getting started in training, today's session began by capturing two hogs on the loose. This was Nap's first expirence outside the training pen. He is available to a working home, sport or pet home, we will continue his training until sold. Nap should be an all purpose stock dog, he has worked anything that we have put in front of him including the calves.

Heading in the right direction

Making progress

Score!!!!

Wayne let Nap do this job on his own other then to get his attention initially onto the pigs.

After the pigs were back in their pen Wayne took Nap to a 16' x 16' holding pen with some lambs and ewes, this is the first time that Nap has working in this small of space

Left...

Left some more (could use a little reshaping)

Right....(needs a little reshaping too)

Stop and walk up... (pretty good)

Pretty basic stuff, Nap makes it look easy

Leaning Tree Joey (Kess x Ricky) - 16 weeks

2011-08-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Joey is from our second Ricky litter, he is for sale if anyone is interested in this little firecracker

All you have to do is let him wind up......and let him go...

He doesn't require much work

He flanks to the right

He walks straight up

He stops

and he flanks to the left

All he needs is for someone to teach him the commands and hold him to them...
when he gets a bit older

BTW, he shows the same enthusiasm on calves and pigs

Cute little bugger, ain't he?

Truck & Trailer For Sale

2011-06-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

1987 Mack CS300 - 162,088 original miles

engine- 538 cu. in, 215 hp at 2300 rmp

(largest engine available for that model of truck)

Transmission - Allison MT643 4 speed automatic with low gear lock, also ability to downshift for engine breaking (no Jakebrake)

Rear end - eaton 4.62 ratio

tires - 11 r22.5 front tires have 10,000 miles

Rear tires are over 50%

1988 Tracer - Slant load

9 H capable with side and rear ramps- Midtack divider removable and can be set from 4 horse up to 9 horse

Tri-axle - 10,000 lb axles with oil bath hubs

Air over Hydraulic Brakes

8.25/15 tires (lowboy tube tires)

10 foot living quarter - cold water sink, AC, cabinets

cowboy shower with toilet in mid-tack utilizing portable black water tank

Hog Dog

2011-06-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

Before I could get the coffee pot going this morning the phone rings, it's Wayne on his way to work, "Baby pigs loose along the road". So, I throw on my shoes, grabbed Jake, some light metal grate and my camera, jumped in the truck heading south about 4 miles. As I come over a hill I see a pink blob in the middle of my lane, a car is coming toward me, the driver flashing his lights to get my attention. As I pull up the man in the car, a nice spanking new Audi states "Pigs in the road!"

Right to work I go, first sending Jake to move them to the side of the road with the help of the Audi man and his friend and then to get the grate to set up a quick pen to ease the baby pigs into.

Poor little buggers just huddle together not knowing what to do, luckily Jake is patient and calm and everyone including Jake apply just enough pressure to move them toward the pen with out panicing them. As this is happening I'm able to get close enough to leg one, took it to the truck and grabbed the camera.

I ended up legging a couple more, mangaged to get bit by another, yes the little buggers bite, good thing their needle teeth have been clipped.

A few minutes later the 5 little pigs were all huddled in the back of my truck

I sent Jake in to move the pigs to the tailgate so that I could get them moved to the barn. Problem is...they are not dog broke and don't understand that they need to move from Jake. Along the road with traffic coming past was not the place to let the dog try to break the piglets, they could end up panicking and running blind.

In an effort to get the pigs to understand that they should move off of Jake he alternates between light nose nips and bumping the pigs with the side of his nose. Jake very rarely heels, he has developed his own method of getting stock to understand that they need to move off of his presence.

Soon he has the pigs moving away from him freely but not in a panic.

Safe and sound in our barn

2011 USBCHA National Cattledog Finals

2011-05-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

We would like to thank everyone that worked so hard to make the 2011 National Cattledog Finals possible, especially Bob Johnson, Greg Sharp of Corner Solutions and all of the set out riders that Wayne rode with on Thursday and Friday making the event one of the most memorable one for Wayne. Many people volunteered their time, more then one handler expressed their gratitude and that this event was the best National Finals that they had ever attended.

2011 USBCHA National

Cattledog Nursery Champion
Jerry Davis owner/handler of Juanita being congratulated by

Greg Sharp of Corner Solutions, Inc.

Wayne and Jake had a great showing, they qualified for the Double Lift Finals which was held on Sunday and ended up placing 12th. Wayne had a few glitches, no fault of Jake's that held him out of the top 10, including a loss of communication with Jake during the first fetch leg. Jake, unable to hear Wayne's commands and not knowing where Wayne wanted the cattle proceeded to drive them right toward Wayne taking them through a drive panel instead of cross driving them to the proper fetch panel. They eventually made their way to the OK Corral where Wayne was assessed a penality for a rule infraction.

We arrived home late Sunday evening, early Monday morning Wayne and Jake were out working on their whistles, Wayne realizes that something that he could have worked on prevented him from not only placing higher but also prevented him from winning, I don't think that he will let it happen again.

Jake showed that he knew what he was doing when it comes to controlling cattle, I don't think there was any point that he lost control of his charges. He also showed that a dog can make cattle move without upsetting them or bitting heels. We have allowed Jake to develop his technique of accelerating cattle via addressing the front end, either by accelerating toward the cows eye or bitting a front foot. Though his cows never broke into a trot, they did go and he was able to maintain constent control over their direction.

Now we prepare for our Stock Dog Training and Low Stress Livestock Handling clinic presented by Marc Christopher. Marc has been instrumental in Jake's success this past weekend, without his advice and guidance I believe we would still be floundering around in the novice ranks. For the heck of it I went through results from past National Finals, only one other Iowa handler (Jeff Mundorf with Luke) has placed as high or higher then Wayne and Jake at the National Cattledog Finals.

Some of the members of the set out crew

Jake lifting the cattle off the salt block

Jake taking them through the Y-Chute

They walk right on through

Next was lining them up for the Key Hole, the tan steer was thinking about not moving over.

Here's a close up of what Jake had to say about it.

Jake has moved him over, way over and now is holding them in the mouth of the Key Hole

If I could turn back time....

2011-03-28T05:29:00.000-07:00

I can't help but wonder how different things would be if I had sent Ricky home with Marc back in September rather then waiting until January. I feel like we are about 2 months behind where we could/should be, this has cost us from the standpoint of getting qualified for Nursery Finals. No Finals for Ricky this year, I will be there pulling for Wayne and Jake. This past weekend was our last chance, we fell short, just short. We were down in Clinton Missouri at a judged field trial.

Ricky did a good job, but he and I were still hashing out some issues. Larry Moore summed it up, "he just needs more obedience, when you say lie down he needs to lie down". It was also noted by many that he is way ahead of many 1 1/2 year old dogs, we were knocking on the door in the open division, things just have not quite gelled together yet, but I'm certain they will and sooner then later. It was a pretty tough weekend on everyone, only 2 open handlers/dogs out of over 20 entries were even able to get the cattle around the handlers post during the first Open class.

Ricky and myself ran three times, twice in Open and once in Nursery. In our first open class we had an exceptionally tough draw and snow, two cows that wanted to go one way and a third that had her own agenda always wanting to go her own way. When I walked off the field Bob Johnson came to me to say that it wasn't Ricky, that set would have needed 3 dogs to get them where they didn't want to go. I don't know about that, IMO, Ricky just wasn't strong enough mostly due to lack of seasoning.

As I stood at the post unable to help my dog I was wishing that I had Jake, I would have liked to see if Jake could have turned that set into believers, but based on the lack of success off many other good dogs odds are he would have failed also. Our next run was Nursery, this time sleet but a better cattle, with the exception of the high headed heifer that took the set out dog back to the holding pens twice before I ever sent Ricky.

The cow was managable, but Ricky got on the muscle with her after we made the turn at the post, things started to come together on the drive when she went to leave on him, rather then holding the head he fell in and went to work on her heels, I elected to not tolerate that behaivor and walked Ricky down and used Ricky to move the cattle to the exhaust demanding proper behaivor from him. Patience on his part was what I needed he wanted to use bite instead. Looking back on the run, I am also to blame for lacking patience, at one point Ricky had gone around to the head and had her stopped, but I didn't give him enough time to let her settle before asking for a flank in an attempt to hold my cross drive line, when he let go she broke, he blew up.

This time I was met by Larry Moore as I walked off the field saying that I should have stayed at the post and waited it out, he felt that Ricky was getting it worked out and that we would have had a chance at winning the Nursery even with the blow up. It's always a tough call when things begin to go wrong, wait and see or get your butt trucking down the field to get things sorted out yourself going into damage control. I stand by my decision, I would rather that my dog didn't know that he can do it the way he wants to on the trial field. Our last run was Open, this time rain and a really nice set of cows.

Unfortunately I may have handled the run in a poor fashion, either that or I did the best I could with a young dog being precented with a situation that required a more seasoned dog. I also wanted to make sure the Ricky did what I asked, following Larry's advice. As I was walking out toward the post I noted that the judge, scribe and score sheet runner were having a discussion, at the same time the cattle were being set out onto the field. I patiently waited for the judge to ok me to run as the cattle drifted to the left side of the field settling in a place that put them dead center inbetween the drive panels and the fetch gates.

This meant that either I needed to have the set out reset the cattle, which may really upset the now quiet cows; or take the cattle where they stood and after the lift have Ricky flank around and set a new line to the fetch gates. He would have to drive the cattle right toward the draw and then I would need to flank him again to get the cattle turned in time to make the panels. The line was going to have to take the cattle parrallel to the fetch gates, with a hard dogleg to get us back on course to the handlers post.

If I had been running Jake I know it would have been a piece of cake, I can position and reposition him quick and easy, almost like handling a remote controlled car. Ricky on the other hand, I need to take my time and let him settle inbetween commands, if I don't he get's tense and leans on the cattle and I didn't want a repeat of my Nursery run.

I elected to take the cattle where they stood, Ricky outran nice, lifted them straight to me, and he was bringing them, I had a moment of panic as I thought that there was no way he was going to take a flank to get the line changed...it took me two flank commands before I saw him come around so that we could set the new line, I made him stop a moment and the cattle were off toward the draw. Trying to balance patience with control while the cattle are heading where they want to go is tough, especially for Ricky, he's alot like Jake "They are getting away, I gotta stop them!!!" I didn't want Ricky to kick into a flank and stop or turn them early so I made him walk up a bit holding the drive before flanking him for the turn.

Unfortunately it was a few strides to late, the turn was made but just past the fetch panels. Ricky proceeded to bring the cattle on toward me and we began to work the turn of the post. We had a bobble or two on the turn before Ricky was off taking them to the first drive panel. The first leg of the drive went fairly well, so did the turn but I could'nt quite get Ricky back into the right place to hold the cattle away from the draw to make our cross drive panels, nor did I try hard. It would have meant that I would have to rush Ricky and I wanted to keep things calm and quiet.

Next up was the trailer, only two handler/dogs has successfully loaded the cattle in the trailer prior to our run, all day. We had plenty of time, we had to regroup once as one of the cows that gave Ricky a hard time on the handlers post turn tried him again, but we prevailed, the cows stepped up onto the trailer and in, course complete. At that point I didn't care how we scored or where we placed, I was just overjoyed with completeing a course without having the wheels fall off. My dog stopped when I asked, flanked when I asked, the cattle pretty much went where they were suppose to in a controlled fashion and as far as I was concerned we won.

Ends up...that I think we were 1 point short. We can use a top 20% open placing to qualify for Nursery Finals, I think we needed to place 4th**. We did, but tied for 4th, the tie breaker was the combined score of the outwork (outrun, lift and fetch), we lost the tie breaker. If we had preserved just one more point Ricky would have been qualified for Nursery Finals.

**Upon review of the score sheets we would have needed to place 3rd, 4 points short...

Looking back at the run I can't help but wonder if I should have had the cattle reset, but that may have upset the cattle. If I had flanked him a little sooner vs. making sure he settled before asking for the turn on the fetch panels the cows would have made the panels, but Ricky might have blown up. If I had tried a little harder to get Ricky to hold the line to the cross drive panels or I even could have had a better line from the cross drive to the trailer, but at that point I was just happy to be heading to the trailer and was in the "Let's just get this done" mode.

Originally I had planned on coming home after my runs on Saturday but bad travel weather convinced me that I was better off spending the evening at Applebee's with some other handlers and back to the motel. Since I was staying over I went ahead and entered Ricky in the Open Sunday morning. Thinking back I really was not thinking about it being one more chance to qualify, I was looking at it as one more chance to season my dog, would he be hard to handle like Saturday morning or would he pick up where we left off, each run on Saturday got better.

Sunday morning Ricky had the best run of the weekend, there were parts of the fetch and drive that I don't think we could have made any better, it was like I was running a little nearly fined tuned machine, Ricky and I were finally getting together. We had a little glitch on the cross drive, but we got through and I think we made the panels. I tried to set a better line to the trailer holding the cattle away from the draw and also a pile of hay, but the cattle got to the hay and Ricky had to convince them to move on, now we need the heel bite... We got up to the trailer, lined them up they started in but one cow said no and went to run through Ricky, Ricky got her stopped, lined things back up just in time to run out of time.

We just were not meant to go to the Nursery Finals this year, but that's ok we still have next year and the summer trialing season is yet to begin. I can't wait for this coming weekend, we will be at the Indiana Horse Fair competing in a 10 dog trial. My fingers are crossed that Ricky and myself will pick up right were we left off on Sunday.

When I came home last night we dropped Ricky's pups into the pen with the lambs for the first time. They are 8 weeks old this weekend, every one of them went to work, very willing to move the sheep but also able to go to the head and stop the sheep. We didn't see and ounce of fear or over sensitivity, one little pup looks like he is going to be a heel hellion just like his daddy.

If I didn't trial

2011-03-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't have to work so hard on learning how to whistle

I wouldn't be waking up at 4am thinking about the path of my dogs outrun pondering what it is that I'm not seeing that others do.

I wouldn't have to slip and fall out in the greasy pens at chore tim while walking down Ricky for slicing a flank or disobeying a command.

I wouldn't have to challenge myself to understand what correct work should look like both from the view of the dog and the livestock.

I wouldn't have to look to myself and my dog for issues with the livestock but could rather say "That's ok Ricky, your good, I would have bit that dang nasty ewe too."

I wouldn't have a higher standard of work to strive for and would be able to accept whatever my dog is willing to offer.

I wouldn't be blessed with the loyal companion that is sitting at my feet right now, gazing at me with admiration waiting for the next task that he can turn himself inside out trying to do as I ask and work together with me to accomplish.

A Quick Update

2011-03-15T06:46:00.001-07:00

Last evening Number 6 finally mustered the courage to get over the wall!!!

Last evening I let all the pups and Dixie out and we went for a walk out into one of the small pastures. All the pups were great, following along, going out and investigating the new environment but staying aware of where I was.

I've said it from the time they were less then a week old, this litter is different then any other that we have raised. Typically on the first outing there will be a few pups that would prefer to stay in the kennel or one or two that go off doing their own thing totally oblivious at to where I am, not this crew.

It was entertaining watching them struggle up one of the remaining snow piles, about a 4 foot climb with ledges to fall off. Number 3 jumped off a top ledge just because he wanted to get to the bottom, he's kinda fearless little bugger. 1-4 all buzzed around, up and down easily, number 5 sat at the bottom and screamed for a minute or two before setting his mind to the task of climbing up so that he could be by me. Number 6 did a good job but you could see she was a bit uncertain of her footing and was low and slinky to the ground.

Wayne joined us just to watch and take it all in, he also sees that this litter is a little different then previous that we have raised, but maybe we are looking at them for a different angle compared to how we looked at previous litters. Another thing we have noticed is the both Dixie and Ricky are different with the pups then any of the other dams have been or Jake. Jake really does not like puppies, Ricky takes them in stride, he lets them play around his feet, head him, heel him a bit and corrects them effectively but not over the top for getting to personal. Dixie has been physical with them since they were under a week old. We were worried when we heard a growl and screech from the whelping room as Dix tuned on a little 3 day old pup. She also would leave them and not go running when someone cried, she had them on a strict feeding schedule and would only feed them at set times. She would go in and clean them, but not allow them to nurse.

When I feed Dixie I don't worry about seperating out the pups, the pups go to join her, she raises a lip and they all slide stop a hault lined up side by side and patiently wait for Dixie to authorize them to eat. If they are around a food bowl they move off when told to but will eat comfortably if allowed, they understand that no means no. I have a feeling that Dixie is going to make my job a lot easier come training time.

Over dinner we discussed what his thoughts were, he is pretty much in agreement, Ricky Junior is the best and number 6 is the bottom running a close race with number 5. We both agree that if someone was to drive in today and pick a pup to take home they would more then likely pick one of those two bottom pups if Junior was unavailable.

On a different note, Ricky has worked his way back into the house for a brief stay. On Saturday while working cattle he was stepped on and lost some hide over the top of his foot. I've been keeping and eye on it. After using him to tag and sort ewes and lambs last evening I decided to play it safe and leave him here in the house after cleaning it up last night, his entire foot is sore but not to the degree of showing it while working. He has claimed the leather sofa that I picked up for free as his domain, actually chasing Bea off of it last evening after dinner, house dog again....atleast for a few days.

If I was to venture a guess - 6 week puppy evaluations

2011-03-14T12:51:00.001-07:00

The pups turned 6 weeks old this past weekend (Dixie x Ricky). We have elected to not let any of the pups of this litter go home until we have had a chance to evaluate them, which includes their introduction to livestock. I'm guessing they will be hanging around here until they are about 16 weeks old or when they show me something that I just flat out don't like, which ever comes first.

Over the last 4 weeks I've been making little mental notes as to who is showing strengths and weaknesses and if the pups mature out of their weaknesses or if the weakness keeps raising it's head in other places. As it stands, if I had to make my picks today, here is the order and why:

Ricky Junior, he's my number one pick. This little guy has been the most outgoing pup of the bunch, but not brash. He is a thinker, when given a correction you can see the wheels turn, "hmm, what caused that?"

Today as I was coming up from the barns I realized that we had an escape, actually 4. Junior was one of the four, once he spotted me he started out right for me and proceeded to follow me around the house as I located a new brick to cover the escape route. This was his first time loose in the yard, he took it in stride.

My number 2 pick is this little female, she was the slowest to mature, almost acting a bit premature, but once she caught up there has been no looking back. She is bold and almost brash and fearless.

It will be interesting to see if she holds onto her number 2 position, I'm a touch concerned as to how trainable she is. She takes a correction well, but I've not been able to tell if she is learning anything from it.

She was one of my 4 escapees, she also came to meet me.

My Number 3 Pick is this Tri-colored male with the blaze. Originally I had him down at the bottom of the pick list, he showed signs of sensitivity and didn't want to be touched. But, over the last couple of weeks I've seen him solid up and handle things well. I really expected him to be scattery to noise and motion, but he is proving me wrong, so far.

He was another one of my escapees, though he slid back into the kennel when the other two came to greet me, the sensitivity is part of him.

Here is number 4, this pup is pretty easy going but not as outgoing as the other two. If there is a bussel in the kennel you will see her find a safe corner and watch from afar. She really does not seem to be scared, but more of the "I don't want to get into trouble" type.

She was the 4th of the Jail Break Gang, but she too retreated back under the fence when she saw me coming.

This one is unexpected, number 5, I actually had this male tagged as a good one early on but an interesting development has brought by thinking into question, it's the same issue that has the number 6 pup in her place, in addition to a gut feeling that I have that he is going to be excitable. He's shown me a couple of over the top reactively excited moments, that type of dog can be hard to train, they get excited and can't take direction, but if you make them contain themselves they can't react. Time will tell...

The biggest issue I have with number 5 is that he is not willing to try hard when he wants something but would prefer to sit behind what ever is in his way and scream about it. We have a 10 inch lip at the doorway to our kennel building, the other 4 struggle over it to get outside, both he and number 6 stand with their feet on the ledge screaming and biting at the ledge, heck, even with Dixie nursing the other 4 just outside right in front of them. Today he finally showed enough determination to conquer that wall.

Onto number 6....

Number 6 is a large tri-color female that I know most would consider her the female pick of the litter. She is outgoing and handles things pretty well. But, if she feels too much pressure she goes into a little frantic spin and she also has an issue with adversity. I don't think many would even see it, but I tend to test the pups and look for either desirable or undesirable reaction.

She still hasn't clawed her way over the kennel ledge, and I'm not going to help her. Today I watched as number 2 jumped back into the kennel building to get a drink, number 6 was tickled to see her, number 2 came barreling back up and over, number 6 screamed, "Help me, I can't get out"

I could see where many would have helped her over the wall, but I wanted to see how long it took before she builds the resolve herself or if her helplessness is a part of her. I've not been desensitizing these pups, with the exception of number 3, he needed to accept being touched. Otherwise, I've been watching to see how they handle adversity on their own. So that I can learn see how it translates to future stock work and training.

This past weekend we took their sire Ricky and Toby, an uncle to dog break cattle. Ricky went right to work, it was tough going, the mud was elbow deep in places. Ricky has never worked in such poor conditions nor for such a long time, but he kept ticking. Toby, well that was a different story, he sniffed poop, tried to stay on dry land. Even went so far as digging in his front feet refusing to step into the mud, his unwillingness to deal with the adversity prevented him from being useful. No courage or heart, he's lucky that Wayne is in his corner, I'm done with him.

