NvShadowBCs-Noggin' Doggin'

Words that are Impeccable Tend to Ring True Don Miguel Ruiz Be impeccable with your word      At the previous official training event we had a discussion prior to going out and working our dogs. I have high regard for this elite trainer both on and off the field.  For a moment it was nearly as if an unofficial sermon was being delivered.  Not that it was either 'preachy' or condescending. The talk was also not judgmental or biased.  It was very nearly sermon-like in that even though he was speaking to a room full of diverse individuals from many different areas, all with sheepdogging tendencies, it felt as though he was speaking directly to me.      The story he told was about a clinic he put on some time ago.  Very nice handlers and very nice dogs.  The first day went really well.  Dogs seem to be coming along and the handlers appeared to be learning quite a bit.  Absorbing the knowledge put for...

Trekking on... Private lessons with Dianne Deal   .  Just for her pre-existing clients. Small venue.  Perfect weekend.  A total blast. Hosting our first event.  DD worked from sun up to sunset               to make sure everyone had a fair turn.                             A lot was learned! Sheepcamp 2012 Patrick Shannahan and Don Helsley Caldwell, ID        Excellent learning experience.  We were much more prepared than we were last year.  With Tic and Don Helsley I learned another trick for controlling his eye.  I like the slowed down Tic though, a lot.  He did nicely in the stockmanship work in the corrals. Don demo-ing his version of the shed mechanics. Hocus Pocus! No wonder he has a dog named Wizard,  he may be a tad magician. This...

Looking through  the looking glass      Packed and ready for the week, my friend Ann and I pulled into the site of the USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals a bit before sunset.  The stage was being set for the most amazing sheepdog event on the North American continent.  I had slated a week of vacation to go; as a spectator, as a volunteer, and as a sponsor.  Three years ago, I also attended in the peanut gallery, as a fan in awe.  Lily was sitting on my lap watching the impossible magic unfold.  This year, the event would be different.  I have managed to throw my dice up on the table as a Novice handler.        The weeks leading up to the Finals were filled with anticipation, preparation, and packing.  I had an unexpected bonus with Amanda Milliken and Sandy Milberg stopping by on their westward sojourn from Meeker and Soldier Hollow.  My girl dog Val was courted by a dark sleek handy Canadian n...

MY PART "Walk with purpose!!!!" "You know they are looking for a pack leader?" -DD

     A year ago, I accepted an invitation from my good sheepdoggin' friends to fly up to Portland, OR and observe their areas premiere trial, Lacamas Valley.  Leslie and Dennis Capik picked me up from the airport and ushered me around.  And I had the distinct pleasure of staying with Mindy Mayar and helped host her traditional Friday night shin-dig.  About half way through this amazing trial 2011, I became very cranky.  My mentor DD sent me to scribe on the PN field and put me to work.  I am not a very good sit still and observe kind of person.  I'd rather be helping out somewhere.  The whole event was a wonderful experience and I made a goal that within a year I would bring a dog up and participate.      After our DL experience at the beginning of the summer, I was highly suspicious that we might need to take a hiatus and postpone that goal for at least another year.  I did take a month in the middle of sum...

Lily and Tic      A weird thing happened this past weekend.  First of all I had a rare and coveted afternoon off.  Truly off.  It was pouring rain, thundering and lightening like the Gods were having a merry old bowling game in our desert skies.  I could do NO work, unless I cleaned out my closets and drawers.  So I relaxed and read a book.  The really weird thing is that I had a chance to watch the dogs also relax.  Big old yeller lab was deep in sawing-log-land on his overstuffed chair, no surprise there.  My two tri-colored youngsters from Potato-Land had hunkered down next to each other alternating play with sleep, quite content and happy.  Apparently Lily and Tic have become best friends behind my back.  They must have compared notes.  Black and White - check.  From place that starts with C (Cali and Canada)- check.  Insane/Intense/Strong eyed - check.  Really actually soft when it comes ri...

Training in the dog daze of summer      I have read everyone's most recent posts and blogs, and it seems like we all are a little bit teetering.  Are we ever going to get somewhere with all this work?  Are we sliding backwards like a heavy snow avalanche in the Sierras?  Am I doing more damage than good when I  train without my binkie....I mean guru/trainer??  Is it my dogs fault or am I failing my dog(s) exponentially?  Maybe it's my sheep?  The cost of hay is insane!!!!  The price of sheep is in the basement!!!!  There is no water/rain!!!!  Thus there is no graze!!!!  Maybe sheepdogging isn't meant to be done in the high mountain desert.      I, myself, love the heat of the summer.  However, I have found myself a little grouchy.  I think that is because so many many many people get grumpy in the heat!  The reality is, that anyway you cut it...

Onward      So we have chilled for about a month.  Working with little to no pressure.  Short.  In.  Trying to (re)install fundamentals.  Sometimes working with no commands.  I think everyone is more relaxed.  Yes, even the vibration we call Tic.  Ben, as you can see,  has more confidence.  Hopefully I have filled in the erosions I may have inadvertently created.  Val is Val.  Val will have no puppies this year, even though she has passed all of her physical tests.      We have a trial slated for late in August.  So this weekend we are going back to the different segments of the trial course.  Training.  Focus on consistency. Distance.  Timing.      I am going to work on consistent whistles.  ...And always lying down, prior to flanking.  For some reason that goes away in my mind when things head south.   Fields are limited this tim...

     So after our DL SDT debut, we went back to the chalk board a little bit.  It was a great learning experience.  Maybe the best way for me to learn is to get out there and do it.  To not be afraid of failing miserably, cuz that is kinda what we did.  Not really.  There were some absolutely great parts done by each dog.        Going to watch the sheep more.  Going to see what they are telling me.  These sheep look like they  are ready to do a quarterback sneak across the goal-line.  I think they are saying hut-hut-hike!!!  Mottley crew.  But fast and light enough.      Focused on the sheep's 360 bubble.  Helped any dog needing it,  to feel the bubble.  We tried to lie down prior to giving flank command.  Communication.  Slow things down.  Tidy things up.  Timing and distance.      We wor...