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| Caution: playing with photo enhancement can turn your friendly dog into this pit fiend! |
Monday, April 4, 2011
Quack Quack!
Yay! The snow is melted enough for ducks!
Saturday I worked Sprite and Pepper on ducks- that was fun. They each did a little fetching and driving around the small home pen where the ducks live. It was mucky and messy and gross but we had fun anyway. Soon I think we'll be able to take the ducks out of the pen and work around the yard. I just need a little less ice to slip and fall on. With a week of warmer temperatures and possible rain predicted that may be soon.
Today I took Sprite and Dodge (separately) out to work in the big field. After over pressuring Dodge two days ago I was determined to make it an easy and fun session. So I had him do a small outrun, walked up the fence and he fetched the sheep down the side fence. He was hanging way back but the sheep were right behind me the whole time. After I turned out into the middle of the pasture he came up to cover and regained his enthusiasm. Then we did a little drive and took the sheep back to the pen. And that was it.
Sprite did pretty well. She got a little zig zaggy when she got too close while driving, but stopping her and then starting her walking again fixed that. I was really happy how she handled the pressure of pushing them into the corner. They didn't want to go (probably she was holding them by being too far to the front, and she was starting to get tense for fly in, but I told her down, she did and the sheep relaxed. Then I flanked her a tiny bit and had her walk up and the sheep moved off.
Saturday I worked Sprite and Pepper on ducks- that was fun. They each did a little fetching and driving around the small home pen where the ducks live. It was mucky and messy and gross but we had fun anyway. Soon I think we'll be able to take the ducks out of the pen and work around the yard. I just need a little less ice to slip and fall on. With a week of warmer temperatures and possible rain predicted that may be soon.
Today I took Sprite and Dodge (separately) out to work in the big field. After over pressuring Dodge two days ago I was determined to make it an easy and fun session. So I had him do a small outrun, walked up the fence and he fetched the sheep down the side fence. He was hanging way back but the sheep were right behind me the whole time. After I turned out into the middle of the pasture he came up to cover and regained his enthusiasm. Then we did a little drive and took the sheep back to the pen. And that was it.
Sprite did pretty well. She got a little zig zaggy when she got too close while driving, but stopping her and then starting her walking again fixed that. I was really happy how she handled the pressure of pushing them into the corner. They didn't want to go (probably she was holding them by being too far to the front, and she was starting to get tense for fly in, but I told her down, she did and the sheep relaxed. Then I flanked her a tiny bit and had her walk up and the sheep moved off.
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| Sprite |
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Ben at Work
In amongst getting a lot of house/barn work done today I sneaked in working a couple dogs. I overdid the session with Dodge and though he accomplished a lot of good stuff it went on too long and I felt was overall not as good as it could have been. He stopped wanting to push and I just couldn't give up on it and kept harping on it, to no one's benefit.
I also took Ben out in the big field and got some pictures of him. He had a great time. He was so excited to be out of the small pen, not crazy excited, but every time he ran he was practically dancing.
Then Ben hung out with me while I worked on the barn drainage. I got some pictures of lambs investigating him and vice versa. It's always good to have a cute distraction from work.
And one of the ram
I also took Ben out in the big field and got some pictures of him. He had a great time. He was so excited to be out of the small pen, not crazy excited, but every time he ran he was practically dancing.
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| I like this one but it looks better larger |
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| My Bug |
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| His name is Yogurt, I don't know why |
Friday, April 1, 2011
Presence
It is a mystery to me why some dogs have so much more presence than others. Hank here is holding the sheep off the hay wheelbarrow, even hiding behind it with his face deliberately turned away. Before he came in they were all gathered around eating out of the wheelbarrow.
Of my dogs, Hank and Kip have the most presence, and Sprite and Ben have a smaller zone of influence over the sheep. They both would probably have to be in between the hay and the sheep, and some ewes might try to make a run around them even then. It doesn't relate to eye, as Sprite and Hank have a lot more eye than Ben and Kip. Or bite, as all of them have gripped as needed.
Of course, lambs do not recognize presence and they are curious and not too bright. Hank seems to realize they are babies and won't bite them, although he doesn't have a paternal feeling about them at all.
And some shots of Hank working out in the field today.
Of course, lambs do not recognize presence and they are curious and not too bright. Hank seems to realize they are babies and won't bite them, although he doesn't have a paternal feeling about them at all.
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| Lamb: "Hi, what 'cha doing?" |
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| Hank: "Go away, I'm working" |
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| Lamb: "How about if I check out this end?" |
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| Hank: "How can a dog work under these conditions?" |
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| lambie cuteness |
Warmer weather
We're supposed to get some warmer weather this week, and the snow has already started melting again. Yesterday afternoon I was able to get out in the big field without even a jacket on and work a couple of dogs. Dodge did extremely well in driving- he took the sheep all the way down the fenceline without going to head or wandering about- he was in the right place and if the sheep started to drift he fixed them with no fuss. I was pretty much right with him the whole time- I didn't let him get far out in front of me.
Next I did the same exercise with Sprite and she was a little more determined to hold the sheep up. She wasn't actually running to head, but she was just going a touch too far and was turning them back to me. After a few false starts she got the idea and started driving a little better.
Both of them did pretty well on fetching back toward the draw, although Dodge was a bit zingy, it wasn't too bad. I also worked Sprite on the imaginary center pen. Draw a pen in the snow, and then see if we can get the sheep to go into the square and stand there. It was good for practicing her "out" and also the big flank around away from the draw, which is hard for her.
Next I did the same exercise with Sprite and she was a little more determined to hold the sheep up. She wasn't actually running to head, but she was just going a touch too far and was turning them back to me. After a few false starts she got the idea and started driving a little better.
Both of them did pretty well on fetching back toward the draw, although Dodge was a bit zingy, it wasn't too bad. I also worked Sprite on the imaginary center pen. Draw a pen in the snow, and then see if we can get the sheep to go into the square and stand there. It was good for practicing her "out" and also the big flank around away from the draw, which is hard for her.
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| Dodge as a puppy |
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| Sprite as a puppy, or a handy drink holder |
ASCA and Manx Club of America announce merger
In a surprise move today, The Australian Shepherd Club of America and the Manx Club of America announced they will be merging the two clubs as well as the two breeds. The new breed will be called Manxstralian Shepherd, and the club renamed MSCA. Dorothy Fay of the MCA says "I think it's a natural fit, after all, both breeds are tailless. Yes, ours is a cat and Aussies are a dog, but I think the differences will add up to a stronger unified breed overall".
Susan Peterson, an ASCA member, says "I support the move. I've heard that Manx are the best herders of the cat world, so look forward to welcoming some into my kennel". When she was asked if the dogs wouldn't just chase the cats she replied "Well, maybe at first, but I think they will come to be friends in time. Most Aussies can learn to get along with cats if given a chance."
Bill Taft, longtime cat fancier, expressed an opposing viewpoint, "Cats and dogs, living together, it's just not natural".
Susan Peterson, an ASCA member, says "I support the move. I've heard that Manx are the best herders of the cat world, so look forward to welcoming some into my kennel". When she was asked if the dogs wouldn't just chase the cats she replied "Well, maybe at first, but I think they will come to be friends in time. Most Aussies can learn to get along with cats if given a chance."
Bill Taft, longtime cat fancier, expressed an opposing viewpoint, "Cats and dogs, living together, it's just not natural".
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