dogdayz

Oh Yogi, you asked us to bring our two problems with us next week...my first thought was to bring the two little demon sisters But for the sake of not completely disrupting the class i think i will bring Beck boy, now to choose just two of his problems (sorry Banjie, no girlie for you next week)

Afraid his prospective girlfreind has not made such an effort, she has since yesterday afternoon been covered head to toe in those sticky little balls off some weed that grows abundantly in the area of the yard she is excluded from As she is being non-cooperative with me pulling them out and has been doing it herself, she isnt exactly looking her best

Nope, no training for us the past week. My only excuse i was trying all week to teach the terrible twosome to heel...with little success...do you think it possible to have a dog physically incapable of walking...Belle just jumps everywhere, never two steps together

Oh, Banjie, Maybe a more subtle approach than jumping on her head would help - though maybe a good disguise would help too, perhaps dress in a weimie suit

Not least from Skye

Now Banjie, there will be no stalking of fellow pupils. She will teach them how to sit and wait patiently....they will learn patience does NOT bring rewards

Best bring Beck...skye will just talk to the chocolates, wave to the chocolates then go MINE, they are all MINE Or maybe the feral pair they have no manners of any kind

I second what Sparty said - do not be put off - herding needs more people - and of the trials i have been to there are some great people around and it is a great day out.

Not sure if this all will make sense but it is just my thoughts watching this thread for the last 2 days. I dont like to see a dog out of control among sheep or any stock, but having attended many of the VCA trials over the past 18months i have come to the conclusion several people can view a dog differently. I saw a dog fail its instinct test and i held my breath the whole way through expecting it to take a sheep down by the throat. Yet arround me many of the 'expreienced people' were suprised to see him fail as they were saying he looks like a wonderful dog. Seemed only me and judge had concerns. I have also noticed increasing numbers of associate registered dogs often the second or third dog of people previously working main register purebreds. I am wondering where the whole ANKC herding is heading, and whether it is losing its original target. I certainly would not like to see it become a sport exclusive to the bc and kelpie - they already have alternatives available. I agree the working bcs and kelpies have great instinct, which the other permitted breeds dont have, but i do believe there are dogs among those capable of doing well in the trials - i have seen other breeds take first place ahead of large kelpie and bc entries. For me personally, i first tried my collie rough out at a workshop and she showed a bit of interest, so i tried her again with a trainer and that has developed. She will never be great but she does improve, and we make the effort to work sheep at least once a week. But yes i am guilty of telling her she is going to play with sheepies, but that is not intended to belittle the sport or imply she is just out for some running exercise. I have thought it would be nice to have a 'real' herding dog, however having watched one of the two rescue pups i took to Davids last weekend, i now have serious doubts, as i find the idea of trying to control her level of drive very scary. I suspect that at some point we will see the result of other handlers getting high drive working line dogs for ANKC trials and it wont be all good. I think its important that when people handle trained dogs like Davids that they realise it is more the training than their handling skills that keep it all under control, and that they dont believe they can just go out and get a bc pup and it will all just fall into place. As far as the non-herding breeds go, if its all done under guidance i have no issues with it. I know plenty of non-herding breeds living on property that help out. I believe that it can only be good for someone to see and understand their dogs behaviour around stock, and be able to develop a level of control. Just my thoughts.

KK, the beginners day will be fine for you - i took two rescue pups to the last one and they dont even know their names, much less recall and sit/drop. On the upside my collie rough always had really bad recall until she started herding - the benefit of training with the ultimate distraction.

Not sure working from memory, Beck ate the obedience rule book, agility rule book, herding newsletter a few nights back. Didnt eat the Tracking newsletter though...maybe he is sending me a message

So true - i think there is pretrial in March but i hadnt checked December. By the way Sparty - best of luck, but i suspect you wont need luck :rolleyes:

Do you know if there is a pretrial on that day Sparty?

Sounds good, will be there with between 1 and 3 dogs ;) Though we went out this evening herding ands Skye had the very calm sheep scattering to the four corners of the earth - seems you can have too much enthusiasm :rolleyes:

Maybe, maybe - need a definite date though

Must be, he looks a lot smaller than he does in the flesh

Hay Hopenfox i would never have recognised Fox from your signature picture - is it an old piccy?

I dont know YB, my cats had to put a certain little pup back in her place last night :D

Banjie, how can your mum say say you will never be great, look like a star in those pics :D

Awww look at my pretty girl :D (and she was as she had a bit of a trim while there yesterday, thanks to Val). Love the pics Hedds, especially the last one even though i am in it. Can i get some files of the pics from you to print up please, please, please.

Unfortunately Skye with quiet sheep shuts down - she likes to chase the breaking ones down. Belle was somewhat breathtaking - waiting to see if she would emerge alive or not - she is a fearless little thing.

It was a great day - thanks to all involved (human and dogs). mmmmm...everyone says their dogs are tired, the two pups have made a marvellous recovery and are racing around home again.

Sparty - you expect me to handle one dog, two pups and a camera Might have to rely on others me thinks.

Have used most of what is mentioned here and the dogs have loved them particualrly sliced sausage, BUT i finally too the step to chop and fry liver, kidney and tripe (it was yuck, and i had to but a processor as i could not bear doing it by hand), fry them without oil until just brown. The dogs adore it. Smells a bit though.

Flights of steps if you dont have them at home - never occured to me until i took my collie rough on the french island ferry - the boat was no problem, but carring her up and down the flights of steps was.