It will be interesting to read over this post in another month or so and then again further into the future to see if what I believe to be positive or adverse traits stay with them or if they change with maturity. It will also be interesting to see how if effects their interaction with livestock. The level of stock drive may have a strong influence on their desire to push through, but I also wonder is as the work get more difficult and less fun if those traits I'm seeing now will raise their head.

We will start leash breaking in another week or so, that usually tells me a bit about train ability, how badly they want what they want and if they are easily distracted from something that peaks their interest.

Stock Dog Training and Low Stress Livestock Handling Seminar

2011-03-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Marc Christopher will be here at our farm to conduct a Stock Dog Training and Low Stress Livestock Handling Seminar the first weekend of June.

More information can be found at our website: www.waynescustomleather.com

A Moment of Peace

2011-03-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

I just came in from my first working session ever with Ricky where I felt at peace afterward.

There was no battle of wills today. Yes, he made mistakes, but then again, so did I.

What was missing was the wrestling match between us, he wanting to do this when I want that, it was more like we were working together today....strange but really good feeling.

I hope to return to this place in our relationship again soon and often.

Taking Inventory

2011-03-04T06:57:00.000-08:00

Wayne out working Ricky this past fall

I took Ricky back out to the field yesterday to try again, but as we worked to get the sheep out to the field I took inventory, what was he doing, was it right, was he listening, was he obeying. I found three major issues that I needed to address, he was slipping to the left into a flank while driving, he was taking 3 - 4 extra steps when I asked for a stop when he was flanking to the left and when I called him to me he was not coming straight to me but rather bending telling me that he was not 100% committed to the recall and concerned about the sheep.

Before we ever got the sheep to the field I put my foot down on the sloppy recall, then I made sure that when I asked for a stop that he gave it to me, and I mean johnny on the spot. The third issue was taken care of when I dealt with other two. I felt like we were back on track and ready to roll.

I sent Ricky out on a outrun, he got around the sheep and listened 100% better when I asked him to stop. I had him cross drive the sheep, flank around to a different spot and drive again. I found that I was not happy with how he was breaking off of his sheep when he would initiate a flank, he was flat and not wanting to let go, so I got his case for it. Soon he let go and just floated out and around with alot of feel and very relaxed like he did for Marc down in Missouri and also how he was for me this past weekend at the clinic and fun day. You would think that he would handle the stock the same way from place to place, but he doesn't. He had developed a poor method here at home out in the field prior to leaving for Missouri and was reverting back to that method when he thought it was right.

I'm really looking forward to this summer and the upcoming demonstrations. I have a few trials that I would like to go to, but in all reality I'm not looking forward to them as much as I am the demos, we get so much more work at the demos. I really feel that the demonstrations give us an advantage at the trials and also help me to build confidence with my dog and my dog gains confidence and trust in me. I've come to the conclusion that the demonstration and real work that we accomplish are the cake any trial success that we have this summer will simply be the icing on the cake.

We are also looking forward to hosting a Marc Christopher Training Seminar June 4-5th here at our place in North Central Iowa, I will be posting information and the flyer to our website soon. Marc has been instrumental in our success with our dogs both from a training and breeding direction. When we met Marc 4 years ago this coming May, our first Border Collie, Jake was just a pup and we were clueless as to what it took to get around the trial field. Wayne knew how to use dogs out on the ranch and how to get them to be useful, but he had never dreamed that it was possible to do the things that we do with a dog now.

Our website is http://www.waynescustomleather.com/

Marc's Website is http://www.christophertraining.com/

Back in the saddle after getting bucked off...

2011-03-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

One of the nice things about training dogs as opposed to horses is that it does not hurt as bad physically when you get bucked off but I think that the mental toll can be just as high.

Yesterday I took Ricky out to the open field here at home for the first time since he came home from Marc's. In the past we have had some blow ups out in the open field that I had not been able to overcome, hence why I sent Ricky down to Marc's. Everything has been going great with him, it's not been perfect, Rick can be a handful but I have been able to overcome any adversity and move on and he did great out in the open field at Bob's this past weekend.

Well, not yesterday, big wreck, imagine the colt running through the field bucking and kicking as the rider lays stranded in a heap... We had some bad moments while getting the sheep out of the yard and to the field, but each was overcome with good work and I actually felt that Ricky was learning his way through the encounters and getting better at managing the sheep through all the nooks, crannies and hiding spots. Eventually we were driving them down the driveway, Ricky very relaxed and myself with a aire of confidence, maybe too much confidence.

I had Ricky drive the sheep out into the field and noticed a couple of slips of communication between he and I where he went into business for himself. I corrected him, thought I had things working right and called him off when the sheep were about 200 yards away from me in the field. I should have known that I was living on the edge when I called him back to me and he was floating to my left instead of coming straight back, but I ignored it and accepted it, bad move....

I set Ricky up for a outrun going off to my right, he went off great, but the sheep decided that they were going to make a break to the left straight across the field to the left. Ricky bent out and around and went behind a slight rise where he lost view of the sheep. I tried to stop and redirect him but he would have none of it and landed where he thought the sheep where, which was now behind them with them moving off away at even a quicker pace. I tried to stop him, instead he went into high pursuit mode and took two sheep down before getting to the back side and sending the sheep flying back toward me. Did I mention that this was a big field, soybean stubble, wet, greasy...not fun.. Cue the bucking horse reel.

Well, I'm now in full correction mode, walking Ricky down, really wishing I was horseback, would have made it easier. Ricky was still high on adreneline and ran out huge, he had to be 1/4 mile off the sheep, better then trying to run past me to the sheep. I walked the other way, he stopped turned and ran out huge a different direction, boy did he remind me of both Jake and his momma at that moment, I've been here before.... The sheep decided that they were going home, I let them, continuing to walk Ricky down. He disappeared off around the back side of the property, I figured that he was going to go around the barns and come back up at the front drive so I started the hike.

As I came in from the field I was surprised to not see Ricky, then I turned around, her he comes trotting along in a straight line right to me, he assumed his position just to the left and behind me and we came in together from the field, without me saying a word.

When we got back up to the barns we gathered the sheep back up, moved them over to the "L" pasture so that I could get closer to my work and regain some of what I lost. Rather then doing easy stuff that I know Ricky can succeed at I worked on things that he and I struggle with and looked for places where he was changing what I wanted to do into something that he wanted to do, and made some gains.

So, today I need to get back in the saddle, we need to get back out into the field and get a good ride in and hope that I stay on the top side.

Full Circle back to Flanks...

2011-03-02T06:17:00.000-08:00

Almost 2 years ago I wrote a entry about flanks where I went into some detail about why when and where, (http://leaningtreebcs.blogspot.com/2009/07/life-without-flank.html)

You would think that people would figure it out, just how important proper flanks along with the when, where and how of it, but once again I watched a bunch of people talking flanks but not showing any concept of the little parts of the flank. So many think left or right, others think around but few are factoring in the livestock and recognize that a flank is not set in stone but rather a always adjusting place based on feel. We can't command a dog along a proper flank path, from a distance we can not anticipate correctly what they feel or see or how the stock will respond.

This comes back full circle to the mechanical vs. natural argument. When I think of mechanical I'm thinking of the dog that does not feel, does not or has not been allowed to control his stock on his own but waits for the command. I had a moment this past weekend when I realized just how different our approach is then others. Ricky was driving cattle away from me and sliding to the left in an effort to hold the cows on line (basically Ricky was making sure the cows would maintain a straight course of travel). As the draw got heavier he moved further forward in an effort to maintain the line. There is a point where a young dog will make the mistake and slip all the way around, I think it is when one animal makes a larger adjustment, the young dog takes it as a moment of escape or loss of control and comes around to the head sorta out of panic.

Anyway, the person with me was telling me that I was not correcting him soon enough for slipping around to the head, that Ricky was slipping way earlier then when I was recognizing it. As I thought about it I realized that the person may be treating the adjustment Ricky made to weight the draw and try to hold the line as an indication of a slip to the head, basically the advice indirectly was to not let the dog control the direction of the stock but rather wait for me to tell him to move over. Yes it will work, but imo, that's mechanical, not what I want in my dog, I want more.

It was pointed out to me that I will win less the way I'm working my dog. But, to me, that's ok, I have no huge problem being beat so long as my dog works within my vision of correctness. In reality, that is winning, and I believe will lead me to breeding and raising better dogs over the long term. Thinking about being beat, each time I have been beat I can think of many things that my dog or myself could have done better, there are times I have won that IMO was done with poor work. I suspect that when my dog works properly I will be at the top, the difficulty is in not allowing myself to accept less due to being able to win with less.

I had a moment of pleasure this past weekend when I was approached while working Ricky, I was offered a compliment on his flanks, someone saw that his flanks were better then the others, even those that were claiming to have good ones. The proof is in the pudding, or rather the livestock, all you have to do is watch the livestock, a dog that flanks properly will be able to make livestock work look like cake, one with poor flanks makes it look like it is really hard.

So often a dog/handler has a tough time not due to the stock being bad, but rather the dog is not working or responding properly based on the situation. Reminds me of a statement that Tony McCallum made that made everyone groan, "There is no Bad Livestock". I remember thinking to myself, "Yeah, right, you've never seen some of my draws", but I have change the way I am looking at how my dog handles the stock and I have began to recognize places where my dog showed weakness or made a poor decision which lead to a fight, basically making the livestock appear to be difficult or bad. Tony's right, there is no bad livestock. Clean and proper flanks based on the livestock are just one of the factors that can make livestock easy to hand.

A Long long weekend

2011-02-28T07:25:00.000-08:00

Three straight days of working dogs on someone elses stock, what a great thing, thank you Bob Johnson!!

I am quite tired this morning, Wayne is too, even though he stayed home here. He ended up being up most of the night Saturday with Wynonna, Wayne's 4 year old red ACD bitch, whelping. We have our first crossbred litter in over 5 years. We used our best Border Collie male on her, Ricky. The plan is to breed out many of the border collie traits over time but keep what our ACD's are missing and end up with a ACD simular to what Wayne used back in Colorado 35 years ago, it will be interesting to see if we can accomplish our goal.

I took Jake, Ricky, Patty and Angus down to Tingley Iowa for the weekend. Wayne's open dog, my young dog that I just started running open & nursery, a 7 month old pup that is just getting ready for training and then 5 month old Angus. I'm very please with everyone, well, except the pup Angus, he just does not seem to be offering what I would like to see. We will give him a bit more time, regardless of what I would like him to offer, I think he will still turn into a nice farm/ranch dog.

Friday evening, when the sheep were fresh, I was able to work on some shedding, actually I let Ricky teach me how to shed while trying to remember the advice Marc gave me when I was down in Missouri last week. It's a strange thing to have a dog that calmly parts the waters and then comes in clean and with conviction. So long as I did not try to force the shed things went well, kinda weird how the gap just appeared in front of me and all I had to do was call Ricky in. Great fun!!!

I had one major "wrong place - wrong time" moment with Ricky. I was waiting for my turn on the sheep in the arena, I had him off leash as he is pretty reliable at being in the place he s suppose to be, or atleast I thought he was. Anyway, a young pup split the sheep, ran them down amongst us watching, when they made their escape a ewe body slammed another young dog, the impact tore his leash from his handlers hand. Now there are two dogs after the sheep, the two young dogs ran the sheep back towards the onlookers, now being pursued by two handlers, one ewe sliced by me...Ricky couldn't take it. He leaped for a head and about took the ewe to the turf and then off to the races. Now three youngs dogs after 4 sheep with 3 handlers trying to stop dogs.

I was able to get Ricky shut down and back to me, but boy was he amped up. I kicked myself for not having a leash on my dog but then had to look at the upside, no sheep or people were injured, I got my dog stopped before everyone else, now I have to go out and see if he can let go or if he is going to be a brat when it is my turn to run. I just earned myself something test and train Ricky through.

Bob Fleming set the sheep for me with Dandy, as I walked out to set Ricky up for an outrun I realized that Ricky has never lifted off of a set out dog atleast that I know of, then I couldn't help but wonder if what just occured is going to carry over into my session. I figured that I may as well go for broke and sent Ricky on his outrun, it will be a good test. Ricky went out like a champ, came around to the top and initiated a lift as if Dandy was not even there. I flanked Ricky around on his Away-to-me side to make certain he was still free and listening, and asked for a cross drive, Dandy was still there and on that side. Ricky stopped about 15 feet behind Dandy and started to walk up, when the sheep started to lift Dandy got up thinking he was to control the sheep. Bob whistled to Dandy to stop, Ricky obeyed, Bob...hmm, note to self, need to get Ricky to ignore other handlers whistles.

Long story short, a bad expirence lead to success, basically I was able to gain some confidence in my dog, yes things can come totally unglued but my dog can regain his composure and move on like nothing happened.

On Sunday I took Ricky and Jake over to work cattle. I kept things simple for Ricky, only sending him as far as I felt I could correct him and trying to keep things positive with out totally protecting him. Nothing really special to report accept that Ricky handled everything presented to him and maintained decient to high quality work, not all perfect there were slips, but each mistake lead to success.

Bob and I worked some full length field outruns, he and his dog on one end of the field and myself and Jake on the other. Jake presented me with a couple of issues, he came in too hard once, which made him panic and resulted in him heading and stopping them. I got him straightened out and he brought the cattle straight up the field. The next outrun I sent him on I did some communication checks with my whistle as he made his way down the field, this seem to help him soften, he came around to the top much nicer and lifted about perfect.

It dawned on me that I had not been letting Ricky know that he is right while I was working him, which is something Marc was talking about last weekend. Give him the command and then confirm in a softer lighter tone that he is right as opposed to leaving him hanging out to dry. It will help me to make the change now that I see that Jake responds in a positive manner to the technique, it amazing how a little reward will help to form new habits quicker.

When Bob and I returned to his arena he and I talked about talking with the dog. He pointed out that some trainers do not like to hear all the extra commands where other whistle all of the time. I've heard other complain about all the commands, but now I don't seem them as commands, I'll have to listen closely next time I'm at a trial, are those handlers that use a lot of whistles not really recommanding but rather reaffirming or helping the dog.

I like the idea of helping the dog along with a softer tone from a training standpoint but my thought is that eventually I would like to be able to have a dog that does not rely on alot of extra talk from me. I guess my goal is to talk as little as I have to but don't do it to just prove that I don't have to and in the end leave my dog hanging out to dry, which is what I think some may be doing.

Reminds me of the saying, don't follow the marked path, hone out your own path and lead. It's not that I'm actually doing something that someone else has not already thought of, it is more that I don't fall victim to doing what everyone else is doing just because they say it is right. So many are just repeating what they are told and really don't have any personal proof or expirence to back it up.

I'm planning on giving everyone the day off today, I have some club paperwork to clean up today and get the shop ready for some leather work. I am hoping to take the ewes with the older lambs out to the soybean field tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on the mud, and then each day this week with both Ricky and Jake and start building more distance. I only have access to open field for a limited time, I'm sure corn planting is right around the corner.

Jake Faces Nanny Devil Incarnate & Company

2011-02-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

Wow...that blink will get you in trouble........... (see the next post to get up to speed)

I really didn't realize how much danger Jake was in when a potentially aggressive animal took that blink as a sign of weakness

Meet Nanny Devil Incarnate and company (Nanny D is one in the middle), she is accompanied by her kid and Billy the Hitman, well, Billy is really a wether, but no one has told him.

Nanny D and Company came home with us from the Colfax Sale Barn in November after we sold our calves. We have not had goats in years, these three came through for $50.00 a head (cheapest of the day) and we decided to give it try again. They are a tough crew, I don't dare put a young dog in with them, they will ruin a dog if given the opportunity. Ricky handles them the best, old Nanny D comes straight at him, he waits for to get to him, he bites hard she backs up and he says "Want to try again?" She leaves.

This is how Nanny D operates, she sends Billy the Hitman in to challange the dog and then waits to see what happens. If Billy can get Jake to blink he goes for the kill and Nanny D follows right along behing hitting Billy in the hip until Billy turns off and then she takes a stab at the dog.

It's not for the faint of heart, to say the least. At the beginning of our session Billy the Hitman met Jake head to head in the narrow alleyway of a T chute, the exit is about 20 foot from the wall. I thought Jake was going to stand firm, but then he blinked....Billy did his thing, Jake went to fight back but Billy took the low road, sorta picked Jake up and ran him 20 feet back slamming him into the wall. Jake regained his footing and declared war, he might blink but he typically get's the last word. There was nothing I could do, aside from being speechless, trying to stay clear of getting piled up myself and thinking this is frickin dangerous...

So now I am at a crossroads, set it up again and risk having Jake injured or get out while we are ahead and keep things out in the open. Well, I'm a risk taker, and to tell you the truth that alley configuration has caused Jake all kinds of simular issues at cattle trials, mind you he has never been slammed into a wall by a cow, but at Platte, SD a heifer came real close, if he had zigged instead of zagged it would have been kiss good old Jake goodbye. So, we set it back up, Jake head to head, he has no problem going head to head, it's just that he has a moment of weakness at a moment where he really needs to show strength, this time he blinks again, but goes low and Billy blows on past him. Ok, we got change, that's good....let's try it again.

Third times a charm, head to head, face to face, I can see more lean in Jake's posture actually leaning a bit into Billy, and then it happened...Billy backed up and left. There it is!!!! Reapply, Rinse, Repeat.... Reapply, Rinse, Repeat... As a reward I went ahead and let Jake move the not so happy trio around in the open.

Now Billy the Hitman has a different tune, and note Nanny D wants no part of Jake.

But then Nanny D decides that this just is not right and stands square and firm, she's kinda a tough old bird

I didn't get the shot of Jake giving her what for, but between the white hair in his mouth and the near spinning poltergiest head with tongue fully extended you can imagine who made his point.

I called Wayne to update him on our progress and to let him know that we may be risking Jake's health, he said proceed on, it's way less dangerous getting plowed by a 50 lb goat then it would be by a 800 lb steer. The jury is still out as to whether or not I will continue down this path, I have a call into Marc to see if he thinks that the possible gains outweights the risks. And then I wondered why Jake's breeder told us to get through this type of stuff before you put alot of time and money into the dog. Kinda wonder how many realize what all goes into proving a stockdog from a risk of injury standpoint, ducks and dogbroke sheep are way easier...I hope I don't regret going down this road, how much is a canine life insurance policy?

"Made You Blink!"

2011-02-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

I awoke at 5 am with my brain in full gear thinking about dog training. This past weekend at the trial and with Marc we identified a issue with Jake that has cost him alot when it comes to handling cattle. Yes, Jake can make cattle move, yes, Jake has bite, yes, Jake is ranked as a top 20 Cattledog (really he should be about 12th, he has not gotten credit for all of his points). But, as Marc describes it, "He blinks and the cattle read it as weakness". Well he probably doesn't actually blink, but he does release pressure when he shouldn't just by turning his head a touch or diverting his eyes away from the cow. This little lapse in power is just enough to open the door for that cow and may result in the cow trying take Jake, run past him, through him or flat out jump him which occurred this past weekend. Marc calls it a lack of nerve and that he does not have to power to stay in there.

So, this is the plan, I am going to treat it as a issue that we created and try some exercises to try to remove that moment of release out of the equation. My thought is that early in Jake's training when he was a hand full and wanting to cause fights we may have inadvertently created this habit. It also maybe the natural dog or it was something that came easier then you would like, but either way it is a weakness and ignoring it is not going to make strengthen.

We have 90 days until the National Cattle Dog Finals, if we can get this glitch worked through, it will increase the chances of success at the finals. It's kinda funny, I can hear the peanut gallery, you can't make a weak dog strong...well I've been told of a multiple National Champion Sheepdog that started out anything but strong and had to be taught to hold pressure. If a Big Hat can get it done, why can't I?

Call it wishful, call it conceited, but I gotta be positive or failure will be inevitable, truth be told I don't know if I can make things better, but we won't know unless we try, that's dog training.

Tears of pain...tears of joy..

2011-02-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

Tears of pain....

We lost another one....little Lily has passed, I was sent an e-mail from her owner this morning, he is heart sick. Just this past weekend he started her on cattle, just this weekend she met her demise after venturing into a quiet country road at the wrong time.

This loss is right on the heels of her sister Dora, we sent Wayne's pick Lucy (littermate to Lily) to the family to fill Dora's pads. Dora was a special one, here is a post about her the day her family picked her up, she went on to being a handy cattledog and 4-H Champion http://leaningtreebcs.blogspot.com/2009/07/farewell-sweet-dora-we-wish-you-well.html

Tears of joy....

I recieved another call today, the proud owner of Lily's littermate Lacy, called to tell us again how blessed they are to have her and how wonderful she is. I shared the news about Lily, an extra hug tonight for Lacy.

As promised...Puppy Pictures. More can be found at our website: www.waynescustomleather.com/dixiexrickypups.htm

I have a favorite, can you guess which one??

Your Busted!!! No Compromises.

2011-02-23T11:14:00.000-08:00

Today was the third day that Ricky took over all of the chores here at home. This is not only a test for him but also for me, can I maintain the changes that Marc made in his attitude while progressing in his training. As far as training is concerned he is trained, he has his directions, he has a stop, a walk up, he controls his stock, he sheds, looks back and has a variation of speeds and intensities that I can tap into with just subtle tone changes in my voice or whistles. What he lacks is experience and seasoning, dealing with adversity and coming out on top on the other side.

