Down to one now

Those of you who read my other blog "makin peace" will have noticed by now, that it's gone. I removed it. I decided that I needed to pare things down a bit, and keep it real, so, since my Kelpie is so much a part of my life- we will share- ain't it cute?

Today is not a good day for me. I woke up this morning feeling pretty crappy- like I have a cold. This is not good. Have a trial this weekend, and am still working flat out like a lizard drinking- so I've no time to be sick. Not surprised though- been WAY too busy. Bad part about all of this is that I need to work Lucy again before the trial, and to do that, I have to feel un-crappy. The other bad part of today, is that it is essentially a cry day for me. It's 9/11 anniversary. I have never been the same since that day. NEVER. I cry at things I never cried over, I find myself a much more empathetic person, and I regard with distaste, those that say we should "get over it". I have a list of every single person who died on the two airplanes that smashed into the towers. I will keep it always. Great, now I am crying again. Those people went into work that day, minding their own business, and never came out of that building. They left their families with giant holes in their hearts, never to be repaired. Some people say we should go on and forget, I say never ever forget. It is our duty to our fallen countrymen that we NEVER forget them, as they would never forget us.

I remember being notified about this at work- "A plane just hit the twin towers". I stood in silence in the admin office. I then called my mother who had heard, but didn't know what was going on. We listened to the radio, and got updates about another plane hitting the Pentagon. Then I went to the community room where they had a television set up, and I watched it all unfold. I was surprised how few people were in there watching... On the way home, I saw a woman driving the other direction crying hysterically. For weeks/months afterward, I would duck ever so slightly when planes flew over. I had nightmares about Bin Laden. To this day, I do not want to go see ground zero. I don't think I ever will. It would rip my heart out. Maybe some day, when I have grandchildren....

So, today is a get through it day. 9/11 is a day I look greatly forward to being over.

God Bless all the families who lost loved ones.

Just LOVE this video

This one's for all those hard core working fanatics. This had to have been produced by a Kelpie!

Random observations

Not much going on right now. Been swamped in other parts of my life, so haven't worked sheep in a couple of days. That's okay- because I am frankly, just too tired! I get home and I just want to rest. Lucy has started a new thing. It's eerie. When I am on the computer, and Kylie is laying near me, Lucy who has been attentive to either the cat, or sleeping, will come and stand just outside the door and not.make.a.sound. She just stands there, stock still staring at Kylie. See, Kylie is the dog she tries to work, and apparently, it is a very strong urge in her. It doesn't help at all that Kylie is a bit frenetic in her movements, which means Lucy is even more interested in controlling her. Kylie doesn't like it that much- as one could understand. Anyway, Lucy will stand there for a long time- not moving, not getting impatient, just waiting. She has the patience of Job.

What I think is funny about all of this, is that I was told that all of this behaviour (working other dogs/animals) would stop once I put Lucy on sheep. Just the opposite occurred. Lucy never really bothered trying to work Lucy before sheep, and pretty much took a passing interest in the cat. Now, she is all about working something on down time from sheep. I am able to call her off from doing this stuff, but clearly, it sure isn't be extinguished merely by working the appropriate animals ;)

A few other random observations: Lucy loves loves loves when someone else comes into the field to work with us. It's almost like she likes the other people more than me ;) No, just kidding, but clearly, she is so keyed/focused on the sheep when they come into the field- she knows what's up. Lucy also likes it when the odd Border Collie arrives, because THEY may be holding sheep for us - GOODY! or, they may be working on shedding, which Lucy LOVES to "help" by preventing escaping. The other thing Lucy really relishes is when we approach the small shed/pen. She *really* wants to go in there, and move those sheep around- even the mean ones. I don't know why, but it is really the highlight of her day. I guess that's good.
On the whole, there isn't much Lucy doesn't like about sheep work, except, maybe for stopping....

Learning all the time

Worked Lucy again. This time we set it up so she pulled the sheep off someone. We hadn't done that in a long time. Though Lucy has done this a LOT, I just wanted to make sure we were "cool". I sorted out a motley crew of sheep to work- well, not really motley, but varied- a couple of retired ewes, and some lambs just to spice things up. I sent Lucy both ways. Each time she nicely picked up the sheep, and both times, the sheep split in two directions, so Lucy had to watch both sides, and cover as needed. The sheep did not run, we are getting used to this right Lucy? She did grrreat! One last time I sent her and had her pick up across the field. She came in nice, and then came the slow girls again. At one point she flanked a bit high on the group- but I think it was to get the eye of the lead sheep, so I said nothing. Sure enough, she got them moving, and there wasn't much stress on her part- this slow sheep thing takes some getting used to! I erred today, and was too hyped up in my voice- this elicited from Lucy tighter flanks, tighter outrun, and just plain not what she had been doing BAD BAD me!!!!!!!!! We will practice again soon, and I will NOT allow that to happen, or I swear I will hit myself with a ????

