Clinic with Gordon and progress update

We haven't been herding much lately because its been trials time and Laurie is busy helping with trials or competing with Bandit so Bandit can qualify for the 2011 Aussie Nationals.  I attended an AKC and ASCA stockdog trial to see how these things work and to get Fly used to the environment.  It happened that both of these trials were at the same farm in Washington MO.  It was nice to meet some people and I even got some experience moving stock when I was drafted to help at the ASCA trial. 

Fly and I got about 10 minutes of work after the first trial day of ASCA.  It was light attendance and we were just getting the stock ready for the next day.  We basically ran a 'started' course, thru two gates, along the fence.  Fly did pretty good considering it had been 3 weeks since she'd worked any sheep.

I met Jerry and Sharon Rowe from Kansas who have been in the Aussie world for about 40 years plus.  I then audited one day of his clinic and learned about the sheep pressure 'bubble' and how when dogs get too close into the bubble, the sheep explode.  Very good explanation!  Also , Sharon helped me with getting respect from Fly .  I realized that I'd been letting her get away with badness, pulling me around the field, etc.  We are making good progress here!  Now all the dogs have to sit/stay when I open a door, I go out first, then they come out and sit/stay again while I close the door.  THEN they can be released.  Its definitely taking a lot of the doorway chaos out of the picture!  I also need to work on 'with me' when walking with Fly . She is NOT allowed to be the boss!

Finally we had another lesson and we are working on smoother outruns.  Fly has a tendancy to cut in too close.  We need to round out that 'outrun' and make it smoother and calmer.   Then Tuesday of this week we had a clinic with Gordon Watts.  Back in June we tried to go but Fly wouldn't work for Laurie and I wasn't ready either.  Gordon said 'big improvement'!  yay!  Fly worked well and Gordon helped me out the outruns. 

What I need to do is be on the far side of the sheep before we start with Fly on a stay.  Then ask her just to walk, as in fetching. THEN I can turn a bit as I described in an earlier post, this sets Fly up to do a little outrun to get around the sheep.  I use the 'shhh, shhh ' sound to tell her to go around.  The fact that she is already walking helps keep the whole process calm.  I can also add the 'come by' and 'away' flanking commands to teach her direction.  We had a 2nd session at the end of the day , very short, and we did MUCH better.  Gordon also stressed that short quality sessions are MUCH better than training too long and getting bad results.  Can't wait for more sheep time!

Half Square Triangles awesome sewing trick

This way of sewing all around the blocks and then cutting twice is awesome!

Missouri Quilt Company HST trick

Zen sheep herding.

Had a good session sheep herding last Friday. and Monday about 5 of us are all going to spend the afternoon taking lessons and watching each other. Can't think of a BETTER way of celebrating Labor Day!

Some notes here to remember what we learned on Friday:
1 - Default action is to fetch those sheep. Fly and I have learned this pretty well. She balances nicely to me and amazingly doesn't push them too hard any more! I'm able to zig-zag about and she follows nicely! So, when things aren't working out well, FETCH!

2 - We want to teach Fly that she doesn't need to BAM into the sheep. There are other ways of approach. So, to teach this, during a fetch I would ask her to 'Lie Down'. At this point I want a good stop. I keep moving away with the sheep. Then I can ask her to 'walk' and to start walking again. Getting her to start walking during all this nice calm time will encourage her to be gentle.

3 - Get Fly to have a wider outrun. While we are fetching, I can ask Fly to 'Lie Down'. This time she doesn't have to stop but a hesitation would be good enough at this point. This gives me a moment or two to come round the sheep so we are only about 3 hours apart on the clock with the sheep in the middle. Then I use the 'shhhhoe sssshoe' sound (which means go round the sheep) to get her to balance to me on the opposite side of the sheep. If Fly is cutting in straight at the sheep instead of nice and round and wide, I can say 'HEY YOU' to get her to go wider.

4 - We also want a calmer pickup at the beginning. I need to be calmer myself. I need to get closer to the sheep, put fly on a stay, and then get between her and the sheep.. Then ask her to 'shhoe, sshhoe' and only HEY if she is too straight. One thing Laurie said is 'there is no emotion in herding'. I don't need to get angry with Fly , just let her know she should stop doing whatever it is she is doing. All the while, keeping calm.

Would that be Zen sheep herding?

Updated my blog design!

What do you think? It was time for a makeover. I really like the new colors and green is my favorite of all!

Also, a wonderful quilting reference for my fellow quilters was added to my favorite links. quiltinglibrary.blogspot.com. As Betty will attest, you can spend HOURS on this web site.

Go Cutter - what a great new tool for quilters!

Ok, today I'm just trying to win a Go cutter. If you haven't heard of it, its a new way to cut fabric for quilting and its a HUGE time saver. I've been trying to win one for the last month with all the great giveaways. If i don't win one before Christmas, this would be a great present! HINT, HINT! .

Go to http://www.ryanwalshquilts.com/ for a giveaway this week.

I'm going to ask for the 2.5" strip cutter, Winding Ways, and Blazing Star templates. If you need that web site, here it is accuquilt

FYI, we are semi-finishing the unfinished space, will have to rename it the 'Quilting Room' and then i'll have a nice warm, bright space to play with quilts.

Loving the cool rain today, its kinda overcast and gray but I love the sound of rain.

Yes, we CAN move those sheep

Well, its been 4 months since we started herding with Laurie. I've been working fly since early July. We've both learned a lot. Fly has a decent pickup of the herd and does well with fetching them to me. She is balanced now which means she stays on the opposite side of the herd from me. We are ready to learn 'come by' and 'away' now! These are long videos but a very good example of what we do at each lesson. Laurie will tell me one or two things to correct each time. Wow, this is so much fun! Be sure to listen to Laurie on the audio, some interesting comments about herding, Fly , and the first time her dog ever saw ducks (at a trial!)

Part 1 of the Lesson


Part 2 of the lesson

Yes, I DO have other hobbies!

Ok, just so you don't think that dogs and horses are my only active hobbies, here is a quilt that my daughter made. I did finish the border for her and also pieced the backing. We skyped to make decisions and I'm very happy with the final product. What do you think?