Yesterday Kelly, Rae, and I met in VA at Keepstone Farm to work the dogs. Diva and I got there first so we went out and sorted the cattle. This is the one thing that I truly need to do more of with Diva because it reaps the most rewards. Diva has never been a strong dog on cattle but when she is regularly worked and has confidence she is very effective even without a grip. Last month at Easter time we worked cattle in NY and it was obvious that after a winter pretty much off Diva had lost her confidence on the heads. She was happy to drive them anywhere and would go gather, but she was bouncing out of the pocket again under direct pressure when the cattle were facing her. We worked through it in NY to some degree and at the end she was showing me some nice things, but I knew that wouldn't be the end of it. The secret to getting Diva confident working cattle is to get her comfortably moving them in the small pens. From the work that we accomplish in a 12' x 12' area I know I will glean results out in the arena or field because once Diva gets beyond her demons she takes that confidence where ever she goes. Dawn did these exercises with us before she earned her WTCH and I will be doing it a lot before Nationals. It is basically putting 3-5 cattle in a small pen (square is better than round imho for this exercise) and getting the dog to really hug the fence line and learn to make a pocket and pull the cattle off. As the cattle come across you change directions with the dog so that you are working a figure eight. I also like to incorporate a stand and hold and practicing one step at a time straight walk ups on the head. When we started sorting yesterday Diva was really not comfortable with the calves that faced off with her and I ended up having to really push her and help out. Once we had everything split into groups I took her in one of the pens with a group of 4 head and practiced. At first she wanted to bark a lot and tried to step out of the pressure but I encouraged her and made a big deal when she would walk into the heads. We spent about 10 minutes doing this with changes of direction and I could see her gaining confidence. The small pen doesn't allow them to avoid the pressure and it doesn't allow the cattle to just run away. After I felt things were going well in there we took a different group of three out into the arena to work. Unfortunately one of the three was a real stinker about breaking for the draw and has little respect for human space. It was an exercise in frustration trying to work him because Diva just wouldn't bite him and I couldn't hold a side because he would run through me. I had a brief moment where I lost my cool before I remembered that I can't work the dog I want. I have to work with the dog I have. From that point on things went well and Diva and I had a lot of fun.
I continued to use Diva to exhaust and swap groups for everyone else to work and she got better as the day went on. I wasn't having to push her to stay on the fence line or to walk into the heads. She was also now willingly going into the corners to get around the cows without barking. There was a tiny Charlois steer in the group that was a kicker and I was pleased that Diva dodged a few kicks and never let it bother her. For our next work session I started with her back in the pen. This time I stayed outside and practiced the same exercises which gave Diva all of the responsibility. She was already much more settled and reading her cattle better. From there we went out and did some work in the arena with these same cattle. Mostly driving and some gathers, all of which she did well. I didn't focus on any obstacles just worked the basics and created situations that built confidence. I think that if I can get out to Keepstone Farm regularly that I can have her where I need to be for the WAV trial and for Nationals.
After we were done working the cattle it was time to give the ducks a go. Diva loves ducks and geese! Almost to much. She gets so locked in and focused that she reverts right back to what her most natural instincts are...must fetch these straight to my Mom and then make sure they stay there! True to form when I sent her out she neatly fetched them back to me and was blissfully deaf to any of my commands to steady or take a flank. Once I finally got through to her she be grudgingly drove them away, but if I wasn't on top of it she would quickly flank around and I would have ducks back at my feet :-). We worked a couple of obstacles and then I got serious and started forcing her to really take the flanks (until told otherwise). Diva steadied up and started walking, and the ducks settled and moved nicely. Rae snapped some pictures of Diva working the ducks and a few are really nice! It might seem kind of silly but I have pictures of Diva working sheep and cattle galore, but up until yesterday I only had 2 or 3 of her working ducks that I liked.
So all in all in was a great day. I accomplished a lot, had fun as always, and I didn't get stuck in rush hour traffic on the way home! We will be up in NY for Memorial Day weekend so there should be some sheep and maybe cattle work to be had there. Until then I want to squeeze in a trip to Hog Dog so that Taylor can try and work Diva. She has been begging forever to learn to work sheep and I finally think she ready :-). Junior handler in my future? Hope so!
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