As I went out with him to do chores I noticed that he was doing an exceptional job staying in his place, just to the right and behind me, he is not allowed to wear or switch sides, it is his job to stay there until I give him a different job. We made it all the way to the hen house, fed the ducks and started to move on to the sheep barn, no slips on his part. For a moment I thought maybe just maybe we could make it through our entire chore routine without him slipping from his place, then it happened, the mistake. A quick correction and he was right back in his place, he almost looked embarrassed that he made the mistake.

We moved on and fed the sheep, I had Ricky move the ram and Tetra out of the barn, Tetra is known for taking a dog. Tetra and Rick had a moment of face to face time, typically day after day Tetra takes a shot at Jake before getting a nose or ear bite and moving on, she held true to her habit yesterday and the day before but not today, today she yielded and moved on with her twins. Reflecting back to the trial this past weekend Marc pointed out that Jake tends to blink when confronting a cow, he has a moment where he looses his nerve and the cow will try to take him reading the weakness. Typically Jake fights through it and wins in the end, but it seems to be a pattern. What I realized today was when Tetra changed her routine it was due to Ricky not blinking.

Before leaving for Marc's I had only rare opportunities to see it in Ricky, there was one cattle trial where he went eye to eye with a cow at a gate, the cow declared uncle and moved on. I had another chance up at Platte, SD during the trial but the cow elected to try Ricky anyway at which point he was almost stunned and didn't know how to respond. This past weekend at the trial we had two more opportunities, one was when we backed a cow backwards down an alleyway, the other was when a cow wanted to enter an alley with Ricky in it. She said no, he at first wanted to negotiate leave the alley way and go for a heel, I refused to allow him to negotiate and after three attempts he finally stepped up and bit her square on the nose.

Ideally I would like to have a dog that makes that move as a natural reflex, but I'll take one that develops it, calm, quiet, flat footed this is not open for negotiations attitude. Truth be told, Ricky may have originally possessed the proper reflex, but if I missed it and inapproaprately discouraged it I may have taught him to not use it.

Anyway, back to the original story, after completing sheep and horse chores Ricky and myself were returning to the house, he tucked in just behind me to my right, so close that I almost have to bend over backwards and twist to see his tail to confirm he is there, when I became aware of him creeping up. My thought was to wait for him to make the mistake and then correct him, but then I realized that I had quickened my pace in an attempt to hold my position just in front and to the left of him...wait a minute..I just caught myself trying to help him be right... CRACK...correction time! No Negotiations! I busted my dog in the act of bending and shaping me, the master of negotiators has been stopped in his tracks! He looked beyond embarrassed this time.

I have to say that at the moment I realized I was speeding up for my dog I heard Marc's voice asking my why I was doing it. As luck would have it I have seen the same situation occur over and over with other students of his, he always reminds us to watch closely, any issue that he helps his other students through will eventually happen to us and by not getting wrapped up in our own dogs and issues we will be able to learn from others and know what to do when our day comes.

On a side note, in an effort to keep our relationship from slipping Ricky is now living in the kennel. I know that bringing him back into the house will just give him more opportunity to shape me and get me to bend to him. This is a change that I will be making with all of my young dogs, they will get house time so as to learn how to behave in the house, but once they have learned the lessons they need to learn, back to the kennel to ensure that each interaction I have with them is positive from a training/relationship standpoint and of high quality.

Best Money Spent

2011-02-22T06:41:00.000-08:00

Ricky took over the #1 chore dog role yesterday, not just because I used him but also by the quality of work he provided. This is a different dog, he is way more relaxed then I have ever seen him which allows me to trust him most anywhere around the ewes and lambs. Even when one of the ewes with new lambs took advantage of the situation and pounded on him he just stayed put, took the hit and walked up calmly with authority. The reaction the ewe had was priceless, I think she expected him to retreat or blow a gasket, the fact that he stayed the course threw her for a loop, she quickly gathered up her lambs and moved on and was rewarded, Ricky didn't even offer his old tendency of getting the last word via a cheap shot.

That little change in Ricky's attitude was worth the money and time spent, and for the most part was what I was struggling to get. I felt confident that over time I would get there and wear Ricky down but I also had a feeling that Marc could get there quicker leaving me to enjoy the summer trialing and using my dog instead of fighting with him waiting for him to give up battling with me. After using him yesterday my feelings have been confirmed, we can now move on forward gaining more expirence handling different livestock in different situations. I have faith that handling Ricky after he has been so drastically changed by Marc will help me find my way on the next dog so that I don't end up stalled in the same place with a different dog.

Patty is the next young dog in line for training. She is a different cat then Ricky, softer with a ton of feel and drive. My thought is that she will have more in common with Jake when it comes to what she offers and the trials and tribulations we encounter during our training sessions.

Puppies...

On a different note, Ricky's first pups are 3 1/2 weeks old, I'm going to try to get some pictures of the tribe (3 males/3 females). Early evaluations of temperment and reaction to pressure has revealed one male with hyper sensitivity. Yesterday Dixie corrected him and he went off by himself to sulk. His future as a top notch stockdog is bleak, we will have to wait to see if he will be able to handle the pressure of pet life, for use as a hobby herding dog or if with proper handling combined with strong stock drive if he can learn to overcome his temperment, stranger things have happened, Jake comes to mind.

There is another male that is outgoing and bold, he shows great resolve to get what he wants, he is not easily discouraged and takes corrections from mom in stride. I like him, but time will tell as to how trainable he is.

On the female side we have a brash female that has quite a temper and she bites like a little tiger shark, good thing she does not have teeth yet, I would have harpoon marks on my hand. And then there is the little peanut that stays back out of trouble but stands out from the pack by displaying cute little attention gaining antics.

That leaves a male and a female that are not giving me enough to get a good read on them yet, the male is outgoing and appears to show signs of boldness and the female...well...she is just a black and white puppy.

It's amazing what these little pups can show us at such a young age if we are just willing to look and be open minded, granted these evaluations tell me little to nothing about stock drive and talent, but I feel they do help me determine what I have to work with from a training and relationship standpoint, along with helping me identify weaknesses. There are some traits that I have no issue dealing with and actually look forward to seeing, some that I refuse to work with and others that I find a challenge and I want to take on just to see if I can.

We will have another Ricky litter due in about 60 days, Kess whose sire and dam are both imports had her first cover yesterday. I am also planning on mating Ricky to Bea, this spring/summer. I know it seems like a lot of pups but I want to get a solid idea of what type of female yields the most talented and trainable working pups, we will then determine which females we will keep for the future.

The ultimate goal is to be able to produce more pups simular to Ricky, strong, talented, early starting and relatively easy to train. Ricky was a useful stockdog having all his commands and able to be used on cattle and sheep at the age of 12 months out in open fields, Wayne even took him out horseback, a person could have gotten a lot of work done with him before he went out for training. His work was by far not shiney and trial worthy, but it was very useful, though I did win a paycheck in November at a trial with him. His time spent with Marc was about refinement and fine tuning, the part of training that I have yet to master and actually wonder if I want to, much easier to let Marc do it and I wonder if the handler/trainer change is in the long run really good for the dog.

The Weekend in Review

2011-02-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Thursday was the big departure day. Wayne and I drove all night arriving in West Plains, Missouri at about 4am. We took a nap, found a place for breakfast and then off to meet with Marc. We spent the entire day on Friday working dogs, trying to take it all in, looking for bad habits, on my part and trying to replace them with good ones.

Marc worked Ricky for us, one word, "Wow", Wayne just shook his head and said "Money well spent". He is by far not perfect, he will still make mistakes but to watch him out there working while listening to Marc was pure pleasure.

I have a lot of work to do on myself to even get a fraction of what Marc gets out of Ricky, I tend to be too aggressive with the tone of my voice which causes Ricky to be too aggressive with the sheep. Marc helped me identify what changes I need to make, ask don't plead or throw verbal tones. Communicate with Ricky to tell him he is right or when he is wrong. A person could really see it in Ricky's posture when he and I were communicating well, he was soft and fluid and would stiffen up and get tense when I slipped back into telling or dictating.

Wayne took Jake out and worked him for a bit out in the open field with Marc looking on, working on Jake's flanks and outruns. It took a bit but you could see change begin, Wayne is finally beginning to understand what he needs to do to help Jake be correct in his method and is showing the ability to reshape what Jake offers. Boy, did it ever pay off the next day at the Cattledog Trial, I think Jake gave Wayne the highest quality of work that I have ever seen. He didn't win but was able to get the work done in a very respectable fashion, ending up in the top 25% each run, it just wasn't fast enough to land him in the money. But, that ok, the quality of work he offered is the same as money in my book.

I ran Ricky in two Open classes and the Nursery at the trial. Our first open run was more of a training run for us, work on correct work and good communication, keep things calm and correct. Each time I began to get amped up Ricky would return the favor, but now I can get him calmed back down where as before sending him to Marc I was unable to. When Ricky get's strong, he get's bitting, on the heel and hard, he transfers my aggression to him as a indication that he should get aggressive toward the cattle. I just have to keep reminding myself, calm creates calm, so don't be surprised if you see me of meditating before a run in the future...

By our last Nursery run Ricky and I were beginning to click, he was showing me some of the same work both in style and quality that I saw him offer Marc, rating, being patient...quiet calm control.

We have a few things that we need to work on from a cattle handling standpoint and getting Ricky to understand what it is we are doing, but that will come. I'm don't want to rush or create excitment in an effort to get Ricky to do what I want, I want him to understand what the job is and do it calmly, quietly and with confident power. I have a vision as to how I would like to see each interaction with the cattle handled, now we just need to get to shaping.

I'm a bit spoiled with Jake, Jake knows that when we put cattle in a pen that it is his job to hold the gate, or that when we are loading a alley that he needs to make the needed adjustments to force the cattle, he understands the jobs, Ricky does not have that expirence so I have to help he through the jobs which is where I failed miserably during our runs actually costing us the possibility of a high placement. But, that's ok, there will be more trials, it will all come together one day, the thought of what is possible gives me goosebumps. All we need now is seasoning and time, so long as we don't get derailed we should have a really fun summer.

Here is a video link of Roy, a dog that Marc has, he is a cousin to Ricky. Wayne watched Roy work on Friday and is still talking about it, he really would love to make Roy his own though we know it would be impossible, something about that dog resignated with Wayne. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-TvlEUOZJM

I Fear Failure

2011-02-17T06:57:00.000-08:00

I Fear Failure....there you have it I said it!!

This past month I have had myself in a tissy worried about what will become of Ricky and whether or not I will be able to acheive my dreams with him, quite frankly dreams that I have not even had yet. To be truthful, I don't know where I am going, I only have the loose goal of brining Ricky around to being the best dog that he can be.

I spoke to a good friend yesterday that was surprised to hear that I am lost and don't know where I am going nor where to begin moving forward, she reminded me that the best way to fail is to be afraid of failing, you will cause what you fear.

So...new day, one step in front of the other, here we go, let the voyage begin!!

This evening I head out to Southern Missouri to meet with Marc and pick Ricky up, we should have most of the day tomorrow to get myself up to speed before heading out to Mountain Home, Arkansas for a Cattledog Trial on Saturday. Marc and Heather have been awesome, without Marc I would not be where I am now, which I think is a good place...oh that failure thing again....yes, I'm in a great place!

I am planning on posting updates about our travels so that followers can join the ride, this could be a incrediable journey.

Tony McCallum

2011-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Indy, sire to Wynnona

We were paid a visit in December by Tony McCallum, the cattledog breeder and trainer from Australia. One of the purposes for his visit was to see our Australian Cattle Dogs for himself. While here he worked with Tough for a few minutes, he was able to get Tough to produce a quality of work far beyond our imaginations.

Tony has given us some ideas and suggestions in regard to the future of our Australian Cattle Dog program which will include a bit of outcrossing in an effort to push back the dingo traits, that he feels our dogs are showing to strongly. It was kinda satisfying to hear Tony refer to our dogs as the "Old Blue Dogs" and that he was pleasently surpirised to see what saw. Have no misunderstanding, we have a long way to go with the breeding program, but now we feel like we have a vision of the path that we need to take to get to our goal, which is a quality working cattledog.

With any luck your first pups that will hopefully start us down that path will be here by the end of February, Wynonna appears to have settled, but we are not getting our hopes too high.

Dreams, Goals and Aspirations

2011-02-03T05:01:00.000-08:00

It seems as if things have been slow over the last couple of months, but upon reflection they have been packed with news and events.

All but Angus, the male pup I picked from the Bea x Jake litter, have moved on to new homes, even Wayne's pick Lucy. Lucy went to replace her older sister Dora, who met her demise while playing in the yard with the kids. One second she was there, the next out in the road, unfortunately so was a car. Dora had proven herself both working in the feed lots and also as the a Champion 4-H project. More about Dora can be found in the "Farewell Sweet Dora" thread, we now bid her our final farewell, she was a good one.

We have puppies!!! Dixie a daughter of Jake has delivered 3 males and 3 females, the sire is my young dog Ricky. This is Dixie's first litter, we are excited about their arrival and seems to be so are others as we have already recieved calls from prospective buyers though we never really spoke about the intended breeding. We are only going to take deposits for 2 of the 6 and all will remain here until we can evaluate their start on stock (16-18 weeks of age).

We made a huge financial decision at the beginning of January, we decided to take the leap and send Ricky out for training. The weather here in north central Iowa has been less then appealing, leading to little to no training or open field work. So, I sent him down to the warmer open fields of far south central Missouri to get some open field work on sheep. He is with Marc Christopher, who is responsible in more then one way for where we are today, reports have come in that Ricky is doing great. Outrunning, shedding and basically getting ready for the open field trials. Good thing, as we have less then 60 days to gain qualification for the National Cattledog Finals and just under 120 before the National Finals.

I was able to combine the trip down to Marc's with a Open Field Cattledog Trial which was held near Fort Smith, Arkansas. Jake and myself acheived a huge milestone, our first USBCHA Open Class win. Woulda, coulda, shoulda...if I coulda have kept a little better lid on Ricky he shoulda have been second and woulda been qualified for Finals. Oh well, we will have another chance in two weeks, actually 4 chances, at the Mountain Home, AR trials that I intend on attending when I go down to pick Ricky up from Marc's.

Here is a video of Marc with Ricky's cousin Roy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-TvlEUOZJM

I mentioned that Marc is responsible in more ways then one for where we are today, well not only did he change our thinking and help us get on the right path from a training and breeding direction, he was also the breeder of Ricky's grandsire Ken and at one time trained his granddam. Basically old Vicki is a result of Marc's breeding program in a indirect way one generation removed.

Other news, Wayne and I recieved invitations to a 10 dog invitational Cattledog Trial which will be held at the Indiana Horse Fair the first weekend of April. Jake and Ricky will both be running, we will have two gos, one Saturday morning and the second Sunday afternoon. What a great opportunity to show our dogs to the public, we can't wait.

I have a few goals for the next few months, first to get Ricky qualified for Cattledog Finals. We have one open field cattle trial coming up down at Lyle East's at the end of March. I then plan on competing at a couple of open field sheepdog trials prior to finals to help tune for Cattledog Finals, sounds strange doesn't it, tune for a big Cattledog Trial by going to Sheepdog Trials. Comes down to that I'm not too worried about how Ricky handles the cattle but more that I can keep in communication with him out in the open field. The sheepdog trials will help me test where we are and should reveal our weaknesses so that we can work on them prior to Finals. There is another goal as we attend the sheepdog trials, to end up having Ricky qualified for National Sheepdog Nursery Finals which will be held in September near Carbondale, Colorado.

This will certainly be a jammed packed spring and summer, I'll try to share the ride.

Yellow Rose CDT - Platte, SD

2010-11-29T12:20:00.000-08:00

We had a great weekend dog trialling over the holiday of in South Dakota, could have done better, but could have done worse, but had fun!

Friday evening Wayne & Jake ran sheep, the course was the NWSS Figure 8 course, they had a really nice smooth controlled run but couldn't get them penned, many suffered the same fate provided they didn't grip out.Saturday we ran cattle. According to Wayne (I'm not good at estimates) the cows were about 700lbs with very limited dogging. We were told that they are only moved occassionally with dogs in large groups.

I think we ran mostly steers until the finals where they brought out fresh heifers, the early round cows had been settled in the arena once and the heifers came in never being in it before. According to Wayne, some were cross bred, some angus. In the qualifying round (for USBCHA points) Wayne ended up 5th out of about 34, with Jake. It was hard fought, Jake just barely holding ground. It took a strong head dog with a solid bite that held ground to stop and hold the cows, many had to bring the cows back to the obstacles after a cow left on them. If you drew up a set with a solid black angus you pretty much knew you were going to have a fight.

Pete Carmicheal won the Open qualifying round with Moon. The top ten went back for a finals, Bob Johnson won the finals with Torrie, I think she is going to be a contender in the Nursery division come National Finals. Juan Reyes also has a nice young nursery dog that he ran in the open, 1 year old Mack, I'm not sure where he placed in the qualifying but did make top ten.In the final round Wayne ended up 8th with Jake, Pete 10th with Moon.

Jake's lack of a willingness to heel hurt him in the finals, but that's the way it goes. He doesn't get kicked that way, just mowed over from the front, of which he had a couple real close calls. About 1/2 way through the finals run he got tagged by a heifer trying to take him, I think he hit a gate trying to clear the cow. You could tell that he was hurting a bit but he kept working, he seems fine today. Wayne said that the angus heifer he drew in the finals would have ran him over if he stepped in front of her. For the most part there was no such thing as drawing a really easy set, every draw was a challenge. Hopefully I can get complete results in the near future.

Wayne also ran Ricky, my 14 month old, in the Open and Nursery. Wayne has more expirence with cattle and I felt that it would be better for Ricky if he was handled by Wayne. Ricky had a tough time, but did respectable for his first arena trial, he has never had to handle cows that didn't yield to a dog that faced them off square. He got chased out of the pocket, he didn't seem to realize that he should/could bite a nose, even with that Ricky did get some work done, I think he landed somewhere in the middle of the pack in Open. He had even a tougher run in Nursery.

I ran Ricky in Pro-Novice and was lucky, drawing a nice set of rerun cross bred steers. Ricky worked it out with them and finally understood that he should bite a nose, with me giving him some verbal encouragement from the handlers post. He had some success getting them to stop and with a couple of nose bites that they yielded to. We ended up running out of time just as the last cow exited the final obstacle, and placed third. The points for that last cow would have moved us up to second if I would have rushed it out of the pen. The last obstacle was an open back pen where the dog had to hold the cows in as the handler went around and openned an exhaust gate.

This was the most comfortable I have ever felt with cattle, guess spending the summer training dogs on our dairy calves has paid off. Our good showing in P/N was a bonus to the expirence that Ricky and myself gained on the cattle. Ricky is way different to handle then Jake. With Jake you can't help him hold the cattle, the pressure of you trying to help upsets him so you are better off letting him do all the work and just giving him direction. Whereas Ricky works with you, he can handle the cattle on his own but it's even better when you work together, you effecting the cattle does not rattle him. I think the difference is that Ricky is not as much of a control freak to the head. He has no problem heeling and causing motion, whereas Jake just does not like to add momentum and will only heel if you insist and there is no other option.

Now it's back to training, depending on weather we may be making the trip to Arkansas on January 1st and then we have another point/time arena trial at Ashland, NE in mid January. Still hoping to get qualified for Nursery finals, I don't know that Ricky will be ready for Finals but it's too close to home to miss with him, both he and I need the expirence if we can gain it. Besides, I can't let Wayne have all the fun at Finals with Jake. Wish I could have had that 3rd place P/N run in the Nursery class..., there were 15 nursery dogs qualifing 3 for Finals.

For Sale - Red Female ACD

2010-09-16T11:04:00.001-07:00

Dottie is a 3 year old unregistered daughter of our foundation male Indy out of a blue female. She has produced one litter of pups for us of which we have kept a male and female.

Dottie has natural balance and cover, hits a heel only as hard as needed. We have used her for calf chores. She has a stop, verbal directions but prefers hand signals/body language.

She is house broke, crate trained, is acustom to a chain tie and travelling. Would make a good agility prospect also. Price is negotiable to the right home.

Patti - getting into the puppy grove

2010-09-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

Introducing, Patti!!!!

8 week old Patti jointed us this past week at the Murray Cattledog Trial. Back a few weeks we were alerted of an accidental breeding resulting in a litter of three pups. The sire is a son of Roy Taber's Craig, the dam is a red female that used to be trialed on both cattle and sheep, we have seen her work and like alot of what she does. Her biggest contribution is trainability. The litter consisted of two males and one female, as luck would have it the little female was the boldest and bravest, so we reserved her for ourselves.

She's been doing just great, playing with the big dogs like a trooper and is already sleeping through the night in a crate. Ricky thinks that she is the best thing since the invention of sliced bread.

She loves water, on Monday she went to town with me where we did a potty break at the city park. Off she went to plunge into the town square fountain, there was a lady there with some kids, only letting the kids play in the water with their hands, really wanting to play in it instead. Imagine their dismay when the puppy was able to jump in and splash while they had to refrain.

Patti got to meet a lot of new people, she runs right to them when they call her or get her attention. Upon meeting little kids she went a bit submissive and silly. I've not seen any indication of fear of other dogs, but she also is not obnoxious, she has really nice manners and does not seem to offend other dogs waiting for them to accept her and leaving if they don't.

When we got home Patti ran to the low sheep tank, pulled herself up for a drink and then right over and in. Totally submerged herself, didn't panic or get scared, jumped out and proceeded to buzz around the yard at full speed all excited.

