Happy Halloween

None of these were done by me but whomever did these is amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Happy Birthday, L&M Nana

Many years ago, when Nan was 4.5 years old, she came to me from Jodi Addis. The chance came up to get her so I jumped on it and she arrived and soon made herself as the Chief Door Guard, Bunny and Crow Chaser and my top Open dog.  She has been a tremendous dog and so willing to please me. She even takes my wrong commands and makes me realize that I had to step up to the plate. She is a Ferrari with speed to spare. She was bred by Laura Hicks and Joni Swanke-Tietjen.

 

Over the year, we became a team. We love each other and have become a good team. She has run at the Finals with me twice. We only went to the Finals on the west coast. She has won Open trials and gotten many points over the years. 

 

But most of all, she has wormed her way into my heart. She is funny, goofy and is quick to help work the chicken by barking at them. She thinks the chickens are beneath her so this is how she works them. She does the sheep chores for me.  She is a perfect house dog but hogs the bed. She loves to go for car rides.

 

I love this dog so much. She has taught me so much and helped me grow so much as a handler. She is not an easy dog to run, as she is powerful and quick. I struggled for the longest time until I realized the best way to run her, was to be quiet and soft. She changed me in so many ways.

 

 

At the post. She scans for the sheep, then looks at me and then leans forward. We have such a deep connection at the post.

 

Her eyes pierce into your soul and heart.

 

Wonderful shedder. This was on range ewes who were impossible to shed.

Holding her side at the Maltese Cross. She knows how to do this well. 

Super stylish.

 Pondering.

 



And some more after her run. 

She wears her heart on her sleeve.

 Her Christmas presents.

Moving the flock up the road to the other pasture.

Hanging out with Rigby. (RIP)

Happy Birthday to one of the most amazing Border Collies!

 

Happy Birthday to my beloved Nan!!

 

The other night

This happened to me....

Whidbey Island Sunday Results

Open was first and so was Nan. She was amped so I had to rein her in but she ran well. we didn't miss the second panel either. Nice outwork, nice post turn, lovely first drive and turn, then we swung high. Got back online, hit the panel and then to the pen. They didn't want in but she marched them in and they were twitchy. Called her in for the shed but she hesitated so the sheep folded back and we ran out of time. They were very hard to shed so you basically had one chance.

Maid ran towards the end and I got better hold of her. She was on their butt all the way to the fetch line but listen. Skimmed the panel, nice post turn and fist drive she was soft. They she must have hit a dead zone as she was slow to comebye so we were high on the cross drive. She spent of the her drive on the topside of the sheep, trying to make sure they didn't bust up the field and we skimmed the second panel. But she was listening well. We worked hard to inch them in and as I was closing the gate, she leapt forward, for what ever reason and they busted out. We re-penned but I guess they thought I hadn't closed the gate so we didn't get those points. She was well behaved after I corrected her for her grievous error in popping them out! But I was much happier with her as she was partnering up and much better than Saturday.

I left right after Open was done and got home with daylight. Did chores, took a hot shower and passed out on the couch. I guess the spouse had dinner and the girls were his dinner guests. The weather was bone chilling, wet and very cold so it sapped the energy right out of me.

Partial Scores for Sunday

This is all I have for now as I left right after Open was done.

Whidbey Sat results

Quick post as I am tired and staying at Kathleen's place. It was too early and too cold when I left this morning. We sank like a rock on one rock, then bopped up like a star for the other run. ProNovice ran first, then Nursery and last was Open. The outrun was about 350 yards and sheep were set on a hill. Left hand drive, pen and shed. Eight minutes.

 

Maid ran first and she had a perfect outrun and lift, then put the sheep sideways on the fetch. I got her to listen and we had a nice tidy turn around the post. Nice first leg of the drive then it went to hell in a hand basket. Either she chose not to listen, or didn't hear me (Although everyone at the handler's tent could hear me). The sheep were spooky and she kept busting into the bubble. She didn't want to do the comebye and it was a left hand drive so we seriously needed the comebye. We lost the sheep at the second panel and she grabbed one so I walked.   I have no idea why she was not listening.

