Metchosin Day 10

Sunny this morning but a cold wind blew in clouds and then rain by late afternoon. Worked the older dogs waiting for Judy to arrive but got a msg. canceling later. However she still came for dinner as well as Donna. Martha arrived home about 5p. so we all got to hear all about her trip and the finals. Nice evening, great way to end my week in paradise. Supposed to rain off and on all week at home too....sigh....can't stave off winter forever I suppose. Heard there was snow on the Coq. already.

Metchosin Day 9

Lambs stayed safe and sound overnite but they pushed their way out of the barn at dawn(I suspect) and were grazing peacefully in the 'exercise field'. It was another beautiful day; sunny and warm enough for tshirt/shorts but cool enough to work dogs and sheep.
I met Julie for Dim Sum at the Red Lion in Victoria; luckily she made a reservation as it was packed! Then we came back here and worked our young dogs on Telford field below the house. Jayne's first go was wild; I had her pick up a group in the middle field and they raced through the gate into Telford. It obviously fried her brain. However I worked her a second time and she was settled and MUCH better. Owen worked pretty good; his outruns have been a little tight but in this big space he kicked out about half way up. Beautiful to see him thinking like that. I was sending him further than usual and his lie downs on the fetch were broken so I shortened up and got him back into the right frame of mind. I also did some really long drives with him; he has good pace but perhaps a little too good for his age.
I got an email from Martha at Marroni's; they came back on Friday so she will be home on the 2:30p CoHo in time for dinner tomo. nite. So I shall be home on Tues. Julie is coming over to stay for an agility trial next weekend so I shalll be busy cleaning and mowing the lawn I am sure.

Metchosin Day 7 & 8

Friday was another gorgeous day. We played in the sunshine.
Today I woke at 7:30a to John Buchanon knocking on the door and rushing through the house saying that there were dogs in the fields chasing the lambs!!!
I threw on some clothes and followed him outside. There was a large black dog pacing along the fenceline at the bottom of the field. John had shut all the gates so there were sheep scattered in several places. While John was calling 911 and Animal Control, the black dog disappeared through the bottom field. Once an officer arrived I used Blair to gather the sheep back together & into the barn. One little lamb is severely savaged and one other has some bad bites. The others seem ok. John is coming back later today with the farm truck to take the two injured lambs home to the main farm. John had managed to get near the dog and make out it's tag # so Animal Control will try to track it down. Otherwise they will come back. Not sure what we're going to do with the sheep in the meantime. There is another flock of lambs just up the road as well as a large group of ewes on the trial field just across Taylor Rd. (which is the direction the dog went).
There are no coyotes on Vancouver Island and the only other rare predator is the odd cougar. Most of the neighborhood dogs are kept in.....but are the biggest danger to sheep.

ps: Neighbor phoned to say there was one more lamb acting very stressed in the far field. I grabbed Blair and he worked a single for the first time. We managed to bring her back to the others without undue stress. She is chewed up too so when John arrived at 3pm, he took her back home also. No word on the stray dogs so I'm keeping the lambs in tonite. Gave them a little extra grain and a dozen apples for their dinner.
I should also add how proud I am of my 'hobby weekend trial' dog. Handled those poor traumatized, in shock babies with calm and confidence. At one point, with the single, he stopped and did a 'look back' as he thought there must be more sheep out there! lol What amazing dogs they are.

Metchosin Day 5 & 6

More awesome weather! Ruedi came down Island yesterday and worked his dogs on the nice young lambs here. It was too hot to work the ewes over on Banzer field. He brought dinner and we had a great visit catching up on all his news/experiences from the Canadians.
All on my own again today. Cool morning fog blowing in from the water but with sunshine and blue sky above. Great day to work all my dogs.
Following the Nationals via the USBCHA website and various blogs which is sure neat. Awesome group of dogs making it through the next stage and also looking at some great dogs that, through a little bad luck didn't. I think that people who need good working dogs are in no danger of a lack of choice from all over N.America. Interesting to look at pedigrees and past results to see continuety and good bloodlines still producing a large variety of good dogs. Also interesting to see how most of the top handlers always seem to find a way to succeed along with some new names who manage to rise to the top as well.
All who qualified and ran dogs in these Finals should be proud of their accomplishments regardless of placing...just making it is a dream for many of us.

