Tell Me Thursday #4

I have really been looking forward to Thursday for some reason. I think it has helped me with my attitude about training, about seeing what other people are doing and about getting to know other people. Thanks a bunch Laura!!

#1. In sheepdog training (or lets call it *any* type of training), how do you keep from taking yourself, your dog, your lack of progress too seriously? 

Interesting question, because I am extremely competitive and don't want to be the best at everything but I always want to do my best. But alas, 11 years of competitive basketball (College included), 4 kids raised to adult hood, and always having a young dog or a young horse in progress has made me always step back and make small goals at a time i.e. small accomplishments are always worthy of praise either for my dog or for myself. And I learned a long time ago "if it wasn't fun and rewarding and I still wanted to do it, then I needed to change my attitude. Being around all sorts of other levels of handlers also keeps me humble and encourages me. And like Laura, I try to relax and not sweat the small stuff - do the things I know to do with confidence, work on the things we (dog and I) don't do well, and laugh at lot!!

#2. How many crates do you have? 

Only one, and it is homemade! My son-in-law welded the frame for me and my sweet husband attached the wire. It was a financial decision. We had the material and time to build it and no cash to buy one (gotta feed the dogs and hubby!! lol) Another is in the works. 

#3. How do you keep your dogs in shape?

Right now it is extremely difficult - it has been too hot to do anything for a long enough time to condition my dogs. But usually, I work my dogs 5 or 6 days a week, not just practice for trials, but ranch work (I am very blessed to live on a ranch). We have all the older dogs trained to go with us horseback and that helps to condition them as we check cattle and fences. My pups and younger dogs, I try to take with me when I walk or jog (yeah right I jog!! lol). 

 #4. Who is your movie/tv star eye candy at the moment?

 

 

Does "voice candy" count? Right at this moment I can't think of any ones "looks" that I swoon over, but Scotty McCreery's voice gives me chills. So to hear him click Scotty.

#5. What is your livestock situation?

 

I do have stock to work. The sheep (Rambouillet) are "borrowed" from a friend - we pasture them for free and I get sheep to work. Two of our daughters have a few head of meat goats and I also use them especially for starting young dogs. If at a trial I know we are going to work some Dorper sheep, I will make Tate practice driving the goats because they are harder to drive, and he has to be very honest on his flanks, so it is good tune up for him. We also have a few head of cattle around the house and I will occasionally work them a little.