Farm Chores!
I went to my first herding clinic on Saturday, and took only Tristan. The clinic was more on trial logistics and not on training. It was useful to walk through the courses and should help with my trial prep when the time comes. The military bases in the distance were doing some sort of training, and the loud noises were just the type to disturb Tristan. But I must admit, he handled himself well, all things considered.
On Sunday, we went down to Fido's again for herding practice. I've never seen Fido's so quiet. Chris and Syliva were there, working, and just one other herding person. Chris road up on the tractor and said she had some farm chores for me to do! I was to move the big flock of sheep from the cattle pasture to an area that had a shade tent, so the sheep could get shade, and then split three off of the flock and put them in the trial arena. That meant going through 3 sets of gates. And we never split sheep before.
Amazing! We accomplished it! And it didn't take too long, either. Moving the flock to shade was the easy part. Getting three to leave their friends was hard. Actually, all of the sheep ended up in the trial arena. So Tristan and I moved them to the vicinity of the gate, and I opened the gate and let them go through. Then I blocked the last three with the stick and got the gate closed on them. I moved Tristan so he would not make them feel panicked and he pushed them off the fence after I separated them. Then Tristan and I moved the larger set of sheep back to the shade. Good dog!
We practiced our obstacles with the three sheep we placed in the trial arena. But they must have been tired from being used in the clinic yesterday because they just didn't want to move much. So I took Tristan over to the big arena where we practiced outruns.
Then it was Scout's turn. She had her best day yet! I finally figured out a way to help reinforce sheep movement over the displacement behaviors, and she really turned on! She's moving the sheep now (not just circling) and she was wearing the sheep in a very nice fashion on the fetches. Steve was impressed!
I then practiced with T with the Spice Girls - moving them into and out of the free standing pen. Those Spice Girls... the are just too cooperative! :)
The highlights of my day were doing farm chores with Tristan, and Scout's progress. So centering to be alone with sheep, bleating peacefully, and helping them get comfortable by giving them access to shade. All with the help of a beautiful collie. And then seeing Scout really turn on to the sheep.
Life doesn't get much better. I'll remember these days forever. I hope Chris will give me more practical work, because it's so fullfilling to do something useful with your dog. I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity!
On Sunday, we went down to Fido's again for herding practice. I've never seen Fido's so quiet. Chris and Syliva were there, working, and just one other herding person. Chris road up on the tractor and said she had some farm chores for me to do! I was to move the big flock of sheep from the cattle pasture to an area that had a shade tent, so the sheep could get shade, and then split three off of the flock and put them in the trial arena. That meant going through 3 sets of gates. And we never split sheep before.
Amazing! We accomplished it! And it didn't take too long, either. Moving the flock to shade was the easy part. Getting three to leave their friends was hard. Actually, all of the sheep ended up in the trial arena. So Tristan and I moved them to the vicinity of the gate, and I opened the gate and let them go through. Then I blocked the last three with the stick and got the gate closed on them. I moved Tristan so he would not make them feel panicked and he pushed them off the fence after I separated them. Then Tristan and I moved the larger set of sheep back to the shade. Good dog!
We practiced our obstacles with the three sheep we placed in the trial arena. But they must have been tired from being used in the clinic yesterday because they just didn't want to move much. So I took Tristan over to the big arena where we practiced outruns.
Then it was Scout's turn. She had her best day yet! I finally figured out a way to help reinforce sheep movement over the displacement behaviors, and she really turned on! She's moving the sheep now (not just circling) and she was wearing the sheep in a very nice fashion on the fetches. Steve was impressed!
I then practiced with T with the Spice Girls - moving them into and out of the free standing pen. Those Spice Girls... the are just too cooperative! :)
The highlights of my day were doing farm chores with Tristan, and Scout's progress. So centering to be alone with sheep, bleating peacefully, and helping them get comfortable by giving them access to shade. All with the help of a beautiful collie. And then seeing Scout really turn on to the sheep.
Life doesn't get much better. I'll remember these days forever. I hope Chris will give me more practical work, because it's so fullfilling to do something useful with your dog. I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity!