Working Stockdog Posts latest working stockdog posts http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php Wed, 16 May 2012 03:36:21 +0000 15 Old Dog: New Tricks http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33307

I bought my dog, Rocket, when she was 8 weeks old from a rancher in the middle of nowhere central Idaho. She cost 25 bucks, and has no pedigree. I enjoyed dog training, and my mother gave me permission to get another border collie (the family already had an aussie mix) if we named her Rocket. This was in 2004, my senior year of high school. We had family dogs, but Rocket is really my first dog. I bought her and paid all her bills. At the time, I was looking for a healthy hiking buddy that I could teach some cool tricks on the side. A tough little ranch dog seemed to fit the bill.

This year, Rocket is 8 years old and I'm 25- I feel like we're getting old. Now that I have a little extra income I wanted to do something for her. I found a local stock dog club online, and noticed that had training days. I packed up Rocket, and 35 dollars worth of club dues, and went to my first training day. I had no idea if she would even be interested in sheep, and I was really nervous. One thing that makes a dog a good hiking buddy is listening off leash and NOT chasing things with hooves. Rocket is a great hiking buddy. The club president cautiously took my money. I think, while he wanted to see what an old dog would do, he was a little concerned I was throwing my money away.
After a few of the others ran their dogs, they put 3 young sheep in a small round-pen. I took Rocket in, with the club president, and she proceeded to take a massive shit in the middle of the roundpen. Apparently, this whole thing was just as hard or her nerves as mine. I shoveled away her panicked mess. "If she doesn't do anything don't get discouraged. Keeping bringing her back" I didn't think too much about it. It didn't seem fair to have any expectations on the dog. He got the sheep moving and started making a quiet shhhhhhhhushing sound. Rocket's ears perked and she moved toward the sheep. "Good Girl!" I said, and she came and sat in from of my feet. It would have made any obedience judge proud. We tried ."again with the same results. "She stops, when I talk to her. I'm going to stay quiet" We started again; things were not looking promising. Finally, her ears perked up again. "Don't say a thing!" he said, intensely staring at the dog. She went for it, circling behind the sheep quietly pushing them towards Keith. She was happy to go between the sheep and the fence, and he started to push her to circle in the opposite direction.

Since then we have been working a few times a month. Every session she improves. We are working on keeping her farther off stock and getting her confidence up. Both our inexperience leads to stupid mistakes and grips. But we're both learning.

At the end of the day, there's no point to us learning to herd sheep. I have no farm of my own, even though I'd like one. She doesn't get enough practice for us to trial, and she's spayed. The only reasons I can think of to keep doing this, is to give her a chance to do what she was meant to. It seems unfair, like clipping a pet bird's wings, to never let her work stock. As much obedience and agility as we do; its just not the same. I grew up in rural areas, and I feel like traditional farm work, and the people who know how to do it, are on the decline. Learning to work stock with a working dog, is also an act of cultural preservation. Who knows, in 100 years there might not be very many people who know how to do this kind of thing.

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]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 03:36:21 +0000 http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33307 Herding Trainer in Knoxville, Tennessee? http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33305
I am considering moving to Knoxville area and would be looking for someone to continue training with. I have an excellent trainer right now in Arizona and am hoping to get some good leads on some trainers in the Knoxville area if I did decide to move out there. Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions.

Alicia]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 21:17:53 +0000 http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33305 Please help with training http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33283

Scottie]]> Sat, 12 May 2012 01:05:44 +0000 http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33283 Biosecurity at Trials http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33265
Biosecurity is a HUGE part of my job, so I am very aware of how diseases can travel- have any of you found yourselves at a trial with sick sheep and had to worry about bringing it home? Are you concerned about this kind of situation? How common is something like this? What would you do/have you done? Do you think diseases are less of a risk if it is not sheep-to-sheep contact? Or is there just as much of a risk dragging it home on your dog, clothes, equipment, etc.?]]> Mon, 07 May 2012 20:55:23 +0000 http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33265 photographs at the 2012 Bluegrass Classic http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33252
I will be available Wednesday, May 16th through Friday, May 18th to take photos of your dogs, and am waiving my normal sitting fee. There is no obligation to you unless you decide to order prints. To view some of my work, please visit this site http://www.pbase.com/pastorshill/trials

I will be available Saturday for a private viewing of your photos between 10am -1pm, at your convenience. At that time, you can place an order if you choose. 4x6's are $10, 5x7's are $15.00 and 8x10's are $20.00. Photos will be mailed to you by May 31, 2012. I can also do web images for $10.00. Gayle Richardson at Coppar Creek Designs creates beautiful tiles with my web images. These can be used for decoration, hot plates, coasters, etc.

If anyone is interested, please email me privately to inform me of your class, dog name(s) and day(s) you will be competing. As there are two fields running simultaneously, I may not be able to get everyone in, but will do my best.

Thank you,
Christine Koval
pastorshill@netzero.net]]> Fri, 04 May 2012 16:53:20 +0000 http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33252