Firsts

 The problem with starting a blog about something that is already underway is that you have so much to catch up on and in the mean time new and exciting things that you also want to write about keep happening. I have a couple of videos that I wanted to share because they are key to Diva and I growing together and reaching my goals. The following videos were taken in April 2011 on the same day. Up until this point Diva had only ever worked sheep. I had always wanted to give her a chance on cows and ducks but it wasn't until this point that had a source. I had signed us up to do a Terry Wofford cattle clinic in PA and in preparation for that I thought that we should at least get in a first exposure to make sure she would work them or it would be money wasted. 


 So what you will see below is her first exposures to both cows and ducks. She started with cows and then had an hour or so off before we tried her on ducks. 

 Now is probably a very good time to talk about expectations and disappointment. It is easy to have high and unreasonable expectations especially when you regularly get to see qualities you admire in another dog. I told myself that I just wanted Diva to show an interest in the cows because if there was interest we could develop and teach some skills. The truth was deep down inside I hoped that she would walk in that arena, walk up on those cows, and go in for a heel bite...clearly that didn't happen ;). I had long been watching Kelly's girl Raven and for better or worse her "style" is what I have come to appreciate and therefore hoped to see in Diva. It isn't going to happen and I understand that now. Those expectations have caused me more than once to place unfair pressure on Diva and at times I have been disappointed. In the past few months since Nationals I think I have done much better in accepting Diva for what she is and her own style. I want to enjoy the journey with her, as she seems to enjoy it with me, because in all of our days working together I can never remember her looking up at me like I disappointed her. Sadly I can not say the same about myself. This is an important lesson for anyone new (and maybe some even old) to stock work and trialing.  Train the dog you have and not the dog you wish you had. Every dog has something they can teach you!