size matters

Well in the case of space for outruns that is. I decided to remove my small pen and enlarge my field area. I used the fencing from the pen to continue fencing off my property line and I only need about 80' more to finish it off. There is a few strands of barbwire that was there when I bought the place so I can now keep the sheep and goats out there for the day without them getting loose. Walter the wether goat is the only one who likes to explore anyway and he doesn't go far if he does get out.

The telephone pole marked the corner of my small pen which was 60' X 60'. I called it a rectangular pen and I said that to Vergil one day that my pen was rectangular and he said how can it be rectangular if its 60' x 60'? Well he got me there but I swear it did look like a rectangle instead of a square! 

I had to leave a barrier up by the telephone pole wires so the sheep/dogs don't get hurt running into them. So I took some of the scrap house siding and made little panels out of them. 

This is the only escape route now. This tree fell last month onto my property. It's about 20' in and smashed down the barbwire fencing there. I need to remove it and the brush and bushes around it so I can finish fencing. I'm just glad it came down before I finished my fencing.

The sheep are liking the larger area. Not much left to graze on but they are finding something.

This is my ram lamb. I hope he's done a good job with my ewes. I should have lambs beginning of March. He's Dorper/Katahdin

The "Old Man" of almost 12 yrs.

The "Oldest Man" of 13 1/2 yrs and still trying to fetch a frisbee

I haven't been able to use my good (and I use the term loosely) camera since June. I lost my battery charger and regular batteries only last about 2 pictures for some reason. I finally got one the other day and found pictures I hadn't uploaded to my computer, from June. Everything was so green then! These were taken on the closed golf course behind my house where I go walking almost everyday.

I need to find someone with a good enough dog to hold sheep for me out here so I can do some good outruns with Crue. He can only go about 75yrds on my little piece of land. Out here on the golf course we can go 400 +yds or more. Not that he's ready for that yet, but he is doing really well. He's started driving a bit also and is really listening to me.

I like this picture of my dogs walking on the golf course trail.

I can hardly wait till spring again!

Team work

We were redoing the kennels so all the dogs were out running around for hours. I think Seth got bored.
Meg will stare at sheep, goats, guineas, chickens, tv, for hours at a time. She was just laying there in her glory staring at all the livestock for hours and Seth decided to use her as a buffer for his game. It's called "hold the birdies"

Meg didn't care as long as she could just lay there and play the game without having to move. At one point he was pushing them right into her but she was so intent on watching the chickens IN the pen she didn't even notice all the birds bumping into her.

I've taught Seth that putting the guineas away, or getting them unstuck from behind a fence, can be done by just continuing to push them around until they've had enough pressure on them and they'll fly over the fence. Seth loves this job and I guess after  having fun at the  TN Hold Em game he decided it was time for them to go home.

You'll note that even though this bird took off right over her she still doesn't bother to get up.

Just one more and my job is done!

And then there is my house protector. Some people buy those plastic owls decoys to put on their houses. I prefer the more natural means.

This is Phoebe the Pea Hen

the grass is always greener....

or in this case the guineas.
Meg is now 10 yrs old so she pretty much does as she wishes. I don't work her anymore (much) so she works herself. She would be content to either watch hours of sheepdog videos or watch the livestock in the yard. I never knew she would work birds until I saw her moving strangely one day, like in slow motion. Then I saw a flock of guineas in front of her. With sheep she is very pushy and fast but with the birds she was very very slow and kept a distance. The other day she was obsessing on them through the fence like usual but then I noticed something funny. One guinea was out right by her but she paid him no attention at all. The one's behind the fence were much more interesting for some reason. Meg is a strange one.

She does look at the sheep and goats too however. Nobody likes Walter, the whether goat. NOBODY. Walter thinks he's boss of everyone. He runs the sheep off, he butts the guineas and chickens away and he snubs his nose at the dogs.

Meg does not like that.

And this has got to stop!!!! 

I'm really getting tired of cleaning up guinea poop!! I try to make sure they roost on the chicken house, but sometimes they sneak up here or on the dog kennels. They are messy, stinky birds!

My genius, Crue

I lined them all up like you asked. Would you like them in order by height now?

Afternoon Delight

Work was very slow yesterday. So slow I had NO groom dogs all day. So with nothing to do and no phone calls by noon I decided to go home and spend time with my dogs. Crue, Seth and I just hung out in the field working sheep or just sitting and it was a lovely afternoon.

Crue is starting to understand stuff and is getting a good outrun on him. Today I added the goats into the mix. They worked nicely with little challenge to the dogs. In fact at one point when Crue gripped, it was a goat and it yelled loudly as goats are prone to do and Crue acted like he'd bit into a hot wire. Nice correction. He was a bit more hesitant to grab after that. Crue is still a bit hesitant to go into tight spaces so he reacts by gripping. He's getting much better about it though. I have been trying to spend a lot of time with Crue up close and personal with the sheep and he seems to be relaxing more.

This picture would have been way better with a decent camera and if I hadn't cut his ears off. It's hard enough working an extremely keen dog let alone take pics at the same time. 