At this point I'm only keeping about 1/2 inch of water in the water dish in the house, less to clean up when the little fart decides to go swimming and splashing after getting a drink.

Can't wait to see what Patti grows up to be. We already have alternate plans for her in the case that she does not make as a working dog. A good friend of ours has asked us to look for a agility prospect for her with a great temperment and would prefer a pup with some age on it. I think little Patti would bring joy to any home.

The puppies have arrived

2010-09-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

Rosie (Bea x Jake 2009)

Sorry for the delayed announcement, but...."They are here!!" Bea had her pups, 7 total, at 12:30 am on August 30th. They are starting to show signs of hearing my voice and openning their eyes.

We look forward to watching the little tykes develop over the next 8 weeks.

We are also anxiously awaiting another new arrival, we have secured a little female pup from John Overholtzer of Tingley, Iowa. We have not met her yet but have been told that she is the boldest pup in the litter, we will meet her and bring her home on Sunday when we are at the Murray Cattle Dog Trials. The pup's dam belongs to Chrisman Farms, John has trialed her on both cattle and sheep and uses her on the farm, the sire is a young male that John acquired from Roy Tabor. This was not a planned breeding, more of the kids accidently letting the dogs out together at the wrong time, but the right breeding is behind both parents.

As Time Flies By

2010-09-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest news and some shots of Ricky a 1 year old son of Jake. He's our Nursery Dog prospect, he has no problem heeling and is willing to hit a nose, though we don't see the cattle giving him much opportunity, even when down in Missouri last weekend on big cows. Wayne said that nothing wanted to contront him, he is very purposeful when approaching cattle.

If I could just get Ricky to no be in quite so big of a hurry to grab hold...rotten bugger

Ricky Walking Straight onto the calves, they really are not interested in dealing with him

Ricky Taking Flank, I have to working on that shoulder drop

Ricky peeling the calves of f of the fence

Ricky Driving the calves down the fenceline.

This summer has been an absolute whirlwind. The last time I posted we had just began our little parade and festival tour, well an appearance here an there morphed into nearly a full time job. We ended up appearing at the following events:

Ellsworth Days

Williams 4th of July Celebration

North Iowa Fair

Popejoy Festival

Prairie Home Antique Tractor Show

Farm Progress Show

Events yet to come... Celtic Festival, Cedar Rapids and The Bridges of Madison County Festival at Winterset, Iowa.

Right now we are focused on the upcoming Iowa Stock Dog Association Open Handler Finals, I qualified in the Sheep division with Jake and Wayne made it in the Cattle Division, also with Jake. In effort to make life easier I relinquished my handling duties to Wayne for the sheep division so that I can focus on running the event which will be this coming Saturday at the Clark County Fairgrounds, Osceola, IA.

On Sunday we move over to Murray, Iowa where we have another trial, I am going to make my debut with Ricky, my 1 year old Jake pup. Wayne took Ricky to Missouri with him last weekend where he made it around the course in the Nursery class. It wasn't pretty but the kid showed potential. Jake brought Wayne home a second place showing on the second day of the trial. That placing should secure Jake's place in the National Cattle Dog Finals come May.

BTW, exciting news, the National Cattle Dog Finals will be coming to Iowa next year, May 26th - 29th just outside of Redding, Iowa. We have gone from dreams of someday making it to the Finals to pushing to get qualified so that we can attend Finals in just 9 months. Jake and Wayne in Open and Ricky in Nursery, I'm not sure as of yet if I will run him or allow someone with more handling time then myself. I really would like the youngster to have every advantage, and me at the helm may just well be a huge disadvantage.

Another highlight was the Iowa State Fair, Wayne and Jake shoulda, coulda, woulda won Champion Open Cattledog but ended up settleing for Reserve Champion Cattledog. Everything looked great, the team appeared to be unbeatable right up to the pen, and then...a cow that Jake really wanted to whoop on earlier in the course decided that it was not going to go in the pen. They ended up timing out before getting the pen complete, but they had outscored everyone on the outrun, lift and fetch with no else getting the Pen except the team of Bob Johnson and Ruby allowing Wayne and Jake to hold strong in 2nd.

Summer Festivals - parades, demos and ribbon pulls

2010-06-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we were invited to produce demonstrations at the Ellsworth Iowa Extravaganza. We packed up Jake, JJ, Weasel, Ricky, the sheep and the ducks and we were off.

The day began with a parade, here's Jake driving the sheep down the parade route.

Wayne then showed the crowd our Indian Runner ducks, note...no fences...

We then had a ribbon pull for the kids. About 30 kids decended onto our sheep, in smaller groups divided up into age groups to race for a ribbon. We started with the little ones, figuring that the sheep would be calm.

This little guy was just thrilled to get a ribbon

We had a heck of a time getting these two close enough to pull a ribbon

A bit later the older kids took a turn, their enthusiasm got the best of the sheep, the snow fence could not hold them and off across the park they ran heading for the hills. But...Jake was there, off he went on a big out run gathering the sheep back up and returning them to their confines, to deal with the kids again.

Later in the day I demonstrating starting young dogs on stock. We had a great day and met lots of wonderful people that were amazed by what a well trained stock dog can do.

I have more pictures posted over at our website: www.waynescustomleather.com/new.htm

Great Weekend of Cattle Dog Trials

2010-06-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

Bob Johnson's Torrie at Elliott, IA

Wayne and Jake traveled down to Southern Iowa this past weekend for three days of cattledog trials that conclude with a invitation shoot out final that handlers have to qualify for. They take the top 4 Open dogs, top 2 Nursery dogs and the top 2 Pro/Novice dogs.

The first trial was held near Elliott, IA and produced by Jeff Mundorf. There were many top handlers and dogs in attendence including Bob Johnson with Ruby the current USBCHA Nursery Champion, who is also a littermate to our Bea (CR Leia Reed) and Juan Reyes with his dogs which hold the title of the USBCHA National Champion and Reserve Nursery Champion. Pete Carmichael, Jake's breeder was also there running Moon, Liz and Colt all of dogs that we saw work 3 1/2 years ago when we were up at Pete's place to pick Jake up as a pup.

Jake earned a 3rd place finish, a healthy payout check and our first USBCHA points, with any luck he will get qualified for the National Cattle Dog Finals this year. He is also trying to secure enough points to earn a slot in the Iowa Stock Dog Assoc. Open Handlers Finals. The top ten sheep dog and cattle dog handlers will be invited to a trial that will be held on September 11th in conjunction with the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Assoc. Finals.

The next day they moved to the opposite side of the state, Keosauqua, IA for the second trial. This trial is normally held in Moravia but due to the all the rain it was relocated to the same facility as the Sunday trial. Saturday brought a 5th place finish along with a fraction of a USBCHA point and another check, every little bit helps.

Sunday was a tough day, Wayne was told that he was a shoe in on the finals, he just needed to complete as many obstacles as he could. He and Jake drew up a set that included a steer that didn't want to play, Jake spent quite a bit of time get it to think different. Finally the cattle were on there way through the course but unfortunatly they ran out of time just as the first steer was stepping onto the trailer (final obstacle). This landed them soundly in 7th place, out of the money and points but soundly in the finals.

Jake in the Finals Run

Mary Bolton wrote the following post on another discussion board, her's is a first hand account since I could not be there:

"I thought the "Grand Finale" of the weekend, the Shoot-Out competition at Gary's a most memorable event! The top two Nursery dogs, and the top two Pro/Novice dogs were pitted against the five top "Open" dogs for nine runs. $400 added money made the purse a whopping $850!!!

The course was interesting with five obstacles ending in a pen at the end of a stock trailer. Fourth obstacle being the pen and fifth the trailer. The handler could block the pen entrance but not go inside so the dog had to do the actual loading itself.

Bob Johnson had three of the nine dogs in this final test; a testament to his successful training/trialing over the weekend! (I expected he might well walk away with the winner and reserve both!) However, I found myself quietly routing for the other handler's who only had one shot each...;-)

Bob's first up with Tory(P/N) and laid down a smooth run of under five minutes with the course completed. The next few handler's can't quite get the job done even with heroic efforts! One more team completes the course, but, not beating Tory's time....she's leading the pack heading into the final two runs....Wayne and Jake run 8th followed by Bob with his "open" dog, Ruby.

Wayne and Jake quietly walk their stock around the course completing each obstacle calmly. The intensity picks up a bit as they complete the "Y" chute that flustered so many.They head to the pen and walk right in and the cattle start to mill a bit and a few well timed heels, by Jake, load the trailer in 4:30 to take the lead!( Bob's last run with Ruby is good,but, not quite fast enough...)Wayne and Jake are the WINNERS!!!! HUGE CONGRATS!!!"

Thank you Mary the great commentary,

Kicking around to change their direction

Meet the new additions...sorry not puppies

2010-06-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

JJ bringing the calves up from the pasture

Now that they are stopped, get them turned to go the other way

So, now you know what has been keeping me busy for the last month plus, bottle calves. They are Jersey and Jersey/Holstein Crosses. We get them in from Wisconsin when they are a day or so old. It's great fun keeping them healthy and getting through the first 2 weeks, but it's been worth it. The dogs are getting alot out of them, we will raise these up well into fall, and bring a new set in in a few weeks with the plan of eventually having 3-4 sets all at different ages.

BTW, JJ is for sale, JJ is a started dog that has a pretty good grasp of his directions and a stop. He is a natural head dog, not apt to heel but will if he has too. He has a great personality, loves being out in public and has shown a desire to work what ever you put him front of him, but I would not call him a super strong dog, he is not in a hurry to bite, but will and can when needed. He does get strong when teamed with a second dog. Give us a call if you think you can use him or if you know of anyone that can. 515-854-2060 or 608-334-4203, we are asking $800.00 for him (he is unregistered)

Time Heals All

2010-06-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

My appoligies for being off line for so long. We have a bit of sad news to pass on, Vicki the retired female that we took in last year, who taught me some valuable lessons and also blessed us with a fine male pup named Ricky has passed on. It's been about a month and I just now can sit down and write about it. Vicki had a mass on her flank, we took her to the vet who felt that it was not in her best interest to operate, so, that same day we set her free. Just two days before she was out showing off for Stephanie, the livestock inspector impressing her with her ability to handle sheep and do it her way, totally blowing off my commands and corrections...ok I went soft on the old girl. I felt it was best to send her one before her body broke down any further, as it was she was beginning to have difficulties making it through the night and ever now and then was having difficulties getting up and lying down, depending on the weather.

Here's one of my favorite shots of Vicki that was taken last year when I ran her Pro-Novice at the Great Western Sheep Dog Challange, she was peaking around the hay bale trying to spot the sheep, to me she did not look like a 11 year old dog in this shot:

Rest in peace Vicki, and thank you for giving us one lone pup Ricky, he's a real fire cracker.

Lilly Goes Home

2010-03-16T07:18:00.001-07:00

Wayne with Lilly at the Southern Iowa Cattle Dog Trial

Lilly went home, we have had Lilly since she was a young pup a Border/Heeler that I traded a local Team Roper a Pocket Knife for. She was the first female that we acquired when we arrived here in Iowa, she also produced many nice pups for us mated to Indy, our Australian Cattle Dog. Lilly was the first dog that Wayne trialed, I guess you could say that it is her fault that we got the trialling bug. Prior we were just happy with a simple farm/ranch dog.

Over the past couple of years I came to the conclusion that we had grown beyond Lilly. Lilly was no longer the goto dog when it was time to do chores. Lilly was spending more time in the kennel then she was in the house, she loved being in the house but really was not great about accepting anyone new into the household, which happens around here on a regular bases. We always have a young pup coming in to learn house manners, Lilly just was not patient enough and would tend to make the pups fearful to do anythng, she was the Queen.

A couple weeks ago we were visited by a prospective new owner for Lilly, Lilly would be their first working dog. They are in the process of building a large flock and they also have cattle. After demonstrating Lilly's abilities and showing many of our other dogs Lilly was choosen to be the Queen of a new domain. I made a follow up call a couple of days after Lilly went to her new home, things were not going great, the sheep were undog broke, Lilly was uncertain and was showing little desire to get her paws dirty. My advice was to help show her what you want, support her and don't let her escape, also reminding them that they are dealing with stock that is undog broke, in some cases raised as bottle babies so they may need to help Lilly teach the stock to move off. This e-mail arrived yesterday, it made me smile:

Lilly is a wonderful dog. She is working for us now, herding sheep and ducks. She wants to work the cows but our fences aren't the best if they would get worked up it could be a bad situation.

She loves to ride in the vehicles with us and even jumps up into the tractor with me. She doesn't like baths but she is getting used to the fact that she will get one at least every week or henever she rolls in a rotten egg. Speaking of which she is an egg thief. She finds the duck eggs in the yard and helps herself. Have to say she does have a shiny coat though.

We really love her. Thanks for the opportunity. When things get a little better ecconically we may be back for another registered dog.

As hard as it is to let the dogs go that we have outgrown and no longer fit in our breeding program, we gain so much reward in knowing that someone is enjoying them and that they are now doing what they were at minimum bred to do, ultimately be a good old farm/ranch dog.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

2010-03-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

Boy, did the day get away from me yesterday, I was able to work a few dogs after spending more time then I expected getting the empty water tanks for the horses dug out of snow drifts, flipped over (great fun when they are frozen down) followed by filling them 1/2 full with water. Getting the tanks out usually triggers one of two things, a big warm up or a major drop in temps which ends up freezing the tanks solid on me, hence the reason I hedge my bets and only fill them 1/2 full. I then restrung the snow fence around the sheep pen, snow is deep enough to allow the lambs to access the large squares in the combo panels. They freely walk in and out of the lot through the fence, so a quick remedy is to line the outside with plastic snow fence. This also deters Ricky, who has discovered that he could find work to do, first putting the lambs back with the moms, then following them through the fence and proceeding to move all the sheep to the barn. Next was cleaning kennels, feeding dogs, moving dogs around so that the two front runs that have access to the inside whelping boxes are empty so that I can prep them for Dottie and Vicki, due end of the month and the first week of April. Hopefully it will get warm enough over the next couple of days so that all the ice and snow accumulation will resolve itself, we can then follow that up with the propane torch (nothing beats high heat disinfectent).

Did I say that I actually did get to work dogs? After spending more time then expected hunting and fitting collars on JJ and Weasel. JJ is quite annoyed with Clyde's old 2" wide collar, Weasel inherited Katie's and is equally unimpressed, her's too is wider then her old collar which was passed down to the puppies last fall.

Weasel, Dixie and JJ all had a lesson in the small pen. Many people ask how much could possibly be done in a small pen, the pen is approx. 30x40, two corners squared, two curved. I use 5-6 sheep and we work on self controlled, calm quiet work. Short drives, holding lines, proper distance as it relates to space and the toughest thing of all, keeping their flanks relative to the stock regardless of where I am. This is where most have the hardest time, they want to flank behind me or always away from me. Time, Patience and a training cord are all keys. Once a dog understands that when they flank that they need to stay in contact with the sheep all the way around, both left and right, a whole new world opens up, they have the ability to be positioned anywhere around the stock and initiate a drive to any location.

Well, I better get off to work...BTW great news, the forecast is showing the potential of high 40's low 50's this weekend, atleast I think it is great news especially if you like mud...

Just like Clockwork

2010-03-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

I scrolled back to check the date of the "Changing of the Seasons" post, it was on December 5th, well now it's March 1st and just like clockwork Mother Nature is changing our seasons again. We are still up to our arm pits in snow but it is reducing quickly, approx. 1" a day. The forecast is for 32-34 degree highs for the majority of this week. Boy, this was a long winter.

Our ewes are pretty much done lambing, took them 20 days from begining to end with the exception of a couple of maiden ewes that are due sometime in the next 5 months, we never took the ram out...oops...

In just over 30 days we have a judging clinic that we are going to, in 60 days we plan on going to our next trial down in Missiouri. 45 days later is Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival, by that time we will have our legs and being running at full speed.

Today, March 1st, marks the official beginning of spring training, we are limited to the small indoor pen, but it will suffice for working on obedience and self discipline. With any luck we will be outside and working in the pastures mid March and out in the fields come April 1st (barring any flooding). I've intentionally drug my feet when it comes to training, knowing that we would be limited for a while to the indoor pen.

Here's the line up at this time:

Jake (I'll be running him open on sheep this summer and Wayne is going to run him on Cattle)
Weasel & Dixie (final 2 months of training before going to their new jobs)
Ben (doesn't seem to know what he wants to be when he grows up)
JJ (will be my pro-novice dog)
Bea (looks like she didn't settle, so if she has no puppies it's off to work she goes)
Toby (hoping that he will be ready for the Iowa Cattle Dog Nursery Challenge this fall)
Ugh - ACD (just going to keep plugging along to see how much training he can retain)
Buffy - ACD (much the same as Ugh)

We have some ACD pups that are hanging out, maturing and will continue with their basic manner, recall and leash training until it is time to introduce them to stock.

Ricky and Rosie are going to get to focus on growing up and gaining maturity.

I better get rolling, it's a new day.

Just a few lambs

2010-02-11T16:28:00.001-08:00

This little guy arrived on Friday
Tuesday this little ewe lamb joined us....

Wednesday was a two-for, a pair of twin ewe lambs!!

This is a shot of Tuesday and one of the Wednesday girls.

Puppies due March 27th!!!

2010-02-10T08:30:00.001-08:00

We are expecting the next litter of Bea x Jake pups on March 27th, 2010. Vicki is due around the 6th of April, we have our fingers crossed for another healthy pup so that our hopes are not all dependent on Ricky, the pups from fall. Hopefully all this snow will be gone by then.

Things have slowed way down here in central Iowa, the snow has me beside myself. I've been spending a lot of time on club business (www.iowastockdog.com). I was able to get the books balanced and closed, annual report approved, year end awards purchased and sent off for embrodiery work, helped to organize and advertise a judges clinic/meeting and soon I will be compiling the next newsletter. Before you know it the trial season will be here. The Judges Clinic will be on April 10th, we are planning on a trip to Missouri to attend the LC Cattle and Sheep trials on May 1st & 2nd, our first Iowa trial will then be right around the corner in early June.

We are also lambing, two down, 13 to go, I'm so glad that we reduce our numbers prior to winter. But, I'm also limited as to what is available for working dogs, basically nothing....so right now the only dog working is JJ, he is my right hand sorting dog and coming along great. We had a break through at the River City Expo that I had not recognized until we arrived home. JJ has a tendency of getting excited and when he get's excited he can't hear. When we were at the Expo I had to tune on him a bit for going bonkers during the Personal Protection Demos. He wanted to jump in and do bite work too. Rather then crating him up and avoiding the situation I used it as a training opportunity and working on his self control. Each time he lost it I corrected him, by the end of the weekend he was happy to just observe the other demos and actually could execute commands while watching the other dogs.

I had not thought about this training helping with our stock work, but it sure did. JJ was having a tough time working in close wanting to escape and loosing his head prior to the weekend, now I have a totally different dog that jumps at the opportunity to try something new. Another trainer once wrote, "With obedience, comes confidence", I want to take it one step further "With self control, comes the ability to be obedient; with obedience, comes confidence."

I've had many argue that what we do with our dogs away from stock has nothing to do with how they handle stock, I disagree. Relationships are relationships, the abilty to control oneself is not going to improve when situations get exciting. The adage, "you have to learn how to crawl before you can walk; and you have to learn how to walk before you can run" comes to mind.

So, even though I have not been getting the dogs out to work we have been training, each time I open a crate I have an expectation that I hold the dog to and test to see if the dog can hold themselves to that expectation. The same is true on a recall or a simple lie down when we are here are around the house. I watch when the dogs a playing for lapses of self control and use that as a training opportunity to teach my dogs that they need to maintain control at all times in all situation regardless as to level of excitement. It's all building blocks, setting a foundation so that when the snow clears and the ewes have lambed will be able to get the most out of our training sessions on livestock.

Enough for now, I'll try to get back into the grove of posting updates. BTW, another snow storm is due in on Saturday...yippee.....

Duck - Sheep - Duck - Cow - Duck...poor Jake

2010-01-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was a busy one for us, it began on Friday evening at the River City Expo in Council Bluffs, Iowa where Jake and I presented a herding demonstration with our Indian Runner Ducks. Saturday Morning we competed at the Winter Warm up Sheep Dog trial near Elkhorn, Nebraska, Jake and I placed 3rd, yippee, one place out of earning USBCHA points, go figure.

We then rushed back to Council Bluffs for a Saturday afternoon demonstration....with ducks. Then turned around to go back to Elkhorn Sunday morning to trial on Cattle. I still don't know how we ended up, as soon as our run was over we were loading up to once again return to Council Bluffs for our last Duck demonstration.

Jake and I are both bushed!!! I am really pleased as to how Jake handled all the stock changes, he took it in stride and adjusted as needed. The sheep were challenging some dogs couldn't get them lifted. The cattle were difficult, they didn't want to stay together and took on the dogs. The duck...well, the ducks got smart.

We are preparing now for an ice storm, here are some pictures of our trees that are covered in hoar frost, I just pray the frost melts off before the ice accumulates. I moved all the vehicles out from under the trees, I'll be surprised if we don't lose some good size limbs.

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Rams For Sale

Here are a few shots of the three rams we have for sale. Jake helped me get them positioned.

Here's the horn shot

Setting up the group body shot

Now let's single them out and photograph them individually.