Nan ran close to the end in a heavy wind that blew into my face. She cast out nice, had a nice lift, was pushy on the first half of the fetch and I got her down just before the fetch panel. By the grace of God, we managed to get the panels and had a nice turn. The drive to the first panel was nice and we made it. a wee but wide turn, got them online and skipped high on the second panel. Straight to the pen and she marched them in. The sheep did not want to go into the pen because there were three pumpkins inside and it scared them. We ran out of time on she shed. The missed panel cost us the third placing and moved us to sixth place.

Below are the scores and I am too tired to write anymore.

Whidbey Island Run Order for Sat/Sunday

Pro-Nov Saturday
1 Ernesta Ballard Floss (NC)
2 Janet Thorpe Sava
3 Dave Vicklund Vader 
4 Cinthia Mills Follie
5 Mindy Mayer Flo
6 Sue MacDonald Rick
7 Maggi McClure Vera
8 Robert Schooley Spike
9 Gayle Cochlan Tess
10 Kendall Hougland Duke
11 Mindy Mayer Flash
12 Liz Stenning Crick
13 Cindy Baker Rook
14 Mary Gutknecht Mae
15 Lori Vanderburg Trill
16 Janet Thorpe Jude
17 Susan Crocker Cedar
18 Leslie Capik Rue
19 Kendall Hougland Charm
20 Trudy Vicklund Newt
 
Nursery Saturday
1 Alison Deilke Skye
2 Martha McHardy Mairi
3 Cinthia Mills Kraken
4 Liz Stenning Rye
5 Maggi McClure June
 
OPEN Saturday
1 Cindy Baker Brill
2 Maggi McClure Rob
3 Gayle Cochlan Leah
4 Sue MacDonald Jan
5 Susan Crocker Rani
6 Mindy Mayer Java
7 Martha McHardy Silvie
8 Ron Green Kiki
9 Diane Page Maid
10 Judy Norris Kasey
11 Kathleen Torkelson Gayle
12 Cindy Baker Rook (NC)
13 Heather Haynes Lad
14 Linda DeJong Pooka
15 Fran Macpherson Mirk
16 Alison Deilke Sock
17 Judy Norris Glee
18 Brian Ricards Cody
19 Gayle Cochlan Meg
20 Maggi McClure Lil
21 Cindy Baker Finn
22 Diane Page Nan
23 Leslie Capik Annie
24 Kathleen Torkelson Josh NC
25 Ron Green Chavo
 
Open Sunday
1 Alison Deilke Sock
2 Diane Page Nan
3 Ron Fischer Steve
4 Kathleen Torkelson Gayle
5 Leslie Capik Annie
6 Gayle Cochlan Meg
7 Mindy Mayer Java
8 Ron Green Chavo
9 Judy Norris Glee
10 Cindy Baker Brill
 11 Martha McHardy Silvie
12 Heidi Hanson Bruce
13 Gayle Cochlan Leah
14 Heather Haynes Lad
15 Jo Roach Steam
16 Ron Green Kiki
17 Brian Ricards Cody
18 Diane Page Maid
19 Judy Norris Kasey
20 Cindy Baker Finn
21 Fran Macpherson Mirk
22 T Yamamoto Sweep
23 Kathleen Torkelson Josh NC
24 Sue MacDonald Jan
25 Linda DeJong Pooka
26 Susan Crocker Rani
 
Nursery Sunday
1 Martha McHardy Mairi
2 Liz Stenning Rye
3 Alison Deilke Skye
4 Cinthia Mills Kraken
  
Pro-Nov Sunday
1 Robert Schooley Spike
2 Leslie Capik Rue
3 Lori Vanderburg Trill
4 Liz Stenning Crick
5 Susan Crocker Cedar
6 Mindy Mayer Flash
7 Kendall Hougland Duke
8 Gayle Cochlan Tess
9 Mary Gutknecht Mae
10 Dave Vicklund Vader
11 T Yamamoto Jake
12 Kendall Hougland Charm
13 Trudy Vicklund Newt
14 Cinthia Mills Follie
15 Mindy Mayer Flo
16 Ernesta Ballard Floss (NC)
17 Sue MacDonald Rick
18 Cindy Baker Rook

Jerky Treat recall

In case you haven't heard, from the FDA website:

 

If you have a dog or cat that became ill after eating jerky pet treats, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would like to hear from you or your veterinarian.

The agency has repeatedly issued alerts to consumers about reports it has received concerning jerky pet treat-related illnesses involving 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the U.S. since 2007. Approximately 580 of those pets have died.

