I know that Diva is not strong and I know that she doesn't like to work on the opposite side of the cows from me. It's all really confidence issues and things she will get better at with time and experience. What I can't seem to remember is that I shouldn't walk in the pen each time expecting her to do a complete 180. In my mind I still can't help but hope that I am going to go out there and she is going to heel one, decide to hold pressure, and have no problem going to the heads. Of course what happens is I end up needing to really support her and sometimes cheerlead which leads to me getting frustrated and feeling disappointed. I hope that because I am aware of this issue I will one day manage to get control and not put so much pressure on Diva to perform to my "perfect picture".
The first trip in the pen Amanda had put in one of her lighter groups to help give Diva some confidence that they would move. Diva did her normal power bark to get things started and try and create motion. The cows were not terribly impressed by this so I had to get her really pumped up and force her to stay in the pocket. I had her driving them down the fence through a chute and then I was trying to flip her around to the heads and put them back through. When sending to the heads she doesn't want to hold pressure as they stare at her so instead she bounces back out and goes in barking. I don't want to make it sound like we had no successes though. She was able to work through a standoff in getting the cows through the zigzag chute and there were a couple of times that I sent her around and she was fetching them back to me which is a big deal for Diva on cows.
Kelly had come out to Amanda's also so in between our work sessions we chatted about my concerns and frustrations. Kelly offered to let Diva and I come in the pen with them for the 2nd go just to see what watching Raven would do for Diva. The plan (as usual ;-)) was for me to not say a whole lot and just let Diva work beside Raven. At first she was staying close to me but once Raven went for that first heel Diva seemed to get pumped up and went in barking too. To her credit Raven did a great job letting Diva be where she wanted and also letting her go ahead when she was confident. Truth be told I think Raven likes to clean up the messes Diva makes :-). While they continued to work together Diva was getting closer and closer to gripping but she was also doing so very high. I made a comment to Kelly as we were watching them that she was going to get rocked in a minute and sure enough she charged in and took a solid kick to the side of the face. Three things happened simultaneously...1.) I heard Lucille gasp from where she was sitting outside the pen 2.) Diva looked shocked, and 3.) Kelly say's to me "Get her back working!", lol! So off I go with Diva to the cows and start encouraging her to get back in there. She didn't quit but I could tell she was more cautious for a few minutes there after. The last exercise we decided to set up was one to try and help Diva feel like she could turn the cows by going to their heads. Kelly had Raven push them through the chute up the fence line while Diva waited. When they cleared the obstacle I was supposed to send Diva to the heads to turn them and at the same time Kelly would kick Raven way out wide so that she came in behind Diva to apply pressure and help her succeed. We did this a couple of times and then Kelly and Raven left so that Diva could finish up a little work on her own.
Diva really lights up when she gets to work with a another dog so whenever we have this chance I will take it. I feel very lucky to have friends like Kelly and Dawn who both have strong cattle dogs that are ok with having Diva in there beside them. I plan on getting out to work the cows a few more times in the month of July. Started cattle should be no issue and I hope that with me being able to hold my side at the center obstacle in open we will do well there also. It's all part of the journey and in this matter patience will get me much farther. Maybe I should have a shirt made with that on it so I remember ;-)!
These are a couple of pictures from after we got done working and I think from the expression on her face she seems pretty happy!
It's VERY hard not to put expectations on our dogs that they aren't ready for or that isn't their working style. I'm guilty of that myself. I'd been comparing my dog in my mind to others when I read their blogs or watched their videos and that was causing some unfair expectations for my dog. But, it sounds like you've figured it out like I eventually did. We have the dog that we need. It is up to us to learn with and from that dog. Diva is teaching you a lot about being a handler, and importantly, you are learning. Sometimes, we miss the lessons our dogs are teaching. Sounds like you are getting it. I'm really enjoying your blog.
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