red russel

My pleasure Donna. Sometimes things get a bit bumpy but most often you get the gist of the run. dave

Just added two Scott Glen & Pleat runs from the Soldier Hollow Classic. 2006 and 2008. Also Bev Lambert and Bill in the 2009 SHC. Lead Me On Training Video Page Dave www.leadmeontraining.com

Our Kelpie does pokes.

Hi Candy, As well as Diane there is Lori Schubert, Maggie McClure, Joe Haynes, Kathy Knox is here 4 - 5 times a year, Karen Child is up here monthly during the winter months... for sending off in the area there is Norm Close, Patrick Shanahan, Don Helsley, Derek Fisher, Lee Lumb, Martha McCardy, Lori and Karen again. Scott Glenn comes down regularly as well. Quite a number of choices. Dave

That we would spend this much time with a thread of this nature belittling others makes us as a community look very petty and small. Not much positive can come from it. dave

I know pups are started at different ages but you can't throw out the fact your pup was, if my math is correct, almost two years old when you started him the second time. As you and many others have suggested, there are lots of things that go into starting a dog well. Maturity of the pup is certainly one of them. Perhaps the most important one. How much pressure the pup can take from both the trainer and the sheep. Your second handler might have well suggested putting your dog up for some number of months when you first started at 4 or 5 months. dave

I need to get two dogs to South Africa. Any suggestions for reliable and reasonable Pet Shippers? thanks, Dave www.leadmeontraining.com

I believe I got Alberto Stern, Jeanie Helsley, Bill Berhow... perhaps a few others. I'll check. Tom Wilson's winning run is now up.

speaking of which... I'm out at Meeker and wish you and Nancy were here! Hope things are well. Dave

New video. Have added a qualifying run for Amanda and Ethel from last weekend's Soldier Hollow Classic. In the next day or so I will add runs for Dennis Gellings and Faansie Basson. If I can find a way to shrink it, I have Tom Wilson's championship run with Sly. It has to be smaller than 1gb. I'm hoping to edit it just enough to be able to upload it while keeping it mostly intact. Lead Me On Training Video Page dave

quick question... is your dog out watching the action during the day or in his crate with the occasional walk?

We don't have results yet but the Oregonian wrote a very nice article and video about the trial in Camas, Washington. http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2...herding_do.html We do know that Lavon Calzacorta won the double lift finals and an entry to the 2010 Soldier Hollow Classic. dave

It was so much fun the first time we are doing it again! Lead Me On is excited to offer a Norm Close Stock Dog Clinic October 31st & November 1st 2009 Norman Close, 2005 Canadian Champion, has agreed to come to Olympia for a two day clinic to work with those of us with young or inexperienced dogs. The clinic will be sponsored by and held at Lead Me On. For more information go to www.leadmeontraining.com or email leadmeoninc@gmail.com We will also be scheduling photography sessions during the clinic with award winning photographer Vickie Close. For those familiar with Vickie's work, you know it is extraordinary. For those not, please take a peek at www.vickieclose.com. Vickie's work with dogs and horses is really something special. At our last clinic Vickie worked with several of the participants providing tremendous results and happy clients. Dave

What a great post Bob! Thank you. I will be able to take a lot from it and apply to other areas of training. Hi Suzanne! Dave www.leadmeontraining.com

For those that haven't seen the trial fields I have a couple runs runs from Meeker and Soldier Hollow posted on our website. They are of Bill Berhow, Derek Fisher, Bev Lambert, and Karen Child. Lead Me On Training Video Page Dave

From your description it doesn't sound like the Basset really did anything extraordinary. It does sound like your dog was extreme in its reaction. I have one that does as well. I have to manage him very carefully. No dog parks. No interactions with dogs he doesn't know. New introductions are managed and controlled. One of the hard parts is accepting that our dog is the problem. Dave

zip ties reduce rattle quite well.

Hi Bob! Long time no see! Let me be one of the first with a request of your wisdom. Young Cap and I qualified for the nursery finals this summer so I'm hoping for some insight for preparing. I'm trying to get him to as many different fields and as many different sheep as possible. We were just in Idaho last weekend working with Norm and will be attending a couple of clinics and three trials. We are taking things at his pace but I'm definitely stretching him as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Dave

If rumors be true, Norman won the 2005 Canadian Nationals. At our recent Norm clinic the prevailing comment from participants was that Norman did an excellent job of communicating his ideas, methods... what he was doing with the dogs and why. Handlers walked away with a very clear understanding of their next steps and great confidence in their ability to succeed. Folks made big strides in those two days with the majority signing up for our next clinic before this one concluded. dave www.leadmeontraining.com

Don't forget to include fencing, fertilizer, pasture maintenance, either the purchase of shears or paying someone else (for those non-hair sheep and crosses that don't shed out completely), hay and someplace to store it, a trailer if you ever need to haul them somewhere, the truck to pull it, straightline amortization of your mortgage for that percentage of your property used for the sheep, 20 or so dogs to manage your flock of 10 or so sheep, dog trailer, lessons with your local trainer, clinics with Kathy or Jack when they come by... i'm kidding. kinda. there is a lot of stuff that all adds up. dave

For our clinic we did Tri-Tip for dinner which allowed for great lunch sandwiches the next day. Broccoli quiche made earlier and frozen are easy to prepare and add a nice warmth during winter. Cold cucumber soup is a nice touch during summer as is gespacho. Again, made earlier and left in the fridge until ready to serve. Lamb burgers are tasty and relatively quick on the grill! Folks have brought great pasta salads of all kinds and there always has to be at least two great desserts!

We had a very successful clinic last weekend with Norm Close of HandHills Border Collies. Strong winds, freezing rain, sleet, snow, and hail aside, Norm demonstrated his quiet way with his students helping them find their inner dog. It was miserable enough that we rented a U-Haul truck and put a propane heater inside so folks could stave off frostbite. The clinic was held at Lead Me On Training in Olympia, WA with 12 attendees. The gist of most of the comments afterwards were focused on Norm's willingness and ability to explain what he was doing and why. We know Norm is heading east to provide lessons and clinics later this spring and can't recommend him enough. www.handhillsbordercollies.com www.leadmeontraining.com

You are going to mess it up. We all did and we all sometimes do. Just less with time. Your dog is going to mess it up as well. Just less with time. I'm pretty positive you forgive Jade when she makes a mistake... make sure you forgive yourself as well. Highly likely Jade does. One thing about trying to remember your directions... as you stand there thinking about it the condition requiring you to flank your dog may have changed. Thinking about it messes with your timing. Give the flank. If you give the wrong one, fix things after. You will get better at it and the mistakes will go away.

There are good places to work your dog in in Langley, Arlington, Olympia, and Eatonville, just to name a few... Coming clinics are Kathy Knox, Jack Knox, Norm Close, and I'm sure Scot Glenn and Don Helsley. Patrick Shanahan will be in Arlington in a few weeks for Privates as will Karen Child in Olympia. Don is in Washington everynow and again for privates also. Not to mention quite a few fine open handlers in the area that are available for lessons. We are pretty blessed in the Pacific Northwest when it comes to first class instruction and training. All within about an hour or so from Des Moines. Some much less.

We are excited for the opportunity to offer a Stock Dog clinic March 14h & 15th, 2009. Norman Close, 2005 Canadian Champion, has agreed to come to Olympia for a two day clinic to work with those of us with young or inexperienced dogs. The clinic will be sponsored by and held at Lead Me On. For more information go to www.leadmeontraining.com or email leadmeoninc@gmail.com