Seth always has to get in on the act, whether I need him there or not.

Taking a breather.

I'm ready to have another go...

I'm getting closer, can I go now?

And he's off.....the black blur..

Up top back at the house, still wistfully gazing down toward where the sheep are. Good boy Crue!

Tell Me Thursday #14

What obstacles have you overcome this week, how did you learn from them?


Crue and I accomplished a lot towards overcoming our big obstacle. We had a lesson with Scott Glen on Tues and made some serious headway on overcoming our weaknesses. Crue's weakness was not understanding what I want of him and being a bit insecure about going between the sheep and fence. My weakness was asking him to do it in no uncertain terms and not giving him a chance to figure it out on his own. So now I am asking him to think about it and letting him know any effort on his part is ok with me.
It was a really good lesson and I feel I took away new insight in dealing with Crue.
My student and friend also took her dog for a lesson. She also made great strides in overcoming her dog's main obstacle, which was running too tight. Scott gave us some good things to work on with her dog as well.
I learned to not be so stringent in my way of asking Crue for things.
Thanks Scott!

Tell Me Thursday #12

1. If you won the lottery (a big one...I'm talking stupid muchos cash) what would you do with the money?

   I'm not sure, but I think I would spend it on things I want.  duh...of course I'd buy frivolous crap I don't need but really really want!
   No, not really,
   I would maybe buy a bigger house with more land and get more sheep. I would give my kids money to help them out. If I had enough I would travel to places I've always wanted to visit. And maybe buy a new pair of shoes.

2. After winning the lottery, would you work a day job? If so, what would you do?

   I would probably move my shop to a better location for retail but I'd probably hire someone to help out with the sales stuff and definitely hire a new groomer so I could have more free time to get stuff done and maybe work my dogs more and go to trials.

3. Do you have any auxiliary dogs? Auxiliary dogs are dogs that are not essential to your main purpose (usually tiny, but not always). If you don't have an auxiliary dog, what might you choose?


   I have an auxiliary dog. I call it a superfluous dog though. It's a 13 yr old toy poodle. His actual name is Torka, but we mostly have always called him "The Poodle". You know, "make The Poodle stop that stupid noise", Get that stupid Poodle off the couch. The Poodle got into the lunch bag and ate it all. The Poodle ate that whole bag of chocolate, wrappers and all and didn't have the decency to die. The Poodle ate all the hearguard for the big dogs and yet again, didn't have the consideration to die from it. Seth, get The Poodle!
    Now I hope you all know I am just kidding. 

btw, The Poodle weighs about 10 lbs, does that qualify for tiny status? What he lacks in size he most definitely makes up for in attitude.

4. Do you have a favorite crock pot recipe (or other recipe) you can share?

   I don't even own a crock pot anymore. I need one though. I do have a really good banana bread recipe, but I alter it all the time so its never the same usually. I don't  have it with me, but I will post it on my blog later if anyone is interested. It's actually a zucchini bread recipe that I got from a friend many many years ago, but you can use just about any fruit or vegie in it. I've even substituted 1/2 brown sugar and added chocolate chips and everyone loves it!

Tell Me Thursday #11

1. What movie do you love but are too embarrassed to admit you love it?


Well I like it, not love it, but I suppose I don't like to admit I like "Sweeney Todd"  All the blood etc.


2. Ann wants to know: How far do you drive/travel to attend trials, clinics, lessons. How far is too far?


The farthest I drove to a trial that I was entered in was 12 1/2 hours. Or to watch the finals in Sturgis was about 20 hours. I will drive 4 hours periodically to take lessons. I was lucky when I started out to be 20 minutes away from the ranch I trained at as they had top clinicians come in.


3. What is your theme song (circa Ally McBeal)?


Well last night driving home it was Supertramp "Take the long way home"  
 When I'm planning my budget I hear "Help" by the Beatles
This morning, and every other time I have groomed this same dog (Sally) I hear, as does Laura, Mustang Sally.


4. Laura S wants to know: If you had to choose a new dog activity, one that you had never done before, what would it be?


As working my dogs on sheep is the most fulfilling dog activity I have ever done I really think I would just have pets and do nothing with them if I didn't work them on sheep. Maybe teach them stupid dog tricks.


5. What would your dog choose?


Well, Reign would definitely pick disk dog. He loves to play frisbee. That is if he still had teeth. He wore them down from catching said frisbees

Mike would pick cat staring contests

Meg would like to be a movie critic

I feel fenced in

And its a good thing!!!

I had a "T-post" party last Friday and invited my students and a friend to help me pound T-posts. Well they told 2 friends and they told 2 friends and I ended up with about 11 people. It took only about 3 hours to pound in about 60+ posts and put up over 400' of wire. I've never met such really great people as I have living here. People I don't even know came to help me just because.  I still have one side of my property to finish fencing but it will have to wait till winter when the plant life (specifically the poison ivy) dies out so I can get in there and get the posts in.

Somewhere in there is my property line and some of the old fence posts and barbwire. I can't see it right now, but I will in the winter. Unfortunately there are unfenced portions and I can't let the sheep out to graze unless I am there, with a dog, watching them.