Metchosin Day 4

Pam Earl came this morning to take some pix of Owen. Here is one of them. Then Julie came in the afternoon so we drove down the road to work the ewes in the 80 acre Banzer Field. When we got there the sheep were no where to be seen but Julie thought they might be hiding in the top corner. Sure enough, there they were so I parked on the road and got Dusty out to push them out into the field. Then Julie shed off a group to work - I used Blair to push them way down the field while Julie drove the rest of the flock back into the 'corner'. I worked Jayne and Owen while Julie worked Drift & Woody. The flock had drifted out onto the bottom on the field so Julie drove the small group into the corner. I then sent Blair on one huge outrun to gather the whole flock. Julie thought it was over 500 yards but I'm not so sure. I took a bunch of pictures but...no upload when I get home. Stunning view with the Olympic Peninsula mountains in the background. Great weather continues. Then back home to run & feed the Marcar dogs before we headed up to the My Chosin cafe for dinner.

Metchosin Day 3

Repeat of day 1 & 2....no surprise. Other than the fantastic extended summer weather we are gifted with. Which I will take whole heartedly - so much easier to look after dogs in dry conditions. Plus perfect conditions for working dogs.
Everyone did well on sheep today. Except for some bad kennel behavior aka barking by my dogs when I'm out with the MarCar dogs!
Jayne is liking the wire crate in the living room and eating up her dinners with no trouble. Dusty and Wyatt are behaving and not chasing Cinder or Smoke who tend to stay upstairs in the evenings anyway. Don't tell Martha but Wyatt is cuddled up next to me on the couch tonite; LOL he has been a little put out that he is missing his normal comfy bed(s) at home so I decided to indulge him. However there are some stinky odeurs(aka dog farts) floating in my vicinity. I can't blame him for sure as Dusty and Jayne are both in range as well. Wyatt's peeing jag from the pears at home seem to be over but he is still scarfing down apples every day.
Julie is coming tomorrow and we shall drive down the road a couple farms over to work in the big Banzer field. Ruedi is coming the next day for more of the same. Pam Earl is coming over tomorrow to take some pix of Owen for an art project. She stayed with me for a couple days last spring and offered to do a painting of one of my dogs. Of course I offered up the most challenging face in the kennel.....LOL She is so picky that none of my amateur photos of him have been up to her standard....thus the trip to take her own pix. Not that it has anything to do with his freckles and unique markings :-) . Check out her art at: http://www.snarkydogstudio.com/ I will be so honoured and thrilled to get a piece of her fabulous artwork!
I cannot upload any of the million pix I am taking until I get home. Despite seaching, nothing here will work for my camera so uploading won't happen until I get home. So just blog posts for now. I know some people take out the memory card on their camera and use that......but I've never done that/don't know how...any help?

Metchosin Day 2

Old photo from spring '05 of Blair working the flock of ewes & lambs in Metchosin. Showing a cool head and patience otherwise those ewes would charge him.
Fall '04 one of my many weekends traveling to Metchosin to learn how to work Blair. Juan de Fuca Strait and Olympic Peninsule in the background looking SE.
View of Martha's house from the road.
Old Cajun, Blair and Wyatt getting a run below the house. Juan de Fuca Strait in the background. Always in view when working on the farm. I will have more up to date pix at some point. Be interesting to compare.
This is a typical group of lambs just like the ones I am working this year. Old photo from several years ago. Buchanon's Parry Bay flock has developed into a breed of their own and are the best sheep to work dogs on. Each season here brings a different group to help develop a well rounded sheepdog.

I uploaded a few old pix because:
I took a bunch on pix today but, alas, may not be able to upload them until I get home. I forgot to pack the cable needed to connect camera to laptop. I will search Martha's office just in case she has a compatible one... However while searching through my laptop case I did find a DVD player that I forgot I had - guessing it has been hidden in a flap for several years. So I installed it and watched the end of 'The Wrestler' which I viewed part of, on the ferry ride over here. ;~}
Otherwise it was another day in paradise which it truly is with the lovely extended summer weather we're having.
We are all settling into a nice routine; the MarCar dogs are happy with someone different catering to them - adjusting like troupers and coming up for love and pats. Ryan of course remembers me from my many visits & when I lived here during the Telus strike in '05 but Rick was only 7-8 weeks old when I did another short stint here when Martha was in the hospital. Sylvie doesn't know me from Adam but would like to be my friend. Rick and Sylvie had a good play today while Ryan rolled in the grass with 'his' special toy. Who says old dogs don't play! I used the gator to give them a good long run down to and around Telfer field as well as a good stretch in the 'exercise' field. Same for my crew this morning.
Then I took Owen and Blair down with the gator to work. I park in one field and work them in the two fields next door. The dogs learn to do an 'away' outrun to go through the connecting open gate. Then I do some flanking and driving from one field away. I let Owen bring the sheep into the closer field and then had a tough time convincing the lambs to go back through the shade at the gate. It was very good work for him and a huge mental challenge I am sure. Then I forgot to take my whistle so had to remind Blair what voice commands are! LOL
Everyone then got to sleep in their kennels while I went to the Farmer's market. What a treat to pick up fresh local farm produce!
Ran all the dogs again when I got back before putting them up for dinner. Then Dusty got to work late afternoon and bring in the lambs to the barn for their grain. Grilled some absolutely delicious lamb chops from Martha's freezer tonite with fresh rosemary as well as nice new potatoes from the market. Martha's greenhouse is full of tomatoes & veggies too. Man I miss fresh rosemary! I haven't planted any herbs in my 'new' place as I am wanting to sell it, but I think I must do so regardless. I miss the sage, rosemary, tarragon, chives, oregano, thyme etc. of my old Burnaby home.