That'll do, good dog Jake.

The Changing of the Seasons

2009-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Winter has arrived here in Central Iowa!!! Last weekend we enjoyed 50 degree weather this weekend a snow storm and windchills near to below zero. I have never been so ill prepared, sure hoping that Mother Nature will be nice to us this winter. This afternoon I will be busseling around moving livestock, setting up heated water tanks, pulling water buckets from dog runs and replacing them with easy to deal with dishes.

Before I set to work I thought I would post and long delayed update.

Last weekend we had a blast at the Yellow Rose Cattle Dog Trial over at Platte, SD. If you ever want to take in a trial this is a great one. It is held in an indoor arena with really nice but challenging cattle, along with some fun sheep for the open handlers to prepare for the Denver Stock Show and Rapid City, the figure 8 is a hoot. In addition, they host a Cowboy Christmas Craft Show and a little Cattle Congress with guest speakers. Many people, great shopping, awesome baked goods and smells, we ate way to much.

Wayne and I shared the handling job on Jake, he ran in the Open Cattle division and I ran him in Open Sheep. Both of us are pleased with our performances, the sheep proved challanging, out of approx 25 handlers, some big names, I think only 3 were able to navigate the Y-Chute, Laura Hicks, Pete Carmicheal & Bob Johnson showed us how to do it. Jake and myself made it through the Figure 8 and onto the Y-Chute making what I thought was a serious bid for a top run just to find a brick wall and timeing out, but we were in good company.

Wayne is kicking himself for not approaching his cattle run differently, they ran just over 30 dogs, taking the top 10 back to the finals. The most difficult obstacle was the Maltise Cross, he realizes know that if would have just settled for a low point count and moved on the the pen and exhaust with was worth an ample amount of point he may have been able to get to the finals. But, instead he and Jake worked hard to try to get that Maltise Cross mastered. But, that's ok, Wayne was pleased with his dog, and we were able to get on the road heading home, it was a 6 hour drive. According to Bob Johnson the finals did not get done until 10pm, we were home just after midnight.

We also took a couple of young dogs with for the ride. Weasel (Riley x Jake) was injured last week trying to take on one of Wayne's cattle dogs through the fence, she found herself being drug under the panel but didn't fit. Took all the hide off her front legs and tore her bads up severly. She's back nearly 100% now, no longer needing crate rest but she still have house privilages and she's riding it for all it's worth.

Toby (Bea x Jake) also rode with. On Friday evening Wayne had the opportunity to take him in on some roping steers, we also saw his litter mate Meg take her turn, she is owned by Val who lives near Platte and sets the cattle via horseback for the trial. BTW, Val does and awesome job!! Meg has been helping Val move calves off the feed bunks so she had an idea of what to do with the cattle, but Toby, he has never seen a cow in his life. You wouldn't know it though, off to work he went, first driving them with Wayne and then frustration Wayne by flanking around and driving them back at Wayne. Guess it's time to get a stop on the boy, and a left and a right...could we get so lucky to have it come easy and naturally...naa it's gotta be too good to be true.

I think we need to repeat that cross, sooner as opposed to later, so if anyone knows of someone in the market for a pup we will be taking deposits for the next litter. I'm hoping that we did not miss Bea's heat cycle, if we didn't she should be breedable in the next few weeks giving us February/March pups ready to go home in May/June.

BTW, my book by Tully Williams arrived, you gotta order it though I could see it being way over many peoples heads and I wonder if they would know it.... There was one dog that really caught my eye at Platte, it was a nice smooth coated female by the name of Abby owned by Bob Wagner. Some research revealed that he purchased her from Juan Reyes...he just so happened to be running a male just over a year old that could very well turn into this years Nursery National Cattle Dog Champion and I would not be surprised if he didn't make a run at the Open Finals, the dog's name is Zack, watch for him.... But we will see, I might be mistaken.

What is even more impressive to us, we watched older dogs that have more expirence with cattle get stopped in their tracks by those roping steers. In most cases a second dog had to be sent to help. Not with ours, thinking that they would be a much needed challange for Jake Wayne took him in before the pup, Jake went right to work with them, though he did emit some of his trade mark barks warning them before he would hit a nose, I kinda wish that would go away...

Puppies!!!!!!

Here's a fun picture for you, Ricky (Vicki x Jake) and one of our female Dottie x Tough Australian Cattle Dog pups those little white slugs I posted about a number of months back, oh yeah...they were born on the same day.

This is a Male

This litle red girl is a Snot, she's going to be a heeling machine, and has a heck of a temper

This is Mouse...he has earned house duty, his brothers and sisters think it's fun to make the mouse squeek, so he's been in playing with the big dogs. He's not a wuss, steps right up, but he has a soft bite and is not able to fight his way out from under the biting monkey pile.

I was going to place him in a pet home thinking that he was going to be too soft, but boy is he smart, and he is showing some traits that we want to explore further. Besides what else do I have to do but pick up after the little pack rat...as I have been typing he has brought me my boot, a towel and now the bathroom rug.

Here's the little female again, you thinking 'Tude??

Different methods of getting Vicki Stopped!!!

Anyone want to take on a little red hot shot.

Big brother is going to pay for something he did!

Time to run, gotta get ready for our big snow storm.

"Readers are plentiful, thinkers are rare" (Harriet Martineau)

2009-11-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

Have you ever looked at your pup and asked yourself, is he/she the one?

Sorry I have not posted in a couple of weeks, I've been doing a lot of thinking and keeping it internally. As I continue to train the dogs I find that keep asking myself the same questions, "What is this dog not doing naturally?" and "How can I help him learn it?"

These questions lead me into a direction away from the training field and generate other questions, "Why does one of my dogs naturally understand when another does not?" and "Can I select my breeding pairs in a fashion that will produce pups that naturally understand so I don't have to teach them?"

Bare with me here, I know that some people think I'm crazy, just go out and buy a dog that is a product of dogs you like, train it and be happy. I have a problem, I'm not finding many dogs that I really like, I might like bits and pieces of what they dog, but I don't like the entire dog. I have dogs that I like, but I don't think I would like them if someone else had them. I look at each one individually, try to identify their short comings and strong points and then try to figure out how the puzzle fits together in an attempt to construct the perfect dog. But, what is a perfect dog???

A number of years back I read an article in the Stock Dog Journal where the author presented a chart of different stock dog traits, as I recall he indicated which traits were inherited, which you could improve with training and which you just had to accept. At the time we were focussing on our Heeler's, I had not even thought of training them and trialing them leaving that to Wayne, so the article was just novel and really did not mean a lot to me.

But, that article has been nagging at me recently, I've been asking those questions that the chart tried to answer as I am working my dogs. I began the quest to find that article again, unsuccessfully mind you. I wrote the present editor of the Stock Dog Journal, Nicole Rhodes, she steered me toward Tully Willams, a breeder, trainer and stockmen from Australian and this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Working-Sheep-Dogs-Practical-Landlinks/dp/0643093435

You gotta read the preview pages, and I gotta get it. On the first page of the preview you can find the website of the author, Tully Williams:

http://campaspeworkingdogs.com/

I've been to that site before, I don't know why I have taken in all the information that is there, (get the title of this post now?? "Readers are plentiful, thinkers are rare" ) Guess I was reading that day and not thinking.

On that site there is a "Products" page, among other that have a lot of insight. I am patiently waiting for them to get back to me, I want the campanion DVD...yes a DVD that shows you what the author is talking about in the Natural Instinct section of the book!!! Gosh, I hope that I won't be disappointed in Book and DVD that I am in the process of purchasing!!!

I also wanted to share a poem from the site:

"Old Blood"

Find me a real dog, bred down

Many lines from the great old Yolong Russ

A dog of brains and ability, self-reliant

Of cover, and balance, and the searching cast

Hard dogs and tough One good line, the last

Unfashionable now

When soft dogs, weak dogs, and brainless

Turn-tailers proliferate

The steady strength and cover despised

In ignorance, inexperience

The good dogs have thinned, died out

Still, a remnant remains, a handful Natural dogs, and clean

Real sheepdogs not quite yet

A relic of the forgotten past

As a priceless pup demonstrates

The old blood, throbbing in its veins

By Tully Williams

It is interesting that a poem can strike such emotion in me, I can't help but wonder, is that what I am seeing in my dogs, bits and pieces of that relic from the past?

My quest, though not changed just better defined...to put all the pieces together into one great working dog, or rather, it's the goal of what we want our lines to consistently produce. It's the Holy Grail of Stock Dog breeding, but I wonder how many have truely looked deep enough into their dogs, or if they just accept the hand that is drawn and train their way through with no questions asked.

Also, how many dogs were given up on that had the right piece of the puzzle, but they did not have the rest. We are so fixated in finding the best dog available that has most of the pieces, should we be instead looking for the not so perfect that possess the missing pieces?

BTW..Julie, if you read this... don't neuter that dog!!!

No Fences

2009-10-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the fields surrounding our little piece of Iowa Realestate were harvested. It took them all day and well into the night. We awoke to a clear view all the gravel roads that we have not seen for months. I took advantage of the situation and turned the ewes and lambs out to scavange for a few hours. There are no fences, the sheep are pretty good at staying in the fields, if they leave the field you can typically find them grazing the green of our driveway or along the perimeter of the farm. When vehicles come down the gravel road all the sheep high tail it toward the house.

They are hard to see, but there are sheep out eating dropped ears of corn out in this field. They are spread from one side of the picture all the way to the other, and some grazing on the grass in the driveway.

See....Jake just brought them all in!!

Hopefully by spring JJ will be able to take over the duties of bringing the ewes in while I watch from the house armed with my camera and a cup of coffee.

It's sorta strange that things I do with Jake, things that I never would have imagined doing when I was exclusively working with the Australian Cattle Dogs. I would have never just turned the ewes loose, heck this past spring I turned the ponies out with them, Jake had it covered.

Someday I would like to be able to have these same tasks handled by one of our cattle dogs.

Training updates...actually having fun!!!

2009-10-26T15:21:00.001-07:00

Ben

I sware someone stole Ben and replaced him with a look alike that does not act alike. Ben is one of those push you to your limits types. He tends to want to run on his own agenda and could care less as to what you are interested in. But, over the last couple of weeks Ben has changed. Out of nowhere he began to execute a lie down like a pro, heck, I don't even remember teaching it to him and he darn sure was more interested in busting things up vs. lieing down prior to now.

I took Ben out into the apple orchard today, normally he comes in tight but not today, today I was fighting keeping him on contact, in some cases the pasture was not big enough. He did blow into the flock once, then was thinking about it a second time but instead stopped and lied down on his own, kinda weird. Where did this dog come from??? I'm hoping that he sticks around, he was actually kinda fun to work with.

Chip, Wayne's cattle dog was next. We did a little driving, a little fetching, worked on letting him track the heads in hopes that he will figure out that he can control both speed and direction from one spot. Overall Chip did a good job, it's slow going, but it's going.

JJ got to move the sheep from the orchard over to the square pasture. This job is usually saved for Jake, it can get pretty hairy, the sheep know all the hiding spots in the yard and on occasion have caused all kinds a havoc. JJ did a great job, in part because he was willing to listen to me and stop followed by taking the proper directions. We were able to thread the sheep in between the barns and into the court yard, around the gate and in.

I then took JJ out and worked his flanks and drives, asking him to flank towards me, away from me, in front of me, into pressure, off pressure, basically every which way but loose. I would mix in long drive, short drives, drives away from me, drives past me, drives that I helped him with.

JJ seemed to be enjoying it and got more comfortable by the moment with driving sheep, releasing and flanking around either direction to pick up a new drive line. We did a couple of little outruns where I flanked him on past the lift point and would ask him to drive the sheep across the field, then I would let him lift, fetch to me a little and then flank him off of the fetch to then stop him so that he could cross drive the sheep. Boy if I can get the handle on this little dog at the same distances I have Jake he's going to a blast to use, both here on the farm and at the trials. One of these days I'm going to have to get him started on cattle....

Bea was next. I ran her through the same program as JJ but not quite as intense working more on letting have some fun driving, but never letting her fetch to me. She still has it in her head that she should fetch me the sheep and leaks badly if I'm not careful. As I see her thinking of fetching less and less I will go back to letting her fetch a little, the key is that she is going to have to fetch at the right times and be willing to be flanked out of a fetch when I ask for it, that is her sticking point.

I'll try to post more updates when I come back in, next up is Jake. I want to do a quick run on the figure 8 that we will be excuting at the next trial to see how much work I'm going to have to put in to sharpen him up between now and then. We will be running the same pattern that is run at the Denver Stock Show, we won't be making it to Denver but it's always fun to go and run with the guys that will be going at the warm up trials. I can crash and burn just as easily 4 hours from home (Platte, SD) as I can 12 (Denver), besides it will be cheaper...

Update....

So, I took Jake out, sorted off 4 head, had him settle them up near the top of the pasture and called him back to me. I then sent him off onto his outrun, he came up a little short which I would expect based on the draws which actually set things up perfectly lifting the sheep right down the middle of the pen, some quick flanks and the sheep were spun around one cone and then acrossed the pen and around the other, with a major mistake...me giving Jake the wrong flank commands. Ok, so there's the hole, me!!! If I can keep the correct flank commands firing out we will be fine, hah!! I guess I better appoligize to Jake now.

The next dog out was Weasel, she did an awesome job for me. Each time I work her she shows me great things. Her future job is to be a goose control dog, but not just any goose control dog, she will be expected to have enough handle on her so that she can be used for round ups, pennings and to be able to drive geese off of nests. I'm just going to take things slow and easy with her.

After Weasel I pulled out Dixie. Dixie is also destined for a life as a goose control dog. I don't know is she will have the power that Weasel has but she's going to be a blast to handle. She is behind Weasel in training just now beginning to understand her flanks, shaping them is going slow but coming along.

My last dog was Ugh, he's another one of Wayne's Cattle Dogs. Today was the first day of his restart, he didn't take it very well. Oh well, gotta have one dog out of the bunch that does not excell.

Reflection

2009-10-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

"There is nothing more likely to lead to error than to begin with the part rather than the whole."

Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones

The above quote just keeps nagging at me. I ran acrossed it the other day when I was doing some research on Operant Conditioning. Someone had mentioned that we use all 4 parts of Operant Conditioning when we are training our stock dogs, well that comment made me realize that I had no clue what operant conditioning really was. I'm not even going to pretend that I know what it is, no preconceptions, but after reading it sure seems as though it is often misunderstood. So, off I went to Google it, and wow did a whole new world open.

I've been trying to work through some training issues with a few of my dogs, and keep asking why are they not changing, well the answer lies within those many pages that explained Operant Conditioning. I've gotten to the point where I understand what I want my dogs to do in regards to the livestock, I understand how I expect them to respond when I give them the command, but I was missing the bridge with some of them. I could get them to do what I wanted but not when I wanted it, or maybe they would offer the right thing but still not give up on the old undesirable thing. I was failing at being a complete trainer...and we come full circle "There is nothing more likely to lead to error than to begin with the part rather than the whole". This trainer (me) was getting hung up on the part, the method in which we communicate and teach along with the results is part of the whole, ahh...it's not just dogs and livestock.

As I reflect I find that that quote is not limited to dog training, it relates to all and any training, learning and understanding. It relates to dog breeding and selection, it relates to decision making.

I'm not going to try to explain it, google it for yourself, read more then one source and prepare to be awed at least I was, sorry to make another quote "We don't know what we don't know".

This just in, update from Cecil's (Jax) owner

2009-10-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Jax when he was about 5 weeks old

This e-mail just arrived, we love it when we get good news about our pups!!!

Deb,

To preface this... It is our land lord's contractual responsibility to provide quality fencing. We maintain it. One strand of hot wire at 32 inches up is not enough, and it just trained our cows and calves to not respect fences. Now we are up to a 3 strand hot barbed wire and true gates, the middle strand is grounded, so they really get a wallop when they try to nose through the wires. The bad part is that the little calves still find a way and then can't get back in. Too bad we didn't start this way in the spring. A Big Boo for bad, lazy landlords.
However.... Good for the pup!

Exciting news here! Our little Monster is really something! I used him this weekend, while it was cold and nasty here we had to do some serious cattle management. There are 2 bulls, 50 cows and calves, weighing in about 500lbs on the average. Mind you, our cattle are used to dogs, but a few are tough customers, and require a lot of heart - even from our seasoned dog. So... The alfalfa field, behind the rented native grass pasture, was being invaded on a regular basis, so when I drive in to check cows, they start bellowing to their calves, half a mile out there on volunteer wheat and alfalfa. In this weather they can bloat and die quick on the frosted wheat and alfalfa, so I have been out there every dang morning, and usually take Bell, our seasoned BC dog, as I don't have a good down on Jax yet.

Bell was sore and carrying her leg from working at the sale barn a few days before, so I reluctantly loaded up only Jax. I figured I could keep him on the long line and if he got out of hand, down him by force. Well, I am so happy to say that it wasn't necessary! No, he didn't down the first or second or third time I called to him, but he found his own way. We started in the back corner of the circle - with 1 rotten cow and 22 calves. No one bloated, but still, out on our neighbors volunteer wheat.

Jax unloaded with huge interest, I got out with him, to give him direction and confidence he might not get if I stayed in the pickup. I decided to leave the string off, since it would be unlikely that I could catch him at a full run anyway, and if he missed a flank and got in the middle somehow, I wanted him to be unencumbered.

He is a big pup at 32lbs already- and covers ground well, still a lot of foot to grow into though, and we laughed at his ears flapping all over as he hauled butt out there with just a hiss and "get them up!" . He got within 3 feet of the cow, and looked back at me, running behind him, and I repeated the command, and he took a bite of her cannon bone- quick as could be, then went to wearing left, to keep them on the path - something he did all on his own! A couple calves were starting to slow and looked for a way through the repaired fence, and he flanked on his own, ducking through the fence, and ran hard at them, pushing them back towards the group. Jax slowed and looked back at me, and then seeing me still jogging towards the main group, I backed him up with another hiss and "get them up" and he took off again, wearing right to left at speeds I didn't know he was capable of yet! When they got near the fence, my husband had opened the gate and Jax changed his position - again on his own - to the far right to drive them through the fence. I was in total awe!

How does a 5 month old know to do that - and I am so tickled with his confidence! He did check with me a few times, and that is fine, he never changed his body position, and didn't let them stray while he thought about what I might ask of him. He stayed focused and I never called him back until we were done - with a That'll do! Good Dog Jax, Atta Boy!

He was pretty excited, but a bit winded, with tongue out and willingly laid down facing the herd- about 20 feet inside of the pasture, unknowingly - or instinctively protecting the open gate. He didn't come right back to me, just laid there - looking at them and then me, then back to the herd. I was winded too - been a long time since i had to run 1/2 mile to chase cows!

A little later Jax helped me with moving the same cows to another watering point - through a gate they weren't familiar with, so we really had to work to get them to stay in there - some of those rotten, tough-customer, dog hater cows put their heads down at him, then realized a human was behind the dog, and turned, without Jax realizing he wasn't entirely responsible for the cows movement and hesitation. I worried about them - and don't like being afoot for them myself, but for Jax's confidence, it was essential. Don't want to break his egg or bubble!

So, now, the focus is on downing and I am assigning come bys and away to me when he looks like he is going to do it anyway, but not focused on more than down and get back this week - at least intentionally.

Happy 4 week birthday, 1 day early!!

2009-10-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hereeee's Ricky.........

The little bugger is ruling the household. I was concerned about how he would handle other dogs, being a singleton....well, he attacks his dad, barks at the TV and chases JJ, and he's just 4 weeks old!!!

Ricky is out of Vicky by Jake, I can tell already that he's going to keep me hopping. He's already demanding more food then mom can deliver.

Watch for pictures of Dottie and Ugh's Australian Cattle Dog pups. Some of them are still crawling around like little slugs even though they were born he same day as Ricky. Ricky runs circles around them, I'm sure they will be payback's in the near future.

Training updates from yesterday

2009-10-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

Fly and JJ

I was able to work quite a few dogs yesterday. The day began with setting up the farm for a vet visit, health papers for the sheep and rabies updates for dogs. This weekend we will be in Winterset Iowa to produce stock dog demonstrations. I try to share more later.

After the vet left a good friend, Johnny stopped up to help me load the sorting & head chute and wood gates into the trailer. He has a border collie that I have helped him with and also allows us access to his cattle to train dogs. Anytime he comes up we end up working through the pack, he lets me know what progress he is seeing, not only in with the dogs but with myself.

We began by taking Fly out to the pen, Fly is a little 3 year old spayed female that I took in on trade for Riley from a farmer. She has some drive and feel but lacks confidence, I am hoping to find her either a pet home or a low requirement hobby farm home. I worked with Fly last spring and put some basics on her, she can be handy in the back pens, has some direction on her a stop and a walk up. All I can do with her at this time is continue to use her, and be there to help her.

Next dog in was little Rosy, what a little crackerjack she is at 5 months of age. She just gets to discover what the sheep are all about. She just loves to get them stopped, hold them at balance and then walk right on in, which in turn creates an explosion and it happens all over again. After a couple of repeats all of a sudden she ran backwards just as the explosion began, this resettled the sheep, if she had an expression on her little face it would be priceless....wow, I didn't know I could do that!!!!

