Build a Better Partnership with your Herding Dog

I've been thinking a lot about how we (me, you, most folks I know) get into a situation with our herding dogs where we find ourselves tense, frustrated, impatient, maybe even angry, because things aren't going the way we think they should. And, I've been thinking about how most of us are not prepared to deal with this, and we end up yelling at our dogs, getting mad at ourselves for yelling, and ultimately feeling bad when that happens.

I've been working on this for many years with myself and my own dogs. Sometimes it goes really well, other times no so much. But, I HAVE learned a lot. The dogs are great teachers and I really try to be a good student. One lesson that is strong and solid for me is that finding a way to communicate clear and well focused expectations to my dogs WITHOUT ANY DRAMA is the key to successful and fulfilling teamwork. So, not just telling them what to do because I said so...instead, teaching them to be responsible for their part of the partnership...while I am being responsible for my part.

OK, it's not so easy when you're in the middle of a challenging situation, right? But...it does get easier the more you practice. That's where I can help. I can read you, read your dog, read the sheep, read the situation and help you to stay calm and focused while you and your dog work out the hard stuff.

The partnership built in the herding environment carries over to all other areas of your life with your dog: home,  social situations, agility, rally, therapy. It even carries over to your "other" life: family, work, job, social, volunteering. Starting this herding thing with my dogs so many years ago has transformed my life everywhere. No kidding!

Some of you have met my dog Maya. She's a smooth, spicy, saucified noodle of a border collie who was just plain misunderstood at the beginning of her young life. After being rejected as untrainable by her first three families, she came to live with us at 6 months old. Now, she's still intense, don't get me wrong, but we have worked it out for the most part. Starting at just 3 years old, last year she began competing at the national level of Open sheepdog competitions.Today she is ranked #40 out of several thousand North American border collies competing at that level, with limited trialing. We have partnered. For the most part, we understand one another and communicate effectively with one another. We are getting better all the time.

Here is a video of us competing at two sheepdog trials, if you'd like to see for yourself:

Maya Trialing

 Here's the info for the event:

Sheep Herding Training Camp

 Great for Beginners, Novice Teams and Herding Trial Competitors!

The focus of the July sheep herding camp is:

"Build a Better Partnership with Your Dog"

How we'll do this:
• by learning to see your dog's perspective (you might be surprised!)
• discovering how your perspective is different
• bringing those two views together into happy partnership thru calm and focused: body language, verbal cues and whistles.

Click thru to my store , and register today while there is still room left. My camps are limited to a very small group of devoted, passionate, sincerely wanting to be better partners with their herding dogs kind of people. That's you, right?


See you there!

Kathy

The Bluegrass Classic

Whenever I think about what it takes to put on such an incredible trial, I am completely blown away! It's like putting on a national finals every year...except even more challenging because of the second field running all the novice classes. I have never seen such a hard working group of committed people working so well together...simply awesome!

It was very cool to experience the "first look" at this beautiful and large field thru the eyes of some Canadian folks who came to the Bluegrass the first time this year. It is to beautiful, it takes your breath away each year as you step up to the fence and have your first look.

The flock of 600+ Texas lambs who have never been worked by dogs, nor handled much by people are challenging, to say the least. They have no leader, so bringing your three lambs who desperately want to get back to their flock resting safely in the holding pens, down the 450 yd fetch is not for the feint of heart or weak of dog. Every dog gave it their best shot, and we all hoped that every dog would figure out how to keep those sheep from breaking back to the set out pens. Some were not blessed with the skill, combined with lots of luck, that it took to accomplish this daunting task and sadly had to be called off by their handlers. All of us shared the pain of those handlers who did not get a chance to try to negotiate that amazing course with their wonderful partners.

