Can't wait...

Well, it's December here in freezing cold Alberta and I'm itching to get back to herding with the girls. I'm hoping to go out to Downriver Farms this February and maybe March and do some work with John Carter. I'm hoping to get some sheep this spring as well - I need to get my fence up but that shouldn't be too much trouble. If all goes well, I'll be able to pick up about five or six cull ewes to work with this summer. Can't wait! LOL

I hope all is well with everyone this holiday season and I'll touch base with you all come spring! :)

Oops!

As I was going through my blog and photos, I realize I forgot something very, very important...

Thank you to Cathy (with Spyder), Cathy (with Quade) and Kathy (with Chip) for taking such fantastic photos of Porsche and I all weekend!

...and Terry - don't think I'm not coming to hunt you down for the photos you took of us! /wink

Thanks again everyone!!

Home again!

I decided to drive home last night instead of waiting until this morning, and boy am I glad I did. Between unpacking, laundry and tidying up, I have a day's worth of work to do today... I'm also glad of the time to be able to go through my photos (over 900 of them!) and refresh my memory about all of the things I saw and learned.

I am so happy that I decided to attend the herding camp...SO much information and so many wonderful, supportive people, from Arlette and Allen Stieb, our hosts, to Trudy and Dave Viklund and John Carter, our instructors, to all the other attendees – everyone was lovely.

Stay tuned for further adventures of the herding crew here at Tienlung!

Good job, Porsche! That'll do!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

You can imagine how on her game Porsche was working in the direct sun at 28C. She broke out after the stock and scattered them, and then fought to find balance...her brain was not on the work. Like me, Porsche was hot and tired.

John had us achieve balance a few times and then asked for a stop (which Porsche happily gave) and then we called the lesson. It wasn't the best session to end the camp on, but although it wasn't pretty, I did learn a lot about my dog, even in the short time we worked the stock. John does have a wonderful way of turning what on the surface appears to be a less successful run into a learning experience. :)

On John's advice, we didn't run Porsche a second time (I had already decided that a second run was out considering the temperature), but after I settled her in her shaded crate with her wet coat on (happy dog!), I sat and watched the rest of the runs. I have been amazed at how much I've picked up all weekend watching other people's dogs!!

Great job, Porsche!!

This morning was the best lesson yet!

Porsche was very good at finding balance and fetching the stock to me. We worked with Trudy this morning, and upon her suggestion, we continued to work on having Porsche find balance and fetch softly. I got a very nice stop from Porsche, and on Trudy's suggestion, I will ask for a stop and then immediately send her out again...you can see by Porsche's behavior that she thinks that when she's asked to stop that she's either in trouble or the “game” is over. So, I'll be working on very brief stops (on and off stock) and then continue on with whatever our current game is.

I was thrilled when we left the pen...I'm sure people could see the huge grin on my face a mile away. Well, since this is Saskatchewan, maybe two miles! :)

How many ways can I say "Awesome"?

Porsche and I had two morning sessions with Dave today. The first session didn't go quite as well as the second because I put too much pressure on Porsche with my body language (came through the sheep at her) and made her worry and shut down.

The second session was superb. I kept my body language very quiet and used almost no stock stick, except for the few times Porsche was overflanking because she wasn't watching me. Though she was still worried about doing the right thing, she kept to balance, steadied up and stopped very nicely. Before we went in, I asked Dave for a goal, so he outlined a simple pattern of moving the stock from one corner of the arena to another...really, once I had a goal, that's all I needed to be able to set in my mind what Porsche needed to do.

One of the things I need to work on is to visualize the side that I want Porsche to go to, set her up for it and then trust her to do it - I have a tendency to chase her, which makes her worried that she's doing something wrong. Trust my dog, trust my dog, trust my dog!!

Tomorrow's lesson should go well as I will keep my body language quiet from the start so Porsche should have more confidence. :) I know I sure do.

