Videos from last weekend

Here are all the videos from last weekend.  Patsy and Abby both on ducks and sheep.  Abby has only worked ducks a couple times in her life so I'm mainly just trying to get her to work them:-))  Patsy's sheds 1st two my fault, 3rd one her fault, last one eureka!!:-)))

Rainy soggy work

The girls and I went down to Debby's this weekend to work.  We got to work ducks and sheep though the weather was less than cooperative since Tropical storm Debby was crashing weekend plans here in FL!  I have videos loading now though probably won't be ready until Tues to update here.
Patsy worked first she did some really nice work again.  She is becoming very natural on ducks everytime I work her she gets better.  We drove and fetched worked in and out of corners and off of the fence.  Though there were a couple mistakes most of the work was VERY nice.  Next Abby went on the ducks.  She hates ducks:-)))  She does work them but it seems kinda beneath her, plus she can't push as hard on them...  Overall it was ok work though, I'm depending on our sheep maybe cattle runs to get us through:-)))
Next we worked sheep.  Patsy was up first again since the group I thought would be very light.  They weren't as bad as I pictured but she did really well on them.  We just drove the fenceline worked on flanks and driving mainly.  Got a very nice shed and the work up to it in the first couple attempts was nice.  Abby was next up, I think she is getting worse:-))  She isn't taking much slow or stops but some of the pieces were nice if I remember correctly, I'll see it on video and decide then!  We are just having some fun now so maybe she is picking up on my attitude now, sigh... She is funny though...
So now that I've had a hot shower and am warmed up again from the rainy day I'll watch and see what I think:-)))

Weaning lambs

Well I sold all but two of the weaned rams last weekend, so its time for the last two weaners to come out of the flock.  When I took Patsy back to put the ewes up this evening I decided tonight was the night to move the boys.  I gate sorted the girls to the barn and locked the gate.  Then I took the two boys from the neighbors to the front pasture; I was just blown away by Patsy's work!  The boys didn't want to be together at ALL, they were spliting and then stopping and running opposite directions; basically just being lambs!  Of course I had to pass right by the barn where mammas were screaming for their little boys too.  That was the main fight, passing the gate.  No matter which directions they ran in Patsy countered properly and didn't loose track of the second making a break either.  The boys are not broke for the most part since they have never been worked other than the large group with mom.  She is very calm and fair with correction to the sheep, took heads and heels on both when needed but never lost her temper.  I am really enjoying this dog!

Weekend

Well my weekend started by having to put my ewe lamb down.  It sucks when crappy things like that happen.  Just a bad set of circumstances...
Got lots of dog work done this weekend though.  Had lessons Sat morning so I used Patsy to hold sheep for students and set up my groups.  She did a great job.  Sat evening since it was only 88 or so figured I'd better take advantage of the cooler temps and work a few.  I got the pups in the roundpen for the first time, Wick got to do some chore work and Abby did the heavy grunt work to trim goat feet, worm and split up the two species:-))
The pups did ok, they aren't quite ready yet.  They did show interest and would work for short bursts but didn't sustain enough for me.  They are almost 16wks so I'm not worried that will come with some more time.  They are both pretty immature still...
Abby worked her butt straight off!  We first took the sheep up to the top, so they were out of the way.  While taking them up I noticed some bottle jaw on one I've been fighting with; so now I'll have to take them back down to doctor her.  Don't ask why I didn't just turn around and do it then...wasn't using my brain.  So then we came back to trim hooves on several goats that were walking on snow shoes; I hate doing them cuz I always get poked by horns!  So we did quite a few and then wormed a couple of them as well.  After that I gave her a quick break and moved some weaners to a new pasture again.  She was a tired girl, still broke out of her chain and came to work again;-))
Wick got to split the sheep for puppies and the sheep were being awful!  Don't know what is up with them lately but they need some new manners!  He did a nice a job and was quite keen.  Then I used him to take a group with the wormy one to worm her and we drove a little too.  He is working quite nicely; I hope he continues once his mommy comes home on Thursday:-))

