we're back... again

 We're up and running again... well not "running" as in a sheepdog trail but up and training! 

It all thanks to this little guy, Quinn. My new youngster. I was on the fence on if I would go back to training. Things just got well, complicated. Life. And all that. 

Back to Quinn. He's something else! I love this pup, he's everything I wanted when I spoke to his Canadian breeder. Those who know me know I've had several dogs from Canada in the past. I'm excited and hope to trail again when he's ready.

Here we have it, my Border Colle Quinn! optimism, resilience! Hope and Happiness! 

According to https://www.songtell.com/bob-dylan/quinn-the-eskimo-the-mighty-quinn

Symbol of positivity: Quinn the Eskimo represents a figure of optimism and resilience. In a world filled with despair and monotony, his arrival brings a sense of hope and happiness. The song suggests that Quinn has the ability to lift people's spirits and make them "jump for joy." He is depicted as a transformative force that can change the atmosphere to one of celebration and enjoyment.

Embracing uniqueness: Quinn is described as "the Eskimo," which implies that he is different or stands out from the crowd. This may symbolize the importance of embracing individuality and celebrating diversity. The lyrics emphasize that there is nothing else like Quinn, indicating the significance of appreciating and accepting unconventional or unique qualities in oneself and others.

As always, if you want or need help with dog behavior or training, let me know! I can help

False Starts

It has really been a loooong while, but we're still around, and have decided to get set up again for lessons. Will be offering basic training, manners and behavior problem solving for canines and their people. 

On a very select basis, I may offer herding lessons once again. May. Maybe. 

I don't know if other trainers have the same issues, but I am very conscious of my sheep's welfare, and the lack of care by many handlers was not something I care to see. So for now, sheep herding is a very selective offering, and at this time I'm only working with Border Collies. In house training still available. 

I had students want to run the sheep, not caring to slow their dog down. Dogs dash in and bite at the sheep. Once other so called trainer, let his dog chase them into a fence... and one extreme, was a woman working her dog way to long on a very hot day. She would not listen and didn't care about dog or sheep. 

Any trainers out there? How do you handle this situation? I find I have no patience for it. 

So hope this finds you well, "we're back..... " and looking forward to working with new students and new dogs.  

And yes, the photo is Lorenzo, the llama. He's still happily protecting his sheep.

Been a looooong time....

It has been a long time since I've written... since last fall, well, that seems like a long ways off! Kell joined us at the ranch, he is a pup from Paula Bowden and is growing up to be a great dog! Kell is from Paula's lines, bred to her imported Killibrae sire.
We've already lambed, got our nice Merino ram for next year, and right when things were going well, I ended up getting sick and in hospital for pnuemonia for just under 3 weeks...  so things are moving rather slow around here, pups are learning to just, hang out, and grow up. Grown dogs are longing for the days of working sheep... but nothing to be done about it but wait a bit longer. Just in time for summer... sun, heat, and rattlesnakes... ugh.
All for now... hoping to get back to a regular update more frequently when we've something to write about!

Sheepdog Trialing, fall in the West

So Trial season is upon us, out west, we don't see many (if any) sheepherding trials in the summertime due to our hot weather, so once fall hits, we start to see more sheepherding trials. It's looking like November 2 trials, one approx 400 miles away, the other just over 200. (one way... ) December, we'll have 2 more, in the beginning and the end of December. Makes it a little difficult with the holidays in December, but it's a great chance to "get away" and get in a little fun.

Our first upcoming trial, is the SJVBCA Trail in Porterville, CA. Should be a great trial, Range Ewes, and a nice course, looking forward to it! I'll have one dog in Open, and one in Pro Novice, (open ranch in other parts of the country ie, TX) hoping to move the PN dog up at the end of the year, makes life a lot easier to run 2 dogs in open, as PN is often run on another day.

So looks like the next week we'll be polishing for the trial, looking to do well, and let the points fall where they may! :-)

Physical Maturity in a Herding Puppy, is it important?

I've been in a discussion on "when to start a pup" in his herding training, and in addition to some of the usual "reasons" of when to start or not start, which include maturity, is the pup "serious" or just "playing" (tail up, etc) there's also some other factors I like to consider, such as development. Physical development.

There's really no hard and fast, "this is the time" to start a pup, Border Collie puppies are all different, as are training styles and experience of the trainer. Some pups mature early, serious lil ones they are, and some are just pups, taking longer to grow up.

But as for physical development, I'll toss this out there and see what you think? The growth plates don't close til closer to 7-9 months of age. Is it reasonable to ask a youngster to do a lot of heavy running and pounding on developing legs? Growth plates are at the ends of the long bones, are softer and more prone to injury. (I'm not a veterinarian, check with your veterinarian for details, but this is what has been explained to me)

I liken this to horse racing, or children. I know there are children who run marathons alongside their parents at an early age. I have heard doctors caution about how often, and how long those children run. When my brother played little league baseball, he was a pitcher. These young boys were only allowed to throw "fastballs", no curve balls, as the elbows, and arms were still developing.

I've also heard in horse racing, some refrain from the well known "Kentucky Derby" for the same reasons. The age of the horse.

If this is true, about the children and their development, horses and their growth and stresses put on the body, would it not be the same for canines?

Would it be better to wait to do the heavy more intensive training once the pups growth plates have closed? 

Again, I'm not a Veterinarian, just musing about when to start my new pup, as he is mentally quite mature and serious, but I'll wait, I'd rather wait 2 months now, than have him injured and more problems later on.