Zest and Peak qualified both days so got their
started duck titles.
I did started sheep and ducks and Fios was 2nd
both days on sheep and 1st with Diane Menard running him on ducks Sunday. I
felt too out of control on the ducks with him so did not want to have that
happen again. Diane offered to run him and I knew she had great timing and could
get him right. He was wild, eyes spinning, foaming at the mouth in the run
with me . We got it done but it was FAST and not pretty, He apparently loves
ducks ! The comment from judge, Rachel Vest on that duck run with me : Very
talented dog.....tons of work ethic !!!! :< ) Rachel Vest was married to
Bob Vest the other breeds herding guru. Both Rachel and Jan Weson (the other
judge) were very kind and helpful. Jan asked why I did not fun Fios on Sunday
so I told her about the spinning eyes and foaming mouth. She laughed and said
"You don't want to deal with the scene from Exorcist again ? "
I probably won't do any more arena trials with
Fios for some time. I wanted to see how it would go and now I know. Placements
mean nothing compared to keeping our team work in tact !
I do think that there was some good stuff for
him to know on sheep here. On our last run, he was going to turn the sheep back
up the arena after stopping them from escaping to the exhaust and I ran across
the field to cut him off and down him ( I don't care that ASCA does not like you
to down the dog ! ) He was quite surprised to see me appear in front of him and
laid down :< ) He also called back to me and calmly stopped with me so the
sheep who were headed for the panels correctly could just go on through and
start the cross drive without him cutting them off. He would still love to just
gather any running sheep but I finally can control that most of the time.
Started is a fetching, wearing course but Fios pretty much drove the whole
thing. The sheep were very flighty and sure were not about to come to me. So I
drove a Maserati around the arena ..LOL
I attempted open sheep with Peak and Zest. The
first day, Peak did a really nice job, gettng the panels and cross drive across
the back of the arena. Even though the judge at the briefing talked about taking
one or two stock through the panels, chute or pen instead of losing all your
points re-attempting, I stupidly tried to get them all in the pen. One went in
like 3 times and I could have shut the gate but oh no I am thinking USBCHA and
you can't just take one sheep in the pen so around and around we go until the
judge says "please go on" . Diane looked at my sheet and said I would have
qualified and probably placed if I had shut the gate the first time one went in
..grrrrrr mind gone Betty . I think Peak got me back for being so stupid and
would not get off me to do the drive on Sunday and finally flew in and bit me in
the knee ! Shortly after that we got "Thank You" from the judge.
Zest was all "Seriously, you spent all that
time gettng me to go wide around the sheep and bring them to you, now you want
me to move in straight and move them straight away from you ! " That can't be
right so while she could cover the escaping sheep, she could not do the drive.
The first day she was too hot on the sheep's tails as they ran for the exhaust
and one hit the fence so we got "Thank You Mam !" The sheep was fine so no
fresh lamb for dogs this week. The 2nd day I couldn't get her to drive so we
got "Thank You" again :< (
The dogs got to go swimming and Zest kept
coming back in covered in a flowing see weed dress ;< ) Lots of room in the
side field for games of fetch after our runs at the trial .
I slept in Laura Hamer's pool room on a big air
matress. It was surprisingly comfortable except for the hot body of Fios next to
me. He was happy. We went to sleep with the sound of baby duck quacking. Call
ducks ar NOISY !! It only bothered me a bit the first night. The baby room was
beside the pool room.
The judges were kind and helpful, the other
participants were as well. Weather was ok. I would have liked a bit cooler but
it was do-able. Sure could have been worse !!!
Diane's students did well: Kathy St. Charles
got her open started sheep and I think ducks too ? and a High In Trial on
Saturday !!! I got all 3 started duck titles and Fios's started sheep with the
2, 2nd placments and the first on ducks with Diane running him. Barb and
Lizzie finished started ducks and got a leg in open ducks and a leg and
placement in open sheep. Natalie and aussie Nibbler (very first trial) got 2nd
in started ducks on Sunday and I think qualified on Saturday so got their title.
Natalie also got a gift each day for being the most appreciative handler. Not
exactly the title but she was sweet and thanked everyone after her runs. Diane
finished Dually's Advanced duck title. I don't think she ran Dare. And I think
got something on cattle as well. Can't keep everything straight, sorry.
I kind of fell in love with the looks and work
(fast and crazy..hmmmm silly Betty) of Matt Mason's aussie "Asa" ? I could see
that body and attitude flying around an agility course !!
There were some really nice dogs. Lots of
aussies of course, a bunch of really nice working cattle dogs, a couple cardigan
corgies (one got HIT other breed on Saturday ) a Terv and an Old English and 3
or 4 other border collies.
On the way home, I called Sheryl who was taking
care of Ava. She said, Ava was ignoring the pond until she saw the ducks
swimming and took a flying leap off the dock and off after the ducks. Sheryl
was happy she had a long line on her and could reel her in ! Ava had a blast
working ducks in the water :< ) Looks like I have 4 duck dogs now and one is
a dock diving duck dog ..LOL
I feel so thick about learning good stock work
:< ( But I'll keep on trying. It's an excellent adventure (vbg)
!
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