Metchosin Day 1

Got a noon ferry yesterday so got here about 2:30pm. Caught up on all the news with Martha and got a run down on the kennel and farm routine. Not much changed since last time I was here so that was short. :-) Donna came by and we went out for dinner at My Chosin. Jayne refused her dinner being served in a crate on the porch so I'll try something else tomo. nite. Martha has a wire crate in the living room which would suit her perfectly if I decide to cater to her 'special princess' needs. I am discovering that she doesn't adapt to change and new things as well as my other dogs.
Today Martha was up and gone by 6:30a to make the 10:30a CoHo ferry en route to Nationals. I ran her little crew of three and then mine. I have my favorite Border Collie in the world to look after; her good old retired red dog, Ryan. His almost 2 yr.old son Rick and yearling Sylvie who would be a neice of Dusty. We had rain overnite but the morning was mild and mixed sun and cloud the rest of the day with some usual Metchosin wind picking up in the afternoon. I worked Jayne and Owen this morning. There are 15 new lambs that have been here about three weeks so they are very fresh but nice to work. Jayne was a bit unsettled with the new place/new lambs but did some nice moves and wasn't too bad. I worked Owen very briefly as Jayne bust off the tie out chain to the Gator and came to join us. lol Then I spent a lazy afternoon settling in. Martha has the book 'World of Sheepdogs' and a supply of International Sheepdog News that will keep me occupied in the next week or so.
Blair was the chosen one to do chores and bring the lambs in tonite. He had been very bad barking and ky-yiying in the kennel when I took Jayne and Owen out...so I knew he was desperate to work. Later this week I'll get him out on the big Banzer field down the road. That should take the edge off his keeness a little bit.
Jayne got the wire crate inside tonite and ate her dinner....what a prima donna! Wyatt and Dusty are lying on the floor at my feet at I type. Owen and Blair are inside but in the back porch. Different routine for them but they are settling in like the good dogs they are.
I'll get some pictures of the farm posted tomorrow or the next day. The Metchosin Farmer's Market is still running til Oct. so I may go by tomorrow afternoon to pick up some fresh produce and to see what crafts are there. This little pastoral corner of paradise has to be seen to be believed. ;-)

Thurs. @McLeods'

Wow...two sessions in a row for Jayne with no flying through! Have to confess though that I held her off the sheep a lot....perhaps so she wasn't really in contact with them or taking a hold truly. However still a good session in this location on these sheep for her.
Owen did VERY well....I'm asking for inside flanks and moves at as much distance as this little 2 acre field will allow. But still a stretch for him...which he took in stride. He is also taking his come by flank a lot better than earlier this summer. And he is making some good strides in walking into pressure and driving....I hope....he is still the easiest young dog I have ever seen but I hope that doesn't translate to lack of confidence aka not able to work in big spaces/Open distances.....
I am heading to Metchosin tomo. to work the Buchanon sheep for the next 10 days or so. Will get a better idea of how my youngsters are doing on them. I will have some photos to post over the next week of the drop dead gorgeous fields I will get to work in. The farm overlooks the Juan de Fuca Strait which looks south to the stunning mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. We will be 5 mins. from the beach and trails/park as well as a phenomenal 80 acre farm just down the road which will have a huge flock of ewes. Metchosin is a 'herding' paradise as well as offering weather that usually flies under the radar of extremes seen elsewhere in our area. Less rain but a dependable evening westerly wind...which the perimeter trees help block on the little McHardy kennel/farm. More to come.................

