Be Careful What You Wish For!

 

Jake, who is now going on 7 years old, was our first border collie.  Working with him was quite the learning experience., he subjected me to many sleepless nights as my mind spun trying to figure out how I was ever going to get him trained.  At the time I was still trying to gain a visual as to how a border collie should work and relate to livestock which further challenged both of our learning curves.

I remember when we had our first litter of pups by Jake hoping that we would produce another just like him, so that I could have a chance to do it again, only better this time.  Well, that didn’t happen, instead a few years later Ricky arrived.  He’s very different then Jake, though he to has made me broaden my understanding and continues to challenge my ability as a trainer.

Fast forward 3 years and here comes Rex, he is out of our first Jake litter in over 3 years.  Right about now I’m asking myself why I made that wish of having another chance at a Jake type pup.  Rex is showing a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses when it comes to livestock but he does have a better temperament and is not quite a sensitive, so hopefully we will see quicker progress simply due to that condition as compared to the 3 years of ups, downs and questioning myself while others questioned as to whether or not Jake would ever make a open dog, let alone a dog that has not been to the USBCHA National Cattledog Finals three years in a row now.

Rex’s first introduction to lambs was at 11 weeks old, he had a lot of resolve and want.  At 15 weeks old he had settled down a bit and really looked like he was going to be piece of cake to train.  But now he is 7 months old and I am having flashbacks to the days that I was learning the ropes with Jake, but I honestly think that Rex is going to be stronger then his daddy and not nearly as easily shaken by strong corrections.

I am finding myself hunting what ever notes that I can find from those early days with Jake, what worked what didn’t what did I do that I later wished I had not trying hard to not get stuck in the same ruts that I had to climb out of 5-6 years ago.

Rex at 8 weeks old

Rex’s first time on lambs

Rex at 15 weeks: 

Rex at 15 weeks old

 

Rex at 7 months old: 

Rex at 7 months old

Turbo update–from 13 weeks old to the 2013 USBCHA National Cattledog Finals

 

 

We were blessed to have placed Turbo with a owner who not only uses him but also has sent him to training, the trainer has brought him to a few trials so that over the course of the year we could video tape his progress.

I put these videos together for someone else asking about Turbo so I thought I would share:
Turbo in video from 13 weeks through when he was at National Cattledog Finals, he is 21 months old right now
13 weeks old, first time on sheep

Turbo at 13 weeks old, first time on sheep

 

here he was 14 weeks old

Turbo 14 weeks old

3 weeks of training in this video

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=457073157677872&set=vb.100001255747455&type=3&theater

3 ½ weeks of training

3 1/2 weeks of training/ first cattledog trial, trained and handled by Bob Johnson, Tingley, IA

19 months old

19 months old, he qualified for USBCHA Nursery Finals with this run, handled by Bob Johnson, Tingley, IA

USBCHA National Cattledog Finals 21 months old

21 months old at the USBCHA National Cattledog finals handled by his owner who has only trialed a couple of times in the Novice division

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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