Happy (Redneck) Easter

Riki Llama

Well, our last Llama didn't work out. Molly had no interest in the sheep but looked cute, so that was her saving grace. So this time around, we got a Llama that was a guard Llama prior to coming here. His name was Dublin, aka Dubbie, but he got renamed by my Mom and Aunt Kimiko. 

 

His former farm, he protected goats. So he settled right away with his sheep. The LGDs saw him and started to bark and tried to drive him off but Riki stood his ground. He wouldn't leave his sheep, stamped and spit at the LGD. Finally a truce was called, all are friends now. Stella and Heidi soon figured out that Riki was not a predator. 

 Gathering up his flock. The sheep took to him right away.

Riki also found his feed bucket. I give him grain each day so he comes when I call him and he gets settled in. We think he will fit in as he hangs out with his sheep.

Ever count sheep to sleep?

Ever have a hard time sleep, and try to count sheep.

 

 

Oops, doesn't help when you have over 100 sheep....what happens if two jump the fence at once?

Sheep Vampire?

Wolftown Border Collies and Horses for sale

UPDATE: DUE TO THE GENEROSITY OF A PATRON, THE SALE OF THE HORSES AND DOGS ARE CANCELLED. WOLFTOWN IS GRATEFUL FOR THE DONATION AND IF YOU WANT TO HELP WOLFTOWN, YOU CAN SEND A DONATION TO THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS POST. WOLFTOWN IS HAPPY THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO SELL THEIR BELOVED HORSES AND DOGS.  PLEASE HELP WOLFTOWN AND SEE IF YOU CAN SEND EVEN $10, THE PRICE OF TWO STARBUCKS COFFEES.

Darling Mellinnium- AQHA, Sorrel, mare 14.2, will be 4 in July. By Boon's Mellinium who has won alot of money in cutting, out of She's my Darling, broodmare hall of fame.Cowhorse could compete on this one. Shoot off her, walk her over tarps, whatever. Calm, trails, sane. Loads, ties. some reining, flying changes, spin her around. My main stockhorse  NOT FOR SALE

Windfield Blue Heaven- Reg Irish Draught, Mare, Grey 15.2, great feet, jumps, dressage, trails, drives, loads.....whatever, kind calm but green- Out of a tremendous sire, Harkaway Lionhawk. Put her to TB sire = Sporthorses. 5yo coming 6 in May. NOT FOR SALE

Jake, Fleecey and Trout are by Sweep ABC 326328  out of RH Taw ABC 342521

Sweep is running Open. He is a work dog. Being used on flocks of sheep from 50 to 200 on the forest trails of Vashon. And on Cattle and Goats. And used at the USDA Mobile Slaughter Unit. His parents are CEA clear. NOT FOR SALE

 

Taw is Running Pro/nov about to move up to open. She is a work dog doing all that Sweep does, however, Taw is very powerful, she grips when she must but everything just moves for her. My main cattle dog. Not Tested yet. NOT FOR SALE

Jake-blk, dog, slick, 2 yrs old -this young dog has the moves. Grand outrun. Easy to drive tho I am developing it slowly as I am not a pro. Will head or heel cattle. On mostly whistles, stop, flanks, walk up. $3000. NOT FOR SALE

 

Trout- blk, tri, 2 yrs old. Bitch, More a driving dog, however the outrun is coming. She is very intelligent. I have seen her heel and nip a nose on cattle, but not as consistant as Jake. She is no coward I have worked her in the pens with ewes and little lambs. On mostly whistles, stop, flank, walkup NOT FOR SALE

Fleecey- Blk, Wh, tri- Big 2 year old, bitch- This one is odd. Very much starting like her mother who was tough to put commands on. But she is powerful and will take on anything. More a line dog, with feel. Won’t get a farmer into trouble. I do not know if she will be a trial dog. Prefers cattle. On whistles, but not yet secure. NOT FOR SALE

 

The proceeds of this sale will benefit the non-profit Wolftown’s agriculture program, YamLamb sheep and cattle co.

I am waiting on news to see if the project will be able to get some funds together so I will not have to sell. I want these dogs to work, have inside living arrangements and not be bought just to be sold. I retain breeding rights. Which would be worked out when sale is made.

I should know by Friday, sorry folks but as this is a forced sale I want to give the project time to get patrons involved before I make a sale.

Contact: Tea at 206-463-9113

 huiha@centurytel.net

  

UK snow storm a diaster for farmers

Most of you are well aware of the horrible snow storms that have been hitting the UK. Here is a clip of a farmer trying to find and dig his sheep out. It's a terrible situation to be in right now. I am never going to whine again about our snow storms over here.