Tuesday work

Well even though I really didn't feel like it I worked dogs yesterday evening.  Treating this sheep for her injuries has really taken a lot of time and energy, my back doesn't feel like doing anything else...
So Patsy and Abby got worked.  Patsy was first, really phenomenal work!  We picked up only the sheep and shed them in half, then did a couple drives followed by look backs but didn't put the groups back together.  Took the group with mostly young lambs put them next door and then shed the other group with a ewe and two yearlings nice driving group.  We drove them a bit around and kept them out of the goats and other sheep then did a look back on the other larger group.  That was it for her, Patsy was whipped! but very happy:-))
Next Abby, I figure her biggest challenge is taking pressure off of sheep so we whiddled down the flock to just the two yearlings who are pretty light and heavy back to momma.  She did a nice job for the most part, blew a couple flanks and lost them in the goats once but we shed them off and kept at it.  That dog has so much drive there is no quit!  Sometimes I wish she had more self preservation though, it was really hot and she would jump in the water and right back out to bring me stock.  I do love that of her, while not the most talented dog she has enough drive and determination for several dogs.  She was happy to get worked hard for a change.  Hopefully I can get her in good enough shape in 45 days to be trial ready for NM!

Good work day

Well it didn't start out great a very nice ewe lamb ran into the fence on a student and is severely injured BUT we got lots of dog work in the afternoon!
Patsy is doing some REALLY nice work lately.  Her outruns are nice, self correcting most of the time and while the fetch is fast that can be controlled.  She is the go to chore dog most days for ease of moving everyone and I don't have to walk as far to make her correct as I do with Abby or Sally:-))  They still get to do their share of work but Patsy is easier overall if its a tough job.
Wick got to work a small packet of goats today, he did nicely.  Not as keen as he was earlier this week but still respectable work.
Abby got to work the same packet.  I think she has sworn off listening all together!  Pushy isn't even the right word...  She took stops and flanks that was about it.  Oh well, she'll need it for cattle so I won't break her again until after August:-))
Good day though.

Work update!

I've actually been getting dogs worked.  Since Wick is here to be trained as well, I'm working 4 dogs 2-3 days a week.  Patsy and Abby usually get an extra day once a week or so.
I really challenged them this morning though.  I took out three goats from the herd and made them work all the way up the field to the round pen.  My goats do get worked but not in small groups, usually it is for students to learn driving with stock that doesn't run like sheep.  So the three were VERY challenging.
I had the yrlg billy, roan and nanny baby (not roans), the billy and roan want to be together (as much as goats can) and baby wanted her mom.  Patsy was first up and did very well; all escapes were dealt with efficiently.  She also seems to have figured out the heel, today and yesterday she's been heeling quite well.  So next up was Sally, she was a monster!  Pushy to the max, but those goats don't push on her the same:-))  She is a great chore/farm dog but not a trial dog.  So finally Abby, she did pretty well drove nicely but was very stuck on heads.  The goats want to run and she wants to make sure they don't.  She still doesn't have much bite but things do usually move off of her thankfully.
I took Patsy out later and worked her at the neighbors in the trees.  She is pretty cool to watch:-))  She does a nice job looking for sheep in the trees and brings them, albeit a bit too fast but they are going to come to my feet without any commands!  Nice work for her.
Today was also a test for me to decide who to take to New Mexico.  We are definitly going and Patsy is going to debut in ASCA but I was leaning towards Sally to take since she can usually take care of herself with stock. Abby is still more controlable and has more miles.  This will be her last big travel to trial so we'll give it a shot!  Fingers crossed I can get her in shape by the time we leave.

Memorial Day work- updated videos

Debby and I had a great day of dog work yesterday.  I think we were out there for 9 hours! YIKES, crazy dog people!  The storm off the coast of FL kept it breezy and we only had one storm for 5 min or so.  Perfect day to work in FL.  I have Patsy's brother Wick staying for a month or so; he got to try ducks for the first time and work sheep.  Patsy, Abby and Sally all got to work as well.
Patsy did a great job!  She drove sheep all over and we got a couple of nice sheds (which is new for her).  Abby also did a great job, though she looks a little off I think she needs a adjustment...  Sally worked ducks and then helped us vaccinate the sheep.  What a nice girl she is!  Great chore dog and a lot of what a corgi should be; helpful with chores, overly pushy and strong:-))
We got a couple videos, I'll see what we got and put some up.
So first is Patsy on ducks and then her brother on sheep.  Unfortunately we didn't get any others...

