I could not have been more pleased...

[Sue R]

I could not have been more pleased with Celt during chores this morning. We went out to the feeding/working pens and I began to dump out the condensation in the troughs so I could put the pellets in. I saw from Celt's posture that he saw the calves. Sure enough, maybe half or less of them were making their way to the pens, while the other half or more were scattered about in both sides of the south hayfield. There may have even been a few in between those and the ones coming up, but I couldn't see that part of the house pasture.

So, since I had a bit to do to be ready to open the gate and since Celt could see where most of the calves were, and since he has a nice, big outrun, I sent him "away to me". I watched as he skirted the ones that were approaching the pen and I could tell that he had seen and was going after the ones two fields away and on a level with us, with the dip of the main part of the house pasture between.

He did his nice, wide (but not fence-running) outrun and when he got to the bottom of the house pasture, I saw him kick out to his right to cross around and behind the spring run, where I lost sight of him. So, I wondered - was he going to just focus on the calves that I could see in the east half of the south hayfield, along the fenceline and above the spring run or was he going to remember that there were calves in the west end of the south hayfield?

Since I didn't see him walking up on the calves along the fenceline or see them reacting to the dog, and I couldn't see him, all I could do was watch the calves in the field. Sure enough, I could finally see some heads come up and turn to look on their "away" side, so I knew he was there. Now, would he "bog down" and get sticky like he can do? Should I urge him on? For a bit, I just kept quiet to let him figure things out and sure enough, I could see that group of maybe half-a-dozen calves turn and begin to head towards the opening in the fence that would take them to the east end of the south hayfield.

That meant that Celt would miss the half-dozen other calves that were further back in the west end of the south hayfield, further up the slight slope and nearer the trees, where they would be harder for him to see. So as he did a nice drive towards the opening, I called him to stop and "look back" (for a Novice-level dog, he has a fabulous and enthusiastic "look back"). He did, and I sent him "away" again. He didn't quite make it to the last of the calves and so I needed to give him just one more redirect, and then I could tell by the calves' response (I couldn't see him at this point), that he had them and was pushing them to the fence opening.

Through the opening really nicely, and walking them just right on the "cross drive" to the next gate - bingo! Wonderful! And I turned my back and went to filling the troughs. Next thing I knew, here they all were coming along at a nice quiet but business-like walk, with Celt bringing up the rear. He was nicely relaxed, I doubted there'd been any circling (which he can do when he gets anxious), and all was as pretty as could be. Why did I not have the camera with me to take some pictures or better yet, a video?

He brought them on up, I saw a few stop at the water tank, and he let them do that as they often want a drink coming in and we encourage the dogs to let them have one. And then he brought those the rest of the way and tucked everyone into the holding pen. I opened the gate into the feeding pen, came around and encouraged him to walk the stragglers in all the way, and off we went to give him a quick rinse-down and several good-boy pets.

He's going to be 11 in early November. His hind legs were a bit trembly when all was done and I wondered if I'd overworked him. I think that it was just the excitement of a big job, well done, because that stopped as soon as I got him hosed, and he was his normal eager self.

Something has rubbed off on Celt from working with Dan - I don't know if it's been that he's gained confidence working with Dan, finally understood that he can grip if needed, overcome some of his stickiness, or what, but he's never been better - never less anxious, more confident, more assertive, more bold, and yet still very sensitive to his stock, an excellent reader of stock, and a dog with great natural balance.

Good boy, Celt! <3

[gcv-border]

A beautiful run for the books! I know you will remember it, I hope Celt will too.

 

Jovi

[Liz P]

Sometimes working with another dog can help make the more cautious one bolder. It's so hard to see your trusted old dog slowing down, but sometimes your younger dog steps up and can really surprise you.

[Sue R]

Well, I tried to post a couple of photos, one of my view from the pens and one of Celt's view from the pens, but the board won't take my Photobucket URLs. Sorry. I am always lost everytime something technological changes.

[urge to herd]

Awesome.

 

Ruth and Agent Gibbs

[TEC]

Great read, and "good dog" Celt! I know the feeling about not having video running at the moment needed. Perhaps someone can advise regarding Photobucket links. Nevertheless, you will be able to replay your memory of that gather when and wherever you wish, and no wires, batteries or other technology required. Keep that one in your favorites file

 

The description parenthetically contained your beautiful farm in the background. Of course, I tried to picture everything in my mind's eye. Can you help me with the term "spring run". A spring that has a creek emanating from it or something else? Your portrait is classically pastoral. -- TEC

[Sue R]

A spring run is the little stream that arises from a spring. The one in our house pasture is pretty sad with just enough water flow to provide the cattle's favorite drinking spot (they have pumped water in water tanks also) and a muddy area where wet-loving plants can grow - and dogs can get plastered with icky, sticky, black mud! This one arises from a little rock wall with some old hemlocks and other trees around it, and trickles a bit before it goes under (maybe a culvert there?) the walkway/driveway to the west hayfield, and then emerges on the other side to trickle down into the mudhole that used to be a small pond (before the muskrats and eutrophication ruined it).

 

Whenever people write, I imagine how it looks in my mind, too.

 

After all the effort I went to to put the photos on Photobucket (I have DSL but a slow rate), it was frustrating that they wouldn't be accepted here. They've changed Photobucket since I was last on. I never had problems before. Maybe some techie can help me...

[juliepoudrier]

Sue,

I am still able to post photobucket photos here. Click in the image and then on the right will be a list of options. One will say something like "URL." Click on that one (in the little box where the code is) and it will turn yellow and say "copied." You then can come to your thread and click paste and your image should appear once you're done editing.

 

j.