I have enjoyed putting down some really good runs at the Bluegrass with my dogs over the years, starting with Dallas, then Russell, now Maya..but I have never been able to put two great runs together to make it into the Top 20 Double Lift Finals...until this year! I could not be more proud of my partner, Maya, for the excellent job she did handling those sheep on this great course! She lifted those lambs and started them down the fetch line with the finesse of a much more experienced dog, handled the drives well, and finished up with great sheds and pens both runs. Her two scores of 75 and 73, combined 148, earned her a spot in the Top 20 right in the middle of that field of some of the best dogs and handlers in north america. Holy cow! I am so pleased, and so proud of her...words cannot express...I took a shot of the top twenty leader board as a memento:

Joe was so excited that we made the top 20, he decided to drive down Saturday night to be there to support us for Sunday's run. I couldn't have been happier than to have Joe there with us!

The day dawned chilly, cloudy and rainy...and eventually turned over to a steady rain most of the day. Great for running dogs...much better than high temps and sunny...or stormy. The course is a full 30 minutes, so the cool rainy weather was perfect! Saturday evening the handlers drew their number to determine the running order, and when I opened up my draw and saw "20", I groaned...I didn't want to be the first...nor the last. But, oh well...that's the way it is!

The presentation ceremony was awesome, as the Canadian and American flags and anthems were presented...and each of the 20 teams was introduced to the large crowd of spectators...it was so very cool!! And inspiring to feel so much support from my fellow handlers as well as the spectators.

So, after a long day of watching and waiting, it was finally our turn to step to the post...the long awaited last run of the day. I knew I was going to have a bit of trouble getting Maya to focus on the first lot of sheep, set way to the left on the hill, because she was focused on the distant soccer field where kids were having their tournament, in the field beyond the trial field. She could see the kids in their white jerseys running around, and was certain those were the sheep. I tried everything I could to get her to see the sheep on the left hill, but I had to send her knowing she was not aware of where they were. I hoped a bendout would help her to get out to the far left once she left my feet...but no luck...she was determined to go for the soccer kids and as she passed to the inside of the sheep, she saw them and swept around, getting behind them and doing a great job of lifting and listening as we negotiated the dog-leg fetch with precision right to the gates and to the drop off point. Now, I had a plan to help her leave her first lot of sheep to turn back for the second lot, but she would have no part in leaving her sheep...thinking I was cracked, asking her to leave sheep on a trial field. After spending several minutes trying to convince her to turn back, I decided that it was not going to happen, and retired. Definitely not the run of my dreams...but I am so happy to have the opportunity to give it a go...and I plan on doing some "turn back" homework before the finals!!

Going in to the double lift round, I knew that the worst possible thing that could happen is that we made it into the finals at the Bluegrass!!!  How cool is that?

The winners of the day were Tommy Wilson and Sly...they had an awesome run that was a privilege to watch. Scott Glen and Don were reserve, and Linda Fogt with Mickey were 3rd.

My good friend and supporter, Nancy, couldn't be there, but she came over Wed to work dogs and have lunch...so she made me leave the house while she prepared the lunch, which turned out to be a "Leaderboard Luncheon".

The theme was the Top 20 Double Lift Leaderboard. We had a festive center piece with a print out of the top 20. We had blue corn chips and blueberry scones for the "bluegrass". Then we had two footlong subway sandwiches for the "double lift". The comedy of the lunch was the animation of the look back, demonstrated by two pimento-stuffed olives representing the eyes, stuck into blocks of cheese with toothpicks as holders...the animation: turning the tooth picks so the "eyes" of the olives looked back to the other set of sheep.  It was so corny and funny, and sweet...what a great friend!  Maya got to indulge in a big hunk of cheese as we enjoyed the sandwiches and chips!

Wow...what a great couple of weeks...the only thing keeping me from floating above the ground is the pain caused by wrenching my lower back while cleaning out the stock tank on Monday. I couldn't stand up straight for two days, but I'm slowly getting better. Hopefully I'll be good by next week when we leave for Minnesota and North Dakota trials...

