Our Canadian Thanksgiving was a couple weeks ago. I made a trip to the Island to spend some time with my Mom for her 95th birthday then went to Metchosin for the weekend to work dogs with my mentor & friend, Martha McHardy. Here Martha has sent Ceri to collect the flock; Ceri is littermate to Blair.
After shedding off a working group, Martha took them down the field so we could set for each other. John Buchanon had been working all day with that tractor spreading manure on various nearby fields. This is the awesome 80 acre 'Banzer' field where a large flock of ewes are spending the fall.
The lovely Parry Bay ewes. One of Martha's young dogs coming around on the lift.
Young Kenny had a tough ewe that did not want to co-operate. Martha went over to help him succeed.
Here is my young Owen fetching to me. This is a fabulous field to stretch out my guys.
Here is Owen holding the sheep while Martha sends Kenny.
Ewes need a couple minutes between fetches to catch their breath. I love these sheep! They are so nice to work; dogs can dig in and really push on the drive, but not too much or they will turn on the dog.
You don't mess with this momma in the early spring with lambs by her side.
Smart protective old gals will gang up & hunt down a dog that misbehaves when they have their lambs at side. This time of year, however, they are mellow and mostly co-operative.
These pix were taken the day I left. I stopped at my friend, Julie Carter's place to work dogs before hopping on the ferry home. Julie leases a super great place on the Saanich Peninsula just 5 mins. from the ferry. Owen is ready for a turn.
This is the view from the gate looking left to the south. Fenceline runs along the road at treeline and turns corner at the white house.
This is looking directly across & west from the gate. Julie is doing some driving with one of her dogs. Handy store/deli across the street provides spectators who stop and watch the dogs & sheep.
Looking north to the right; Julie's dog has driven all the way down the field to some panels. The field is more than big enough for a nice little trial someday. Julie had a mix of Parry Bay sheep and St.Croix/dorpers from McLeods' but will be changing over to all Parry Bay sheep. Below; Julie has a topper much like mine.
Our Canadian Thanksgiving was a couple weeks ago. I made a trip to the Island to spend some time with my Mom for her 95th birthday then went to Metchosin for the weekend to work dogs with my mentor & friend, Martha McHardy. Here Martha has sent Ceri to collect the flock; Ceri is littermate to Blair.
After shedding off a working group, Martha took them down the field so we could set for each other. John Buchanon had been working all day with that tractor spreading manure on various nearby fields. This is the awesome 80 acre 'Banzer' field where a large flock of ewes are spending the fall.
The lovely Parry Bay ewes. One of Martha's young dogs coming around on the lift.
Young Kenny had a tough ewe that did not want to co-operate. Martha went over to help him succeed.
Here is my young Owen fetching to me. This is a fabulous field to stretch out my guys.
Here is Owen holding the sheep while Martha sends Kenny.
Ewes need a couple minutes between fetches to catch their breath. I love these sheep! They are so nice to work; dogs can dig in and really push on the drive, but not too much or they will turn on the dog.
You don't mess with this momma in the early spring with lambs by her side.
Smart protective old gals will gang up & hunt down a dog that misbehaves when they have their lambs at side. This time of year, however, they are mellow and mostly co-operative.
These pix were taken the day I left. I stopped at my friend, Julie Carter's place to work dogs before hopping on the ferry home. Julie leases a super great place on the Saanich Peninsula just 5 mins. from the ferry. Owen is ready for a turn.
This is the view from the gate looking left to the south. Fenceline runs along the road at treeline and turns corner at the white house.
This is looking directly across & west from the gate. Julie is doing some driving with one of her dogs. Handy store/deli across the street provides spectators who stop and watch the dogs & sheep.
Looking north to the right; Julie's dog has driven all the way down the field to some panels. The field is more than big enough for a nice little trial someday. Julie had a mix of Parry Bay sheep and St.Croix/dorpers from McLeods' but will be changing over to all Parry Bay sheep. Below; Julie has a topper much like mine.
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