Test Drive

This has been around for a week or so. I love it. Pity the poor salesman, though. Pepsi Max made the commercial. NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon's does a wild test drive.

The Human Whisperer

This was my day on Wednesday when I was training the Border Collies.

DeltaBluez Lucy at Heppner

DeltaBluez Lucy ran at Heppner in Open. It was her second year with Monique. She ran quite well and handled the range sheep.  The sheep weren't too sure about a little red dog.

 

"Whadda say we try to bully this little red dog?"

"OK, I will take her on....she looks kinda tiny"

 

BIG MISTAKE as that ewe now has a nose piercing.

 

 After her run, she timed out at the pen.

Lucy says, "The sheep went that way!"

Kathleen and Gael at Heppner

Ever make the leap of faith? When Kathleen bit the bullet and entered Gael in Open at Heppner! She had been working on getting her ready and decided it would be a good test. On Saturday, Gael went too wide so Kathleen adjusted her game plan for Sunday. Gael did find her sheep but crossed at midway, then kicked out and came out nice behind them.

 

The fetch was dog leg as you can see.

The sheep wanted to break back but Gael held firm.

 

Still holding the pressure.

 

 One of the few that made the fetch panels.

Walking on the sheep.

Nice walk up.

At the post turn.

 

Nan at Heppner

We did take some pictures from Heppner, not much though. For the next several days, I will post what we did take. This is Nan's run on Saturday and these were taken by Kathleen.

 

 

Nan holding the draw on the fetch.

Slowing everything down before the post.

 

First leg of the drive. See the panels at the top of the photo.

Setting up for the shed.

 

Comes in like a bullet.

That ewe thought about busting back then get really wise and behaved herself.

 

 

Heppner Wrap-up

Heppner Sheep.

 

That alone should strike fear in man or dog. Cagey yearling ewes that slay the weak dog or bolt from the strong. Too much pressure and they break apart in numerous directions and too weak will make them turn and try to mash your dog in the rich sandy Oregon soil.

 

So for the second time, Kathleen and I took the trek over to Heppner, OR. I snagged a room at the local hotel and got a room in the overflow house. It is a huge, stately house that is being converted into a B&B. 

It was quiet and peaceful and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We booked it for next year. Last year, our drive was over an hour back and forth from the hotel to the trial field plus the worse Chinese food, made me book this local hotel. This drive was maybe seven minutes. Plus the food was much better around the area.

 

Saturday morning was crisp and cold. I put on my heated jacket and tuned it on full blast, a common theme for me the entire weekend. I layered a lot of clothes but the chill did dig deep into my bones. 

Luckily for me, Kathleen has a van that heated seats and we parked in prime viewing space.  We spent a lot of time in the van. But the sun did peek out; it was windy but nowhere near as bad as last year. Last year, it was windy sideways, the cold sneaking into your bones and stealing all the warmth and leaving frozen ice cubes behind. It was below freezing and when it did rise about 32 degree, it rain. This year, the sun warmed us and while it was cold and windy, it was a pale comparison of the year before.

 

The field was moved across the street and it was a nice but tough course. I like it.  The sheep were set out on the side of a hill, where they blended in, about 325 yards or so. To the right of the sheep, was the setout and they wanted to break back to that. To the left of the post were two huge rolling fields that ran out over 800 yards and fooled quite a few dogs to go over the second hill. Some of them never did find the sheep and those who did, had lost a good chunk of their time.

 

The draw was heavy to the right as the sheep came down and some did manage to break back to the pen or run down the fence line near the road. Once you did get them to the post, one would try to break away from the three others, and if successful, bolt to the highway. The fine line was tough as your dog had to convince them to move, and they would slip around the panel. At the last half of the cross drive, they would start to inch up the hill back to setout so your dog had to hold that heavy pressure, and once your dog would turn them to the second panel, they would break down the hill or slip on the outside of the panel. You couldn't leave the post until the sheep were in the ring and then it was any spilt. Then the pen, which I think only two people got the first day. The exhaust was across the local road and by Sunday, they knew where it was. Tough range sheep which displayed your ?areas to improve? and it was hard but very good for the soul. For me, it was about, what was working, was I need to fix on me and what part of the journey we still need to work on as a team. At least, since I have my pacemaker, I am able to decrease my volume of my whistles and not be a second slow as I was all last year.