Overall I am SO pleased that I came to this clinic - I'm going to have to keep in touch with some of the people who I've met and find more clinics to go to. I'm also going to go to some trials to see what we're up against - again, it's all about the visuals for me!

This afternoon we went out to the large flock (about 300 head) and watched Trudy, Dave and John work their advanced dogs. It was pretty cool to see the dogs work...only you couldn't see the dogs work because you couldn't see the dogs - you could only see what the sheep were doing.

I need to work with more stock so I can get a better read on them. Practice, practice, practice!

Afternoon with John Carter

Porsche and I worked with John Carter this afternoon. There is a big difference in his teaching style compared to Trudy and Dave. It was very interesting to watch him instruct both myself and others and a great learning experience.

This afternoon was all about the basics. Porsche doesn't have a solid stop, so that's what we worked on. John had me put Porsche in a sit-stay and then move away towards the sheep. Once I was mid way, I called her to me. Part way to me, I asked her to stop. If she stopped, I moved closer to the sheep, and in essence, she was rewarded with a greater chance of getting the sheep if she continued.

The exercise was very effective and brought a number of things to the forefront. First of all, Porsche is an obedient dog who wants to please me. Secondly, she is VERY aware of my body language and stock stick so I have to be aware of what I'm doing with them. Thirdly, she covers very well and can do so at a very nice slow controlled pace.

After she found balance, she walked up gently and life was good!!

I hope to use today's exercise to introduce Porsche to the sheep tomorrow and then continue to work on balance.

Porsche flanks nice and wide, for the most part, as long as she's not moving too quickly.

One other point of interest - I have spent the past year or so restraining my energy, as I have had a tendency to steam roll my dogs in the past. What's interesting was that in order to get Porsche to stop sometimes, John had me "get big" - not to go towards her, go backwards, actually, but when she didn't obey, but the pressure on and then the second she gave even a little, release the pressure immediately. Hard for me because I have a difficult time "letting go" that quickly. I'll do if for my Porsche dog, though! :) She's a good worker and really wants to be right.

It's interesting...I watch a lot of the other dogs at my level and Porsche has one thing that many of them don't right now (though I'm sure it will come!), perhaps because she isn't a tight eye breed. Not sure what it is, but Porsche is happy to go slow if you give her the opportunity. If you put her brain in a thinking state, she'd rather move slowly and make the right move, rather than moving quickly...worried about making a mistake, but we'll use it for now.

Great session and more of a foundation to build on! Thanks, John!!

Long day of learning

Today was long and at times a bit hard. As I sit here in the trailer watching the girls maul each other and in general make a mess of their half of the pop up, I'm almost too tired to write. It was a warm day today and I can guarantee I'm more wore out because of it than Porsche, who did most of the work! LOL

We worked with Trudy this morning . The first run went pretty well overall, with me working to help Porsche find and maintain her balance point as I walked backwards. The second run of the morning was much, much harder. The sheep had a hard draw to the gate and I couldn't figure out how to move the sheep out of the corner and away from the gate without letting Porsche roar in, like she sometimes tries to do. I spent about two or three minutes protecting the sheep in the corner, when my brain clicked in.

WAIT! This isn't working. Find a better way. Oh yes! It's the DOG'S job to bring the sheep to me, not the other way around. Right! Check! Got it!

So, I moved out into the center of pen and asked Porsche to go get the sheep. It wasn't pretty, but she did her job and brought the sheep to me.

Hard session but well worth it as my brain got one more piece of the puzzle sorted out!

Brilliant Day!

What an awesome day we had. It was nice and overcast all day so it was perfect working conditions. :)

After an early morning exercise where 20 of us got to be the dogs and move a sheep through an obstacle (we got it on the first try - a first apparently!), everyone got to try their dogs on sheep to see where we all fit in on the scheme of things.

