Training Journal - March 13 - 22, 2014

March 13 - Took Pete to Emil's to work dogs. Several handlers were there, which was a nice buffer for me. Did some close up work, flanks, fetching etc. Emil told me I needed to extend him out, so after lunch Cookie and I did outruns back and forth. Over all I was pleased with our day. I know that I was a little nervous, but Pete did good.

March 14-16 - Took these days off - had to catch up on things around the house and other errands in town. All the kids were home as we had Mandie's baby shower. A good weekend with the family.

March 17-19 - Worked Pete on sheep. Working on extending him on his outruns and reminding him of his flank commands. Goats only came in on the 17th, so Bess didn't get much work.

March 20-21 - Made a trip to Kay's at Normangee. It's long trip - about 4.5 hours one way, but well worth it. Kay helped me get Pete extended on his outruns. Most of all she helped me with my timing and precision on corrections. I worked Val both days and she and seem like we're going to be a fit. Worked on driving with both dogs. My focus on Val is to not let her just run around - that's her default safety action. Two longs days, but very good ones.

When I got home on Friday evening, I unloaded Pete from the PU and since I didn't see any of the stock, I just let him do his boy stuff. Then I got Val on the leash to take her to the kennels. When I went to get Pete, I noticed the stock (5 nannies, 2 kids and 6 ewes) were in the edge of the brush in the clearing in front of the house. Pete saw them too, and he started toward him. I started moving toward him and said his name and he bumped out in a huge outrun, bunched the stock perfectly on top, came to balance point, downed himself and waited for my walk up command. He brought them straight and easy right to me. I let him bring them around me, then I downed him on the backside like where you would start a left hand drive. Called him off and he instantly obeyed! I was on cloud nine!!

Then we loaded up Bess in the PU and went to the pasture to gather goats. They were split in three bunches, the first were headed in, so we let them go, then found the others in two bunches in elbow on top of the mountain. We (Bess and I) gathered up one bunch and drove them to the others and then we had driving practice all the way home - down the mountain and across the bottom. Bess did very well.

Val seemed to settle into her kennel just fine. No fussing through the fences with the other dogs and she went right to eating her supper.

March 22 - Spent the day just hanging out and taking a walk with Val.  I worked in the garden and let all the dogs run about and there were not any confrontations. Started feeding Val and egg and plan to do that every fay for a time.

Had to take Bess in the pasture again to gather goats. We climbed the west point as the goats were climbing out on top. Bess pushed them up and then when I got on top, I sent her around and we brought them back down on a better trail. Then she and I followed them in with the PU. She did a good job penning them up. Her outruns are getting better and better and she is really starting to cover all the stock on top, and not stop short.

Enjoying all of my dogs a bunch.

Training Journal - February 15 - March 12, 2014

Pretty much the same working with both dogs. Continuing to work on Pete staying out and getting longer on his outruns. Bess is doing well gathering and penning goats. Her outruns are getting bigger and more consistent. She is diving in less and less, only when a goat challenges her, and now she just grabs and lets go. Very pleased with how things are going. I work at least 5 days a week, so am feeling good about the time I'm spending with the dogs.

( Photo from Google Images)

Training Journal - Week 6 - February 9-14, 2014

February 9: Penned goats with Bess, then held the goats while the calves worked themselves out of the water lot. Proud of her. Worked Pete on the sheep. First time that I took him out with a leash at all. I thought he was going to bust and go to the sheep off command, but he did a nice lay down and a decent outrun against the fence. As we were fetching them toward the barn, one ewe wanted to run back to the goats and Pete split the herd. I was walking and trying to get him to go around and she bolted which made the other sheep bolt. Pete ran after, refused to lie down and "ran the sheep around". Picked him up behind the house and got him stopped just right. Got him out and we fetched the sheep to the barn. Had to get pretty hard on corrections, but we finished really good. I was pleased that even though he busted, I got good corrections and a good finish.

February 10: No goats, so didn't work Bess. Worked Pete on sheep. Still working on him staying out and off the sheep. He is getting better and better each time I work him! I'm excited!

February 11: Too icy, so didn't work at all.

February 12: Penned goats with Bess. Worked sheep with Pete. Still progressing and I'm pleased with it!

February 13: No work today. Helped Mike with water line job.

February 14: Penned goats with Bess. Pete didn't work stock, but he went with me today on our water line job. It was good for him to ride in the pickup and see and hear different things. He is very sensitive to sounds and was scared of the air coming through the water lines. But by the end of the day, he would just cock his head and listen and not try to get away! Good dog!