Toby at 5 months (Bea x Jake)

Toby was up next, he is Rosy's brother. Toby is more like Jake, and is more careful around the sheep, that is until he get's excited, then he goes to playing and bitting. The opportunity presented itself where I could show Toby that he could get around the outside of the sheep and control them just a effectively as holding them to a fence. He was like a kid with a new toy, all of a sudden this little dog that was a bit hesitant to have the sheep move was driving them and then flanking around to drive them a different way.

Each of these young pups spent just a short amount of time in the pen, just long enough to let them discover some new useful thing they can do, allow it to reinforce and then pick them up and take them out.

Now on to Jake, Jake is the older male that arrived back in August. I've been working him now and then, with my focus on retraining his triggers, and adjusting his pressure sensitive thresh holds. Much of my work with him is just daily encounters out in his kennel. Back up when I walk in, kennel up when I say so, understand that when I growl and bang the soda bottle when you are running a barking that you need to stop and not amp up more. It's amazing how this work away from the stock can improve your relationship while out with stock, so many don't understand just how the two environments intertwine.

"Cow Dog Jake"

Johnny is also very interested in Jake, he is considering crossing his female to him and wanted to see the dog first hand. It was love at first sight, on both of their parts. I was even able to trust Jake enough around the sheep to allow Johnny to take him for a spin. The worse he did was pull wool once when he got in too tight but immediately stopped when Johnny corrected him. I doubt that Jake will ever be a sheep dog, but we really don't want him to be, he was bred to a working cow dog, I just need him to learn that there are other things that I need him to do then just run in and bite stock to make it move, and the sheep are the best training tool to help get the lessons learned. To be completely honest, I think he has been here before, he actually had some training with Ben Means, Ben also is his breeder. His square flanks started to show themselves not long after I began holding him to a higher standard, his complience to his other commands and corrections keep improving also. The pace in which he is improving is too fast for a dog that has never been taught, is more like a dog that has forgotten and feels stongly that he does not need to do it that way.

A note about Ben Means, Ben is a trainer, breeder and the author of a stock dog training book from Oklahoma. He is respected by many in the working dog community, I feel privledged to get the opportunity to work with a dog that he not only bred but also trained as a young dog. As I work with Jake I am running into Ben, I can feel and see his influence on Jake. Each time I work with him more of the dog that Ben was trying to develop reveals himself. Each of us that work with a dog put our mark on that dog. Sometimes what we see years later is not a true representation of the trainers that put their heart and time into that dog early on, the mark has been blurred and covered up. But if it was done right, the mark is still there just waiting to be uncovered and brought back into focus.

This may seem foreign to some, but I've expirenced it before when riding/training horses, the trainers I worked with could "Feel" my training when they rode my horse and then could help me determine if what I was doing/creating is consistent with their training. Each time you run across something that someone else put in that is simular to what you do you will know it, the just knows what to do, or maybe it won't be quite the exact response that you expect but it will be simular. You can then learn from the dog, maybe that other trainer can teach you something through that dog.

Ben (JJ's littermate)

After we returned Jake to his run and got through all the discussion about Jake's future, btw Johnny is willing to dogsit and use Jake to help him with his cattle any day, go figure. We moved on to Chip, an ACD. Johnny didn't see the point of me bringing Chip out letting me know that he really does not like the dog and has never seen him offer anything. Well, Chipper showed him. Working with Jake has helped me to find a way to get through to Chip, Johnny sat there speechless as Chip went to balance, flanked off pressure and eased in toward the sheep stalking like a cat, just to release and flank to balance again. Granted after his little display ended aburptly with an explosion take a hold of a leg that led to a take down, but it's a work in progress, ewe is fine, muzzle went on and we ended on a really good note. I saw some huge gains with Chip in this short little work session, he initiated on his flanks and going to balance on his own, I didn't have to convince him to engage. When I put the muzzle on he continued with the same level of initiation showing that he could still focus on the sheep while dealing with a big distraction.

The last two dogs into the pen were Dixie and Weasel the two Border Collie females that are full sisters to JJ. Both girls are still lack in maturity but both also showed that they are learning. I found a great opportunity to bolster Dixie's confidence in close proximity of the sheep, boy did that change the way she handled herself, it was almost as if a piece of the puzzle fell into place and she suddenly understood something that was escaping her.

Jake and JJ

I mentioned that we will be demonstrations this coming weekend in Winterset, Iowa. We will be leaving first thing Saturday morning, I'm still trying to decide who is going and who is staying home, I'm trying to limit myself to 5 dogs, which will make our return home Saturday alot easier. We leave the sheep down there and then go back Sunday with the dogs again for more demonstrations.

Jake for certain is going, he's the cornerstone to the demonstrations with the ability to show spectators what is possible. Quiet calm work up close, an ability to work out at large distances while processing commands in a fashion that resembles playing a video game and using the joystick to position your player. By no means is he perfect, he's still not a finished dog, heck he won't be finished until the day he retires, just like us our dogs can always improve and learn something new.

I think I'm going to take Bea, she is the dam of Toby and Rosey. I don't have her working at big distances but she is handy working at hand or in small lots, she also has a different way of traveling compared to Jake, more upright and less slinkey.

The third dog is Toby, people always love to see the pups work, he is also the last of our pups that is available for sale.

I think the fourth slot is going to Chip, at this point I don't plan on using him in the demonstrations but he needs to get off the farm and deal with other external pressures. I will give him the chance to engage the sheep sometime during the day, but not while spectators on placing expectations on me or the dog. If he proves that he can handle it the pressure of working away from him he may get the opportunity to strut a little stuff.

Now the fifth hole is the tough one, do I take Weasel, spectators connect with her, you can see in the way she handles herself that an explosion is just under the surface, and I've had her erupt at the first demo we did with her. During the eruption I hear little comments such as "that's what my dog does", and she gave me a great opportunity to show people how to handle it.

Another option is JJ, he is in between Jake and Bea in ability, but I don't think he will help to teach people anything, that Bea or Jake won't already cover.

Yet, another thought is Fly, does Fly and the manner in which I handle her to help her be useful offer anything to spectators. Cow Dog Jake could also go, but I just don't trust him enough yet, if he does break on me and take a ewe to the ground it is not going to be pretty, best to leave him home.

There are few very important things that I look for when I do these demonstrations, the first it to exhibit low stress livestock handling, the second it to demonstrate ways to teach your dog that is not at the expense of the livestocks well being and third is demonstating that there should be a good dialog between you and your dog. All are important to us and we work hard to operate at home the same as we do in public, but we have to remember, there is more pressure on both us and on the dogs when we are away from home. Yes, the dog and we have to learn how to function when exposed, but it is not fair to take a dog that is not ready to handle it. Your just going to set you and the dog up to fail. Each time we set our dogs up to fail they loose faith and trust in our relationships, the decision to put you and your dog out there should not be taking lightly.

Looking for keys that are lying about

2009-09-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Rhonda, one of our Leaning Tree Cattle Dogs moves a bull through the lot

I often ask myself why I spend so much time on the internet, it seems like it is lost time that I could be using training dogs. But then out of no where an answer comes to me from this source, it instantly turns that time spent into time invested. Today was one of those days.

Last week I mentioned the older male Border Collie that I have been trying to problem solve. He has spent the last week hanging out in the kennel, no sense taking him out for me to end up getting run over again or to injure sheep. While instant messaging another handler about this dog the key to solving his problem landed right smack dab in my lap. I couldn't wait to sign of, get sheep into the barn and make a new attempt. This renewed resolve brought about success, this dog that just last week I fear hopeless showed me that he could change.

This dog that was laying in wait to get them before they got him showed me that he could take the bull by the horns (rather ram), stand up to pressure, take the threat of a hit, counter with a bite and properly release. By no means is he fixed, but I think we just took a huge step in the right direction, but it all began with finding one key, the key that openned the door to a success, which I can only trust will lead to future successes.

Ouch....that really hurt!!

2009-09-20T17:37:00.001-07:00

It's been a few years since I've taken a hit like the one I took today. The last time was a few winters ago, I had Sandra Dee and Sheila out in the pasture, using Sheila to hold sheep, I had my back to the sheep trying to get Sheila to stay put, unknown to me Sandra Dee had latched onto the tail of a ewe, the ewe was in hot pursuit to safety (me). When she hit me she spun me and dropped me into a snow drift. That hurt my pride more the me, I guess I ended up with a pretty cheap chiropractic adjustment.

Today it was way different. A few weeks back I took on a new dog for training, he is a border collie that is 5 years old, has been used on cattle and feels that sheep are to be eaten. Things were going pretty well when all of a sudden he broke taking off after some sheep, the sheep circled came toward me and past. I stepped into the path of the dog to get him shut down, but he didn't stop, he ran smack dab into my leg head first about 4 inches below my knee and just to the side of my shin, luckly the muscle of my calf took the brunt of the blow. But boy, it hurts!!! The muscle and my shin bone are sore to the touch and when I move my leg.

After that wonderful event Wayne worked with Chip, which eventually turned into me working Chip. The little guy did some nice things, the highlight of the session was when he stopped on his own causing the sheep to slow rather then getting sucked in which results in excitement and chase, good dog.

Can't wait until tomorrow, will my leg hurt worse, or will it be better then today....I'm counting my blessings that he didn't hit my leg straight on. BTW, the bugger never slowed down, atleast that I saw, and then not long after that he ran headlong into the fence when a ewe jumped over him to elude him. This dog is going to take some time, he get's so wrapped up in "Get the Sheep" that he can't see anything around him.

Where have the last 10 days gone??

2009-09-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Vicky has an announcement!!! Read on...

I did it again, fell behind on my blog...and training has slowed to a snails pace.

The trees are beginning to change color and the weatherman is predicting a drop in the temps, fall is coming to our area fast!!!

I've been busy trying to get the Club newsletter put together, this is my 4th day working on it.

Oh yeah, Vicky's announcement....We have a new baby boy, Sunday Vicky succeeded in whelping, it was not all great, we lost two, a really big tri color female and a little still born male that Wayne ended up pulling, but both we and Vicky are tickled with this one little bundle of squeeking joy.

But that's not all, about 6 hours after Vicky presented us her little male pup, Dottie got into the act producing 3 female and 2 male Australian Cattle Dog puppies.

Last evening we had some entertainment, I purchased 5 new pullets that needed to get rounded up and put in the hen house, well, they were not to keen on being caught up. Chickens everywhere, so I employed Jake, amazingly he had no problem getting the feather renegades corralled and back to the hen house, though he did reveal an issue with his flanks. Until your dog works really light or fresh livestock you don't always see a push or a slice, Jake was far from producing square flanks. Reflecting back, the reason behind our failure to master the sheep at the Minnesota State Fair was just identified. Time to get a little more serious about require perfection not only while training but also while doing chores.

Wayne is back to working his dogs

2009-09-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

Wayne took Chip, one our young Australian Cattle Dogs out to work on the sheep. The work was slow and steady, but progress was made.

Chip finds a place to hold up the stock, he was not told to lie down, he just planted it there.

Wayne moves in to bump Chip out of his trance, imagine that, a clampy cattle dog...

Chip moves off, not quite a flank but not quite a drive

Wayne moves in again and Chip stops

Chip then offers a drive

But...then decides that he needs to stop again, clampy little bugger

Wayne encourages Chip to "Walk up"

Wayne allows Chip to drive the sheep along the fence

Then in a circle around him

Now Wayne is walking with Chip during a drive

He has them all on his own!!!

At this point Wayne asked Chip to flank

The Sheep move off the fence, Chip continues down the fence on his flank

Another cute little mare for sale

2009-09-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

When we arn't working in the leather shop or out training dogs we are playing with horses. A few weeks back we ran across this cute little bay mare, she is as sweet as they come, now she just needs to find someone to make her theirs:

Two Eyed Magic Trick (APHA 956015)
DOB 4-13-08

Sire: Fine Shine Bartender (QH) by A Fine Bartender out of Watch Joanne Shine

Dam: CS Doin Black Magic (buckskin/Overo) by Doc Cupid Chance (Red Roan/overo out of Mu Rocket Moon (Black/solid)

Far from perfect but still showing improvement

2009-09-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

I thought I would take a moment to reflect back on the two trials we attended this past weekend.

Wayne ran Jake down at the Nebraska State Fair on cattle. The cattle were younger and smaller then we normally run, Jake showed us some good things. Granted he didn't get the job done, but he showed more confidence in his approach when dealing with cattle that were not wanting to move off of a dog. Each time Wayne runs him in a trial we can find improvement in one form or another, and honestly don't see where he has regressed in any way.

Straight out of the arena at Nebraska we jumped in the car heading north so that I could meet with Sharon and head off to the Minnesota State Fair with JJ and Jake for a sheep dog trial the following moring. We arrived at the motel around midnight, alarms went off at 5 am trial began at 8 am. I was very pleased with JJ, he went off on his outrun like a pro, landing just about perfect, lifting the sheep calmly and bringing them with purpose right up the arena toward to me. We then began our drive, which started out well, JJ giving me some nice off balance flanks, but as we worked our way around the course I swore I could smell brake smoke as I lost a little bit of control over him with each passing second. But, we succeeded in getting the sheep penned, ending the day in sixth place and a perfect score for his outrun, lift and fetch.

Jake had a tough time with his sheep. They just did not trust him and refused to settle or be controlled. Each time I stopped Jake in an effort to settle the sheep the sheep would try to break. Poor Jake spent 10 minutes solid on his feet doing his best to master these silly ewes, and I was little help unable to figure out exactly what needed to change in order to help Jake out, I feel as if I failed him.

The shed proved to be difficult, or rather as another handler stated "impossible", but we got her done, not certain how. I kept looking for the right place to call Jake in, worked hard to try to create it but it just was not happening, then all off a sudden Jake just came in, I don't think I even called him. Just like that the sheep were split and Jake had one set under control. We ran out of time just as I openned that gate for the pen, but that's ok, there will be other days.

It never ceases to amaze me how different a trial is from the work we do here at home, I trust that one day it will all come together.

There it is!!!! And it nearly brought tears to my eyes..

2009-08-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

I took JJ out to work him after my group lessons, it was our last tune up prior to the Minnesota State Fair. As I walked out with him I could not help but wonder..."Why did I enter this little turd into a trial?" He has been testing my patience for the last few weeks, I say left he goes right, I say stop he says go, I say go, he says "but I want to stop". It's enough to make you want to pull your hair out.

Yesterday I went out on a limb and put him out into the pen with his sister that was really into cutting it up. As she caused all kinds of chaos I held JJ to his stops and flanks, it was all he could stand staying put while his sister was bouncing sheep around just having a gay old time. Wayne thought I was nuts, he said "and you plan on trialling him Monday?" My thought, it can't possibly make it any worse then I'm already expecting.

But, today was a new day. I took JJ out asked for left, he gave me left, I asked for right he gave me right, I said stop and he said "stopping is a great idea right now". He showed me that he could flank off balance, and that he could drive a fair distance, he could then flank off balance again and set a new line. For about 10 minutes JJ amazed me, he was the dog I thought I would never have but thought was there, it nearly brought tears of joy.

I called him off and thought for a moment that this was a great stopping point...but no, I'm an idiot and had to try one more little out run. Why I can't just follow my gut....a little train wreck followed, for a short time we were back to disagreeing again. But I worked real hard to get that not so little dog to understand what I wanted and next thing you know, we were back on the same page. Within moments of arriving back to that place we were out of there.

As for the trial Monday, it will be what it will be, we will make the best of it and try to have fun....yeah right fun...."Lie Down!!! Now!!! Damnit, JJ!!!!"

A moment to catch up...again!!

2009-08-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Pictures from Iowa State Fair Sheep and Cattle Trial

Bet'cha can't tell who the trouble maker is...

I think that is her looking for a way out the side in the lead, she pulled that at the pen too, every time Jake had them lined up and heading into the pen she would slide out at the last moment

Jake started out real nice on his cattle run

Many of the cattle stalled out just past these panels and against the fence

Once again I have managed to not update my daily trial and training journal, but the trialling and training has continued.

Jake and Wayne competed at the Iowa State Fair last Wednesday, there were moments of great work, moments of disappointment but overall I think it is safe to say the majority of his work was fair. Everytime Jake trials I see glimmers of what could be, maybe one day it will all come together in one shiny package, we keep hoping. But isn't that what all of us that are trialling are hoping for, that one perfect day where everything just came together perfectly.

I brought a new dog home from the fair, another Jake. Jake is a 5 year old male that had been used for cattle work. He is a result of Ben Means' breeding/training program. That first time out with the ewes with him was not pretty, nearly lost a ram lamb, but, it's a week later and a different dog is imerging. It will be interesting to see what he develops into and what I can learn from him. Each day I can trust him a little more with the livestock and trust that he will make the right decision in relationship to the commands I give him.

We have a busy weekend coming up, Sunday we are off to the Nebraska State Fair where Wayne and Jake will once again try to tackle the cattle class. From there I will be leaving for the Minnesota State Fair with Jake and JJ for the sheepdog trial. This will be my first opportunity to run Jake at a trial since this past January, we will run in the Open Ranch Division. I am hoping that JJ will be ready for his try at the Novice Ranch division...if only he would stop when I ask him to....

Just for Giggles

2009-08-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Every now and then we just do something for fun. When I was going through pictures from last month I stumbled onto these shots that I took of Meg and Cecil (Jax)'s first expirence with ducks. There really is no true purpose to dropping the pups in the pen except to see what they do, do they notice the ducks, do they keen up? Do they stay interested or do they try to turn into duck catchers. Ok, maybe there is a purpose...

Little Meg, driving-driving-driving....

Cecil (Jax), "I gottem"...he lost his duck privledges soon after, he tried to get them all right.

Wayne and Jake arrived home from Ogallala on Friday evening. Wayne was happy with his dog even though they didn't even make it on the boards. Sounds like they had a doosy of a draw, two nice heifers that would move off Jake nicely but a third that kept running off. When Jake would go to bring her back the other two would drift back toward the draw. He would get the renegade back with the group, adjust pressure to steer them up the pen just to have her squirt back out again. He said that Jake never gave up, just kept trying.

Yesterday afternoon Wayne worked on his and Jake's shedding to prepare for Wednesday. We go to the Iowa State Fair, sheep and cattle. Hopefully we will have better luck.

The Waiting Game

2009-08-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Jake gets the bull moving during the HAT Ranch demonstrations.

At 3:30 am Wayne, Jake and Meg departed on a trip to Ogallala, Nebraska for a cattle dog trial that will be held this evening. Now I wait, and wait... I wonder where he is in the draw, I wonder what the cattle look like, I wonder what the arena looks like. How many people are watching? Is it really hot? It really sucks sitting here waiting for the information to come my way that I am used to taking in on my own.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Wayne gets a good draw. He will be competeing against Jake's breeder, Pete Carmichael from South Dakota. Pete has not seen Jake work since the day we picked him up when he was just 5 months old. I so hope Jake does well, and I hope Wayne has fun.

Oh yeah, Meg...she is enroute to Platte, South Dakota to grow up to be a ranch dog. Next month Cecil (renamed Jax) will be leaving for Colorado leaving Rosie and Toby here for me to raise and train, atleast that is the plan. Another waiting game, waiting for them to grow up, mature and begin training.

Vicky is beginning to deepen, her due date is September 9th. We don't have our hopes up since last year she lost her puppies previous to coming here. I consulted with the vets before deciding to try again, they said she was healthy and in good shape, give it a try just don't put any undue stress on her. I officially retired her last month after having a bad go of it up in Minnesota, she still gets to move sheep around the farm now and then. More to help keep her in shape.

So..I wait.

Pasture for Cattle - Turnips, Radishes & Mustard??

2009-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Angus/Tarentaise Cattle at the HAT Ranch

One of the views from Doug Honold's home at the HAT Ranch

And right out Doug's back door

Looking out to the West

Saturday at the Hat Ranch Field Day, (Honold Angus Tarentaise / www.hatranch.com) near Coon Rapids Iowa we were introduced to an interesting pasture concept. They had a field that they seeded for pasture of the first time, previously it had been used for row crops. Rather then planting a conventional pasture mix they tried something new for our area, it was a mix of Turnips, Radishes, Mustard with oats seeded with it, I could have sworn I saw some peas in there too. The cows loved it, I don't recall the tonage of yield that they estimated or the number of feeding days they had gotten out of it so far this season but they did say it fed more cattle for a longer period of time then their other pastures feed.

Typically they rotate all their pastures, but this one they could keep cows on all summer. The appearance of it looked strange, it was obvious that it was a new seeding, but until you looked closer you would think it was just over grazed looking sorta sparse. But, as you looked closer you could see the tops of the turnips and radishes, I was not the only one that pulled a radish up out of the earth as the cattle surrounded us grazing on the tops. It was also clear that as one forage source was eaten off another was immerging to replace it, the pasture was constently renewing itself without needing a rest.

It was real interesting to see a cattle producer that was willing to test out ideas that are new to them, another plan they have for the next planting season is to introduce wheat from Wyoming to see how it performs in their Iowa soils. Today, the HAT Ranch is the largest breeder and bull provider of Tarentaise cattle in North America. They maintain a 500 head cowherd, 800 head feedlot, feed dealership, as well as corn and soybean fields. They are crossing the Tarentaise cattle to Angus cattle.

