a grand morning w Jos and the sheep!

Jos and I had a grand time with the sheep today, Dan is my backup dog, putting sheep where we need them, and helping if needed. He's going to be one bored back up dog soon, as Jos is doing so well!

Jos will be 6 months old tomorrow, so is still something of a "wee one", altho his seriousness would could fool one into thinking he's a grown dog. He's beginning to push himself out to where he needs to be, even today, doing 2 things that really impressed me! (well more than 2, but we'll just talk about 2 of them)

When going around the sheep, he actually, pushed out at a corner, while going around them, nice one Jos! So instead of racing in, he actually, pushed out a bit, to catch the eye of the sheep to keep them together! His other aha! impressive thing was, when they were in front of me, a few started to pass me, and he went to go around, but... but... the ones that remained in front, jumped off quick in the other direction, not following their friends! What did Jos do?

Jos, little guy that he is, changed directions, flanked out to put them in the bunch!

No assistance from me, all on his own! I was impressed, and pleased. What a natural working little guy he is! When I back up, if the sheep start to drift off in another direction, he arcs to the side, to turn their heads and keep them with me. He's also flanking nicely, keeping off them enough to keep them together, and seems to be reading he does not need to be right on top of them to do so. No chasing, no gripping, no grabbing, no wild tail in the air stuff. He's all business!

Very hard to explain with words, one of these days I'll get someone to video this amazing little guy! It's just too hard to watch sheep, and Jos, at the same time! This little guy is gonna be the best! I just adore working with him, he's a joy.

So for now, Jos, "that'll do", get some beauty rest, as tomorrow you are 6 months old! Happy Birthday Jos!

Jos in the hay barn, Oct 30, 2012

Sheep... at long last SHEEP!

Jos will be 6 months on November 1st, Samhiem. Now that's interesting, new year, new beginnings, just have to be sure we don't let the ghosts catch us :-)

But seriously, and seriously herding, that is our next journey together. Sheep, and more Sheep for Jos. He's quite natural, liking to "control" his sheep, seems to flank around each direction with a minor preference for his come by side. Seems to stand, on his own, at the appropriate time. Each time I've had him out, he's going around better, seeming to "read" the distance needed to go around his sheep, and he reads very well where he needs to be to keep them from "getting away". He "feels" his sheep nicely, I like that, and if they start to drift off, he wants to go to the "head" to bring them back. I wish we had some nice green grass for a video, it's ugly and brown this time of year. But will try to get something up anyways.

"Dan" always nice to cool off after a bit of hard work :-)

Dan, is the *ultimate* back up dog! Without Dan, we'd not have quite so much fun, he does well, listening to his whistles and helping position sheep. We had one lamb break and run, my first reaction was uh oh.... as Jos took off, What amazed me, was, Jos actually kicked out *around* to catch it, didn't chase and grab on. Dan headed out, and made it around about when Jos did, (well done Dan!) so Jos got the success of bringing it back, a good experience for him :-) Dan sure puts my mind at ease, when he's playing "back up"!

Dan is my retired Open dog, he had some very bad experiences prior to me getting him which kept his Open carreer short. Why, are people asking friends to hold sheep, asking them to go in and whomp on their own dog, ? Why? Why? sure made for a nervous "lift", and if there was too much going on at the setout, poor Dan, was just too nervous to attempt it, wearing back and forth, getting "bug eyed", he was so worried to come in. My early days with Dan were building confidence, but it just wasn't enough to overcome what had been done to him.

So it's perfect for Dan, the Man, to be my "assistant" :-) he's got a very important job, helping me with Jos! luv ya Dan!

Jos~always learning

So Jos has been waiting, still waiting and wanting to work, but at 5 months, even tho he is "oh so serious" and is showing some things I like to see in a pup, I will still wait to start his training. Just makes it hard when he wants to work so badly! He WORKS! doesn't chase, doesn't run after them tail in the air, but drops his head, tail down, and controls his sheep. Exactly what I want, but- it makes the waiting even harder! If he had run about, grabbing, chasing, his tail madly swinging and up, barking and "playing", it would be easy to wait, but would I be happy?

NO! I'd be worried! So I'll take it, the waiting, and once in a while putting him on stock. He's still got "puppy legs" long nobby legs, and some baby teeth still.

So what to do in the meantime?

My lifestyle (ours, Jos, yours and mine) will include "ranch chores", and also traveling to sheepdog trials. To trial where I live requires... *travel*! and lots of it. The closest trial is over 200 miles away, the rest are closer or more than 300, with it not being uncommon to go 400 +, and even a few 800+. (I must be crazy!)  Now those are all "one way" not round trip miles.

Jos on his "shopping trip"

Now that's going to be a bit, just a bit, of traveling for this little guy once he grows up. He's great with everything, but I want to be sure that the travel to and from a trial are not filled with "stress". Both for the trial, and in my opinion, it's just not good to be stressed ever. So I try to minimize later stress for my pups, by exposing them to what they will be exposed to later in life. The body doesn't handle stress well, and besides, who wants to be stressed out?

So, yesterday, since we can't work sheep, (yet)  and I had a trip to town, Perfect! Jos went with me. I don't take him to "doggie" places, no need to have him visit other dogs. (in fact I hate, really HATE, dog parks etc) I just took him where I needed to go. A ride in the truck, walking in the hardware store and waiting while I figured out what I had come there for in the first place, then on to the next store.

So what Jos learned yesterday? Just to "be", to hang out w me, to have manners around people, and to see what the world is about. Parking lots, people pushing shopping carts, riding in the truck. That I don't share my lunch with him. (tacos? not a good thing Jos) He doesn't get that here on the ranch. So, now when we go to a trial, have to stay in a motel, have been on the road for 800 miles, stopping along the way to exercise, he'll be ready for anything!

Besides, he's good company! (yes Jos, you are)