I went out to a fun trial at Portage, WI the weekend of 11/12 & 11/13 with Sting. I stayed with friends and had a wonderful weekend. As I was arriving at my friends I saw this beautiful moon rising. It was good to get out with sheepdog friends one last time before winter sets in.
I ran Sting in pro-novice. I wanted to see how he would do since I was able to work him on the neighbor's field. I am happy to report that he did very well.
Our first run on Saturday morning he had trouble spotting the sheep in the snow. Yes, I drove from fall in Minnesota to winter in Wisconsin. I went out and helped him to find the sheep as he was starting to cross over and wanted to go to where the sheep had been exhausted. Once I got him behind the sheep his fetch was nice and straight. We had a good turn at the post and then his driving went so well, we hit both drive panels. Then penned the sheep right away. I was very happy with him as I felt that the outrun issue was something easy enough to work with, but to have that nice of driving already!
Then on Sunday morning we had another run of pro-novice. It was a rough run, I had to redirect him multiple times, but did get him out behind his sheep. Fetch was nice and straight. I am loving how I am able to place Sting where I need him on his fetch. I had to unwind our turn at the post and we started the drive where the sheep took off for the other end of the field, but Sting did get them and bring them back down the field where we penned them. Before our run I was thinking of heading home so that I could get home at a decent hour. But after the run, I really wanted another try at it.
So, we stayed for our second run and boy am I glad that I did. I sent Sting to the left again and right about when I was going to blow the whistle he kicked out on his own and landed up behind his sheep. I did need to give him one come bye whistle to keep him from under-flanking. Then his fetch was straight and thru the panels, nice turn at the post, we hit the first drive panels. And then we lost the sheep a little high, but got them back on line and missed the second set of drive panels and then right into the pen. We scored a 76 out of 90. I was ecstatic with him.
On the run on Saturday and his second run on Sunday I really felt like we were connected and communicating so well. It felt good.
One other thing that I would like to mention is that we never practice pens at home, yet we got 3 perfect scores of 10 on our pens that weekend. It is so nice when you're working as a team with your dog and he takes your flank commands so freely.
Have I said recently how much I love my Sting boy?! I am really looking forward to trialing in 2012!!
I ran Sting in pro-novice. I wanted to see how he would do since I was able to work him on the neighbor's field. I am happy to report that he did very well.
Our first run on Saturday morning he had trouble spotting the sheep in the snow. Yes, I drove from fall in Minnesota to winter in Wisconsin. I went out and helped him to find the sheep as he was starting to cross over and wanted to go to where the sheep had been exhausted. Once I got him behind the sheep his fetch was nice and straight. We had a good turn at the post and then his driving went so well, we hit both drive panels. Then penned the sheep right away. I was very happy with him as I felt that the outrun issue was something easy enough to work with, but to have that nice of driving already!
Then on Sunday morning we had another run of pro-novice. It was a rough run, I had to redirect him multiple times, but did get him out behind his sheep. Fetch was nice and straight. I am loving how I am able to place Sting where I need him on his fetch. I had to unwind our turn at the post and we started the drive where the sheep took off for the other end of the field, but Sting did get them and bring them back down the field where we penned them. Before our run I was thinking of heading home so that I could get home at a decent hour. But after the run, I really wanted another try at it.
So, we stayed for our second run and boy am I glad that I did. I sent Sting to the left again and right about when I was going to blow the whistle he kicked out on his own and landed up behind his sheep. I did need to give him one come bye whistle to keep him from under-flanking. Then his fetch was straight and thru the panels, nice turn at the post, we hit the first drive panels. And then we lost the sheep a little high, but got them back on line and missed the second set of drive panels and then right into the pen. We scored a 76 out of 90. I was ecstatic with him.
On the run on Saturday and his second run on Sunday I really felt like we were connected and communicating so well. It felt good.
One other thing that I would like to mention is that we never practice pens at home, yet we got 3 perfect scores of 10 on our pens that weekend. It is so nice when you're working as a team with your dog and he takes your flank commands so freely.
Have I said recently how much I love my Sting boy?! I am really looking forward to trialing in 2012!!
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