To date, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has conducted more than 1,200 tests, visited jerky pet treat manufacturers in China and collaborated with colleagues in academia, industry, state labs and foreign governments. Yet the exact cause of the illnesses remains elusive.

To gather even more information, FDA is reaching out to licensed veterinarians and pet owners across the country. "This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we've encountered," says CVM Director Bernadette Dunham, DVM, Ph.D. "Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it."

In a letter addressing U.S. licensed veterinarians, FDA lists what information is needed for labs testing treats and investigating illness and death associated with the treats. In some cases, veterinarians will be asked to provide blood, urine and tissue samples from their patients for further analysis. FDA will request written permission from pet owners and will cover the costs, including shipping, of any tests it requests.

Meanwhile, a consumer fact sheet will accompany the letter to veterinarians so they can alert consumers to the problem and remind them that treats are not essential to a balanced diet. The fact sheet also explains to consumers how they can help FDA's investigation by reporting potential jerky pet treat-related illnesses online or by calling the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for their state.

Within hours of eating treats sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes and/or dried fruit, some pets have exhibited decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), increased water consumption, and/or increased urination.

Severe cases have involved kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder. About 60 percent of cases involved gastrointestinal illness, and about 30 percent involved kidney and urinary systems.

The remaining cases reported various symptoms, such as collapse, convulsions or skin issues.

Most of the jerky treats implicated have been made in China. Manufacturers of pet foods are not required by U.S. law to state the country of origin for each ingredient in their products.

A number of jerky pet treat products were removed from the market in January 2013 after a New York State lab reported finding evidence of up to six drugs in certain jerky pet treats made in China. While the levels of these drugs were very low and it's unlikely that they caused the illnesses, FDA noted a decrease in reports of jerky-suspected illnesses after the products were removed from the market. FDA believes that the number of reports may have declined simply because fewer jerky treats were available.

Meanwhile, the agency urges pet owners to be cautious about providing jerky treats. If you do provide them and your pet becomes sick, stop the treats immediately, consider seeing your veterinarian, and save any remaining treats and the packaging for possible testing.

More than 1,200 jerky pet treat samples have been tested since 2011 for a variety of chemical and microbiological contaminants, from antibiotics to metals, pesticides and Salmonella. DNA testing has also been conducted, along with tests for nutritional composition.

In addition to continuing to test jerky pet treat samples within FDA labs, the agency is working with the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), an FDA-coordinated network of government and veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the U.S. and Canada. (A summary of the tests is available on Vet-LIRN's webpage.)

Inspections of the facilities in China that manufacture jerky products associated with some of the highest numbers of pet illness reports did not identify the cause of illness. However, they did identify additional paths of investigation, such as the supply chain of some ingredients in the treats. Although FDA inspectors have found no evidence identifying the cause of the spate of illnesses, they did find that one firm used falsified receiving documents for glycerin, a jerky ingredient. Chinese authorities informed FDA that they had seized products at the firm and suspended its exports.

To identify the root cause of this problem, FDA is meeting regularly with regulators in China to share findings. The agency also plans to host Chinese scientists at its veterinary research facility to increase scientific cooperation.

FDA has also reached out to U.S. pet food firms seeking further collaboration on scientific issues and data sharing, and has contracted with diagnostic labs.

"Our fervent hope as animal lovers," says Dunham, "is that we will soon find the cause of—and put a stop to—these illnesses."

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

LINK

Penquins and Maremmas

Maremma dogs, used by sheep and other livestock ranchers as flock guardians, protect an Australian fairy penguin colony from fox and stray dog predation.

            

Since 2006, Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group has employed the services of Maremma guard dogs in their efforts to save a colony of little blue penguins (Eudyptula minor) on Middle Island off the coast of Australia. The penguin colony had declined drastically from 600 birds in 2000 to less than 10 birds in 2005.

 

The Maremma dogs, brought in at the suggestion of a local chicken farmer, have turned things around. In 2011 the colony is estimated to have increased to about 180 penguins and is expected to continue to grow, given continued protection from predation by their guard dogs.

 

Little blue penguins, the smallest of all penguin species, are found along the coasts of Australia and New Zealand in large numbers, but coastal development is reducing the available habitat for nesting colonies. And in areas like Middle Island where stray dogs and wild foxes can easily reach the colonies, predation is becoming a serious problem.

