Whidbey Island Trial

Owen learns to swim.
Susan and Echo, the dog who started it all.
Plenty of room to run dogs.
The arena and set out pens.
Looking up towards handler's post from spectator area.

I just got home from spending almost two weeks on Susan Crocker's gorgeous farm and competing in her trial last weekend. Blair and I placed 4th on Sat and earned his very first USBCHA points! He still won't likely qualify for Klamath as we only have one more trial in AB before the cutoff. I had decided to go to the Canadian Nationals instead anyway.
Blair was on the muscle on Sunday and my timing was really bad so I retired as the cross-drive was going downhill very quickly. The distance proved too much for young Jayne so we also retired and I pulled her from Nursery on Sunday. I don't want to allow bad habits to develop and it isn't really fair to expect her to work well at distances we don't get to practice but once a month if that.
I went down to Susan's early before the trial and stayed til today so I got lots of work in on everybody. We had beautiful weather with just a bit of rain to keep the dust down. The dogs got to hang out tied to truck and trailer as well as getting to work sheep and a swim in the pond. I even got some practical chores as I brought the sheep in every evening before dark. Last night the lambs got tucked in early as I noticed them wandering by my trailer! It was quite windy so I suspect the gate was blown open and they got out. I even used Owen to bring them in one night. He is proving to be the easist dog I have ever worked with and it was great to have the opportunity on different sheep and in a great big field.
The only sad note of the week was that Susan's grand old 14yr. old ACD, Echo took a sudden turn for the worse and had to be put down on Friday. Susan drove back from MacDonalds' trial before she even got there and spent the day with her. The vet came to the farm so it was a very peaceful way to go. Otherwise it was so nice to spend time with Susan & Ali and their Kelpies and Cattledogs. I'll upload some more pictures later.

Heat Wave

This was the temp. on my deck early this morning. By afternoon it was 35c. It has been like this all week. We are experiencing record breaking highs for this time of year. Forest fires and extreme dry conditions in the interior too. However they predict cooling and rain on Sat. By the way, houses with air conditioning would be very uncommon in this area so we are all sweltering and using fans to try to stay cool. Luckily it cools down at night. This has been a year for extremes in weather - all that snow over the winter and early spring and now this! Wonder if the rest of summer will be hot and dry?
Brand new $19.99 urban stock tank.
It was just a matter of time. Hey Donna, notice the prized toy?
'ICK! What are these toes doing in my new big water dish?'
'Yum nice cold fresh water in this new gigantic water bowl. But why is Mommy sitting in it?'
'hmmm....how to get close to my Mom.' Couple mins. later he was in my lap.
Silly Border Collies still play out in the hot sunshine.
Wyatt knows how to stay cool on the shady grass. I finally go it mowed this afternoon after taking these pix.
Blair stays cool.
Notice Owen on the left in his usual position. Like father like son, sleeping on their backs.

Lanyards

I was getting very low on stock so I made some more lanyards this week. I am stuck at home while everyone else has headed up country to Holly's trial this weekend. :-(
The only good thing is that the weather is awesome. 32c today on my deck....which is where the Border Collies lolled about panting instead of finding cool shady spots on the grass. Silly dogs. I spoiled Blair and let him hang out inside in the cool with me and Wyatt.
All the farmers will be haying this weekend I expect. No rain forecast for several days. Which means I just 'might' be able to go with Pam to work our dogs on the REALLY big farm around the corner from her place. No work all week as McLeods are fencing so my dogs are getting antsy.

Sat. Pix

Great Weather

No pix so far this week, will try for some over the weekend. It has been awesome weather finally!
I've been working dogs almost every day since Tues. Jamie arrived Wed. so I hung out at McLeods' to meet and see all her nice young dogs show their stuff. My oh my, what a nice group she has to choose from coming up!!
I've had Owen out several more times so we are starting to understand each other. My biggest challenge will be not to expect too much of him too soon....he is still like a puppy with only 2 mos. time under his belt. So far he has been real easy to work and I think he will be a super partner for me. Jamie and Rose both said I should shut up more with him & just let him feel the sheep. LOL
Jayne is still struggling every time I ask her to take an inside flank in a tight space and bring sheep off a fence. She panics and dives through even though I am trying my best to talk her calmly through it. Plus she spins off in a big wide off contact flank after it happens. Not sure how to work through this but we are chipping away at it....... Jamie thought she looked pretty good.
Dusty and I did some chore work today while Jamie gave lessons to some gals from WA that came up to take advantage while she is here. A couple of the dogs are sired by Jamie's Linc so she knows them pretty well. Jamie had Dusty and I sit by the exhaust gate and along the fenceline that Bruce is in process of replacing; so the wire & top rails are all down. Luckily the working sheep don't seem to be aware that they could easily jump into the next door field to join up with all the ewes and lambs.
I'll be back again there tomo. to hang out in this nice weather. Sunday we are all going to work dogs at Pam's big field I hope. Will try to get pix then. Today I took a bunch of shots of Rose and her baby, Lexy out on the sheep; for a 3mos. old Lexy is pretty bold - running full tilt after the sheep until she corners them, then lying herself down while holding them.

Well done young man!

Margaret and Kane

Wee young Sam doesn't want to go home.
And a few pix of my house dogs watching TV or sleeping on his back....Mr.Owen.



What a wonderful day! Sunny and hot finally!! The grass was almost as high as at Dirk's trial, not quite as thick but hard work for the dogs and sheep to get through. I wanted to work on Jayne's stop at the top but she took it without need for correction...so we had a pretty short session. I have posted some pretty poor shots of Owen...but it was only my second time ever to work him so....y'all have to bear with me and my baby boy. He is looking like an easy guy to work so far but we still have a long way to go. I haven't put much pressure on him as I'm wanting to partner up and bond on the sheep before I ask too much of him.

Tractor Factor! Louanne!

Farm Girls Rock on FarmTown!!!!!!! This post is for Louanne and all my FarmTown neighbors. LOL
Oh and the sheepdog content: Owen came home last weekend from Lee. I worked him this week at McLeods'. He did very well for his first time although I am not sure how well 'I' did. He will be a very different experience from my other dogs as he is not as far along in training but I think he will be an easier dog to work with. More updates coming later.
Thank you Barb Finegan of PA. for ordering and shipping my new hat to Canada. ;-)