Patsy sheep video

Here is Patsy's sheep work video.  There are a couple of rough spots but overall I was happy with her work.  This was her last go on sheep so I pushed her a bit more than I had previously.  She handled herself pretty well overall, but then again she does have more miles on sheep than cattle or ducks.

Cattle videos

GA workin

The dogs and I loaded up and headed to GA on Sat morning.  We finally got up to the Padgett's place late Sat afternoon.  While storms were building we did get a couple runs in on cattle Sat nite.  The dogs did well, we enjoyed a nice dinner with the Padgetts; they are lovely people and Tony was very helpful on the cattle.  I got some good pointers and the calves were great!
Sunday we got to work from morning until early afternoon.  Abby worked cows and ducks; Patsy worked all three stock.  They both did a great job really.  The calves were nice to work and very fair to the dogs, sheep were light but very sane and the ducks while a little ring sour were still good to work.  I didn't get any of the duck runs taped but got a couple of cattle runs and Patsy on sheep.   I'm trying to upload those now so will post when I am able.  I was very proud of both dogs; only sorry I didn't work Sally as well but I have to conserve money somewhere.  We will definitly be back again when we are able it was a great time, I'm looking forward to trialling several dogs this Fall/late Summer.

Flailing

Happily its me and not the dogs that are flailing about a bit.  I'm struggling to keep my drive and ambition alive. Beli was the definition of what I strive to create in my dogs.  Even though that memory is not dead I still am struggling to keep the desire to work the dogs.  For what reason do we push?  Is it the awards and ribbons, not for me its not.  I don't care what happens at a trial any more; I've had success there and it is short lived.  I won't disagree that it feels good while you are there but doesn't really have any staying power.  I want to strive for strong dogs that take control of stock and maintain that control to succeed at the job we've set out to do.  Trials are rarely that; it is usually a chess match to see who can outsmart whom.  Often it becomes a handlers game, who handles the dog through the course best?  That doesn't tell us anything about the dog but it looks good on paper.  We won X HIT and have X titles; what is that dog worth to you after the trialling is over?  What can he do when your sheep are on the road side running for the hills or need to be put on a trialer in the middle of a rainstorm?  Those are questions that are only answered when the need for them arrives, no judge can answer it for you.  Sometimes its difficult to keep your eye on the end game when there are so many temptations to sell out for the easy route.
So that being said I've not worked as much as I'd like the last couple weeks.  Often I'm frustrated and sad; the dogs pick up on it and act different each in their own way.  Patsy is worried, Sally is too just different and Abby well she just ignores me:-))  I've got to find the joy of training again.  This weekend we are headed to GA to work cattle/sheep/ducks with Abby and Patsy(who knows maybe Sally will get a shot).  I'm searching for something, sure hope I find it soon!

Well a couple got worked

I didn't get as much done today as planned BUT I did get Abby and Patsy worked today.  Patsy got to do chores this am, she just loves that!
Abby got to help bring up the lesson sheep.  She is so cute and jealous when I work someone else.  So I let her go get the goats/sheep from the bottom of the pasture.  She brought the goats did a look back for the sheep in the corner and brought them instead.  Thats who I needed anyway:-))  I worked the student dog and then worked her on the boys, called her off and she sat in the water a sec and went right back.  I think she would kill herself working!  So then I used Patsy to bring the 2 boys I left in the goat pasture.  She did a beautiful job bringing them up.  That was it, I let everyone off their tie-outs and next thing I know Abby is doing an outrun all the way to the bottom of the goat pasture and bringing all of the goats up the field.  I didn't say anything to her until she had worked them up to the top.  It was hard work and she did great!  So I praised her big time and told her how wonderful she is and that was it.  She is such a funny girl, pushy and all girl but funny!:-))

Also I'm so excited I got my very FIRST HC medallion for having bred Abby!!  I think I'll frame it:-))

Patsy video

Well I've gotten dogs worked on all of my days off this week.  Its been a good stress reliever:-))  Abby, Dory, Sally and Patsy have all been worked this week.  Patsy is getting the most work lately since she needs miles.  Most days she does pretty well.  We got some video of her working this afternoon on the two rams, they are a little light but great to work.
I put the music to it to drown out the talking:-))

More to work for!