 

This nocturnal species, also variously called fairy penguin, little penguin and blue penguin, is not considered endangered or even vulnerable. Declines in population have not reached 30% in ten years or three generations, which is the IUCN criteria needed for listing. But the situation could change as fish population declines and ocean pollution, including oil spills and chronic oiling, add to the threats many penguin species are facing.

 

MORE......

The Barn

Rocking Reba

First of all, I want to point out that you can not shoot photos and work your dog at the same time. I tried using my Canon but it was futile. So I used the iPhone so the pixs are not the best. Now, that I got the disclaimer out of the way. here is rocking Reba. 

 

Reba has been home for the summer, doing close work, chores, sorting and large flock work. She has no issues gripping at the heads and will not back down. She has gotten much better in the stall and fence work. She has learned to push the flock up and down the pasture.

 

She has gotten at driving. She has no issues marching the ewes about.

 

Can you see her?

The ewes just got shorn the day before.   Apparently no one has ever missed a meal either.

 

Reba worked well for me. With a few more miles, she will be one of the upcoming trial dogs. She will be going back to Scott for the winter. I am sure her outwork won't be up to par as she has been doing lots of close work. She has a willing attitude to please and we look forward to her being on the trial field next year.



Fall Shearing

We did our fall shearing this Saturday. Tim Sorg came up and did the shearing. He does the fall shearing. Scott also help as the wool packer. I did everything else. We sheared 38 sheep and hoof trimmed everyone.

 

Tim and one of the ewes.

 

He does nice clean cuts and the ewes are very calm.

 

I also like to see how well the ewes are after being on grass during the summer. Obviously this one did quite well. She was a bit over weight. Most of the sheep were just right or a bit over weight. The lambs that I decided to hold over that were born in March looked quite nice as well.

 

We got done around 4 and the rest of the afternoon did dog training. Then I was wondering why I was so exhausted that night. But fall shearing is done and the ram have been turned in with the ewes.

 

If you want Tim to shear your flock, he travels to northern Oregon and Washington. Contact me and I will put you in touch with him.

The History Heritage of the American Lamb Industry

Check out this video by the American Lamb. It's well done.

Our own Ellen Skilling is in this video. Way to go!

New sheep processing plant in Oregon

I read this in the Capital Press......

 

A new USDA-inspected processing facility, designed for grass-fed sheep, goats and cattle, has been opened in the heart of Linn County sheep country. Faced with a decision whether to quit focusing on meat or to build himself a processing plant, Reed Anderson chose to build. The 15,000-square-foot facility can hold 500 lambs or 70 cattle and process up to 300 animals a day.

 

“To make it in the sheep business, you need to go for quality or volume and we’re known the upscale branded product,” Anderson said. “The stumbling block for us was processing. Now I control the quality from the point of conception to the finished product.”

 

Anderson, who is the fourth generation in a five-generation sheep operation, met with his family to make the decision to build.

“We looked at grants and co-ops and the like and decided to mortgage the farm,” Anderson said. “I wanted the building itself to look like an agriculture building and not a barn, and depending on which piece of equipment you look at depends on if it was purchased new, bought and shipped from a processing plant that closed in Chicago or was custom made for us,” he said.

 

The pelts are dried in an adjacent building and sent to a pelt plant in Texas. 

MORE.....

Sheep Parade in Ketchum

This is humorous newspaper article on the sheep parade in Ketchum

 

Poor Congress. With public opinion at an all-time low, people were even blaming them for the 1,500 sheep that were late for their annual parade on Main Street in Ketchum Sunday.

 

“They must be federal sheep. They’re going to wait for back pay before they come through town,” quipped one man as he and hundreds of other people awaited the stars of the 17th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Parade.

On their way home from summer pastures in the mountain, the sheep seemed as confused as Congress, running around in circles before rancher John Faulkner and others finally got them to go straight.

 

 

“Although they were slow, they were well-behaved,” said the Rev. Ken Brannon, who stood in the middle of Main Street, his shepherd’s staff in hand blessing the sheep as they ran around him.

 

The temporary delay in the parade was the only hitch in a four-day festival, which enjoyed comfortable temperatures and fiery red and golden fall foliage despite a dusting of snow that topped Bald Mountain early Sunday morning.