 

Nan was first to go and she ran out swiftly and kept an eye on her sheep. She is great at spotting sheep and it was no problem for her.   Nice outrun and I stopped her on the lift and she picked them up slowly.  She worked them down the hill, offline and we missed the panel but she held them tight. They wanted to break at the turn but she grouped them and started on the drive. I was having a hard time, getting them to go straight so had a back and forth flanking but trying to have her flank small than her usually large flank. Success was about 40% and we skimmed by the panel, made decent cross drive, missed the panels again and then shed was clean and fast. One set bolted off so she put them back together to go to the pen, when one squirreled to the side and I thought she had tucked it in but it bolted and so that was the end of the run. In spite of the DQ, I was happy with how she worked and that she had no issues in standing up to the sheep. She was really leaning on them but she held them together and didn?t spook them. Handler error on my part.

 

Maid was anxious to run and she heard Nan's run. I took her out several times and played with her and she calmed down. I have been working with Maid to get her to soften and for me, not to micromanaged her until she gets pissed at me and grips. We have been doing lambing, putting chickens away and general chores. Plus playing toss with her as she loves to swim and bring back the ball. She has been trying to feel her way into the household and her role in it, often looking to Tess and mimicking her behavior. Since Tess has passed on, Maid has been doing a lot of the chicken work and she has learned not to push them as well as listen to me. Plus her years of experience with Scott has made her one solid dog. She wants so hard to please me as well.

 

She was leaning towards the flat field but I knew she had seen the sheep as when I asked her, she looked at them, then to me. I sent her and she looked like she was going to the flat field, then at the edge, she cast herself up the hill.  I am sure she was thinking, we don?t have these dam steep hills at the farm, only marsh. But the trooper she is, she went out wide, got to the top, bent out and came nicely behind them. She worked hard and part of the first fetch was nice, and just before the panel, they broke to the right. Two sets, each of two were trying to wrangle around her and Maid was calm. A ewe got in her face and challenged her and you could tell Maid so wanted to educate her but she listened to me and took the flank to turn her and held her ground. She slowly got them gathered and brought them down the hill, just below the panel. She worked the turn and held steady on the drive. I didn't flank her as much as I did Nan, (Thanks to Scott Glen on his feedback) and we got the first panel. Wide turn but back online for the second panel and missed but brought them down to the ring. She was an willing partner on the field and we had the shed set up but time ran out. I was so ecstatic on well her listened and how soft she was. She had several chances to grip but didn't and waited for me to tell her what to do. She got a low score for no shed and pen but I was very happy on well she ran and how hard she tried to please me. In fact, she ran softer than Nan.

 

Kathleen ran Gael but she was one of the dogs who ran wide and didn't find her sheep. She had an fantastic Open level outrun and did her best but it wasn't her day. This team is a very nice team.

 

For dinner on Saturday night, Kathleen had heard about a restaurant in Ione, which was ten minutes away. We went to it and had Prime rib, thick and juicy. Big, tender baker and corn. I was only able to eat half of mine and waddle back to the van. I went into a food coma shortly!

 

Sunday, the weather turned. It was very chilly and windy.  I got so cold that I had to wrap myself up in a blanket in the van and take a nap to recharge. I guess my system will always be a little off kilter due to the numerous heart issues and I feel the cold a lot more and take longer to recover. But at least I am alive.

 

We ran towards the end of the day so watched the other runs. I was able to switch dogs so ran Maid. She ran well on the outrun and the ewes were facing towards the setout. I had to flank her over on the comebye side to get directly into their faces to turn them and go down the hill. They had no interest and finally she was able to group them and start down the hill. Three broke and she leaned heavy on the right side to cover them and the last ewe saw this golden opportunity and spun around and broke back to the setout. Maid did not see her bolt. I worked the three back near the runaway, hoping she would join them but she wanted to jump back in so I walked. Maid kept her cool as the three kept dancing about, trying to go around her. She looked at me in surprise when I called her off but she was a real trooper and very cool.

 

Gael was the next dog to run. Kathleen set up so she was looking up the field, and she ran wide but stopped, took a redirect but crossed. She saw her sheep then cast out deep behind them and had a sweet lift. They tried to break to the right, but she held the pressure quite well and brought them to Kathleen. They had to work hard for the turn and did it. On the first leg, one ewe made a break for it but Gael took a clean head grip, stopped her but was DQ.

 

We gathered the First Place for Sunday, and High Combined for Scott Glen and Don. At least, we got to see them and dreamed of one day, we might be able to call one of those our own. Scott had left so Kathleen was bringing it to him.  The drive was long and hard and we pulled in near midnight. Getty unloaded the van while I passed out. Maid and Nan ran quickly to the bed and snuggled next to me.

