Saturday, January 17, 2009
The World of Sheepdogs
http://www.kinlochsheepdogs.com/World%20of%20Sheepdogs%20Book.html
I am so excited as I reserved a copy of the book from the above link. It looks like it will be a wonderful book full of gorgeous pictures. And it is all Border Collies. Do you think that I am obsessed like my dogs. -_-
Thursday, January 15, 2009
How cold is it??
How cold is it in MN this week?? Watch this video.
http://www.komonews.com/home/video/37654589.html?video=YHI&t=a
One more really cold night and morning and we'll be done with this cold snap. I sure hope that it's the last one of the this season.
http://www.komonews.com/home/video/37654589.html?video=YHI&t=a
One more really cold night and morning and we'll be done with this cold snap. I sure hope that it's the last one of the this season.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Let it snow
I would say that we have gotten about 7 inches so far today and I believe that it is still snowing. I had to drive down to Rochester this morning to do an Invisible Fence lesson. The drive down wasn't too bad as it had only been snowing for maybe an hour. But, the drive home was hairy. For a 30 minute drive it took me between 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes to get home. I saw two 3 car accidents just north of Rochester. I also felt the rear end of the truck dance out once and then a little bit later again and it danced all the way into the left lane. After that I put it in 4 wheel drive and drove the rest of the way.
I did stop at the cell phone store, Alltel, while I was in Rochester. I was overdue for a new phone and I ended up getting a Blackberry Curve. Now I can check emails when I am gone all day long. But I bought it mostly for the ability to have the calendar to schedule my IF lessons. Then a quick trip to Target and I was on my way home.
When I got home we needed to fill the water for the sheep and shovel and shovel. Then we did chores. I worked Corbie just a bit on the ewes flanking her around. Did a little bit of driving to build up her confidence and called it quits. I am in the house for the night. It is supposed to get pretty cold the rest of the week, so I will not be out much. Just for chores.
I did stop at the cell phone store, Alltel, while I was in Rochester. I was overdue for a new phone and I ended up getting a Blackberry Curve. Now I can check emails when I am gone all day long. But I bought it mostly for the ability to have the calendar to schedule my IF lessons. Then a quick trip to Target and I was on my way home.
When I got home we needed to fill the water for the sheep and shovel and shovel. Then we did chores. I worked Corbie just a bit on the ewes flanking her around. Did a little bit of driving to build up her confidence and called it quits. I am in the house for the night. It is supposed to get pretty cold the rest of the week, so I will not be out much. Just for chores.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Stuff
How is that for a subject line?? LOL Sorry that I haven't posted sooner. I have been meaning to write again, especially since I was able to get out and work dogs this week. But here it is.
The hydrant is still working. Keeping my fingers crossed as it's supposed to get really cold over the next week.
I did get out to work the dogs the past two days, not including today. On Monday I went out and worked my dogs. I am trying a plastic whistle to see if I can get the low notes any better. I used it a bit with Jag and I am still trying to get a good feel for it. I still may end up buying a sterling silver whistle, which isn't cheap. I worked both Cash and Corbie on some driving and then some flanks and outruns.
On Tuesday Steve also came down to work his Stryker. They worked on driving and flanking. Stryker is really looking nice for Steve.
I worked my 3 again on Tuesday. Cash wanted to start coming in flat at the top of his come by outrun. I know that part of what caused the problem was the hard snow/ice crusted snow on that side of the field and that he didn't want to go on that. The problem that I had with what he was doing was that he was choosing to come on the inside of the snow instead of going all the way to the fence and avoiding it on that side. By choosing to come on the inside of the snow it was causing him to be way too tight. So, I had to go part of the way out and then enforce that he go out. He did flank out on the next outrun and then we quit on that good note. The other thing that I have noticed is that by my getting him out more on his flanks/outruns is that he is slowing down more and is then thinking more. I like that! His speed can come back and will come back.
Corbie was also being tight, which is not like her. Since it's going to be cold I'll be giving her a little break to see if she improves again. I am almost thinking that she went thru a false pregnancy as she is blowing coat out in clumps. Time will tell.
The hydrant is still working. Keeping my fingers crossed as it's supposed to get really cold over the next week.
I did get out to work the dogs the past two days, not including today. On Monday I went out and worked my dogs. I am trying a plastic whistle to see if I can get the low notes any better. I used it a bit with Jag and I am still trying to get a good feel for it. I still may end up buying a sterling silver whistle, which isn't cheap. I worked both Cash and Corbie on some driving and then some flanks and outruns.
On Tuesday Steve also came down to work his Stryker. They worked on driving and flanking. Stryker is really looking nice for Steve.
I worked my 3 again on Tuesday. Cash wanted to start coming in flat at the top of his come by outrun. I know that part of what caused the problem was the hard snow/ice crusted snow on that side of the field and that he didn't want to go on that. The problem that I had with what he was doing was that he was choosing to come on the inside of the snow instead of going all the way to the fence and avoiding it on that side. By choosing to come on the inside of the snow it was causing him to be way too tight. So, I had to go part of the way out and then enforce that he go out. He did flank out on the next outrun and then we quit on that good note. The other thing that I have noticed is that by my getting him out more on his flanks/outruns is that he is slowing down more and is then thinking more. I like that! His speed can come back and will come back.
Corbie was also being tight, which is not like her. Since it's going to be cold I'll be giving her a little break to see if she improves again. I am almost thinking that she went thru a false pregnancy as she is blowing coat out in clumps. Time will tell.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Frozen hydrant
We started out the new year with a frozen water hydrant in the barn. Fun, fun. I had to haul water from another hydrant that is about 200 feet away. Since Steve hurt his back on December 29th, I got the fun of doing all of the water hauling. Our hydrant guy came out on Friday afternoon, the 2nd and managed to get it thawed and we still have water as of today. What a P.I.T.A. tho in the mean time. The sheep are happy as they are getting more consistent water now.
But the dogs are not happy as we are not able to train right now. First it was too cold and now there is ice everywhere. Bummer. When will spring come?!?!?!!
But the dogs are not happy as we are not able to train right now. First it was too cold and now there is ice everywhere. Bummer. When will spring come?!?!?!!
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