Liz K

Good to know - being new to ducks, it will be a real learning experience.

This may be a dumb question, but we've never had ducks before...Would electronet be a viable way of keeping predators out of duck areas without electrocuting the ducks? We are planning on having ducks and are concerned about coyotes and raccoons finding the duck arena a buffet... Liz K

Hi, All - Looking for some ewes in OH for a small production farm, meat and possibly wool. And for training and trialing. Rams are Border Leicesters and will arrive in a couple of weeks. My boyfriend would like some North Country Cheviot ewes because he had wonderful success with this cross before. The wool was nice and the buyers loved the taste of the lamb meat. Ewes were productive, lambs were hearty. But he's been thinking about trying Texel ewes in the future. We saw some lambs (but not in person) and they looked MEATY. Questions to the group: 1) Anyone know of any North County Cheviot producers we might be able to pick up some ewes? We are eventually hoping for a steady flock of 70-80 ewes plus lambs in the next year. 2) Anyone had any experience with Texels? Primarily, it would be nice to hear about their breakability for dogs and the taste of their meat. I've read a post in another topic about the gaminess or muttonness of certain breeds' meats. We don't want easily dog broken stock, and don't plan to overwork any breed we may get. All opinions welcome, and thanks in advance - Liz K.

Thanks, Amy! I can feel more confident that I can walk on the course with an assistive device that doubles as a stockcane now! Stability is important...but feeling hobbled and not completely recovered is a real bummer. Liz

Thanks, Charlie - I checked the USBCHA rules last night and could not find anything either, but it was really late and I'm just a novice - this is my second USBCHA trial. The last one was Bluegrass last year, and we are coming back for more! Maybe some numbers instead of letters this time, and maybe a dog that doesn't help the sheep grow wings and fly over the fence, too! LOL!!! I completely understand about the blind person's cane reference. My fiberglass one is white with an orange tip. I guess I could email the judge, explain my situation, and see what he will let me use. That way, I'm not caught unprepared beforehand. And I LOVE the idea of going to a thrift shop - you just saved me some $$ if I can find a cane at one of the many thrift shops in the area. Thank you!! Liz

Hi, Everyone - I recently underwent extensive knee surgery and will be trialing in about 10 days. The doctor said I can do anything I want, and this falls under that category (PLEASE, no flaming...) I still can't get around the field without some assistance, and my fiberglass stock cane does not support me well. What are the parameters for a "legal" stockcane for use on the field? If I have a normal cane like one would use to assist in walking, and it has a crook, is it still legal? Should I get a big wooden dowel and cut it down to size so there is no crook? I won't pull out of the trial for this, and would never ask someone else to run my dog, so those aren't options. Any suggestions before I run to the drugstore and buy a cane? Thanks in advance - Liz Klenk

Hi all, Lamborn Farms in East Canton, Ohio is hosting a Roger Stevens Stockdog Clinic June 13-14. All breeds of dogs and levels of training are welcome. The weekend is designed to work on whatever herding problems the handler chooses. Working Spots - $200 for the entire weekend Auditors - $40 per day Space will be limited to approximately 12 working dogs/ teams. There will be limited space for Auditors. Please contact us for more info. clay_bolder@hotmail.com Link to flyer and entry form is below http://ohiostockdogs.webs.com/Images/Roger...ns_clinicv1.pdf Please feel free to crosspost.......

Hi, Vergil! I've got a girl who does a fairly nice outrun and fetch. It's the lift where we have trouble. Haley hits the sheeps' bubble and blasts right through it...does not slow down or stop or lie down even when we do a short OLF and I can get to her and make her lie down or stop. My solution has been to take away the sheep if I can't make her stop, because I generally don't have an extra person with me to set out the sheep. Working with lambs or reactive sheep is difficult because of our inability to get a good stop/slow at the top, pushing the sheep about halfway to me before she calms down and "steadies" out behind the flock. Any suggestion would be helpful since I'll be out working the sheep tomorrow. Thanks! Liz Klenk & Haley & Dryden