We didn't work too too much, and when I saw her eyes glaze over a bit toward the end (well, not really glaze over, but I can see when enough's enough) of our driving and flanking, we ended there. Lucy just simply never wants to leave her sheep. Talk about work ethic. It's not a crazy thing either, it's just a need to work for me, PLEASE!

We did one route around a "course" but, as my trainer so eloquently put- we will lose BIG time if I let her bump the sheep like she did. Just because these are plodding sheep, doesn't mean that the trial sheep will be- they WON'T! Got to keep her honest.

So, good work my Lucy Lou. I love you.

Steppin on the gas, WHAT??

Today we worked HEAVY sheep. I mean, I think THEY thought THEY were too heavy to move. Seriously. It was an absolute gorgeous day out- not hot, nice breeze. The sheep weren't panting. Just sort of a different animal from everything Lucy normally works. You don't even really need a set out person/dog for these sheep. Lucy didn't circle the group once today when they were slowing down on the fetch. I did something I never do, and told her she was a "good girl" when she was fetching, this seemed to keep her plugged in, and the sheep moving, albeit slowly. It's so odd for both of us! Lucy has never ever been one to bite at a heel, but maybe in these sheep, they need it! Lucy did well, but we were working way too long- that tends to bring out less than optimal work toward the end. But, all in all she was good, and extremely keen to keep working. Less stress than the last time we worked. It must be odd/interesting for dogs to encounter different sheep all the time. I think they have to sort of sleep on it, and try and figure out what works to move the sheep, and that will not irk the handler ;) We got home, and I was quite surprised to see Lucy interested in playing a bit of frisbee-

we only played a short time- we were both tired. Lucy is such a good girl. Sometimes I circle things to DEATH when I drive home from working her on sheep- and I am glad I get it all out by the time I get home. See, there are some things I need to teach her, and I don't know how, all the time, and I feel like maybe she should know them, or more truthfully, I should be a better handler. I just hope that my mistakes don't etch away at her ability. That is probably why I am sending her out more than anything- so I don't mess her up. Right now, she is just absorbing so much, it is the perfect time to send her out. I know if I keep saying it, I will believe it... Right Luce?

Fall is here, and trials will soon be over

Today the weather was supposed to be absolutely cruddy, but so far, no rain, just HORRID humidity. Sort of stinks, because I could have gone to work sheep. Oh well. Miss Lucy has a trial next weekend, just a small novice only trial (novice/pro-novice/ranch). I always get jittery before a trial, but I don't know why. I see there is a new Kelpie that will be running- that is always cool. I hope that Lucy just remembers her p's and q's. That's all we need. Lucy has all the tools in her box... The work on driving we have been doing has helped a lot to keep her calm, as well as when I give her directs, I say them in a calm voice- that has been HUGELY beneficial. Such a simple thing. We will be at a dis-advantage at the trial because we have never worked there, and many folks who are going have. This shall make it interesting. But, that's what it's all about right? You pays your money, you takes your chances! So, until we work sheep again, that will be it for now!

A rescue BC, different sheep, heat

I know this blog is about a Kelpie, but I saw a rescue Border Collie working the other day, and I got some video. This dog was quite incredible given he has only been on sheep a couple of times. He is a neat looking dog as well. I tried to embed the video, but apparently it is too long- will try again later. But, suffice to say, he is quite nice. He is sensitive to handler pressure, but NOT to a ewe who faces him up. That's pretty good in my book. Hope he finds a good working home.

ETA: Well, shoot, the vid is too long to embed, so here's the youtube link:
(just copy/paste; clearly I am too dumb to make a link!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N48r6rn3nBs

When we worked sheep this last time, it was HOT. These sheep apparently, either don't like the heat, or aren't adjusted to it. They were very very slow- even on the fetch, to the point of stopping. This is so alien to Lucy. WHAT? the sheep aren't RUNNING to mom?? What to do- how to hurry them along??? There are some good things that come from working sheep like this- the dog has to think about what will work to move them. The dog also has to have a good strong lift. All very good things in dogs who sometimes aren't thoughtful- though, I will say, Lucy has gotten so much more thoughtful- I think she is finally growing up! Anyway, the sheep were under a tree, and I sent Lucy. She came in nicely, and got them lifted, and then it was work work work for her to move them. They just didn't want to move a lot. So, she had to wear them- go from eye to eye of the outside sheep, and keeping them on line was HARD. I said nothing as she did this. The sheep weren't drawn to me either, so it was hard going. Lucy did get them to me though ;) I should have stopped there, but again, I am stupid... So, I did a few more of these fetches, and twice she got so frustrated at their non- moving ways, that she zipped around them- NO NO Lucy, can't do that. Then we ended with short fetches to under a tree, and that went well. This all taught Lucy that it ain't all fun and games when fetching sheep!

I also worked on some driving with Lucy, though she wasn't as good as last time- it was VERY hot, but she did pretty well, and is taking her downs, and starting to get her inside flanks better. We still have a ways to go, but I do believe she likes this driving stuff- because SHE is at the steering wheel :)

All in all it was good work, I never once had to lie her down at the lift, because she needed the walk in power. That's good. Fair to midland I would say, but not bad, for a day's work!