Business owners had hoped the festival would bring people back to the valley after August’s Beaver Creek fire, which brought business in the valley to an abrupt halt.

 

And it did.

 

Long lines of people turned out for the Love of Lamb tastings on Friday night — Cristina Cook estimated Cristina’s Restaurant served more than 1,000 people that night.

 

Festival Director Mary Austin Crofts estimated the Sheep Folklife Fair on Saturday drew its largest crowd ever. And other events, including a sheep rancher’s talk featuring Castleford sheep rancher Michael Garroguerricaechevarria and Laird Noh and a dinner show-dance featuring the Hot Club of Cowtown, drew elbow-to-elbow crowds.

 

The crowds meant millions of dollars for the local economy,” estimated Crofts, who said past festivals have brought up to 5,000 out-of-towners and $3.5 million a year to the local economy.

 

“As you may know, Ketchum went through a rough spot due to the fire. We needed to do a lot to make up lost ground. We asked and you came. And we thank you from the bottom of our heart,” Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall told a packed auditorium of 200-plus people Friday night at a SheepTale Gatherings featuring best-selling author Mark Kurlansky.

 

The festival drew plenty of people from the Magic Valley, including Doyle Thomason of Twin Falls and five-year-old Aiden Visser and 3-year-old Caleb Visser who took in Sunday’s parade wearing cow outfits they had purchased the day before at the Sheep Folklife Fair in Hailey.

“We love the sheep,” said their mother, Ashley Visser.

 

The festival drew plenty of out-of-staters as well-many who had come the year before and come back with friends in tow.

 

“Since I eat lamb all the time, I especially love getting to try the different lamb dishes and seeing the different ways people prepare lamb,” said Neil McMahon, who raises 50 sheep near Oregon City, Ore.

 

Judy Mullens, of Lower Lake, Calif., saw a blurb about the festival in Sunset Magazine eight years ago and finally got around to attending last year. This year she and her husband brought another couple with them.

 

“It’s different, fun and it’s jam packed with things to do,” said Mullens, as she sipped wine during one of four cooking with lamb classes. “Both we and our friends are sponsoring dogs at the sheepdog trials so it’s always fun to go and watch them. And, of course, the tastings are pretty good, too.”

 

ARTICLE....

 

 

Sheep runs for her life

A ewe runs for her life and thus doesn't get to go to the butcher.....




.....from the newspaper.....

A sheep that went on the lam in Detroit, apparently to avoid being slaughtered, will not baa-come mutton.

The 4-foot long, 3-foot tall animal is to be adopted by SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary in Manchester, according to the Michigan Humane Society, which took the animal after it darted through an open bay door at Nortown Collision & Glass on Tuesday.

Like a steer that escaped a Detroit slaughterhouse nearly a decade ago, the sheep’s escapade made national news.

MORE...

Tending Teine

Vet Diane Mitchell and Teine have been coming here for lessons. We have been making her foundation very solid and part of the training is doing some tending.  The dogs have to learn to be patient and maintain the boundary. At first, it is tough for the young dog to settle but after a bit, they get into the groove. It also help them in the field work.

 

Teine has gotten very good at tending. Today, she took a quick snooze when she realized the sheep were staying in their area. Here she is tending right outside of the front porch.

 

The sheep. A couple of ewes are quite comfortable that they laid down and chewed their cud. Then Teine decided it was nap time as well. There was one ewe in the front that tried to escape all the time.  finally she gave up!

 

Teine decided the sheep need to do some "trick or treating" on the front porch. Vet Diane asked her to bring the sheep and so she did, right up the porch. It was the first time they went up the porch steps. Vet Diane is on the porch, quite amused by this.

 

These four, rather large gals stayed on the porch for the longest time and chewed their cud, just watching everyone else.

And then there was "sleeping Beauty".....she made her self right at home, under the disc golf basket.

 

So Teine did tending for about an hour today. It really calms her down and gives her a job to do. Later we had to medicate a couple of ewes and she and Rainey worked as a great tag team holding the flock. Then Teine had to sort some ewes and do some more chores. She had a blast and was calm about it.

 

Teine likes to tend as she figures out the boundary and let's us know if a ewe is too close to the line. She bends her head over to us and gives us "large eyes" and we have her reset the sheep. She loves this job and does it quite well.