[Sue R]

Here is the view I had from inside the gathering pen, looking south past the barn, the trees behind the house, across the house pasture, to the fence between the house pasture and the east end of the south hayfield - and, not really discernable unless you look really, really close, the wire fence between the east and west sections of the south hayfield. This was my view when I sent Celt this morning, and the calves were scattered all the way to the trees at the far end of the picture.

 

 

This was Celt's point of view when I sent him. I got down (not quite in the mud and muck) and took a shot to see what he could see. He was spotting cattle all the way past the fenceline that runs horizontally across the photo and into the field end near the furthest trees. The spring run, where he kicked out, is not visible but between the trees past midway and just before midway across the house pasture.

 

 

I don't think I did anything different but this time it worked, just as you said it would, Julie!

[Sue R]

Here are a few photos from this morning's work. The first is a shot looking south from in the house pasture towards the east end of the south hayfield. The calves are, as normally, scattered about. This was taken after I sent Celt on his "away to me" outrun.

 

 

Celt is gathering them and pushing them towards the opening in the fence.

 

 

Coming towards me in the house pasture - looks like the calves are feeling a bit demonic. My camera didn't like the low light and insisted on flashing, and I didn't take the time to stop the flash beforehand.

 

[Sue R]

Starting the drive away from me, along the fenceline behind the house. It has always been a huge problem for Celt to drive but he has been improving, particularly since working with Dan, who is all about pushing hard and getting at the heels (even when he shouldn't because the calves are already moving where they should move).

 

 

Moving along behind the barn and heading towards the gathering pen. If you knew Celt, you would realize what a huge accomplishment it is for him to be able to do this. A world-class handler/trainer, who trained Celt's father, was at a trial one day and I asked him if I could ask a question about my Celt, who was a son of this dog that this particular person had trained. I told him I was having a problem. His reply was, "Can't get him to drive, can you?" It made me feel much better about my lack of success in this aspect of the work while it made me despair of ever getting him to drive, However, we've worked on it for all his life and he is much improved and I am quite pleased. But the real improvement has come this fall, after working with Dan.

 

 

A little pressure to get them to move to the right, towards the open gate at the gathering pen.

 

 

Again, I've been real pleased with Celt this fall. Turning 11 next month, I realize he won't be working cattle that much longer but while cows can pose a risk, the weaned calves tend to be non-aggressive, and I'm hoping for another year of partnering with him when the situation allows. He's very sound, smart, reads his stock well, is pressure-sensitive, and has years of experience. And, since our cattle are generally pretty docile, I'm letting him work until he lets me know that he's no longer able.

[Smalahundur]

Great pictures Sue. I have a lot of respect for dogs working cattle (and their handlers of course).

[Sue R]

The light wasn't good so the photos aren't as nice as they could be, and I was using the telephoto to get closer and that isn't good for quality. But I did want to share the work of this dog who is so important to me.

 

I hear people all the time mention that working cattle (with or without dogs) is scary to them. I am more afraid of sheep. Our cattle will not run into you if they can at all avoid it but I've been run into by a sheep (still have problems with that leg) and used as a springboard for another sheep (still have hoofprints on the shirt I was wearing that day), and they do scare me. When a sheep decides to bolt, it bolts to, through, under, or over. Cattle usually (at least in the case of ours, which are dog-broke and people-respectful) make an effort to go around. They are wary but less fearful, I guess. We are fortunate in that Ed includes temperament considerations when he retains heifers and we have a largely cooperative, mellow bunch. And we try to work them so as to keep them that way.

 

I don't know how we'd do some jobs without the dogs - it was one thing when we had four kids to help us but now that it's just the two of us and we are getting more mature, the dogs are often indispensable. Plus they make the work so much more enjoyable for me - now I look forward to most moves and works, and don't dread them like I did before the dogs became a part of the picture.

 

I like a dog that works cattle pretty much like it should work sheep - quietly, calmly, with balance, reading the stock and keeping the right distance, not diving, not gripping without a good reason. Celt is a diplomat with cattle and he keeps them very calm and relaxed. Dan employs an excess of "dental diplomacy" and while he can move anything, calm and relaxed is not often a part of the picture. But he's improving - or maybe I'm just learning a bit more about how to work with him.

 

PS - Both Ed and I have borne the brunt of an angry mother cow's ire. In his case, a dog and a teenage son jumped at the cow that was trying to rub him into the ground (her few days old calf was ill and Ed was trying to treat it, and she'd been mellow about his checking it the day before). In my case, I was moving pairs and one part-Charolais (we won't ever have any cow with any detectable Charolais blood again) took exception to my urging them along. She put me down and gave me some good bellowing rubs into the ground. Then, when she let me up and I stood, she hurled me over a fence. But I'm still more afraid of sheep...

[TEC]

I like your photos and the calm way Celt moves cattle. His maturity has no doubt helped him find the right balance between rash and nice that stock respect.

 

I agree that sheep act unpredictably. I've seen and heard too many stories of crunched knees. I've had to duck several times as deer-like sheep jumped over my shoulder, and it gets my heart racing every time. I try to anticipate risky situations, but as you say, it's difficult. Still wary around them, yet no hoof prints on my shirt yet . Your stories about cattle tossing you around -- yikes. Glad you are in one piece.

 

Border collies are man-power multipliers. Moreover, some of a dog's work could not be reasonably accomplished by man or machine (ATV, helicopter, etc). They do quality work, because they are easily trainable, and don't have the rate of turn-over farm employees often experience.They stay, and learn your job. There's the economics, but as you mentioned, there's the beauty and grace factors which Donald McCaig also expresses so eloquently. The final deal maker for me, like you said, is the companionship they provide. Working with a dog is like having a friend with you. You're not "out there" alone.

 

Way to go Celt. Thanks for sharing. You have a beautiful farm. -- TEC

[Maja]

Great stuff, Sue!