Update on Haley's progress... We got to work some very dog broke ducks yesterday. For a good 3-5 minutes, Haley was busy looking at the sheep in the fields behind and aside the duck arena. She would "come by" and "away to me" but kept looking for the sheep to gather for me. I even pointed at the ducks when they were moving, and told her that was what she was supposed to be working. She craned her neck around me and strained to find where the sheep were. Finally, I thought, "This is it - the make or break." The ducks were on the move, I grabbed her collar and dragged her up to the last duck's tail. They scattered, and Haley's ears stood straight up. I could see the light bulb go off over her head. "AHA! THESE are what you wanted me to work. Okay!" And off she went. She gripped one because it wasn't moving fast enough (no damage, and a whack of the rattle paddle on the ground was enough to make her back off) but kept working them for about 10 minutes before I took her out. Guess I now have a duck dog, too. Have not tried cattle yet. That opportunity may fall through until May. I may try Dryden out on ducks again, too, just in case he does have an interest. About a year ago, he didn't. But I didn't take the time to see whether getting close to them clarified the situation for him - he reacted much as Haley did, looking for the sheep in the back field. If he doesn't, that's okay. Thanks for the encouragement. Will check back to let you know how Dry's attempt at ducks goes next week. Liz, Iago, Dryden, & Haley

Thanks to everyone who responded! We get our chance in 12 days...If I did not fully trust my trainer, I would be worried, but all the responses have made me feel good about at least trying it in a controlled situation, as much as one can control training. Wish us luck - will update when we get back. Liz, Iago, Dryden & Haley

Hi, All! I have a very intense female who will be starting USBCHA trials at the Novice/Novice level this year. We have done AHBA and ASCA trials for the past 2 years. We only have experience on sheep, primarily hair sheep with some exposure to dogs. I have the opportunity to start working Haley on cattle and ducks, both of which are dog experienced and appropriate for a beginner dog. I have a volunteer trainer. All it costs is the cost of gas to travel a few hours. (Yeah, that's ALL (LOL!!), but if I share a ride with my trainer, it's only half of the total cost...) Anyone have any experience in cross-species herding training? Do the things I've learned about sheep apply to ducks and cattle? Would it be more detrimental to try training on ducks and/or cattle? My biggest concern is potential for injury, but if I was on well behaved stock and had control of my dog, that would be minimized. Am I biting off too much? What do I need to know??? Any input (pro, con, or otherwise) on or off list is appreciated. Thanks, Liz Haley (who would love to herd any animal, big, small, or in between) Dryden (who couldn't care less about ducks but loves to think he could herd horses - I DON'T LET HIM!) and Iago (who barks at sheep)

Hi, Bev! Back with another question. I am planning on running Haley in the Novice level at Bluegrass this year. It's about a 100-yard outrun. I asked someone if I could train at her facilities (3 hours away) because I need a longer training field. The response included a comment that I should have a minimum of a 300-yard outrun in this person's opinion before I entered a 100-yard trial. Now, I would love to have a 300-yard outrun. First, there is the problem of finding a place to practice a 300-yard outrun in this area, since I have at most, an 80-yard facility to which I can go twice a week. Second, I saw a situation at a time/point arena trial this past weekend where the dog did not even see the sheep 100 yards in front of him, because he was trained to a much longer outrun and was looking for sheep in the field across the street. He nearly timed out on the outrun looking for the sheep. What's your opinion on having a significantly longer outrun, then cutting it down? Versus working up to the outrun of 100 yards by reinforcing the positive and being in the right position to train/correct? And am I missing anything? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks, Liz

Becca, Haley does that kind of thing, too, but not so intently that she forgets where she is walking. At least, not yet. I have to be careful where I park when I go to the farm because she will work the sheep from the car. She can break it off if I reprimand her...well, for a second or so...but she does not relax around the sheep. She has learned not to pull me to the gate, and that she's not getting through the gate until I say she's getting in. Would love to hear more specific details about dealing with that type of problem as well. (I thought the DOG was supposed to mesmerize the SHEEP!! LOL!) Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you and your crew...sounds like a holiday feast! Liz, Iago, Dryden & Haley

No, this person is a self proclaimed non expert on Border Collies. Competes in all breed venues with a different, upright breed of dog. I've heard from others that I need to find a BC person. If anyone can suggest a trainer in the Ohio area privately off list, that would be appreciated. If that's not allowed, sorry I asked, did not mean to break rules...I AM only a junior member on the list!!

Julie & Danielle - Wow! Someone else who's thinking about training on Christmas Eve! I knew I was in good company! Thank you for "saying out loud" what I was thinking. I really felt uncomfortable and stressed by forcing her to do that. My trainer is not a BC person, and I really need to find a respected BC trainer in my area. Haley's got great focus on the sheep and I don't want to mess that up. Widen her outrun...get better pacing on her drive...get a little more confident in pulling sheep off grain...yeah. Quit looking at sheep...not so much. Thanks again - Liz, Dryden & Haley