 

It was a good trial and I could what worked and what didn't. I enjoyed running my dogs and had a good time. The best part was that Scott didn't have to wear the Hat of Shame...."I sold Maid to her and she sucks" at this trial, in fact he complimented me which made me happy!

 

 

Pictures tomorrow.....

Heppner Caption Contest

Once again we are having the Caption Contest.

Rules:

1. Kari Carney (prior winner) will pick the winner in best choice draw.
2. Enter as many times as you want. Each caption will count as an entry.  Put your caption in the comment section.
3. I will pay for shipping to USA and Canada
4. No rude captions and I will delete if needed.
5. Contests ends in over two weeks. (midnight  April 5th). Winner will be announced on the blog.
6. DeltaBluez Lucy is the featured dog.

After winner is announced, winner must contact me in one week or prize will go to second choice.

 

Prize: 

American Lamb Spice Tin. Filled wth 3 oz. of Rosemary, Mint, Mustard Seed, Salt, Garlic 

 

Heppner 2013

 Wow, what a great weekend. Karen Mohney sure knows how to throw down a superb five Star Rated Sheepdog Trial. Wiley Targhee range yearlings who were tough, tough and tough. If your dog was weak, they would turn on your dogs on a flash. Then if your dog stood their ground, they might move so you had to take command at the pickup. Hold the wrong pressure point and they bolted and quite a few would single off and run to the highway. I loved these sheep!

 

Ann Mock was the judge and Angie Untiz led the setout crew, tirelessly put out uniform sets one right after another.  The outrun was about 350 or so, up a very steep hill. Most of the folks sent their dogs to the left, which had a full flat field then a couple of rolling hills, and some of the dogs went well over 800 yards and never found the sheep. Once you did find the sheep, you had to take them down the hill but they wanted to break back to the right to the setout pens. So as a results most of the runs were offline to the right. Drive was left hand and the last part of the crossdrive was under the setout so your dog had to cover that draw. Then a split and a pen. There wasn't a lot of pens and not many sheds.

 

I am going to do a series of photos over the next few days

 

 

 The hill. You can't see how steep it is and the sheep blending on the hill.

 

 You need a dog. Gael.

 

 But of course, the featured sheep.

 

 Fantastic setout crew. 

 One of the many stunning views.

Karen who put on this trial. She is a wonderful, kind hearted person and I am proud to have her as my friend.

 

 This tumbleweed kept following us around the field and even tried to get in the van.

 The elusive pen.

It was a wonderful trial and I hope to go back next year. Much thanks to Karen and her team of volunteers for hosting this event!
 

Lazy Night

Well more of like a tired night. As I said we pulled in late last  night and I had a hard time falling asleep.  Maybe it was the 2 A&W Root beers and smoothie I had on the way home? I drove partway then Kathleen finished the drive, while I passed out in the seat. I took a nap in the middle of the day as well. I think I got very chilled by the wind and cold and all of the energy got sucked out of me.

 

I haven't download the pixs yet but I didn't take a bunch. I will do all of this tomorrow as well as the write-up  but. right now, I am going to bed as I am pretty tired. I had to go to work and still playing catch-up.

 

I am happy on how my dogs ran. They did as I asked and worked hard for me. This is the first tough trial so it gave me a idea of what needs to be done and what is working. Nan was on the muscle. Maid was very soft and willing.

 

More tomorrow and off to bed with the girls. Maid wants my pillow so I have to be faster than her to bed!

Heppner Sunday

We just got in and are wiped. Posting the scores and off to bed. I  ran Maid instead of Nan and we ran at end of the day. She went out nice and wide but the sheep were fussy when they put the them out. So, I had to flank her over on the come bye to walk in between them and the setout. She did a grand job and worked hard at facing down the four ewes and turned them down the hill. I let her work mostly on her own and three broke down, trying to cut sideways and she stopped them and while she did that, the fourth bolted up the hill and she did not see it. I pushed the three back towards the setout hoping the runaway would leave the setout and join her buddies. But she refused so I walked.  Maid did everything I asked of her and was soft and nice so I was happy with her partnership is going well and I enjoy running her.

 

Scott won today and got Overall. He had a nice run with Don.

 

Scores are below and I am off to bed.

 

 

 

Heppner First day score

Quick recap....full pictures on Monday. They moved the field to across the Street. Sheep are about 350 yards up a VERY steep hill. Everyone sent to the left and some dogs, never turned in and went over 800 yards to a deep gully, then followed the gully, up the ridge line and landed well over 1/3 mile away.  Sheep were set on the hill, then a short dog leg fetch, left hand drive, spilt then pen.

