mika

Well, I am not an open handler or a novice handler and I couldn't even define that for you. But I have worked stock from horseback for a long time. And made my living doing that. I couldn't do it without the dogs we've had. One thing comes to mind. Bringing in alot of sheep, some with new lambs in febuary in deep cover over broken land at night in 70 mph winds with stuff blowing every which way. Couldn't hear or see. Didn't know which way the sheep were going half the time. But the horse and the dog knew. Good horse Good Dog When I die I hope they come with me to those far pastures because I bet it really blows in heaven or maybe, as more likely, the other place!

Thank you!

I am new to this discussion board thing. So I hope I am doing it right. But I have to share a funny story. I was moving a flock of rams a short distance down a dirt road with our young dog. This dog works great and is pretty tough but she is from the dog pound and is scared of sticks of any kind and of you raising your voice. Well anyway I turned my attention off the rams and wouldn't you know one big black horned ram caught me in the legs and tumbled me down the road. I was pretty mad so started yelling at the ram and for my husband who sadly is kind of deaf. The young dog spooked and ran home thinking that she had did something wrong. The old dog in our cabin set up barking but my husband couldn't hear him because he is kind of deaf. The ram starts butting me on the ground and I think to myself this is very bad, I finally catch the ram and manage to flip him in the road on his back. But I don't want to let him go as I am afraid he'll just start hitting me again. (And I am getting old!) The only thing I can think to do is to choke him untill he passes out and then get up and grab a big branch. All the time I am yelling for my husband but he doesn't hear me BECAUSE HE IS DEAF! The ram fights this whole thing and is kicking me. Finally the ram gets rather tired of it and gives up, this may be because his lack of air. Some tourists drive up and I think were going to ask for directions but change their minds when they see me on top of this ram with the rest of the flock running off dust flying down this dirt road. They drive quickly away before I can ask them to maybe help an old lady off the ground. I get off the ram and grab a big branch and chase the ram down the road. The poor little new dog finally realises that she isn't to blame and helps move him quick. My husband comes outside for a breathe of fresh air and explains to me that I am rushing the poor ram flock and wearing them out. 'Just look at that old black ram.' I put the flock in and the explain to my husband why he needs a hearing aid! The ram is now sausage.

This is a strange question perhaps. We raise sheep. We have sheep dogs to help us as we browse the sheep loose. We are often on horseback and the dogs help us control the stock. Our old dog is very quiet and is very good. But not work quick, he is a very deliberate dog. Someone sent us some videos on sheepdog trails. He is not like those dogs, as he does not go fast like that. We really enjoyed the tapes. ( we have never even seen a trial.) We live in very brushy rugged country and the dogs do not make wide 'outruns' they cannot due to the terrain. They might in some circumstances have to split a flock in order to get to the front. In case we really need to stop the sheep. But we were given a little sheepdog from the dog pound, who knows where she came from. This little dog would be fun to trial. You can see she is more like those dogs. But will it confuse her because the trialing is done in such a different way than what we must do here at home. Thank you.