Well no pics or anything really exciting.  I did get some dog work this weekend, Abby and Patsy only; Sally was used for a couple of early week lessons.
Abby did well I was mainly continuing her driving work.  I would like to trial her in ASCA this summer and B course this Fall, ducks would probably be fun for her too:-))  We'll see how it goes and whether or not my bank accounts hold up.
Patsy I worked this morning in prep for lessons.  She did some really nice work.  I am lengthening her outruns and working on further drives.  She needs to improve her drive flanks too though that will come with more drive work.  Her outruns have been ok, they are fast and the lift varies.  Sometimes they are better than others. I really like the speed of her outruns and the intent is always to bring sheep back, I've worked her in the trees a couple times and she is doing pretty well over there too.  Her scope needs improvement which will come with age and experience but its interesting to watch her grow!
I need to try and work Dory and Sally more this week, would really like to get Dory out this Fall with Rosy or Sally.

Video evidence!

Patsys second Q run on Sat.  I didn't get the difficult run Sunday taped it was much more exciting:-))


This is Abby's rerun, while the first one was exciting I didn't want to take the extra time to load it.  The issue at the pen was caused by the first run and the sheep escaping...

Oh well, what a wonderful weekend:-))

Good Weekend!

I would have to say we had a better than good weekend it was GREAT!
This is our one 3 trial weekend, so you can finish a title in a weekend and we actually finished THREE!!!!
First Abby finished her HC with a 2nd place in the morning and a 1st place in the afternoon.  It was a four point major as well so she actually got 7 points this weekend even though she only needed 2:-))  There were 12 or 13 dogs in the class and she did a great job.  Our first run was good but the sheep buggered past the Z so 3 pts for MO and that gave us 2nd...  Second trial run was going great and then one of the sheep went postal and took out the panel on the pen almost ran over me so I got a re-run.  I've never seen a re-run work out for anyone.  Second run was very nice, little bobble at the pen but she did really great work.  Yeah my 2nd HC but this one I bred!  This one is for her momma!

Patsy was awesome as I expected her to be all weekend.  Very nice run in the morning was blown by her leaving the post early so she was 3rd place.  Second run in the afternoon was beautiful and she was 1st place and RHIT!  That also gave her HIT Aussie.  Today the sheep were DONE with trialling by started and she drew a really tough group.  She worked them very nicely though and we got through it even with one that had no intentions of staying with the group.  So Patsy is now Legend's Honky Tonk Angel HSAs!

Lastly my students did really well too.  I handled Wick (Patsy's brother) to 2 HIT Aussie and 2 1st place ribbons in HSAs, Way to go Wick and Marti:-))  Also Collie student finished her HT moved up and got her first PT leg.  The judges were great very fair and nice especially to the beginners too!

Uploading videos now....

Boy oh boy, long time no post!

Geez, I can't believe its been that long since I've posted!  So much going on here at home, there's just been no time to  post lately.  Dogs have been getting worked, we've had students and fun days.  Abby and Patsy are entered in an AKC trial next weekend; Patsy is in started and Abby will once again try for those elusive last 2 points!
I got Patsy on cows a couple weeks ago.   She did great though took a couple kicks; never wanted to quit though:-))  I'm thinking about going to NM for an ASCA trial in August.  I would take Patsy and Abby to compete on all three stock, eeek!  I guess I really better get to work!  I've gotten the ducks out a couple times lately too and they are working really nicely on them.  I wish we weren't coming to the end of our trial season now:-(  I will try to post the video from Patsy's cattle work later.

Work with pics

I had lots more extra time than usual today so I made myself work dogs:-))  I scheduled some time for us to work since I never seem to get around to it.  Abby, Patsy, Sally and Dory all got worked today.
Abby same old, same old.

