Happy Birthday, L&M Nana

Happy Birthday, my dear Nana......

 

You arrived as a 4.5 yr old and now are a retired beloved member of the house. Now at 13 years old, you are the matriarch.

 

Nan has taken me to the Finals several times and qualified many more times. She has won many Open trials and did fantastic in Double Lifts.  We learned  lot together. She arrived unsure about life as she had quite a few owners and litters but soon figured out she was going to stay. She became the official greeter and would meet everyone at the door and have an extended chat with them. And a clown to boot.

 

Times flies and last year at the Finals was her last hurrah. She still thinks she needs to go to trials and when I try to sneak away, she tries to go along.  She still is in fantastic shape for her age and still can win. But I use her at home for chores and that makes her happy.

 

Nan has been a godsend in my life, making me step up to the plate and become a better handler. It took me a while but she was patient. We did great a trials and were a force. I loved her for her open honestly and how she wears her heart on her sleeve.

She had acquired a few nicknames over the years. Nana-Banana, Boo, Beautiful, Sweetheart and Good Girl. She loves my mom and when she comes over, Nan abandons me to be with her and get Japanese food and dog treats. My mom thinks she is perfect and she is.

 

Shaded Heart Sheepdog trial

Last weekend, Jeff and I went to the Shaded Heart Sheepdog Trial in Wilbur, WA. I took Bliss and Jude. I was running Jude for Janet as she had a birthday party for her daughter, Josie and couldn't attend. I just had Jude a few days prior so didn't get much work time on him but he loves to work for me. Lorri let me stay in her trailer and take a nap between my runs and was very kind so I appreciate it.

 

The sheep were from a flock of about 3000 range ewes and were yearlings. Tough and would stand up to a dog and not afraid. After all, they fight off the coyotes. Plus they were not used to being worked by dogs, unless in their huge flocks. Which made you realize  if your dog can handle the range sheep than a farm flock trial.

 

 Yearling ewes in the exhaust pen. Very nice sheep.

Judge Bill Orr....all bundled up on Sunday. On Saturday, it was 70 degrees plus and sunny. He did a great job.

 

Many dogs did not get the lift as the ewes stood up to the dog or ran over them. Then on the first leg of the drive, they stood up and fought the dogs as well and that pretty much ended a lot of runs. Most of the dogs did not get a score or timed out on the drive.

 One hander doing the drive on Sunday.

 See the trailers....that was the setout area.

 

Saturday was in the 70s and warm and sunny. I slept between my runs as I stil get very tired and a run just wears me out. I ran Bliss first and let her be on her outrun and lift and didn't give her an commands until she started the fetch. The sheep at this point has stood off many dogs so I let her figure it out. Bliss can move anything and when the lambs stood at her at the lift, she marched into them and down the field we came....We just skimmed the fetch panels as the lambs spooked to one side. Nice post turn and true to form, for all runs, the lambs stood off the dog at the first leg of the Drive. I flanker her and let her walk into them and she marched them down the field, until she hit a small gully and couldn't hear me so it was a bobble. Then a wide turn and she tried to push them back before she heard me and then marched them across the field and I missed the second panel. Nice last leg into the ring and she got the shed on short order. We were marching them into the pen when time ran out. I still was happy with her and she got 7th place. The fact she was able to lift them and do the first leg says a lot about her strength.

 

Jude was later in the day and I saw dogs not able to lift or drive so was a wee bit worried. I amped him up and then sent him and gave him one redirect and he licked out wide. Before he could slow down at the top, I gave him quick, fast walkup and he marched into the lift. His fetch was fast but I was happy with it. They stood him off at the first leg and he was backed down once so I amped him up and then he stood up to the sheep. He did grip but I encouraged him than have him get run off. He was quite pleased with himself and so was I as he tried hard to work for me.

 Some of the scores....50 dogs ran

 

Sunday the weather was soft rain and very cool. Bliss was early again and I sent her. Once again, I let her figure it out at the top and when the sheep broke, and she stopped them, I gave her a soft steady so she knew where I was in relationship to her. she lifted them nice and we had a nice soft fetch and hit the panels dead on. They tried to fuss with her at the post turn so we sorted them out as they wanted to run to the exhaust. We started the first leg and they stood her off and she patiently worked them to go on. Nice first leg and made the panel and nice cross drive, wee bit high at the last bit and skimmed the panels. Nice line to the shed and she got the shed. The lambs did not want to go into the pen so I opened it, told her "Pen them" and held my end and at the very end. walked behind the ewes and shut the gate. Great pen by her. At the end she got second place and I was over the moon.

 

Jude was late morning and I just sent him with a "sshh"....his outrun was very nice and pushy on lift but he had no issues on the lift.  Fast fetch and we just missed the panels but happy with how he paced and pushed. Nice post turn and first leg they stood him up. But he didn't back down and went nose to nose when one ewe leaned into him and he gripped her. Still I was happy he got the lift and didn't back down on the drive.
 

Some of the scores....52 dogs ran

We left right after my last run and I slept most of the way home. I get very tired running the dogs as I don't have very much energy left from the chemo and radiation treatments. I am at 25% of my normal energy and in three months should be about 75% . So in a nutshell, I have about 4 hrs of energy before I have to take a nap. When I run the dogs, I wear out quicker though.