Nan ran well, only losing one point for outrun and lift. Offline and missed  fetch panel and nice drive, missing both panels by a hair. Then a swift shed and gather then when one bolted when she turned to pick up the other three and was a DQ. Regardless, she ran very well and I was happy.  I over flanked her on the drive and but she did well in spite of me. She is a real trooper.

 

Maid started to look like she was going to do the extended scenic  outrun and I was ready to stop her, when she turned in and went up the hill. Stopped nice and I flanked to cover the draw and she took it. Nice fetch and listened like a champion, and sheep to the fetch panels when they went sideways to the right. She got them and one kept trying to break back to the setout pen which was 40 feet away. She was soft and worked them together and she brought them to my feet. I tried not to over command her and she was very good. Nice but slow drive, due to me stopping her but she was right on the sheep and very calm. Got the first panel, aside from one that  just scraped and missed  all with by a hair on the second panel. She had to worked very hard there, as they wanted to break back to the pens but she held them softly and brought them to the ring. She was very pliable in the ring and I set the sheep up but timed out. She got 64 with not split or pen, which means she lost only 16 points by the time she entered into the ring. I was very happy with her and how she tried so hard to please me. I told Scott her softness was by working chickens...she has been working the chickens and has learned to be quiet and calm BUT that wasn't the reason she ran so well. He didn't buy that!  First of all, she was trained by Scott and had tons of miles and second of all, we are jelling as a tea, She has learned to deal with my downs, slow commands and not being a Scott. Once on the fetch when that one ewe was giving her so much trouble, she peered over the sheep at me as if to say, "I want to bite this Mother*&%*(^, but I will listen to you and be calm and bring her down." What I saw was she willingness to look to me for guidance. I was over the moon with her run and how well she did. At least, Scott didn't have to wear the "Hat of Shame" like he did last year when I ran her. (Hat of Shame= I can't believe how awful you run this dog when she ran so great for me).

After her run, Maid was so happy and I .gave her a quick side massage. She grinned at me as if to say, "Someday, I will make a handler out of you!" 

 

I don't have all the scores as we lift right after Scott run with Don.  He retired with June and made it to the pen with Don when he timed out. I don't know his score.

 



Heppner run order for March 16 and 17

The Rescue of "Rodeo" the Border Collie

A friend sent me this story. Fifteen years ago, there was a rescue of a Border Collie named "Rodeo."   Some of you folks might remember this story. It's heartwarming and well worth the read. There is a video, so go to the link below and watch it. It is very touching of a rescue of a Border Collie in a major flood on a rooftop by two compassionate men in a helicopter.

LINK

ENJOY!!

Alta-Pete Dixson

Well, since Getty *stole* my pup, I am consoled by the fact that I get Dixson. Dixson's dam is Alta-Pete June and his sire in Ben (my dog that is at Scott's for training). Ben is a son of Bobby Dalziel's Joe.  He is coming from Scott and Jennifer Glen.

 

Dixson won't be here until April but Jenn was kind enough to send me this video. I noticed he fell down but got right back up and was a trooper.  He is adorable!

 

 

 

Jenn also sent me his puppy picture.

 

So we name some of the dogs after famous Muscians and he was named after a famous blues muscian. Can you guess who?

Kytiri Ci

Some good friends of mine, Rick and Terri Rashid, (former herding student and now, good friend) had a litter of pups. Their nice female, Kiri is  well bred and extremely nice. They bred her to  Brock, who is related to my Nan and Maid. His sire is Joy Thayer's Shep who is a full brother to Maid.

 

Kytiri Ci was born the day before Getty's birthday. I was drawn to her markings and was excited to be getting a new pup. Terri gave me lots of puppy updates. I picked the name "Ci" as it means "dog" in Welsh. It is pronounced "key"

 

Ci running in the snow at Rick and Terri's down in a southern state.

 

Look how innocent her face is.....HA!

 

Ci arrived on Feb 25.  She promptly greeted Sarah the kitty. Sarah slowed her her sharp claws. That didn't slow Ci down one bit. 

 

 She spies Heidi, the five month old Livestock Guardian dog. 

 

 Ci is not sure of this "big, white dog"

  

Rick holding Ci the night before he brought her to the farm.  I was so excited to be getting my new pup. She got to ride first class on the airplane.

Suddenly she became Getty's pup.

 

Oh, well.....