On the River Trial

Oh my goodness what a fun weekend! This trial site must be seen to be appreciated - it is simply stunning. With the hay cut it made for much better runs for most dogs(except mine). ;-) I keep leaving those 20 points on the field by not getting a shed. Or changing my mind on which sheep to turn on in the middle of Blair coming through!! I can't believe I did that. We should have human shock collars. Dusty got to run in Pro/Nov this time and didn't do too bad. His first run wasn't great; his big wide flanks and carefulness allowed the sheep to begin to outsmart him so I retired after the first drive panel. His second run was much better but I allowed the sheep to turn the post wrong and Dusty took a wrong flank at the pen allowing the sheep to circle, so I retired again. However our score to that point was respectable. Dirk used all Scotties this time and they are awesome. Very even groups that work well if treated well. But weak dogs or pushy dogs have all kinds of hell. Here are a couple photos taken by Jeff Marroni:

Hotter than Stink

Whew! Another scorcher in the Lower Mainland! I walked out of the house first thing this morning straight into my 'swimming pool'. Cooled off while the dogs kept wondering what was going on in 'their' yard. They aren't playing near as long as usual in this hot weather but hitting the shade to hang out a lot sooner than normal. They just can't figure out why 'Mom' sits in their huge new water bucket.
Went to McLeods' early(10am) to beat the heat. Got there just in time to help(a little) Bruce & Rose unload a truck full of sweet 2nd.cut hay into their barn. Then when they drove off for another load, Margaret and I visited and worked our dogs. I quit with Jayne after about 2 mins. as the sheep were just bolting every time she looked at them. She is holding way too much tension and I think they feel it. I have no idea how to solve this. I think I know what she needs but I just don't have the place/sheep/facility that would work.
Then Bruce & Rose got back with the 2nd load so Marg and I helped unload again....bringing back many memories of hauling hay for my horses back in the days in Burnaby. Then I worked young Owen and he is such a treat. Easy boy & so eager to partner up. It will be interesting to see how he develops and responds when faced with big(ger) tougher challenges.
Will spend tomo. packing up and getting ready to head off to Dirk's trial on Thurs. So sweet to have a trial just over an hour away! 10 mins. to the border, then grocery stop at Safeway in Lynden, & short haul on the back roads to Deming, WA. Dirk has reported that they took the hay off the fields a week or so ago, so it should be heaven for a trial. Gorgeous site and amazing size of fields! The trial runs P/N & Open on Fri.& Sat. with a Double Lift on Sunday.
I run Blair 6th on Friday so won't be expecting much. However I get to scribe for judge, Bill Berhow the rest of the day so hopefully will learn lots! And looking forward to spending the weekend with good friends. Marronis are coming, Ruedi, Celeste&Brian from the Island, as well as all my WA friends. It will be a great time. Weather forecast for more hot sunny days all week. May be looking to the river to cool off at some point.

Sunday morning working dogs

Pam hauled her sheep to the nice big field for us this morning. Nancy, Pat and I were the only others there. I sent Blair on a big outrun and had to do a redirect as he was thinking of crossing over on the away side.....his old nemesis. But good to get that out of the way before Dirk's trial next weekend I hope. The rest of his work was real nice; I kept my mouth shut and let him handle it all at the top, resulting in nice lifts. I would have like a bit slower pace on the fetch but the sheep were booking it regardless so I didn't natter at him. I feel like we are really communicating on the same wave length these days. He truly is my Wonderdog.
Dusty also did some excellent work for him; sent him almost as far as Blair with no problem. Let him lift on his own too and he did well, his pace is much better than Blair's but he was big time sticky taking a come by flank to correct the line. He felt the draw was on the away side and just didn't want to let go of it. Once the sheep got to me, I made him do some big off balance flanks and was able to show him that he wouldn't lose the sheep. If I could only count on him to work like this at trials......sigh.....
Young Owen did well too. I stretched him was out beyond what we have been working. First outrun I sent him away which was the easy side on this field and his nice side. He did pretty good. Next outrun I sent him on his 'bad' side and he was going to cross over so I stopped him. Called him back a bit then gave him the come by flank again....he kicked out there. Next time he did a beautiful come by....wide and deep, checking in on the sheep thoughtfully. His driving was nice too although we didn't do a lot. I just wish we could work in this field every week, it is just what the dogs need.
I didn't work Jayne.....still worried and unsure of how to fix her gripping/blowing up problem. :-(
Waiting to hear news from Metchosin on how my friends and my dogs' relatives all did....

another Heat Wave

Owen with the McLeod flock.
Here is an old picture of Blair and daughter Teak when she was about 10mos. old. Teak is the reason I got Owen.
Here is a picture of Teak this May at the Paxton Valley trial, taken by Kristi Oikawa. Latest news is that Ruedi and Teak placed again at MacDonalds' trial and now has enough points to go to Klamath! Yay Ruedi, what an awesome handler and great partnership they have. Blair's littermate, Ceri also earned more points with a 3rd. so has plenty for Klamath too.
Wow what a summer we're having! It rained a week ago and temps were around 14c It was even cool early this week at around 18c. But now back to unusually high temperatures for us - 34c in the shade on my deck again today!

