Okay, here is my first attempt at having a blog. So now those who don't want to get my long email posts can decide to read about my adventures or not.
If I can figure out how to post from old saved posts, I will from time to time.
This will mostly be about my attempts to train my border collies in herding and some of my agility work as well.
Yesterday I took my crew to Diane Menard's to rent her stock. While there I got to watch this great cardigan corgi puppy in her second lesson on ducks. Love this little girl ! And also Tracy's boxer puppie's first time on ducks. He looked super too :< )
I did some more : you go get the sheep for me at the end of the field, with Zest. It isn't pretty but miricle of mircles , she can do it with occasional prompting. Zest has taken up the adventure of herding at the age of 10 and she is now 11. No serious USBCHA trial person would put any effort into her but she is my dog and I like training and it is a HUGH thrill to see her actually work the stock !!! Yesterday, we did a bit of ducks also. They were not thrilled. Zest's answer to frustration is fly in and grab. She did get a mouthful of feathers but the duck shook itself off and waddeled away . She did some nice little outruns, flanks and driving . Once clamed down she does some good stuff.
Peak also worked the ducks and when they stop, she stops and you can see the wheels turning in her head, how do I get them out of the corner ? I helped her out and we got some ok work. Switched to sheep and if Peak could just get over herself, she could do pretty good. She has some decent instinct and really tries. Again, no serious USBCHA trail person would waste their time but again she is my dog, etc. She was very distracted by Diane working the puppies in the other pen. Didn't quit working but was not as on as usual. She really likes farm work and driving. The outrun as with Zest is our biggest issue.
On to Fios. Mr. speedy was able to move the call ducks easily but of course too fast. I love how he targets each duck to make it return to the group ! So easy to see him do this in the small pen and his head has to be down to move ducks. He is quite up right in his work on sheep. Diane came in and was able to move Fios off and slow him down. He has too much fun with me. I am not good at catching the right time for a correction :< ( Getting better though so I continue to try and he is a good and kind instucter.
I ahve worked in dogs sports of one kind or another for over 40 years and I have to say that training a sheep dog is the hardest thing I have ever done ! A great new challange for my senior years...LOL
