Puppy Run from the Fun Trial

Since it is winter still here in the PNW, we decided to be on the safe side and put up a canopy. For my birthday, Getty got me a canopy. This is the first time I got to use it. Since I am mechanically-challenged, the canopy experts set it up. It held off raining until the very last run and then it was a quick drizzle and then quit. It turned out to be a nice day. We had 24 runs.

Janet, Nancy and Ben setting it up. They did it in a matter of minutes.

Tess keeping an eye on the flock. You know, just in case we needed her to go and fetch them!!


Janet bringing the flock in. Notice that Kira is assisting Janet with the flock. Tess is in the back but you don't see her. Kira stared down the ewes.



One of the yearling ewes no doubt, jumping with joy at the prospect of being in a trial - NOT!!


Ron and Rainey. Rainey is Tess x Delmar Scott. She is 15 months old. She is the first to go in the puppy class.

Puppy class....sheep are set on hay and you set up your puppy. You set yourself up anywhere and bring the sheep around two obstacles and then pen. Rainey won the class and has a good feel for her sheep. She is very pushy on her stock and has a bit of an eye.

Kathleen and Anson. He is the brother to Rainey. Kathleen ran Anson and did great. As you can tell in this picture, Anson is making sure he is getting his cuddles and looking cute.

Ben was one of the scribes for me. Kodiak decided to join us and came from the farm to see what the fuss was all about. Satisfied his flock was ok, he then helped himself to our snackies and did a outrun during a ProNovice run. He made sure all was in order and was a social butterfly.

Kathleen and Anson going around one obstacle on the course.

Ron Penning with Rainey. She is rating the sheep quite well.


Courtney and Teal. Teal is a puppy but not quite ready for puppy class. Next year, she will be ready. At this trial, she was practicing to be a lap warmer. Teal belongs to Ben.


Monique and Finn. They did quite well on the walkabout. He is very natural and a strong dog.



Chuck and Clip. Clip is the brother to Anson and Rainey. He is very strong like his sire, Scott. Sheep go fast when they see Clip. He did quite well.

The puppy class was a big hit. We will have to do it next year. Everyone who ran in puppy class got a prize. It was a real blast and everyone had fun!!

Tomorrow I will feature Novice, Ranch and ProNovice.

Border Collie Banker

Now, we all know that Border Collies are very smart. Kira is very clever. You can see her work her brain to figure out what she wants. Usually it is something she shouldn't have but she wants it anyways. She likes to be in the middle of things.

So we have had the Fun trial for the last three years. It's low key and it is judged so then you know what you need to work on. The runs are very low cost so that way you can do several runs.

This year, since the 2009 USBCHA Sheepdog National Finals are held in Oregon, I donated $100 from my fun trial as a Trial Sponsorship.

Trial Sponsorship

Since this is a Novice Fun trial, I had a manila envelope so people could put their money in and check off their names. I was busy with setting up the trial items and wasn't paying attention to it. People took care of their payments. Well, obviously Kira thought we needed a Border Collie Banker. She took it upon herself to take charge of the *bank*.

"Who was the dummy that left this *money* on the ground? Unguarded!!"

"Let's move it to a safe location"

"Did everyone pay up? Let me see if all the money is here. Are the names all checked off? Let me sit on the camera bag while I figure all of this out."

"OK, I will guard it now. I can't believe my mom left this money just laying around!"

If you want to help the 2009 USBCHA Sheepdog Finals ...

2009 USBCHA SHEEPDOG FINALS

The newest helper

Today was our third annual Novice Fun Trial. This year we donated $100 towards the 2009 USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals that will be held in Klamath Falls, Or in Sept.

The attendees (Trial Handlers) were  Nancy, Courtney, Monique, Chuck, Kathleen, Christy, Audrey, Ben and Janet and some other folks. I was the Judge. My scribes were Janet, Ben and Audrey.

Of course, we had the whole slew of Border Collies to assist us as we set up the canopy, chairs and other stuff.

We have a new member of the team "DeltaBluez Kira" (DelMar Kane x Ruby) Ruby is from Imp Tweed, Imp Nell, Bill Evan's Bob and RedTop Pat. Kane is a son of Imp Jim x Imp Nell. Imp Jim is a son of Bobby Dalziel Wisp and Imp Nell is a full sister to Imp Spot (Michelle Howard)

Kira on chair patrol. First, she must make sure the chair is set up properly and the lap is warm enough. This lap belongs to Nancy Roller.

OK, something got her interest so we must check it out.

Oh, we have to set up the canopy? OK, I'll help by moving the cover out of the way.

Must get a firm grip as it is a large cover.

It's in the way so we must move it out of the way. PULL HARD!!

Hum, looks like a good spot for this.

That job is done. What is the next item?

OK, I see another job for me to do. Let me size it up!!

OK, this plastic wrap needs to be moved too.

It's too close and we must move it far away.

OK, that looks like a spot that is out of the way. Two items moved out of the way.

The items are all moved and now for a lap test.

Nappy time in Courtney's lap. Hum.....this is such a nice lap.

OK, laps checks are all done. Now to test the ground. It's been a long day.  Not a bad little helper. She was quite the busy little dog.

Home Alone

Yesterday my good friends, Ron, Hope and Misty came over. They came over to run in my Feb Fun trial. It is the third year that it has been on. It's low key and very fun.

We had a lot of dogs so I left the senior citizen, Tess at home. We got up and were fussing about and I offered her a chance to hop back into bed with Getty so she did. She loves to take over my part of the bed and put her head on my pillow. That way she can stretch out and not be cramped. (aka sharing the spot with me!)

Getty said that Tess did not fall asleep in the bed but in fact, stood on the bed facing towards the barn the entire time. Apparently she could hear us working the sheep and getting them ready to move to the other field.

We loaded up Ron's truck with my new white plastic panels, t-post, post pounder, painting for marking the sheep, wormer medicine to worm the sheep and various assorted stuff. We put up a new pen and moved the other panels around, wormed sheep and then marked sheep for the different sets. We also worked the new sets of sheep to see if there were any issues and fine the course as need.

Then we worked a few dogs and then Ron drove the sheep to the other field with Tait and Kane. Hope drove Ron's truck and I took my truck.

Meanwhile Tess was home alone. Normally she is my right hand and does a good portion of the work but I am trying to ease the workload off her since she is older.

I took Nan as my right hand on this trip. Nan was very pleased to sit in the coveted spot and not share with Tess. Getty said the entire time we were at the house, Tess never laid down but was standing on the bed, staring at the barn.

Tess was very unhappy that she got the short end of the stick. She pouted.

Tess on the couch after we got home. Notice she is next to the Border Collie and Sheep quilt. She figured that since she didn't get to work sheep, it was the next best thing.

I asked Tess how was she doing. I guess I got the proper answer.

Year of the Sheep (Zodiac)

Were you born in 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003?

If you, then your sign is the "Sheep"

They say you are most compatible with the Rabbit, Pig or Horse.

Gee, I wonder why they didn't list the Dog as being compatible with the sheep?

http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/chinese-new-year-sheep.htm