Tues. at McLeods'

Margaret and I worked our dogs today in nice weather after a rainy cold day yesterday. I worked Jayne for a short session and she did very well; no fly throughs. However it was hard to settle the sheep to her; they start off VERY reactive sensing her intensity I guess. Which perhaps is what contributes to her tensing up. So I tried to keep things calm and easy - flanking and short drives. I am starting to add flank whistles to my commands with her as well.
Bruce worked his young Sam pup too. Both of their pups are keen eager and coming along extremely well. What a nice litter that was.
Owen did very well although I had to really get after him to take a come bye flank at the beginning. But then he settled and did fine. He works much too slow & careful for a young dog so I jazzed things up a bit to encourage him to work with a little speed. He is taking his lie downs at the top much much better now and I am using whistles for that as well as walk up.
Tomorrow I am meeting Margaret for Dim Sum! Yay! Then packing up to head to Metchosin to farm/kennel sit for Martha while she heads off to Klamath for the Nationals. It will be great to work the 15 fresh lambs at her place for a week or so. Depending on when Martha gets back, I may head up Island for a visit with my Mom on the way home.

Hope Brigade Days

Sunshine and 30c degree weather had sheep and everyone seeking shade both days. The tents were for the sheep. There were nice trees spaced around the outside of the ball field allowing us to park our vehicles(dogs) in the shade.
Downriver Farm provided sheep for the 2nd Annual BCSDA arena trial during Brigade Days in Hope, BC. $2400 in prize money up for grabs attracted handlers from 100 Mile House & Lumby, BC, Deming WA as well as local competitors. We got two runs on Sat. with prize money to 3rd place on the combined top score/fastest time. Diana Gauthier, Lumby was 1st and 3rd. Dirk Vansant, Deming was 2nd. About 2 dozen dogs were entered with the top 12 handlers qualifying for the final 2 runs on Sunday. Dirk ended up the overall winner with Cap to earn $600.00 while Diana won $500 for 2nd on Sunday with her good old dog, Teag. They are 2008 champions of the famous Calgary Stampede SDTrial and Reserve champions this year.
Blair and I began Sun. with a very clean fast run - getting to the shedding ring in under a minute. However things went completely down hill as I could not get any where near the marked ewe for the ribbon pull. So we timed out leaving 8 points on the field. Our second run was much better - completed the whole course with 28 points with another smooth and timely run. Several others also timed out in the shedding ring which allowed us to finish in 8th place and a nice $80 prize.

Friday nite

2009 Langley 'Cruise-In'
Antique car parade left downtown Langley around 6pm. winding their way through the country past numerous annual tail-gate parties.
Road construction caused a change in parade route taking them right past McLeod's farm.
I was headed to McLeods' but ran into some other friends at the corner.
They had a perfect viewing spot and lots of parking at Bonetti Meats so I stopped there.
We had snacks and brew while watching the cars go by.
The parade lasted about 45 mins. Only complaint is that they went by our spot a little too fast. The 'muscle' cars gunned their engines and booted it past our corner. The parade ends at the Twilight drive-in theatre in Aldergrove where they watched the classic "Grease".

"The Langley Good Times Cruise-In started in 1997 with a small group of merchants and business folks from the City of Langley. The event has grown from 430 vehicles registered in 1997 to 1,532 registered vehicles in 2002. The “Cruise – In” has become one of the largest mixed car shows in Canada and one of the Top 10 in North America. This event is super fun to attend – Fraser Highway in downtown Langley is shut down to vehicle traffic, and thousands of people roam around enjoying the sparkly cars & good times. All net funds collected from this event are donated to local charities, another great reason to attend.

The 2009 Langley Good Times Cruise-In will take place on September 12th. It will include a bike show ‘n shine as well as custom, antique and vintage cars, trucks and military vehicles."

This was a busy busy weekend in the Fraser Valley; as well as the Cruise-In, there was the big "BBQ on the Bypass" contest on Sunday. More than 4000 spectators, 26 teams, a ton of really amazing sponsors and volunteers made the day truly phenomenal. Tons of free samples, entertainment and prizes. Here are the results;