Three Sisters SDT

We had a blast at the Three Sisters Land of Lincoln SDT the 2nd weekend in May! The weather was a range of really nice on Friday, crazy windy on Saturday and not so bad on Sunday. The trial ran smooth as usual, and there were a LOT of runs to get thru over the weekend...but we actually finished up around 2:00 on Sunday, so a tight schedule was kept for three days. Great job by the organizers and volunteers!!

Finding the sheep was challenging, as they were set out in a field adjacent to the main field, with different ground cover which was about the same color as the sheep. So, not only was it challenging to see the sheep, but it appeared to the dogs that the field ended in a waterway about 75 yds in front of the sheep. The cheviot-cross mule ewes were as clever as always, and did a great job of figuring out how to beat the dogs back to the set out pens which were to the side, but in line with the fetch, in front of the sheep set out post. Their commitment to rejoining their friends peaked on Sunday, when it seemed that half the Open teams retired or dq'd.

Luc and Sue, just starting their Open trialing segment of their career, did a great job of figuring out where the sheep were set, with my help on their first runs. Luc lost his sheep as they ran like mad to the set out, and his "ca-ca" to  keep a determined ewe from jumping the fence did not work. His second run showed how much he learned, as he neatly found the sheep, lifted and fetched them beautifully down the field. We timed out trying to pen a ewe who would not even look into the pen...but Luc did a great job of trying!

Sue did a wonderful job of lifting and fetching the sheep her first time out, with a nice drive, pen and shed. I was very proud of her -- her first Open run! On Sunday, she cast out well, lifted beautifully, then over-compensated for the strong pull to the set out pens by holding the sheep to the right of the fetch gates keeping them offline the entire fetch as she brought them at way too fast a pace and wouldn't take a lie down. The turn was challenging with Sue on the muscle and working hard not to let the sheep escape. I retired on the drive away, but was very happy with Sue's outrun and lift.

Maya had two good runs, handling the sheep and the course like an old pro, in spite of her tender age and relative lack of experience. She made the sheep and the course look easy! Her two good runs earned her the Open High in Trial award for the weekend -- a beautiful desk set with brass border collie and sheep. She got a special beef treat at home!

A great way to start the spring trial season!

Lambs!!!

Early one morning, this first time mother gave birth to a healthy and handsome son. We have had a successful lambing season, with everyone healthy and thriving. 10 ewes created a total of 19 lambs. One set of triplets, two singles, and the rest twins. It was a "ramalama", with 6 ewe lambs and 13 ram lambs.

Now that lambing is over...it's time to reflect and simply enjoy watching lambs!

Here a group of lambs circle in for a secret meeting...planning the next lamb race, maybe...

The discussion: Do you think it's safe to go out there? I dunno...what do you think?

Wow - it seems OK out here!  I'm not sure though....maaaaaaaaaa....

OK - time for a nap after that big adventure!

Hey! I'm hungry...do you have anything to eat???


What an amazing blessing to share this wonderful life experience with these ewes and their lambs. Life is definitely good!

Signs of Spring!

Spring was everywhere this morning as we went for our ritual walk and did chores. I captured a few signs of spring with my iPhone...but I couldn't get a shot of the Robins and Redwing Blackbirds that have returned! Such a sweet sound...

New life starts with the grasses...shoots are turning green...Prairie Creek is freely flowing...new leaf buds are swelling...ewes are heavy with lambs...and the hens are offering beautiful and colorful gifts every day now.

No reason to dwell on the mud and mess that comes along with the inspiring beauty, right?

Reflections and Exploration

I've been thinking a lot about our trip to California. Reliving the fun, awe and inspiration leads me to ponder some of my revelations and how they apply to every day life with my dogs and client dogs. A deeper clarity of partnership, stock work, training and handling has emerged and seems important to share.

There are three main things that come up as important lessons: Foundation, Purpose and Patience. I'll explore each of these in the coming weeks, attempting to thin slice as I go...journaling this exploration in a way that offers understanding and a path to integration...well, that it my intention anyway!