Jake demonstrating quiet and calm handling techniques

These are Angus/Tarentaise cross replacement heifers with a bull

At their request we demonstrated the practical use of stock dogs on an operation such as theirs, the focus of their handling operation is low stress handling, it is important to them to provide replacement cattle to their buyers that are easy to handle. Wayne has been going over there nearly every weekend for over a month to dog break a group of cow/calves and a small group of replacement heifers with a bull for the demonstrations. It proved to be a bit of a challange for both Wayne and Jake, the cattle are visited regularly by coyotes and were not overly open to moving off of a dog. With the exception of one ornary red Tarentaie cow that is known for being hard to handle even on foot they got the job done, that cow, just ignore her and she goes back to the herd and her calf, not the ideal fix, but all agreed it was not worth getting injured over a cow that was on the to be culled board.

At a previous field day they had brought in a clinicianer to introduce their customers to low stress handling techniques on foot using simple pressure and release. Our job was to show how a dog working properly could be an asset to any of their operations. Over time, the HAT Ranch plans on introducing working dogs back into their operation. At this time their base cow herd has not been handled by dogs and does not plan on allowing dogs in their midst. The plan is to dog break the young replacement heifers and over the course of time have the work on the entire operation assisted by working dogs.

Luckily, Micheal Honold has recently moved home back to the HAT Ranch from Wyoming where he had been working on ranches near Kaycee, there he utilized dogs regularly. He is now managing the cowherd and looks forward to integrating dogs into the day to day operation.

Jake convincing this heifer to move with the rest

Every now and then I learn a something about Wayne that I had not known before. After a previous visit to the ranch he had mentioned that he was familuar with the Tarentaise breed of cattle, but it was much more then a familuarity, I learned on Saturday that Wayne used to own some himself, many years ago back in his home state of Colorado.

As I review the pictures from the weekend I can't help but wonder, is Wayne happy out working his dog giving demonstrations to other livestock producers? Or does it make him pine for what he used to have. I know he would love to ride those pastures daily with his dog at his side check on cattle, but instead he runs from farm to farm delivering propane for a living.

I crown you "Chore Dog of the Week"

2009-08-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

The time has come, I think he is ready, actually I think all three are ready, JJ, Dixie and Weasel. They have been getting bits and pieces of controlled work out in the training pens for the last 6 months or so. Both JJ and Dixie have even been able to go out and help with tending duties now and then. But the time has come, for one week solid, each will get to be my designated chore dog. Through thick or thin, I am committed to helping them through it while holding them to the proper level of work, it is time for the kids to grow up.

JJ and I just came in from morning chores, he hung around with me watching my every move as I fed horses, made the mistake of thinking that I needed him when I openned the ponies stall, no big deal, I just let him know that he did something that I had not asked for. We then moved the rams out to the pasture, when I openned the gate JJ jumped to action, "No JJ, I did not ask for you yet. The rams came out into the yard while JJ and I walked away, you could see the confusion on his face, why would I ever let the rams loose?? I went to a position where I could help JJ if needed and asked for an Away to Me, he looked at me in disbelief. Yes JJ, I need you now, I had to shush a little to convince him. Off he went, but then got a little over zealous... "no JJ, you should have stopped over there" A couple of adjustments and JJ was working with me to get the rams where I wanted them.

It will be interesting to see what this week will reveal.

Our pack has reduced in numbers over the last week, Jill is out on a trial to see how she will fit in with a new pack, and to determine if she can fill the role as a agility dog. Sissy, one of our ACD's went to a small farm down south, she is filling the shoes of a well loved cattle dog that had passed away. As I handed her leash over to her new owner I saw something, I could sware I saw her say, I like you, I give myself to you. She will be well taken care of.

The surprise was Riley, at this point she is on loan to a client that raises sheep and dairy cattle whose dog I worked with earlier this spring. That dog had some issues with noise, which lead to the accidental lose of her the other day when the milk truck rolled in, off she went like a shot and has not been seen since. They hope that she will turn up, but has been gone now for nearly a week. I really have no intentions on selling Riley, my plan is that she will come back home when we find the right dog for the job, but, you never know, she might be the right dog for the job. If she is, I will not come between her and the work she was intended to do if she is welcomed as a perminant addition.

I've had a break over the last week or so, much needed for both me and the dogs. But it is time to get back to work. I will try to keep up on my posts.

Getting Caught up - Not enough hours in the day

2009-07-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

This past week just flew by, I tucked dog training sessions in here and there, inbetween packing for the fair and trying to get all my paperwork assembled for Saturday and Sunday's Trial.

Toby and Wayne watch a run at the Adair County Fair in Greenfield, Iowa
Bea and myself prepare for our run at Adair County Fair

Wayne and Jake working on the shed
Curtis Dukes' Dru at the North Iowa Fair, Mason City, IA

Last week I worked to accelerate Bea on her flanks and outruns, it appears that it worked. On Saturday at the North Iowa Fair I stood at the handlers post, sent Bea... hissed her on...she went off with great speed and conviction. I hissed her a little more, marvalling at the wonderful speed she was displaying. It was then I realized that she was not slowing as she approched the sheep, crap, she hit them like a freight train. I verbally chastised her (and myself for stomping on the gas pedal), luckily she settled down and brought the sheep up the pen in a nice steady manor, but missed the fetch panels. That miss cost us 1st place, completely my fault.

Sunday we tried again, I decided that I was just going to cast her out and see what she gave be. Off she went, not as fast as the day before but at a good clip, she got around the sheep, taking them over from the set out dog right at the top (perfect). The sheep had been facing the set out dog, tails to me, and decided that Bea was not too impressive.

In the following shot you can see Bea trying to lift the sheep, they are not real interested in moving.

In the above shot Bea is one step closer, the second ewe from the right is just lifting her right foot, I'm not sure is she stomped her foot or was considering moving off. I was at a vantage point where I could not see what was really going on, only that Bea was walking straight in on them without pause.

Here is a couple steps later, the ewe that was moving her leg has turned and is on her way, but there are two more that are still playing "make you blink!"

Bea says "You Blinked!!!!" Bea had it, she let them know that by no uncertain terms, they will go. At this point all I saw was dust, expecting to see a ewe single out with Bea hanging from it....but, instead.....

...she stopped allowing the sheep to move off, I have spent a year in hopes that that moment would happen. Instead of getting caught up in the chase, release and go back to controlling via presence.

Bea takes the sheep around the pen. When it was all said and done we came home with our first Champion Trophy!!!! Not bad for a little dog that once would hide in a box stall refusing to look at sheep.

The picture tells the tale, or does it?

2009-07-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

So, is Riley in the right position in the above pictures or the wrong one??

Here are the updates from the rest of the crew:

Riley: Repeated the same exercises that we began last week. Do what I ask or you get stopped, don't volunteer for the work but wait for me to ask you to work. As she is giving herself to me I am able to begin extending her drives and get off balance flanks that were impossible to achieve a meer week ago.

Ben: I put Ben back on the cord tonight, he has spent that last few months dabbling with sheep, but today I decided that it was time to put more requirement on him. He stepped up to the plate and showed me that he is ready.

Weasel: Another day without a blow up, boy does she ever work like her daddy, but her daddy was able to cause more wrecks then she has. By keeping her from making messes she is staying out of trouble allowing her to maintain a high level of confidence.

Bea: Sense of urgency....that was Bea's lesson today, when I give you a flank command or a walk up execute it in a clear and decise manner, with a sense of urgency. She fought me big time, she really would prefer to lay back in the weed and just wait for things to happen. I've given this lesson before, a little over a year ago to Jake, that one lesson changed the tempo of his training from that time forward. Fingers crossed that I have the same success with Bea, if I'm lucky even more success since I know what I am looking for this time.

Jay: He's back!! I took him out to the pasture and picked up right were we left off last Friday. I was able to flank him either direction around the sheep, stop him at any point, walk him up and flank him again with minimal effort, the bonus the Jay and he sheep were nearly 50 yards away from me. Seems like such a little thing, but for Jay it is huge, the first steps in showing him that he can control the sheep with out the aide of me, fences or other obstacles.

Back to Basics...again

2009-07-20T13:30:00.001-07:00

I just came in from working with JJ for the third time today. The first session I played with some the technics I used on his mother, but I was not producing the results I wanted to see, so I put him up to ponder for a bit. I went back and worked him a second time, this time rolling back to some basic at hand work while taking special care to try to see what was going on with him. I noted that he was flanking nicely on the come-bye side, released pressure correctly and allowed me to place him quite well if he needed a little correction. Not so with the Away to me side, rather then releasing, he was speeding up, barging in and trying to evade my help. I opted to put him up for the second time today to ponder a little more.

I did some reflecting, asking myself how I got Jake to release pressure on his flanks, so much of what JJ does is simular to Jake, but JJ handles correction differently and handles his stock differently. When trying to help Jake he would lean in harder with a tendency to grip, JJ just speeds up when he leans in. When you correct Jake he would fly out then try to come in at a different place away from you, JJ just eases out and does not try to beat you but rather waits for you to leave or turn your back, more like his mother. Nothing like having a mix of the two parents personalities and temperments.

I opted to move some sheep into the oval pen (75x100) and put JJ back on the training cord. I then select a stock whip just to add some pressure to show him that I wanted him to move left or right. Everything was going great, come bye, walk up, there...I took some time to make sure that "There" was a "stop in your tracks", so that I could use the there to stop him on his feet as opposed to asking him to lie down all the time. We then switch directions, that was when I discovered that JJ did not want to give me his left side, he would try to spin to face me or lug in toward the sheep harder, as opposed to bending out when I applied pressure. Well, there was the problem I was seeing earlier in the day, but now I was in a position where I could quietly school JJ through it. No, not escape: No, not shut down; No, not bite the cord; No, not threaten Deb; No, not lug down; No not spin around; Yes, stop; Yes, move over!! With that JJ and I called it a day, or rather JJ, I have more dogs to work.

JJ showed me yesterday at the trial that he knew how to handle sheep, he gathered, he flanked and he drove, he also dealt with the pressure of ewes saying we don't want to! ...but he also leaked out of flanking into driving, then leaked out of driving to get to the head to stop the drive, followed by refusing to stop. Time to go back to some basic obedience, clean up a little sloppy work, hold him to some requirements and see where we are by the end of the week.

The Cobblers Kids have no shoes...

2009-07-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

One County Fair trial down, two to go....

Yesterday Wayne and I took the dogs up to the Rice County Fair in Faribault, MN. The trial is a small one, but always fun. Sharon also joined us with Jay, both her and him showed evidence of some great changes. They didn't win their class, but they won in other ways, Sharon was tickled to get Jay to stop and to go when asked, not perfectly but way better then in the past . I also noticed that Jay never went into his mindless running circles around sheep mode. After the trial Sharon approached me to ask if Jay could come back this week, her husband suggested that she ask after seeing Jay work so much better then in previous trial. Jay will be coming back tonight to continue training, I plan on using him in my training demonstrations this coming Friday and Sharon will run him in the next two County Fair Trials, Saturday at Mason City and Sunday at Greenfield.

Wayne had an awesome run with Jake, he won the open division. Wayne was a bit concerned after watching many dogs have a difficult time with the sheep, the sheep at this trial are renowned for testing a dog. A few dogs had great difficulties lifting the sheep off the back fence, others had problems keeping them together. One dog even spent most of his run walking a ewe backward (nose to nose with it) down the arena. Wayne's concerns we unjustified, Jake step up and took control of the sheep, the only dog of our that had issues with the sheep was old Vicky, but that's another story.

Vicky is officially retired, she had a terrible run, in part due to all the noise. The run started out rocky, she couldn't find her sheep in the arena, then once she found them she either chose to not hear me or could not hear me and pretty much had her way with them. I threw in the towel and called her off without making the first obstacle, no sense tormenting the sheep for the next guy.

My run with JJ was a train wreak, though we got through the course. Boy was he strong and on the bit. I've been concerned about how tough I have been on him over the past few months and eased up.... mistake... the bugger is going back to boot camp, ASAP!!

Bea had a nice little run, she can blame me for costing her the class. I moved her over during her drive allowing the sheep to miss the panels, this was a point/time trial and the loss of that many points hurt really bad. I should have trusted her and just let her take care of the line, she had it undercontrol, but I just had to fiddle with it.

Riley....where the heck did that dog come from??? Wayne entered Riley just to see if they could get around the course...jeeze...the pair won their division. Riley worked at a level that I have never seen before, I had a feeling it was there I just have never been able to get her to bring it to the table. Every now and then in the past I have seen little glimpses of what could be, well yesterday the door flung wide open, the bright light blinded up. It is quite amazing how making a little training adjustment can change a dog. If you had asked me Wednesday I would have told you that Riley was looking for a new home, I had tabled her months ago after being unable to build distance on her commands. She knows them all, she just has been refusing to comply with anyone, opting to do everything her way. Thursday and Friday I tried something a little different with her, I would not let her work unless she obeyed, I did no get angry with her, I just stopped her when she gave me the wrong answer and then would let her try again. I also made sure that she did not volunteer for work, she had to wait until I told her what I wanted. We spent more time not working sheep, probably 80% of the training sessions Riley spent not working sheep but working to do what I asked, stopping or returning to me. This program short circuited Riley's escape program, she is the one that will clear 6 foot fences to avoid requirement, the last time I tried to trial her she flipped me the paw, after refusing to stop at the top of her outrun. She proceeded to totally quit her sheep, leaving to sit on the set out persons lap (Thad Fleming), that was over a year ago.

Both Wayne and I had a moment of heart failure before his run began, as he was waiting for the sheep to be set he lost track of Riley, she was lying behind him...was... next thing you know she is off loping across the arena to go visit all the spectators. We call Riley our social butterfly, she literally flits around all happy to see everyone. I thought for sure she was going to slide out through the gates to find a soft lap to land on. Wayne kept his cool and coaxed Riley back to him, the sheep were set, he gave her a Comebye, I expected her normal flutter around that she does, teasing us with the "Should I work today...or should I go find a shady spot", but, that was not there, she hit her stride and went right to work, she was hooked, hooked in a way that we have never seen before.

Time will tell, maybe I have finally figure out how to communicate with this little dog, it will be interesting to see if the glass ceiling has been shattered or if maybe we just peaked through a little crack. Marc has told me over and over, if you don't get to the root of the problem you will come full circle back to the problem. So here we go, we are back on the road with Riley, will we just keep going forward or are we going to come back full circle?

I had quite a few moments of frustration yesterday and as I am typing now, I wanted to celebrate Wayne's successes, but it was tough to do. While he basked in the lime light with the dogs he ran I wrestled with the short comings of the dogs that I ran, granted I set him up with the dogs that would offer him the highest chance of success, I have to admit that there was a twinge of jelousy, even though I trained these dogs sitting watching them win is not the same as winning with them. Brings to mind the old saying, "The Cobblers kids have no shoes", much the same as the "Horse Trainers own horses never get road". I see a trend beginning, the dogs I'm training for others to run are doing well, my own, well..they are suffering.

I guess it's time to get back out into the training pens, Jake already had some work this morning handling the sheep for the vet. I need to get Riley out an continue our exercises that we began last week, I'm going to continue working her twice a day. Jay will be here this afternoon, his session today will be to refresh our working relationship and continue to build on the foundation that I established over the last couple of weeks. Hmm...wonder how much I'll have left for the dogs that I was going to trial this coming weekend...

Sharon takes the Caddy out for a spin

2009-07-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Jake Jr. (JJ)

Last night Sharon came out to work with Jay, as she arrived we had just finished up using both Jake and Jay to test out whether or not all the ewes would fit in the rear compartment of the trailer, really tight, they all got tucked on but it's not going to work for traveling.

From there Sharon and I walked out to the pasture so that I could show her where Jay was at with is training. He really is changing, I'm still not happy with how he approaches sheep, especially if the sheep are coming toward you but it is managable and I think over time it will get better.

I let Sharon take over the reins, things were going well until she took to long to decide what she wanted done with the sheep, the sheep proceeded to make a break for the barn really close to the fence. She sent Jay on a come bye which would take him between the sheep and the fence, actually causing them to run harder, and rather then recognizing that she sent her dog into a no win situation stopping, and flanking the other way she proceeded to urgently yell Come-Bye, Come-Bye!! This put Jay into overdrive running hard to get to the sheep, all the time I spent getting him to honor the pressure of the sheep went out the window that fast. In the blink of an eye she sent him into the pressure I was trying to show him he did not need to always go to. Poor Sharon just does not understand that we don't catch up and stop sheep by chasing them, he dog is just doing the best to do what she asks working together to defeat the cause.

After that episode I decided to hand Jake keys over to Sharon, some would wonder, why I would do such a thing? Turn a young dog that is just getting solid in the Open level to a novice that is making major mistakes in the livestock handling department. Why, well I trust Jake's decisions with the livestock, he was able to show her what she should be expecting, he eased around the sheep and executed what ever command she gave with near precision, which identified how many commands she gives without purpose. At one point while she was trying to set a line with Jake and sheep to the little bridge we have in the pasture she exclaimed "I didn't do anything, the sheep were going off line and I just stood there watching!" She finally saw one of the many moments that I see each time she is here, when she just stands there watching her dog and not being proactive, not helping him, not giving him direction, just letting him do what ever he pleases with the sheep.

Jay went home last night, Sunday will be his and her next trial, my fingers are crossed that she can maintain what I put on him this past two weeks.

After working with Jay and Sharon I took a few of the cattle dogs for a spin, wanted to check out that flank, well, they were not very happy with that program. Clyde just plain told me to stuff it and Buffy started to get with the program. The annoying thing about the cattle dogs is that they play these distraction games when you don't let them move stock, ohh the flowers smell good, ohh this is good poop. It's alot more work getting them to stay hooked in on a proper flank, they would rather be hands on allowing the pressure of the stock feed their drive. In reality, the pressure of the stock is what drives the border collies also, it's just they don't need as much pressure to be stimulated, oh, except Jill. It's time for Jill to move on to a pet home, the plug has been pulled.

Riley: The stop is the key, if I could just get her to stop anytime I ask we would be in the money, ahh, somethings are easier said then done....

Life without a flank

2009-07-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone to the grocery store and find that there is only one shopping cart left, when you go to push that cart down the aisle you find that one of the front wheels are stuck, it won't swivel, it's just stuck going straight, you can go forward, you can go back but you can't manuver very well to make the turn at the end of aisle. Well, that is what it is like to have a dog that does not flank properly.

I just came in from another good work out with Jay, that's when it came to me, he too was missing a proper flank. That is what I have been spending most of the last week and half acheiving, yeah along the way I had to get him to factor me and stress obedience with him. It was not until I got him to give me those two things, which add up to his mind, that I could show him the right place to flank. As I was able to help him find that correct pressure point, the place where he would have a working advantage with the sheep he suddenly discovered rate and pace.

Jay still easily falls into his old habits, but as I maintain a relentless spirit he is supplying me with more useful work. We still have a way to go before I can dial him and move the sheep around the course just by giving him simple directions, but it is coming. I actually hate to see him go home, I would so love to get him solid on these basics so all Sharon would have to do is worry about where she wants her sheep to go and which path she wants Jay to take them down. It is where Wayne is now with Jake, granted there are still glitches, there are times that Jake feels passionate about his idea of where he should be and wants to go, but for the most part he is quite simple to handle. Wayne and I were laughing yesterday as I described moving Jake around the sheep simular to driving a radio control car, my voice commands replacing the joy stick, Pete, his breeder refers to it as driving a cadillac. It is quite a feeling to behold, to know with almost 100% certainty that you are going to get result you expect as the command leaves your mouth.

I'll be going out to work more of the crew, more updates to follow. I might just have to crack out some of the back burner dogs and look a little closer at that flank or lack thereof....

Peaks and Valleys

2009-07-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Cash driving Cattle at the Southern Iowa Cattle Trial

This is a picture from a couple years ago of a dog that I was training, I brought him along as far as I could. He now is working out in Western Iowa. When I sold him my thought was that I had taken him as far as I could, but now I realize, I took him as far as I could at that time. I often ponder, if he was still here would I have him doing more?

Sharon came out yesterday to see how Jay was doing and take him for spin. The spin was short lived, it wasn't long before he was getting back into the swing of walking all over her, but he was maintaining a good relationship with the sheep. I think that I have made some pretty big gains in his level of competence with the sheep. He no longer is mindlessly blowing around them, circling just to show Sharon that he does not have to listen until the sheep get to a corner where he would just plant them there.

I'm seeing some rate and pace, he even proved that he could make good judgement calls with the sheep while I was being distracted by the pups, we were driving the sheep down the L pasture when Cecil realized that he could fit under the fence...here he comes to save the day!!! With his three littermate tagging along. Luckily, Jay kept the sheep on line down the middle of the pasture as opposed to letting them drift toward me, his normal trick, allowing me to round up the little monsters before they found themselves in a bad situation with the ewes. For the first time ever I did not have to direct all my attention to Jay in an effort to support him, he was supporting himself, and doing it right!!!

I have also expanded Jay's toolbox, he has an "in" command that I am using to help him index his flank and I can now reflank him to build him out further, evidencing that he is offering a square flank with just a touch to much pressure release, these are tricks that Jake developed while going down this road, it's so nice to recognize the landscape...I know how to get refinement from here, atleast on his flanks. He still is not in the right place on his flanks, but we are getting closer to the right channel, ideally, Jay will find the right place himself and I will not have to use either trick except for when we find ourselves in a situation we should not have been in.

This new thinking Jay is kinda of a nice dog. I can stop him when he makes a mistake, help him through figuring his way out of the mistake. We even had a couple of nice situations present yesterday so that I could begin introducing a proper Look Back. Normally Jay is so locked onto his sheep that it would be impossible to get him to even consider that he should look someplace else, or he might glance and then take off on you to go circle his sheep, he just was not open for any dialog.