As is usual, Porsche was a bit of a gong show when she picked up the sheep but settled pretty well. I was working with Dave this morning and he helped inspire some confidence in myself. In the afternoon, we were all split up to work with the three clinicians. Porsche and I got to work with Dave again. :)

We got to learn the "hula" (pressure and release)..and yes, it really does look like the hula, minus the hips! We also talked about zones of power and how to put my zone of power on the sheep,vs on the dog. Porsche also started to develop the start of a very nice fetch, but only when I was square to the sheep. It's pretty cool, actually.

I still feel as though I'm missing the visual...the end goal, I think. I think that may come when I have worked the stock more - not my dog, the stock. I definitely need more stock time.

Oh yes...I also learned to point my stock stick, claim my space and move...it's cool and it works when I remember to do it! LOL

Well that's enough for me today, I think...a lot to remember, more to learn - I'm at the point where I know so little I don't know what else there IS to learn! :)

Sheep don't break...

Well, not easily, anyway. That was the biggest thing that I learned today. It's not good to race your stock, but a short gallop isn't going to kill them, either.

As silly as it sounds, knowing that alleviates so much anxiety on my behalf...it will only make Porsche more comfortable working the sheep!!

The odd duck...

Woke up this morning to a very light, misty rain - feels lovely, smells fresh and is keeping things cool. Couldn't ask for any better start to a day of work!

Now don't I just feel like the odd duck out??

Took the dogs for a pee this morning...I am, it appears, the only moron in the group. LOL...everyone else has some sort of traditional herding breed. The next four days will be an adventure, if nothing else!!

Travel Day

I had set my alarm for 5:00am - lots of time to get up, complete my final packing and get an early start...yeah, right. That was the plan, anyway.

What really happened was that when I woke up and looked outside at 5am, I realized that it was pitch black outside and there really wasn't much point in getting up quite so early since I couldn't see to pack...so I gave myself permission to sleep in for a half an hour. What a difference 30 minutes makes!!

I went outside and what a gorgeous morning! I felt truly blessed - it could have been cold or damp, but it was a perfect day to start a journey!!

I got the girls packed up and the rest of my stuff in the truck, checked the tire pressure in the trailer one last time and off we went!!

The eight hour trip went pretty quickly, thank goodness! One can only hope that the way home goes just as fast! Breakfast at Timmy's, a couple of pee breaks along the way and then lunch at Wendy's (their new garlic honey boneless chicken is yummy!) and then we were at Dog Tale Ranch.

The girls and I were greeted by Arlette Steib and her husband Allen...park anywhere you want, is what she said, and so that's what we did! After parking and unhooking the trailer, Porsche and Vala came out for a good pee and then it was x-pen play until the trailer was set up.

Our day starts early tomorrow - breakfast at 7am, intros at 8am and then we get right into the nitty gritty. I'll admit to being a bit overwhelmed and feeling a little lost. What if my dogs are complete nut jobs? Or worse, what if they get it but I'm completely useless?? Oh well, no use worrying about something that hasn't happened yet! Besides which, I'm sure, as always, my girls will rise to the occasion and be real stars!

They are, after all....boxers! :)

We're off!!

I woke up to a GORGEOUS morning - warm, no wind and no heavy dew...perfect traveling weather!! After some last minute loading of those last minute things you can't put in the truck until right before you leave, we're ready to go...

The girls are loaded, they have food, I have clothes...we should be good for the weekend.

I'm hoping the be able to do some mobile blogging from my phone, but I'm unsure whether I'll have cell coverage at the farm. If not, I'll be posting blog entries upon my return from herding camp!

Wish us luck! Really, I have to be crazy...

Testing BlackBerry Uploads

Just checking to see if this works!

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Lesson #3 - No Go...

I forgot that Lyn's on holidays for the next couple of weeks, so Porsche and Vala won't get a chance to play with the woolies until herding camp August 27-30th. I'm not sure what we're going to do with ourselves for four days but we'll give it a whirl. In some ways I wish I'd waited before taking this sort of seminar until the girls had some more training on them...I hate being unprepared...