These concepts are tightly interwoven into a beautiful tapestry that tells a story of  partnership. Separating them seems like it might be a bit of a challenge, and I am going to allow a natural flow of sharing, rather than try to organize these important concepts into tight compartments.

So, I started thinking about how all of our dogs were able to step out onto 180 acres of deep and continuous hills and so matter-of-fact do their jobs of gathering and driving in terrain and with numbers of sheep they have never before seen. I have to honestly say that I was blown away by how easy the dogs made it look. These are all young dogs, 2 and 3 year olds, with limited off-the-farm experience. Handled by a 'flat-lander', with no experience in this terrain either.

And, I thought about the consistent comments that were fed back to me when I shared this aspect of the experience with some clients and friends. Comments like: "well, of course they would do so well, you have prepared them for that all along".

My initial response to my own observations, and to the feedback, was that the dogs are clearly well bred and their genetics simply and seamlessly expanded their actual life experience to deliver the level of comprehension necessary to complete the tasks assigned.

And though I absolutely believe that genetics is a large component of this ability, I do also believe that a solid foundation and a common purpose played an equally important role. And, let's not forget patience.

So, I started contemplating the foundation. What exactly does that look like? Can I clearly define my idea of a solid foundation? That I can seems to be quite important -- for me, for my future young dogs, and for those who count on useful advice and coaching from me.

A foundation seems to be made up of the seen and the unseen. The seen is the easiest to identify: flanks of a good shape, speed and relevance; walking in to the sweet spot purposefully, keeping stock moving forward in the intended direction; responding appropriately to cues. The unseen is a bit more elusive to discern at times: understanding and reading the intention of the stock; mindful decision making based on those observations and blended with the intended task at hand; teamwork based on common purpose and trust.

All of these elements apply to both the dog and the handler.

All of these elements are equally important. All of them can be thin sliced into many layers. Need to be thin sliced. It's in the thin slicing that we can find and deliver clarity. Good Timing is based on thin slicing into the tiniest of details, and the briefest moments of time...where a brief head check is actually a gross movement and when a single second seems like an eternity.

So, that's what a solid Foundation looks like to me. Today. I know that as years pass and experiences stack up, my ability to thin slice and redefine will evolve and that is a really good thing!!

Searching for The Thing

Could this be it??

No...just one of the mesquite imagination-inspired animals that fill
the store and museum.

We first had to ask the staff if The Thing was alive before we would
commit to seeing it...then we negotiated a free admission with our
purchase.

Let's just say that we are so pleased we stopped here!

The Thing

Like the Wall Drug billboards that invite I90 travelers to pause on
their journey thru south Dakota, numerous "The Thing" ads, combined
with a DQ treat, compelled us to stop in Arizona.

We discovered a delightful shop full of Interesting art, rocks,
crystals, jewelry and souvenirs. As far as The Thing...well, you'll
just have to see for yourself!

Homeward bound...

Our first stop was in beautiful Palm Springs...where we had the
priviledge of meeting a wise old saguaro cactus up close and personal.
Every trip thru the southwest must include a photo next to a saguaro,
I'm told...

Did you know it takes at least 75 years for this cactus to begin to
grow an arm? This plant is likely more than 100 years old. Amazing!

Palm Springs is definitely an oasis...and looks like a fun place to
spend time in the winter if you're a golfer or resort-loving person.

Friends sharing a hug

Nancy and Luc share a hug, celebrating the end of a wonderful week.

A fine and foggy ending

What an incredible week! We are feeling awed and blessed to experience
this journey with our dogs and each other. Watching our dogs work on
this ancient and interesting land will never be forgotten.