But yesterday, I saw change. I could put a little pressure on him and you could see him wonder what it was I wanted, his head would tilt and swivel. I could have a silent conversation with him speaking only in pressure and release until he suddenly turned his head and looked at the sheep behind him. That was when I would say "Away to me", he was off like a shot, he knew exactly what I wanted at that moment, go flank around that set, totally forgetting about the group he was previously working. His flank was perfect, I didn't even have to remind him to go deep at the top or to honor his sheep before he lifted them. It was a good moment, and the fact that we were able to repeat the moment made it great!

If I can just build in good decisions on Jay's part it will be so much easier for Sharon, then her job is to just conduct the orchrastra, rather then worring about tuning the instruments. Thinking about it, I've been here before also, with Jake. It was at that point where Jake was not in need of constant tuning that Wayne could take him over. Yeah, he needs a tweek here and there, but it's minor stuff that is easily adjusted. Getting the dog to the point in training where you can reward it with silence and the stock rewards it with compliance is a really great place to be, the dog likes being in that place and will fight to get back there. As I reflect this morning, I am realizing that I need to get my dogs into that place earlier, not as a whole but within each element. Show them how rewarding being right is.

Jay will be with me at least through the end of this week and possibly next, Sharon is thrilled with what she saw last night, exclaiming "He is working like the dog I want to see", I teased her by saying "There's a dog that you want to go out and buy".

JJ: I went back and working on one thing with JJ, his stop. It's kinda a strange thing, I've noticed that he just has not been with me lately, but that changed when I gave him one thing to focus on being right with. That was when it all made sense, if the dog starts to go wrong you stop it, but if you can't stop it then you have to correct him for not stopping, when is the dog ever going to be right? Funny thing this stock dog training, it's not about following a book or someone else's program, you gotta find your own program. You have to learn these lessons on your own, when you identify something that works it sticks. Eventually you just integrate it in, it turns to second nature which leads to forgetting that you do it. It's not that you forget to do it, you just don't have an active awareness of it anymore, it's automatic.

Riley: I've not spoken about Riley before, she is JJ, Ben, Dixie, Jill and Weasel's mother. Riley has talant, Riley has will, Riley uses her talant and will to do anything but what I request. I've place Riley on the back burner, she comes out when I think I have learned a new lesson to see if maybe that lesson will be the key to her engine. Well, I hate to get my hopes up, but she gave me more willingly yesterday and show the highest level of work ever. I have her trained, she knows her directions, even her inside flanks, she has a stop, she drives, she fetches, she gathers, I just can't get her to execute the requirements when I want them. I went back and repeated JJ's lesson, just gave her one requirement to get right and made sure that I was not going to accept anything short of 100% compliance. Once she submitted to the fact that I was not going to give she began offering me more right answers. Time will tell how long she will stay on the front burner, I even had a fleeting thought of taking her up to the fair this weekend with us, is it possible that we could get that much change that quick.

As I reflect while I'm typing some words are flowing back to me. Nearly 2 years ago during my lesson with Marc as I worked Riley he threw a statement/question at me, "She knows the requirements left, right, stop and walk up, when are you going to hold her to the requirements?". How strange it is, did it really take me two years to finally hold her to one of those requirements?

Bea: How frustrating it can be to work Bea, one day she is willing to work with me the next she is not. I think I just overloaded her yesterday and she froze up again by placing more expectation on her then she was able to succeed with. This little dog is going to hold me to finding the pieces of the puzzle and being careful to place them in a precise fashion. With her, it's all about peaks and valleys, though last night we were off the road and bogged down in the ditch.

The view from the other side of the fence

2009-07-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Jake Moving Cow/Calf pairs off the hillside near Coon Rapids, Iowa

Jake had another good work out today moving the cattle from one grazing pod to another. He did some really good things, but then he did some really poor things. There were a couple of cows that wanted to take the fight to him, full war was never declared, with Jake opting out. Not a good thing, but then again he did live to fight another day, and did end up the winner, getting the cows moved to the intended location.

Today I let Wayne work both Jay and Bea so that I could see how the pair worked for someone else.

Jay: Started out by being beligerant, wanting to ignore Wayne. I coached Wayne through the process of getting himself factored in. It only too a minute, one good kick in the butt (literally) to get Jay on the same page as Wayne. From then on out it was a great work out, Jay showed some rate and pace today on his own that has never been seen. Wayne declared "I could run the dog Pro-novice this weekend"; I don't know about that one. Sharon had planned on picking him up tomorrow, they arrived home yesterday from the South Dakota trip. I called her and asked if she minded if he stayed through the end of this week. She has a trial this Sunday and I really feel like that I have made a break through with him, if I can get it firmed up we may just be able to get the two of them to finish the trial season in style. We will be attending trials at the Rice County Fair next Sunday, followed by North Iowa Fair and Adair County Fair the following weekend. That will be the end of Sharon and Jay's trial season for this year. Keep your fingers crossed that she can get out of Jay what Wayne and I are getting.

Bea: Over dinner Wayne was telling me what I should do with Bea, so, I told him that he should take her out for a spin so I could see what he thought I should do with her. He found out, it's not as easy as it looks when you on the other side of the fence. But, I did gain some insight watching the pair. After a few minutes I stepped in, took over the reins and went back to something she knew, fetch...but when she arrived at the top I made her stop until the sheep had moved a ways off of her before letting her drive, this seemed to help her to understand how I am expecting her to drive, using her power to hold a line not just bump and wear from side to side. I also played a little "get excited game" her old trainer would get her excited and then let her slice and fetch which led to some pretty severe gripping. I got her excited while asking her to flank, she would try to slice, I stopped her, then got her excited, she would try to slice, I would again stop her, after about the third stop she made a change. I got her excited and she kicked out into the nicest flank actually going as deep as she could at the top.

This was where I ended our work session...with the exception of putting the sheep away. When I had her drive the sheep to the barn she went back to her old method, I growled at her, lied her down then gave her a flank, off she went, on the most perfect flank, she landed nice and deep on the top side and brought the sheep around like a pro. Maybe there is hope for her yet.

Setting a solid corner stone for the foundation

2009-07-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

Lilly tuning on Cecil

This weather is nuts, rain in the morning, then we get a few hours to work before the humidity sets in followed by oppressive heat finishing the day with more rain. The pastures are toast, Wayne brought home a load of hay today, the sheep, horses and ponies are back confined to their drylots. I've been watching the hay market, the price dropped about 25% from last week to this, our hay supplier expects it to drop again. I suspect we will be back into the $1.50 - $2.00 a bale range by the end of the year, a load better then the $4.00 plus that folks have been paying. Today's load ran us $120 a ton, comes out to about $3.00 a bale, first cutting alfalfa/orchard grass baled just last week.

Today Barbara Jean and her Aussie Timothy came up to visit. I helped her to find places where he was blowing her off and not factoring her in. The pair came up for the first time a number of months ago, another owner at her wits end fearing that her only option was to have her dog euthenized. There's nothing really wrong with Timothy, he's just pressure sensitive and tends to be anyplace except where he should be. He had developed a habit of fence fighting with the neighbors dogs and tends to try to get aggressive while on walks on leash. Strong and firm leadership takes care of all of these issues, I've gone down to Des Moines to work him through his issues at home. The issues began to manifest, I stepped in letting him know it was not going to be accepted and the angel hallo appeared. Barbara Jean and him still have a long way to go, but they are gaining. She was thrilled to go to her first agility competition last week and ended up being embarressed by his sillyness wanting to visit with everyone, not a bad problem compared to what he used to do. He used to bark at any dog that walked past his crate, now she does not even have to cover it up. Granted he still ran off to do his own thing during her agility run, but he was far from dangerous, just being a silly Aussie that needs more discipline.

We took all the pups out for another leash lesson, what a bunch of monsters. The work I'm doing with them at this point is to help teach them that pressure is a teaching tool or aid to help them find the right answers. Seek the release and you will find the answer to your problem, feel no pressure from me and you are doing a good thing, please keep going. This is the cornerstone for the entire training program, the more solid I get it the clearer we will be able to communicate.

Cecil is a hoot, not going to be a dog for just everyone, if you give him an inch he takes a mile. Barbara Jean had him in her lap on his back, he just wagged his tail with this big happy smile as she rubbed his tummy.

The tri-color smooth coated male that still lacks a name sure seems like he going to be nice pup, has a lot of try and is willing to look to you for answers.

Meg, she's a bit strong minded and will get huffy when you correct her. Today she was being sassy, I held her muzzle for a second, she told me she didn't like it, I released and rather then thinking about her lesson she lunged to bite me. So she was met with a correction. How dare I correct her, she sat back and retreated giving me a dirty look as she went. I called her and she told me where to put it, so she got her first walk down. I'm not going to leave her be in that mindset. Yup, I made her mad, and I worked with her until she got glad. She is also showing signs of turning onto to livestock, at one point I saw her covering the head and trying to hold ground from a distance while watching the sheep in the pasture...at nine weeks of age, oh my.

Rosie, she's also showing some signs of being interested in livestock. I'm handling little Rose with kit gloves, she lacks concentration. Her littermates all feel strongly about wanting something, a piece of sheep poop, a corn cob maybe a piece of bark. When they are wanting something it gives me an opportunity to unlock them and ask them to go somewhere else. Well Rosie just is not that interested, she doesn't stay hooked long enough on any one thing, hopefully this will not be the case when she goes to livestock.

Jay: We made some nice progress today. I think it is the first time that I was able to help him with his placement around the sheep. Typically he is in such a hurry that by the time you get him stopped he is majorly out of position. Not today, as he was walking up he started to flank, I was able to stop him on the first wrong step, growled at him and he came back to the walk up. I about threw a party!!! Granted, it took me about 10 minutes of dry work just to get him flexible, I would not let him go to stock until he showed me that he was going to work for and with me. That warm up time paid off yielding me a nice training session. Hopefully when I work him tomorrow he will be willing to give sooner so we don't need to do so much dry work.

Ha!!! Who's thinking Now!!!

2009-07-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Jay working at the last years Sheep Festival Trial

It's a funny thing how the right information whaps you right up side the head at the right times every now and then. Today while reading some training advice I ran acrossed a post about stopping a dog and making it think while it was fetching the stock. I filed the information in my memory banks thinking that next time I work Jake and if he drops part of the flock I will make him work his way through is debacle rather then redirecting him. Well, I didn't have to wait, Jay, Sharon's dog brought that information back to front and center.

Good old Jay is a tough dog to work. Many handlers have suggested that Sharon go out and get a different, easier dog to work with. But Sharon will have none of it, she is either going to succeed with Jay, or die trying. I mentioned yesterday that I am taking care of him while she is on vacation and using the opportunity to work through some of his issues.

One of the most annoying things he does is just roll mindlessly around the stock, sometimes flanking around, sometimes through. When he walks up he sometimes drives the stock, sometimes drive a hole through the flock and then flanks around when he finds himself on the other side. All these little antics are allowed, not because Sharon thinks they are right, but because she can't stop him.

Well, I think today might be the beginning of the end. I got the bugger to think!!! He was walking up and getting ready to make a mess of it, I got on his case for the mistake and stopped him. We repeated the same situation a couple more times. Then, all of a sudden before he got to the point of the indiscretion he stopped released a little pressure and honored the sheep. OMG, Jay made an adjustment based on the sheep!!! Stop the presses, new headline for the Sunday News!!!

I'm not saying that the dog is fixed, no way, but I think we may have found a path through a thick overgrown forest, hopefully he and I can find our way through together....before he goes home next week...now that's wishful thinking.

I used Jake today to tend sheep down the driveway, next to the cornfields. He did something that I have never seen him do, he flanked out a few rows deep into the cornfield to get around the sheep, typically he treats the corn rows as if they are a fence. I think this was a good thing.

Help!! I've fallen and I can't get up!!!

2009-07-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

Jake catches a nap after given a Lie Down, That'll do command during the demonstrations at that Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival

Every now and then I get a phone call from someone that is at their wits end with their dog. Today it was a real nice woman that lives just south of us. She had met us at last year Farm Progress Show, I remember her asking some training questions in regards to stock work. Her dilemma today was with a young male Mini Aussie that she just could not teach anything to. She jumped at the opportunity to come out today to get help with her dog.

Most of these well intending people have the same problem; they just don’t know how to communicate with their dogs. In many cases it takes me just a few minutes of clearly showing their dogs something that I want, the dog changes instantly from a nervous wreck into a happy ready to please little sweetheart and we are on our way. Nine times out of ten the owner shakes their head and says “I used to do it that way, but then I went to obedience class (or agility class, etc) and they said to do it this other way”. I just chuckle and say, “boy did you ever run amuck”. Today’s lesson was extra special, within hours I had a follow up call on the answering machine rattling off all the successes she has had with her little dog from the moment she pulled out of the driveway (he had a habit of barking like an idiot in the crate, fixed that right away) to the time she made the call. Let’s see, she was able to walk him on a leash without him running circles around her and tying her up, he went to his kennel and with one correction decided that barking in protest was not worth it and went to sleep, those are the ones that come to mind. Not bad for a dog that was deemed untrainable.

On to my own little charges that were worked today:

Jake: I used Jake to set stock into all the different work areas, with Jake it’s now more about using him and making sure that I’m not settling for less then he is capable of.

Weasel: Not a single blow up today!!! She thought about it, I growled, she about turned inside out to release pressure and get into a flanking position…Good Girl!!! With this new mindset I was able to start holding her to her verbal commands, she actually took it in stride and showed me how quick of a learner she is, even going as far as driving sheep right past me, holding them on line and taking them off across the pen. She might just make a nice little working dog yet.

Jay: Short-term training dog, actually he belongs to Sharon who is on vacation in South Dakota for a week. This is the longest visit that he has had here with us and I am taking advantage of it. The first few days I did not take him to livestock, he had to just go out with me and was not allowed to fixate on stock or look for work to do, he’s the overachieving type. He worked well, the toughest deal with Jay is not letting him run over you, he has it in his head that his job is to fetch at all costs and will go over, through and under sheep to get that accomplished if allowed. The key is to keep your thumb on him and working for you, as soon as he goes into work for himself mode there is no hope in him learning anything, he’s too busy fighting to get the sheep to your feet.

Bea: This was her first work since the day she overheated. I took her out briefly; she is Jay’s half sister and has the same stubborn fetch machine attitude…maybe something to do with the same person influencing their initial stock introduction…. Bea really has a hard time driving; she thinks she is going to get in trouble. This is a residual issue from her previous training, fetch and wear, fetch and wear, get to close, grip the sheep, get chased out, fly in grip again, get chase out, fly in harder take a ewe down, get chased out again this time by really ticked off trainer, go hide in the barn, this sheep thing is no fun. Slowly over time I have gotten a really nice flank on her, a great stop and the start of a walk up, then she freezes. I’ve been helping her along trying to show her that she can do it, it’s slow tedious work, and I don’t know if it will pay off. But heck, what else do I have to do?

Farewell Sweet Dora, we wish you well!!!

2009-07-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

"Wait Daddy, she needs to say good-bye" exclaims the little boy packing Dora who was overflowing out of his arms. He waddles over to the dog kennel with the pup hanging down nearly touching the ground with her back legs and bends down so that Dora's nose can touch her littermates on the other side. No wonder I still cry everytime one goes home. Luckily this time the tears held off, until now.

Dora is off to her new life. The family that purchased her have a cow/calf operation and a feed lot. First priority to them was a good dog for the kids to grow up with, how well she works is secondary. Good-bye Dora, take good care of your new family.

In the beginning...

2009-07-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Cecil, a study of stong will
Cecil's polar opposite (still un-named)

It was Leash and Collar day. All five pups got their first lessons, giving me a hint as to what lies in their future training wise. Cecil is going to be a tough little cookie, getting him to factor me in and keeping it that way is going to be our biggest challange. The other extreme will be Rosie, she likes to change with the wind, if I'm reading her correctly she will be the one that will teach me the most out of this litter. I think our challanges with her will be getting her to focus and stay on task even with distractions while maintaining the ability to multitask (handle your livestock and listen to me). Where as Cecil could be one to blow through you to get to his stock, I could see Rosie being the one to blow around you. Step into Cecil and he may stop but then come harder, step into Rosie and she will stop but then go find something else to do.

These early days with these pups are funny, what I see today I may not see tomorrow. Everything I do with them influences who they will be and how they will react to pressure and stimuli. Just this little leash and collar session has changed these pups forever, if I did my job right I effectively laid down the first solid building block in the foundation of their carrier as working dogs. I can't make them be great dogs, but I can do the best I can to give them and myself the tools to help them become the best they can be.

It's their first step to independence, and they are going to flex their muscles and brains, they already are. Typically when I let them out in the yard they are right back to me, the least amount of pressure change sent them scampering back to me. Not after their lesson, they were adventureous and didn't want to come back when called, they discovered that pressure was nothing to fear, now they need to learn that with pressure comes requirement. Now the teaching begins and the job of limited access to things that you don't want learned.

I've already shown Cecil that ignoring me is not in his best interest. It's really a neat feeling when the pups pause even for just a moment to look to you, the look is priceless. The best way to describe it would be that they are taking pause to consider what you would like, or "can you please help me find my way out of this wet paper bag?".

I often think back to an article I read in the past, as my dogs teach me more the writings of Tony McCallum make more sense to me. It's a funny thing, I thought I understood the first time I read it, looking back, I didn't have a clue. You can find the entire article by following this link: http://www.workingaussiesource.com/stockdoglibrary/mccallum_whatwherehow2_article.htm

Training Starts When The Pup Is Brought Home

"If I buy a pup I start to teach it the day I get him. On the trip home, he rides next to me, perhaps inside my jacket. He gets used to my smell. I talk to him so he gets used to my voice. When we arrive home I don't just put my seven week pup in a cage. No, no, no! We now have three minutes in which we can form the basis of ten years of training.
“How do you do that? I take that pup out of the car. I get in an area where there's nothing he can get into or under because I don't want him hiding. I want him in a area where the only thing he knows is me. I put that pup down on the ground and I stand there and watch him. If he cries, 'Oh, oh, oh,' as I stand there, I say, `It's all right mate.' He knows that voice after three or four hours in the car. He knows nothing else — nothing smells familiar; nothing sounds familiar. There's no visual stimulus of anything except me, and that little pup trots over and sits on my boot. Pups always do. He might run off, have a little wee first, but if it's in an area where he can't get into or under anything, he'll come to the only thing he knows. As he starts to trot that five feet to me, I go, 'Wheo, wheet,' which is my `come' whistle, and say his name. As he sits on my boot, I'll say, `Sit, good dog.' So I've taught him his name, 'come,' 'sit.' And from here we're going to have an everlasting relationship.
“When he comes to me, I put my hand on him, reassure him and walk away. I wait until he has another excursion, another look around. Next time that little pup looks up, I go, 'Wheet, sit, good boy.' I pick him up and put him in the cage he's going to stay in that night. I try to make sure the pup had nothing to eat before I picked him up so he's got nothing to throw up in the car. I put that little pup in the pen and I reach across to a little eggnog I've made up for him. I put that bowl in there and he thinks, `Boy, I haven't eaten today.' As he smells the food and runs toward it, I put my finger under his chin and I go 'Wheet,' (my stop whistle) and his little seven week bottom sits on the ground. I take my finger from under his chin and say, 'Yes,' and he eats. I shut the little cage and go inside the house. That's a pup's first association with Tony McCallum. I'm a friend. I'm the only thing here he knows. I'm showing him: I don't hurt you or harm you. I don't actually make a big fuss of you. I can stop you from eating. I can allow you to eat. I can call you to me and I can place you somewhere. You are in my pack and you are quite low down, mind you. But I'm a benefactor not a dictator.
"If he squeaks, I come out and shake him. I don't like whining at night. I always set that little pup's cage at the back door and if I have to get up five or six times that night, it's nothing. I just come out. I get him by the side of his little head, 'Ahhtt, quiet!' and a lot of times, he wonders, `Oh, my goodness, what's that?' Normally, by morning he's tired like me and he stops that squeaking. It's, `Oh, I've got to be quiet."'

Dry work, the key to success

2009-07-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Sheep moving off JJ

There was an interesting conversation not to long ago in regards to "Dry Herding", I had to laugh as old time group members poo poo'ed the idea of putting training effort into their dogs and/or themselves without either livestock or their dogs.

Dry Work is an important part of my training program, this afternoon and tomorrow I will begin leash breaking our 9 week old pups, the way in which I do it will be relative to the way we will communicate when it is time to go to livestock. I will teach them left, right, forward and stop. No, it has nothing to do with stock right now, but it has to do with me and building a line of communcation that can be flung wide open when the time comes that they are our working stock. It's not only about what they can do with livestock, it's about what they can do with the livestock while following my direction.

Dry Work comes in many shapes and sizes, when you visualize what a flank should look like in your brain before you ask for it. It is also dry work when you yourself goes out and moves around the stock applying pressure in different locations to see how the stock responds.

Pressure is pressure, regardless of who applies it, what is different is the level of respect that is held for who ever is applying the pressure. Then there is the case of fear, if the applier is feared or is deemed unpredictable the reaction of the stock will also be unpredictable. We want our dogs to be predictable and to treat livestock fairly, if the do so the livestock will respond in kind.