Grand Champion - Sugar’s BBQ from Portland, Oregon

Reserve Champion - Left Hand Smoke Seattle, Washington

Chefs Challenge JD Farms Turkey - Lynn Valley Butts, North Vancouver

Team Spirit Award - Land Shark BBQ Surrey, BC

David Veljacic Memorial BC Cup - BBQ Bob & The Eh Team Whistler, BC

This week

I worked my dogs at McLeods' today and caught up on all the news. I did some exercises with Blair using a lot of short quick commands which hopefully will prepare him for the arena trial this weekend at Hope Brigade Days. I worked Owen as usual but stretched his driving out quite a bit; good boy took some flanks at 'distance'. I brought Jayne out at the end; asked her to walk up & push sheep out of the corner, gave her a couple flanks and more walk ups to drive them down the center of the field....within about 45 seconds, she flew in and bust through. So I put her up. I don't know what to do about this. The past week+, she has been SO much better....different sheep/different fields and she was ok. Today, back in familiar territory...she loses control. I will be farm sitting for Martha McHardy over the Klamath finals and able to work on her sheep & fields so will see if that makes a difference. Then a clinic with Lee Lumb near the end of Oct. Hopefully will get more insight then.
Lots happening in Langley this weekend: annual 'Cruise In' of antique cars with a parade which will take them right by Rose & Bruce's farm tomo. nite. So I will be heading over there just before 6pm for a 'tail gate' party to watch the cars go by. Will have to take some beer and appy's to pass the time. lol Also in Langley on Sunday is a big BBQ contest on the bypass....will take that in if I don't get into the final trial out in Hope. ;~} Perhaps some pix to come later.

More Labor Day weekend pix

Dusty watches Jeff and Carmen working in the big Trillium Field at Fido Farm.
lunch break; Jeff made us tomato soup in thermos along with the chicken wings I bought at Safeway. We expected cold and rain but were lucky to get sun/cloud instead.
Dusty still watching.
Dee and Q coming off the field. A second before I took this shot, all the lambs were staring at the them....after walking up the alley to get a drink.
Jeff working the flock of lambs.
Dorman dogs having a run in the bottom field at the Marroni farm.
Art is the Farm Boss at Marroni's. In the background is the smoke from Jeff's gourmet BBQing on Sunday.
Dee and young Q. (or Dharma?)
Blair working in the top field at Maronni's.
Blair cools off on Tues.
the Dorman pack watches Dee working Cap in the bottom field on Tues.
Cap picks up his group.
Look VERY closely...what is Jeff looking at? Check out the little dot between him and sheep.........
What are Dee and Cap looking at?
"Away to me BarnKitty!" lol
Marroni barn/kennel after the storm/big rain on Sunday.
Dee & I spending time at least once or twice a day.....and yes, Jeff joined us shortly after taking this shot and posting it on FB with comment about how hard he was working on the smoker/BBQ.........lol
My goodness! What a weekend in paradise: gourmet meals, hot tubbing to relax after long days working dogs and great weather! Huge thanks to Jeff & Dee for inviting me to stay with them. Their hospitality is beyond description!

Labor Day weekend in Olympia

Here are just a few pictures of the weekend working dogs at Fido's Farm. Photos by Marroni Photography.
Young Owen doing remarkably well of a huge flock of lambs. Awesome experience for a young dog.
Dusty also perplexed and having to work his butt off to move the hungry flock of lambs.
That wee white dot near the treeline is where Dee was setting sheep for us.

Kathy Knox clinic

Here is my lovely little campsite in the shade for the dogs tied out all day.
Beautiful spot with a nice forest to walk the dogs in right behind my rig.
Looking up the driveway towards Vivian's house and gorgeous flower gardens.
Looking through the round pen to wards the field. You can just make out one of the LGDs under a tree in the center of the photo.
Kathy and Lora discussing Bella's round pen session. Nice shade tree in the background for the handlers to watch from. There was a cool morning mist that burned off to mid-70s in the afternoon.
Kathy working a round pen pup.
Discussing Bruce's session.
Dave and Cap in the big field. Cap is littermate to Jayne(and Peter Gonnet's Taff).
Cheryl doing some outrun & fetching with Flint.
Lorri working Quill.
Wyatt enjoys an apple at the end of the day.
Sunday evening after everyone else had left, my dogs got to hang out around the trailer. It was a great clinic with lots of young dogs from 14mos. to almost 3 yrs.old for the most part. I worked Jayne Sat. morning and tried to set her up to show how she blows up and busts through....but she worked really nicely. I worked Owen in the afternoon and stretched him out past his comfort zone. He didn't cover and allowed the sheep to escape to some shade trees(and LGD) but I just waited him out. It took a little while but he figured it out and was able to bring them to me. Sunday I just worked Jayne; in the morning session my timing was off and that may have contributed to her busting in twice. So I got Kathy to work her in the afternoon and she was awesome! Kathy said it wasn't anything that I was doing wrong which is a relief, just that it may be a stage Jayne is going through. I could see that Kathy was holding her off the sheep at a bigger distance when driving than what I allow. Plus she would stop her and settle her for a brief time which seemed to keep Jayne's mind relaxed. As well, Lorri's sheep worked really well; dogs can get a good feel and 'push' on them. I could tell that working in a big space on these kind of sheep will really help Jayne.
While we were at the clinic, Peter Gonnet was winning Reserve CH at the Canadians in Alberta with Jill(on the left) and Western Canadian Nursery CH with Taff(on the right). Congrats to Dennis Gellings and Jan; 2009 Canadian CH