Maya and Finn ran out over 1000 yards, nearly a mile, to gather
sheep...making their way over hills and thru valleys, out of site most
of the time...then incredibly, finding their way back with their
flock, satisfying their generations -old instincts. Luc, Sue and Nick
accomplished the same amazing task, gathering their own flocks which
were set out 700 or 800 yards (3/4 mile) away with little difficulty.
All the dogs handled the large flock of 150 ewes easily as they each
took turns sorting sheep each morning for the days work. Each dog
drove their charges over the hilly land 300 to 500 yards like they
were born for the task!! And apparently they were!

I again heard the story of Russell in his youth gathering up hundreds
of ewes spread out over vast lands, often taking nearly an hour to
complete the difficult task...without a single command...and always
trusted to bring in the entire flock harmlessly. Now his sons and
daughters are following in his footsteps...growing into fine sheepdogs
any shepherd would be proud of!

Our time spent in the beautiful land of norhern California has
ended...but the wisdom will never be forgotten.

Gathering

Pictured is Maya near the end of a long fetch after gathering the
sheep from a distant hill. It was incredible to watch Maya and Finn
work all those hills and valleys as they ran out to find the sheep and
then negotiate the fetch...out of site quite a bit of the time.
Nick, Sue and Luc are each learning so much about handling large
groups of sheep on the hills and have been taking turns getting sheep
out of their overnight paddock and sorting smaller working groups to
take out to work.
Nick is learning how to keep focused and calm in tight places and at
long distance, Luc is getting more comfortable doing long gathers with
a spotter and shedding and Sue is doing a great job gathering and
driving quite far over several hills.
The weather has been cloudy, foggy and a cool low 50's with a chance
of rain in the next few days. We are wearing our winter coats the last
couple days but it's comfortable. The dogs are behaving well with
motel living...and really having a great time.
We are now part of the regular morning coffee crowd at mcdonalds and
the dinner crew at applebees. Can't go wrong with the familiar, right?

Driving in the afternoon sun

Nancy and Finn drive the flock back up the hill.

A new perspective

Maya is driving sheep up the hill way in the distance as Finn watches
in the foreground. Watching and working young dogs on these hills is
bringing a wonderful new perspective and nuance to how "the work"
teaches the dogs...and the handlers!

It is astounding to witness the youngsters quickly evolving and
becoming more mature as they process their experiences. As Nancy says:
the dogs will press their handlers to step up to a higher level in
order to keep pace with the brilliance of the dogs.

Today we'll try longer gathers and more shedding - can hardly wait!

Working in the hills

Wow...that's our state of mind as we reflect on the last two days of
working our dogs in the incredible hillls. The weather is a
comfortable 55 with some clouds and wind, and we are simply wowed by
this experience.

All the dogs are adjusting to the large and hilly fields amazingly
well! You can see the sheep down in the valley as Sue and Luc each
hope it's there turn to gather. Each of the dogs had an opportunity to
test their skills and natural instincts at gathering and driving on
the hills at distances and on terrain they have never before seen.
Nancy and I are impressed with our young dogs...opinion admittedly
slanted! Maya ran out at great distance and navigated the hills as if
she were raised a hill dog.

Can you tell we are having a great time?

More of the same today...all the dogs are so eager to get to the ranch
they didn't wait to take the time to potty this morning. Too cute!

Bruey working

Here's a photo in case the video doesn't work.

Bruce working

A beautiful day ended at Bill and Les' place with Nancy's young dog
Bruce working with bill. Bruey is a Russell son and brother to Luc and
Sue.

It was great to see him working and he was happy to see us after he
was done Like his dad, he only has eyes for the sheep when he's
working.

I hope the little video I took with my phone shows up!

New Year Morning

We hit the road early Friday morning, leaving Indio behind...but she
presented us with the most amazing parting gift: a bright and
beautiful sunrise that painted the sky and showcased the goddess of
the night. Grandmother Moon bathed us with her loving light as Father
sun rose behind us, warming the sky and our hearts, as we breathed in
the beauty of a new beginning.