I worked Blair and Owen at McLeods' yesterday and had to take it pretty easy on the sheep as they are having a hard time adjusting to the hot-cold weather too. Both dogs worked great. The sheep were hiding in the bottom corner of the field under the trees when I took Owen out. He never saw them til he was almost upon them and they moved....so he basically got to do his first blind outrun! LOL And plucky little pup that he is, he trusted me and his memories of the field that if I was sending him, surely there must be sheep somewhere. He crossed and back but can't fault him for that. Then when we were done, he some more work holding the sheep along the fenceline so Rose could spray them with water from the hose to help cool them off a little. I give the boy some credit as he was hot & tired & not understanding the job which was so unlike the usual training session of gathering, flanking and driving. He did a good job. I marvel every time I work him at how easy he is, how biddable!
On the other hand I am at my wit's end with Jayne. She is busting in & gripping every time I work her which I fear is becoming a habit to avoid pressure. Which means I am probably putting too much pressure on her. On Tues. she flew in and singled out poor old Kelly-Lee; she went right and he went hard left, snapping his leg in the process! Luckily our vet tech friend, Susan came and said it was worth trying to splint. Difficult as the break was between hock and stifle but she got him wrapped up pretty good. Report since that he is resting in the barn, getting up & down on his own.....so fingers crossed that he will recover. He is probably the most special wether on the farm(hence has a name) because he was one of the first lambs to arrive on the farm many years ago.

ASCA Trial at Downriver

My friend Margaret and I went out to watch the BC Aussie Club's ASCA Trial today. Hot weather but a nice breeze to keep things mild. I ended up volunteering to time for the last Sheep runs under judge Dana McKenzie which was a real treat. Tin Ballard was stock handling all day and we got to chitchat the three of us at the end of the trial under the shade of the judge's tent. What a treat to reconnect and visit with Dana, who judged my very first (disasterous) run with Wyatt about 6 or 7 yrs. ago. Dana from Tx is a long time, ultra well-respected Aussie( & BC )handler, trainer, clinician, and awesome judge of all breed trials, combined with a good understanding and admiration for Border Collie trials. It was a super nice day to reconnect and visit with the local all breed folks who are doing some great stuff with their dogs with the support and encouragement from Lynn Leach at Downriver Farms(where I got my start).
It might be interesting that 7 yrs. ago when I started all this with ACD, Wyatt....I realized that the trials I liked best were the ASCA & AHBA trials. Took a bit to recognize the difference was that those were the ones with the BC entries. So of course was an additional 'chuff' way back then was for Wyatt to beat Pam May's BC, Talley of the same age. Today Jacqui's Spry finally took the HIT award away from Talley in a great Advanced run!
Also totally cool; Lynn Leach's (YVR) Chaser won HIT on Started Sheep?(or ducks?), same dog that Lee Lumb placed 13th with in Nursery at the Sturgis Finals last year. Wow nice accomplishment for an 'airport bird dog'. Chaser belongs to our YVR International Airport as a bird dog to keep the geese etc away from causing airplane crashes.

July Update

We got to work dogs in a big field at Karleen's on Sunday which was great. I am liking my young Owen more and more each time I work him. He does whatever I ask and stretching him out is going smoothly. He makes a few mistakes but as to be expected with his inexperience. Jayne on the other hand, is still blowing up under pressure. I worked her close at hand with my friend, Pam holding the sheep. Made Jayne stop, lift a few steps, stop......then finally Pam let the sheep go. Jayne did great. However when I then went to drive a bit - BOOM! Fly through and grip! I know it is something that I am doing, just can't figure out how to prevent it. Blair worked nice; did some big fetches(for us - in 10 acres) and complicated drives through gates into another field and out the bottom through another gate. It was a lovely day - we started early in the morning as it has been so hot but some high clouds came in so it wasn't too bad. But hot enough to enjoy the icy cold beer our hostess brought out when we were done. Nice to catch up and visit with old friends.
Monday brought a huge change in temperature; drop of 20 degrees from 34 on Sat. to 14c! And much needed rain so far this week. Monday night got news from the Calgary Stampede where our friends are competing in the big $10,000 Stockdog Trial: 5 BC gals made the top 15 into the Final! Big congrats to Pam Boring of Pink Mtn.(way up north) for winning it all! And also to Diana Gauthier, last year's winner for Reserve CH this year. And special congrats to our own Rose McLeod and Jana for making the final only their 2nd time to the trial!!! Whoohoo Rose! Carol Nelson and Lee Lumb also made the final again. Also heard that our other local gal, Nancy Forshaw placed in the money in P/N at the field trial before the Stampede - awesome! Will be going to McLeods' tomorrow to work dogs so will get the whole story and all the details then. Dale Montgomery well deservedly(is that a word?) won the trailer this year.
Still raining today so I'm off to Dim Sum for lunch with Margaret. Yummmm

Lazy days of hot July

No pix but just an update. Me and Owen are loving enjoying watching the Calgary Stampede coverage on TV; rodeo being my fav.sport after sheepdog trials(except wish they wouldn't show the stupid chuckwagons). GRRR! And looking forward to hearing how my friends are doing at the Stock dog trials held this weekend too.
Have a bit of a change of plans for this summer: can't do my prairie trip as I will be needed to help out with my Mom. She is in the hospital today after coming down with a burst blood vessel in her nose last nite. And unknown at this point what/where her future will work out....moving up on the list for an assisted living home for sure, but....otherwise unknown.
It has been HOT HOT HOT here the last couple days. Enough that I filled my pool and was in it tonite. Along with each of 4 Border Collies who just can't bear to be so far apart from me....and although they would not get in the pool of their own volition, once I was in it...they were determined to join me! LOL Wish I could have pix but..not. And no one needs to see ME in my pool! LOL Rain coming next week so they say. I'll probably be heading to the Island to attend to my Mom's affairs.