Abby driving

 We drove figure eights through the trees today, I need to set up some cones to do this at different spots but it was a great excersise for Abby.  Sally will need some more miles on the sheep first.

Driving away

Fetch

 Sally's outruns need loads of work but overall she worked pretty well for not having been trained on sheep in a while.

Drive on the back fenceline

Abby doing her happy roll after working

Patsy and Dory didn't get any pics since I have to keep up with them a little more.  Patsy got to move the ewe lambs from the front pasture for work this weekend.  She also got to see the baby goats for the first time, that was quite the experience:-))  Dory is doing really well.  She is learning the proper reactions to stick pressure and starting wee baby outruns.  Her balance is pretty nice still and her flanks will be pretty nice.  So a pretty nice day.  Haven't gotten around to putting up trial videos just too busy to tie up the computer for 8 hours!

Sally HXAd, Abby status quo...

Well I can't say I'm upset with either dog but I'm not overly thrilled with either.
Sally did an ok job on ducks that weren't easy at all.  I will try to get videos up Tuesday.  They did not want to fetch up the field either day and Sally was PUSHY!  So it was tough going but she Q'd both days with a 3rd place, I think.  We may have to travel for some different ducks!
Abby, outruns weren't great either day but I could see a different dog once the drive began.  So at least I have made progress on the drives.  Going to have to do lots of work on both though.  Overall her work was nice throughout the course, some tight pushy spots but that will always be an issue:-)) She did Q both times in the mid-high 80's so not too shabby.  So I will try to post more later too tired tonight...

Putting on the squeeze

I just squeezed in some work today.  I was terrible busy most of the day.  Sally I did work on the ducks today since I had a lesson on them anyway.  Sally was soooo pushy so I just worked her on stopping when she was told and keeping her off of gripping them.  She did better but boy does she need to renew her patience too!  She wants to just keep working all the time...
Abby well I forced myself to take her out even though I was pushing my time limit...  I worked 5 sheep out in the goat pasture and even though I really screwed down hard on her she did nice.  Her drives are much better and her outruns have really been pretty nice.  Its been real interesting figuring her out.  Once we worked the "trial sheep"  I had some chores to do.  I took the school ewes out since they are starting to bag and took them to the front pasture.  Now they can eat Timothy hay instead of coastal and get fatter:-))  Then I just decided to scrap the whole thing and take the young ram out and put him in with the others for my school group.  Thats really where I could tell the difference in Abby's drive!  He is super light and stupid; previously she has moved around so much that a fight broke out because she would'nt stay on balance and walk.  She moved in a straight line, it was not a walk but did a nice job getting him to the barn.  We brought the other 3 rams in and they started to all out fight.  So another change of plans I hobbled all the big rams and locked them up, the small sickly one I took up to the front pasture with the ewes hopefully he'll put some weight on up there with the good food.  So the boys decided to get along by late the evening but I'd sure bet they are sore all over.  For the dogs and I though I think it ended up being a pretty good day.

Todays Dory video

This is Dory's video from today, she has a lot of nice things to work with.  We'll see how she comes along this Spring.  This is my first attempt at editing video from the new camera; somehow I've managed to paste the two edits together so once you've seen the first round it starts at the beginning again...  Sorry about that:-))

Starting the new year

Well I don't have any pics but we ended last year and began this one by working dogs.  I took Abby, Sally and Patsy to work this weekend and they all did pretty well.
Abby did some nice trial work and low and behold we didn't fight nearly as much this time.  Her outruns were pretty nice and her drives were much calmer and steadier.  I was really happy with it!
Sally had some rough ducks to work and therefore was not really very nice to them but she warmed up and worked better after that.  Hopefully she can finish her title this weekend.  The ducks are not behaving as well as last fall...
Patsy had some really nice work over the weekend.  She still needs to give up the heads easier but overall nice work.
So hopefully we can stay on this track and keep up the good work!  Dory got worked today and did a pretty nice job, there are lots of things to work on but she worked and found balance much better than before she left.  So the young dogs have some stepping up to do for the trials in the Spring and hopefully we'll have a great new year working dogs!