Tell Me Thursday #10

Going forward over the next months, what are your goals.

What Laura said! Almost all of Laura's goals are my own. Can I end it there?

Ok..

My #1 goal IS to get my finances under control so they will stop controlling me. I too am very tired of just surviving and I feel I have paid my dues and deserve to have just a smidge extra now. HEAR THAT?

My #2 goal is to get Crue ready to trial. We're doing well, but not making as much headway as I'd like. He works too wide due to insecurities and I just am not sure how to overcome the problem except by just work, work work. I have worked him in a tight space and for some reason he seems to do better, but I can't spend all my time working in a very tiny space.  We don't have much of an outrun yet, that concept isn't in his mind yet, but he's getting there. So 6 mos may be really pushing it for this goal and I may have to make it longer.

My #3 goal is to get my property completely fenced and fixed up so I can function better with my animals. Also included in this goal is to get my house completely finished. There are still a few unfinished things in the house that I need to complete.

For now these are my only goals. They may be few, but they are biggies!

Tell Me Thursday #9

1. If you're not at the 2011 Sheepdog finals this weekend what are you planning to do?

I'm working on Saturday and working with my herding students on Sunday.


2. One item you NEVER walk onto the trial field (any trial field, or training class will suffice) without?


My dog


3. Katy wants to know if you have a pre-run ritual that you observe?


Well I haven't trialed enough in my life to have a ritual, but probably pace and try to calm down before my run. It has never worked however.


4. How old were you when you had your first real kiss?


Two answers to this one.  It's been too long ago to remember, or maybe it hasn't happened yet? Having 3 kids does not mean it has happened..


5. Bonnie wants to know what you do for yard mud control during the winter?


What I have been doing lately is spreading out the hay that has gotten wet (under the tarps, I need a hay shed). I have one area where the water runs off and if it gets wet it's like slime. The hay has helped that area.


Sorry about the text background. I copied the questions from Laura's page and it won't let me dispense with the background color. I'm sure there must be an easy fix, but I'm too impatient.  So deal with it....said in a nice way of course.. :)

the visitor

My guineas were squawking up a storm this morning. But that's not unusual for them. Lots of things set them off. Although there did seem to be a more urgent tone in their cackling. But when the chickens started in too I knew there had to be something going on.

This is what was going on. A visitor.

My dogs mostly ignore my birds, except Meg and Seth will move them around a bit. This one was new though so it got their attention more.

At least for a second or two.

Then the food I threw down for the pea hen was much more interesting.

I'm sure Seth figured this new bird should be put with all the other birds. Chaos and birds all over the place is just not tolerated.

The pea hen was not intimidated by either me or the dogs. I figure it may be someone's pet. The only thing that seemed to ruffle its feathers was, of course, The Poodle. Nobody likes the poodle. The sheep hate him, the guineas hate him. Not sure what it is about him, maybe the curly hair?

I'll check the lost and found today and if she is still there when I get home I'll call whoever lost her.

The day late, Dollar short Tell Me Thursday

1. What is the biggest thing that grossed you out over the past week?
Being a groomer and having dogs poop and pee all over my table, in the tub, on the floor etc, it takes a lot to gross me out. I'm thinking it would have to be the Seth farts all week. It's so bad it is permeating my shop. I have to light scented candles to cover up the odor. Not sure what's going on with him, same food, same routine. Guess its just old dog farts.

2. What do you feed your dogs?

Diamond Naturals, either lamb & rice or Chicken & rice, whichever is cheapest or whichever I can find. They get the occasional guinea or chicken egg or treat and all the grass they can eat.


3. If you could move anywhere where would you live?

I'm pretty happy where I am now, but I'd love to live in Scotland or Ireland. My ancestors call to me.


4. What is the funniest thought that occurred to you (or thing that happened to you) this week?

Well it wasn't a very funny week. Too much rain, not enough customers. Not enough money to pay the bills. Did lots of hiking in the woods checking out sightings of my stolen sheep that must have escaped their captors. Two were spotted a few miles away from each other both in different parts of the woods. So my week hasn't been too funny. I guess the best I can do is the race between Reign and Crue every morning on my way back home from our walk on the golf course. As soon as I turn my body to head back the race is on. Crue is fast, very fast, and he has youth on his side. He's 2 and Reign is 8, but Reign seems to always nose him out. Nobody else can even catch up with them at all.


5. If you couldn't have your breed of choice what would be next on your list?

Well my breed of choice before Border Collies was GSD. I've owned a few in my life. My last one, Icon, was a great dog. His parents were imports from Czechoslovakia and E Germany. All working police dogs in his pedigree. I learned he actually had some sheepdog sense after I got into Border Collies. Unfortunately he was already 8 years old so I couldn't do much with him. I'd like to have another but seeing how the breed isn't very sound and its very hard to get one with a good mind and body anymore I doubt I'll ever have one again. The other breed I've always liked for some weird reason, is a Boston Terrier. I'm NOT a terrier person nor do I really like small dogs (even though I do have the token small dog) but I am drawn to the breed.