It's the first of June and for Diva and I that means our first trial of the year is fast approaching. I have been exceptionally busy over the last couple of months so training time has been limited. Oddly enough I don't really feel under prepared because when we have gotten to work Diva is doing fantastic! She has really gotten the hang of driving now and better yet she has no problem switching back and forth between driving and fetching. I just can't impress enough how fortunate I feel to have such a biddable and keen partner to work with. She isn't as stylish as some or as tough as others but she does what I ask her to with a smile on her face.
I wrote a post a while back about musings on "first dogs" and I must say that now, more than ever, I can see how much Diva has made me. Possibly more than I have made her! Anyway, here I am less than 3 weeks away from a big trial weekend and I feel great! Some of you might be chuckling right now when you read this but believe me when I tell you that where I am at as a handler is miles beyond where I was just last year. Last year I felt nervous, obligated to try and impress, and like I had something to prove. This year I know the only obligation I have is to be fair to Diva and in return she is going to give me the best she has. If I uphold my end of the bargain then she has what it takes to succeed. I've learned a lot from all of the working arrangements I have found and I have had to deal with less than ideal stock. All of those experiences have taken away my doubts and excuses. I don't worry about what the sheep might do because until I am there working worrying won't help me anyway!
So today Rae and I decided to meet up at Hog Dog to work sheep and have a little stress free friend time. In the catty world of dog people it is nice to have someone you can just enjoy socializing with without an agenda. I like that about Rae and I am sure she will say the same thing :-). We managed to get in 2.5 hours and the weather before today's big storm outbreak was gorgeous. Diva did the sorting and pen work for everyone today and since we used the entire flock in different areas she had to be aware of the lambs and their tendency to squirt out of the group. Her driving has made such progress that sometimes I just stand back and smile. Today was no exception and she easily pushed the large group away from the draw and down the length of the back field. With the upcoming farm (and possibly ranch) trial I wanted to use the big field to practice those large outruns. The back field is very nice for this as it is L shaped. Because it is narrower than the other larger field the dog really has to get out on the fence line. The other great thing about working at Hog Dog is the sheep tend to be on the heavier side and also VERY honest. They don't cheat and there are no draws really that I have ever found unless you have left a gate open to another pen/field. I love that you can drive the sheep to anywhere in the field and then leave them to set up an outrun and not have to worry about them moving away until the dog applies pressure. Are they the type of sheep you will find in a trial situation? Probably not, but they are excellent for teaching the dog not to slice in because they get sucked into the movement and they are wonderful to help teach a dog to push on the stock (very necessary in cattle work).
Diva (and Parfait) waiting their turns to work
Diva wearing on the drive. Nice steady work and calm livestock!
Doing a beautiful go bye outrun
Pushing them back up the field to set up another outrun
A little go bye correction to keep them headed straight
After the work comes some fun with friends!
Diva stealing the jolly ball while Rhythm wasn't watching!
It sounds like you are in a very good place for your upcoming trial. You definitely have your head on right for it. That means, no matter the score outcome, you will do well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's great to have someone to train with that you enjoy spending time with. I think it's very important to have someone to bounce ideas off of and who will give you honest and constructive criticism. It doesn't really help to have folks only telling you how great you are doing. We all need a training partner who will point out our mistakes. That's especially important when you are doing a lot of your training on your own like it sounds you do, and I do as well.
I enjoyed your post. Your description of Diva reminds me so much of the obedience dog I had to have put down in February. He wasn't fast or flashy or sharp. But, he was consistent and enjoyed spending time with me. He would never have earned an OTCH, but that was fine with me. I just enjoyed training him and being with him. Sounds like you have a similar dog in Diva. There is a lot to be said for consistency.
very nice! I like what you have said about Diva...sometimes, we have to except what our dogs are capable of bringing us. I have found that in that exceptance, they are able to bring a lot more because they are now confident that they are not going to fail you. They are confident that if they try something, you are going to be happy just cause they tried for you. Each of our dogs have lessons to teach us. The journey we take with each dog is one to cherish...weather they are a pet, performance superstar, or just a good old hiking buddy and friend to cuddle with on the couch. It certainly seems that you have found a lot of comfort and many lessons in your journey with Diva. The great thing is that it has only just really begun!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I forgot to add, my consistent, but not flashy, obedience dog earned his share of blue ribbons : ) Consistent and enjoying the journey doesn't have to mean you are out of the ribbons!
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