 

I am happy with how the dogs ran this weekend. Both gave me their all and you cant ask for any more than that.

 

Now back to real life and numerous Doctor appts this week. But I needed a weekend to get away and enjoy life and have some normalcy.

 

 

Halloween Chicken Cartoon

Sheepdogs condemn glass ceiling in the workplace

cute little story.....LINK...

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Collie Tom Logan said: “I’m out there busting my arse every day, running like fuck in zig zags until all the sheep are in their pen.

 

“I only have to look at a flock of sheep and they all sit down. No one knows ovine psychology like I do.

 

“Why then am I sleeping in an outbuilding next to a sack of potatoes? Because I’m not a biped.

 

 

 

“I could easily run my own flock. I’ve got great ideas for a range of organic marmalade too, but nobody ever listens.

 

“Every time I try to throw a few ideas in the mix, somebody shuts me up with a biscuit.”

Secrets of Sheepdog Trialing

Bobbie the toy sheep goes on tour

Cute article I found......LINK

 

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A toy sheep found discarded at a Scottish railway station has become an overnight celebrity - after going on holiday to Tenerife.

 

 

The stuffed animal - aka Bobbie -  was rescued by Trish and Drew Dingwall, who whisked him off to the popular holiday spot, where they took photos of him to send back home. The couple, from Fife, decided to take Bobbie on the trip after the toy became a talking point after being left out at Kirkcaldy Railway Station last month.

Commuters began asking about Bobbie and Trish and Drew decided to take the fluffy toy on holidays 'for a wee treat to cheer him up'.

 

The woolly sheep has now become renowned on the island after locals and holidaymakers joined in the fun by buying him meals, boozy drinks and presents. The couple are sending daily snaps of Bobbie's adventures back home, including him lounging by the pool, enjoying cocktails and building sandcastles on the beach.

 

 

Hockey coach Trish said: 'It was just done as a bit of a laugh for the staff at the station, but it has really taken off and people are commenting on Bobbie and what he is up to.

'People in the hotel are greeting him and he has even been bought drinks and presents - he is a bit of a celebrity.

 

 

'We went for a meal last night and he got his own menu and small glass of beer at the table - it is hilarious.

 

 

'At the pub we go to he has his own chair and drink, and the other night he was up doing karaoke too. He has also been invited to ice fishing in Canada next year too.

 

'One of the couples at the hotel came to say goodbye and told us how much they were going to miss Bobbie - not us.'

 

 

Staff at Kirkcaldy railway station have also been left amazed at the popularity of their new found furry friend.

 

Ticket inspector Avril Cargill said: 'It's absolutely hilarious and we have all been having a good laugh at Bobbie's adventures.

 

 

'We look forward to the daily updates, and other passengers have been asking about him. I am making a collage of all the pictures to put on show in the station.

 

Sunday Shearing

We shear twice a year since we live in a wet area and the wool can get muddy.  Today was the fall shearing. Our shearer bailed so we scrambled and got Nick to cover the shearing at the last minute. He lives in NY and was back in town for a visit. We really like him and hope he will come back next year. I actually learned a little about wool from him today.

 

I was banned from any sheep work so had to be the photographer and also have Bliss do back up sheep work. She learned to grip in the chute today. Plus she had to  exchange words with the Icelandics who then decided to listen to her. Bliss was very happy to be backup dog today.

Kathleen and Josh (Kelpie) were the main working dog today. They tended the sheep after we sheared them and later put them away. Josh sure was enjoying the sheep worked today as it was something different. Audrey and Dan did the late afternoon shift.

 

Wayne, sheep wrangler. You will not out wrestle Wayne.

Tim, sheep wrangler and farm manager on Sundays He is not drinking a beer, although I am sure later he will be having a cool beer.

 

Mitzi, the wool queen who sorted the wool

Karol, Diane M and Janet, the tilt table crew. Audrey was on the tilt table crew as well but not pictured here. Janet and Diane M did the hoof trimming, Audrey did the worming and hood trimming and Karol was the scribe.  Her writing is wonderful so I think she will be the scribe for now on.  I got a C- in penmanship so you don't want me to scribe.

ME...look, my hair is growing back. Bliss loved helping today as it was her first shearing session. The sheep decided that Bliss was not to mess with!

 Nick the shearer. Super nice guy and great shearer. We really enjoyed him

 Ewe in the tilt table. This has helped save our backs so much!

 Blue Faced Leicester wool (mostly) super soft and buttery. For Sale.

The ewe that provided the nice fleece.

 

Much thanks to the crew who helped today. I really appreciate and no doubt the ewes are happy to be sheared. It was a sunny day and we had a good time.

 

Old Sheepdog Photos Part Four

Border Collie

 Another one of a Border Collie pulling a sled

 

Farm, working Border Collies

 Stunning Rough Collies

 

Border Collie

Old Sheepdog Photos Part three

Nice looking Border Collie

 Rough Collie puppies

 

 Puppies....

 

Teddy, the Border Collie

Happy Birthday Collie