But, I guess that's why we go to courses and seminars, isn't it? - to learn as much as we can and use that knowledge to move forward. My plan is to soak up as much information as I can, even information that is out of the current scope of my handling and my dogs abilities. /grin We won't always be "newbies". LOL

I wish I had a video camera to take with me so I could video tape our learning sessons, but I guess my camera will have to do. Thank goodness for five frames per second!

Well, in the meantime, I'm going to keep working on stops and waits with the girls. If you repeat it often enough sometimes they surprise you. LOL

I hope to be able to blog during the camp but if not, I'll try and do daily blogs that I'll copy/paste into here later. I'm sure I'll have at least a few "I'm an idiot" stories to tell by the end of the weekend!

Herding Camp Coming Up!

I'm very excited about the upcoming herding camp that Porsche, Vala and I are going to attend in a few weeks. It's just outside of Waitrous, Saskatchewan and it sounds like it's going to be a blast!

You can check it out here!
Sheep Herding Camp
The clinicians are Trudy Viklund, Dave Viklund and John Carter.

I'm very excited to be going, not only to learn more about herding but to meet some people who are involved in the sport. I understand there are a number of other Albertans going so at least I'll be able to meet a few people that I will see at trials here! Meeting people is always a good thing!

I'll be sure to post a full report when I get home and there will probably be tons of photos...though you'll probably all get tired of seeing my dogs and the dumb sheep. :) I hope someone has a video camera there and maybe I'll be able to post some video as well! /cheer

Well that's all for now...our next herding lesson (for both Porsche and Vala) will take place next Friday. Yeah!!

Lesson #2 - July 31, 2009

Today it was just Porche and I that made the journey to Lyn Ferris' place in Ft. Saskatchewan as Lyn and I had talked about it last lesson, and decided to work Porsche twice a month this fall, and Vala only once per month because of her age. Come spring, we're going to work the ass off both of the girls to get them ready for some trialing! :)

So this morning Porsche got to try her hand in a medium sized paddock - a new thing for her as prior to this she's only worked the sheep in a round pen. I started out wanting to work on her stops to remind her that she had to listen, but that just frustrated the both of us so Lyn suggested we just see what Porsche would do in an open paddock.

Well! The first go around was a bit of a gong show...me not knowing what to do to direct Porsche properly, so she pretty much just ran the show...and the sheep! TIME OUT!!

We took Porsche for a drink and a soak with the hose (she was HOT!) and Lyn and I talked about what we'd seen - from my perspective and from hers. Then Lyn asked if I'd like to try working the stock with Marlowe, a young bitch that Lyn had started about two weeks ago. Lyn thought that Marlowe was still green enough to test me (i.e. make ME work) but had enough experience to be able to show me what a working dog is supposed to look like.

What a fantastic experience!! And what a great way to learn what I was supposed to do and what Porsche should be doing. As Lyn had expected, Marlowe tested me and tried to see what she could get away with...which was great for me because Porsche does the same thing, but more from inexperience than being contrary. LOL...I'm sure that will change! /grin

After a fantastic go-round with Marlowe and the sheep, it was back to give Porsche a try. This time it went SO much more smoothly!! I knew what Porsche was supposed to do, and what she was supposed to look like when she did it. Awesome! With a firm visual in my mind, Porsche and I were able to handle the stock well enough (I was even able to get a couple of controlled stops!) that Lyn found a few minutes to run to the house to get her camera and snap some photos of us "doing our thing". Brilliant!!

All in all it was a very satisfying day...I feel that I've progressed in my handling skills and that Porsche is learning to be a real herding boxer!

Look out, Louise & George! Here we come!! It's too bad they don't have a title for brace herding...yet! That would ROCK!

