jomur

Luana i wouldn't make any gestures or step into him . Get him used to going out on command. Watch the big hat handlers, not one of them touches,gestures or steps into their dog when they send him.

Luana Just a nit picky point but better to correct it now than later. When you send the dog for the sheep ,turn to face the sheep not the dog, this cues him to where the sheep are located. Also don't handle (touch) him to set him up, instead move forward a bit and call him to the side you are sending him. When sending use a verbal command (or as some do so as not to give a wrong command , give him a sshhh sound ) and do NOT give any physical gestures such as flicking you stick, moving toward him as he is leaving etc. This puts pressure on him at a time that you don't want pressure. As others have said above ,get to a bigger field. Don't practise too long ,many short sessions are better. Good Luck

Get out of the arena and into a field where you have some room to mov in a straight line . Don't let the dog flip back and forth behind the sheep rather make him keep a straight line . Do this by giving him a chastisement when he begins to do it such as a " no" or " hey" . Also lie him down occasionally to have him keep his distance from the sheep. After you cover some straight line distance ,say 25 or 30 yes turn 90 degrees so that he has to move to balance. Get some less dogged sheep if you can as well. Good Luck

Go to the USBCHA web site Click on sheepdogs---- if the drop down menu appears the link is not there but if you can get the Sheepdog page to open ,you will see at the bottom in black "archives" click on awards and you will get what you are looking for. Joanne will get the web designer to add the archives to the drop down menu.

Yes there is a list. It is on the web site . Joanne will look for it and send you the link.

Donald Always enjoyed your company at. many trials throughout the continent. Especially appreciated your comments on my Jim dog at Caora. Hope to run him next week at Belle Grove. Please don't give up the ghost and get out and about to some trials to keep you young and active. Jim Murphy

Yes and she lives just outside of London only about 11/2 hour drive from Windsor. Pm me if you want her email address.

That should read Maja not Mama. My mama was not into dogs.

Mama The rules governing the Cattledog Finals are posted on the USBCHA.com web site under Association/ rules

Donald Scores are posted on the OBCC facebook page Jim Murphy

Dave No offence, just wanted to get the word out. Jim

Dave At a teleconference BOD meeting last night the BOD passed a motion that all references to the sheep and cattle dog finals would be written thusly: USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals USBCHA National Cattledog Finals For you info and hopefully subsequent use. Jim Murphy

Thanks for the suggestions. We have decided to keep them separated ,each with their own sheep. They each have bonded with a group of sheep so all is well if we keep them separated.

We have had one llama for about 6 months. We had him gelded about 2 months ago. He is ok with the sheep and treats them well. We bought a second male gelding about three weeks ago. We kept the two separated but in adjacent fields until two days ago. We put them both in a fenced pasture without sheep. All was well for about an hour. Then the first llama got aggressive toward the other one ,forcing him to the ground by using his neck. I broke them apart a few times but they continued to chase each other and the aggressor continued to put the newer llama down. I was hoping they would tire and quit but after one altercation one got bitten and there was some blood. I managed to separate them .The non-aggressor had had his ear bitten ,not a serious injury ,but bloody. Is this behavior a common occurrence between two male gelded llamas ? If sheep had been present would it have occurred ? Any advice would be appreciated.

When a standard is used at a trial ,it is usually a "floating" score. Usually you wait until 20% of the dogs have run ie the number of dogs who will get USBCHA points . The lowest score of those 20 % is the standard for the next dog . As subsequent scores are made if higher than the original standard ,the standard will change upwards. If lower the dog would have been called off for the standard. To manage this fluctuating standard score ,the trial management should place the score sheets in descending order . The score sheet at the end of the 20% is the standard--as an example lets say that the 20% score is 60 and that is the 13th dog to run (ie there are 65 dogs in the class) . .As score sheets are added in the descending order , the 13th score sheet is always the standard . The judge or judges and scribes are told this number and when a handler loses sufficient points to score him below the standard ,he/she is called off . Because 20% of the total number of dogs is used ,nobody called for standard may get USBCHA points. An arbitrary standard score might also be selected at the beginning of a trial ,however , when I first encountered a trial that did this, problems were caused by some handlers placing higher in the standings by timing out with a score lower than the standard, than those called by the standard. Many arguments ensued because of this.

Nathan Probably will start at 7:00 AM as soon as it is light enough to see. Jim

Nathan Yes Spectators are welcome.See me when you get there,I'll be near the office at the barn doing odd jobs. Jim Murphy

Why not attend a sheepdog trial in your area.Plenty of dogs ,people ,smells etc.A great place to socialize.Look on the USBCHA.com web site for list of trials.

Go to www.nebca.net Click on Novice Trial Guidelines.This will give you an idea of the various course details in the North East.They are quite similar at other areas of the continent. Good luck on your trialing.

I contacted Joyce Geier and she agreed that I could forward her name She lives in Menden NY about 1 hour from you.She runs a sheep camp several times a year .My wife and I attended one in Nov.It was excellent.She will instruct at any level.You can't go wrong taking instructions from her. I don't know if she wants her email address made public so contact me and I will send it to you privately. Jim Murphy (jomur9@hotmail.com)

If the man in your photos is to be your instructor,you are indeed lucky to have a very knowledgible handler and shepherd.From what I can see it is LeRoy D'entremont from Nava Scotia.Good luck in your training.

I have feed only one meal per day ,normally at 4:30-5:00 pm after the dogs have been taken for a run.My main reason for one feeding at this time is because of trials,and travelling.The trials are normally finished by that time so it is convenient.While travelling ,I usually stop for the day about 4:00 pm so again convenient.Only one dog doesn't finish her meal in the evening.I remove it and feed again the next day the normal amount--2 cups of Kibble(I feed IAMS as it is available both in Canada and the USA and my dogs don't get diarrhoea while travelling).This amount also maintains their weight along with exercise.If I notice a weight gain,I reduce the amount slightly.I also supply plenty of water daily.

In the leanto at my barn I have two heated automatic water troughs.They were expensive but have worked well for the past 7 years with temps well below freezing--as low as -40 degrees. If you can get electricity to your troughs--maybe an extension cord,you can buy an immersion heater.It is a round metal coil that heats the water and is safe for the sheep.Also there are troughs with built in heaters.I use both types in a temporary shelter when I have to separate my sheep. If you don't have electricity,I guess you must break the ice. Jim Murphy

I agree with Sue--the videos are a crock of ----.I hope nobody takes that "expert" advice. Jim

Borderline Collie Where in FL are you?There are a number of trials coming up in FL at which you would be welcome to attend and see just what herding is all about.Your dog need not be registered to compete but it takes some time to train a dog to be competent enough to compete.Come and see the trials and speak to the handlers who are quite approachable and can advise you.