Here are some of the photos that Lyn Ferris took today of Porsche and myself. Thanks for these, Lyn!





Oh yes! And I did almost forget to tell you about falling on my ass, didn't I? Well, as Lyn was hustling to the house to get the camera, I tripped over a piece of dead wood as I was walking backwards. I went down in the middle of a flock of sheep, scrambled up in time to see Porsche attempting to take advantage of the situation (or maybe she just wanted to come and see what I was doing laying on the ground?) but one firm OUT! command and she went back to her correct position. Good girl! Oh! And I did manage to avoid the steaming pile of dog crap that Porsche had deposited a few minutes earlier...so it was a good day all around! /grin

Lesson #1- July 17, 2009

Porsche, Vala and I made the reasonably short trek to Fort Saskatchewan (only about 90 minutes to Lyn's place) for our first herding lesson...though I'm not quite sure it could be called a lesson - more like a comedy of errors? I think the only thing I did right was to NOT trip over the sheep and land on my ass...I saved that trick for Lesson #2 - but more on that later!

We met Lyn, checked out the round pen where we were going to start working, said hello to the sheep and then got started. Poor sheep! LOL

Actually, it wasn't so bad considering that I didn't really have any idea what I was supposed to be doing and only a vague idea about what Porsche was supposed to be doing. Luckily, Porsche has some natural talent and Lyn has lots of patience, and I picked up a few things that day. Mostly, trust your damn dog. :)

So Porsche did well for her first lesson, got over her excitement about seeing sheep again and settled into some actual work. We still need work on our stops, but as all things in life, it's a work in progress.

Then came Vala's turn. With Porsche having seen stock before, I had some idea of what to expect (i.e. I knew she wasn't going to eat the sheep!) but with Vala I had no freaking idea and was more than a bit apprehensive. On top of that, Vala's no retiring flower - she spotted those sheep and was pulling on the leash to go check them out. Eek!

Lyn, trusting in my dog (and in the fact the round pen wasn't that big and I had running shoes on) said, "Just let her off the leash". ....Gulp!

So, I let Vala off the leash and stepped into the middle of the round pen with my stock stick and said a silent prayer...Please don't eat the sheep...Please don't eat the sheep...

Well, she didn't eat the sheep, but Vala SURE was excited! She circled the sheep, faster and faster. You could just see her little brain work..."If I go faster, THEY go faster!!!" It took a few minutes, but Vala settled down and then was able and willing to take some direction, changing directions and learning her new least favorite word...OUT!!!

Even though Vala had a lot of excitement/energy and worked too close and too fast, Lyn thought she showed a lot of promise and encouraged us to continue...and so we will!

Overall it was a very good experience, just a lot for my brain to put together. The girls did great and I learned something...how could it not be a good day!?

Our adventure begins....

Well, not really...not quite anyway! :)

Our first exposure to herding, specifically herding with boxers, was in April 2004. Our friend Louise Watson, who had already attained at that time a CKC Herding Started title on her boxer, George, organized a Herding Instinct Test during the weekend of the Boxer Club of Canada National Specialty show in Chilliwack, BC. Always one for trying new things, I decided I'd give it a "kick at the cat", so to speak.

What I didn't guess, and really couldn't have guessed, was how much natural instinct both Porsche and Charlotte showed that day. What a thrill to watch my dogs have their "lightbulb moments" and then watch them actually start to work the stock, keeping them gathered. Shelley Friske, the examiner was very impressed and encouraged me to keep going with the girls.

Since then, I've been working towards finding someone within reasonable driving distance to give us lessons - the dogs and me! I was quite sure that *I* was going to need far more training than the dogs, and that's exactly what's happened! LOL

I got in touch with Lyn Ferris of Spinoff Enterprises and she was happy to help me out, though I could hear her scratching her head in the background...boxers!??...herding!??? :) I'm always happy to show how versatile a breed the boxer really is!!

We scheduled our first lesson and away we went...