Last week I had the opportunity to "test" Jake on some more sheep than just 5 and in a huge field not a small paddock.
He worked very well in a small paddock and though Sarah said that she thinks he could move a bigger flock of sheep easily, I wasn't so sure.
Anyway, Jake didn't go to fetch the sheep, but once we reached the flock, he was amazing. He drove them behind me, so that I could walk leisurely in front of him. He did a cracking job. Though having no directionals as such ( comebye and away) he instinctively knew what to do.
I could send him to do anything, but he would be very happy to move a flock with sheep with me and keep them together.
I was in awe... He was amazing and really seemed to enjoy himself. He was lying down behind the sheep when asked and stopped when I told him to. Well done Jakey!
Luke was a bit more pushing and it took him about 10 minutes to settle down. In those 10 minutes he just ran circles around the sheep without doing anything else and without harming them.
Then he started driving them towards me. And though he was a bit fast, he was really good. Not as good as Jake though ;)
All in all a lovely experience seeing them enjoying themselves so much. I was overwhelmed to watch them.
Saturday 18 October 2008
Monday 13 October 2008
Reflection
The Agility season is over now and though I still have a few indoor shows, it feels very much s if the exciting Agility show time is gone.
We have break from training as well at the moment.
I am seriously considering to take Jake out of training. One is a financial aspect, as everything just gets so expensive, but as well, as I don't see an improvement in Jake. He has good days and bad days (like me really ;) )
I am sure he wouldn't do worse at shows without regular training. Maybe I let the kids run him from time to time to get some experience. On the other hand, he always looks for his mummy when he is in the ring with them.... So maybe not such a good choice after all.
Then there is Robbie, who does Agility, but without too much enthusiasm. He would be equally happy without it. He is not the fastest dog anyway and I just keep going with him to actually do something with him other than taking him for a walk.
He is not interested in sheep, so that rules that out....
All these decisions ;)
All in all this season was very nice, though we had the kennel cough and some shows were cancelled due to rain. But I feel like I have learned and awful lot and working with Max is so much different than working with Jake.
I had a few great training days. Would be nice to have the odd one during the winter, but we shall see.
Other than that, I really would like to spend some more time training some of my dogs at sheep, but it seems a very costly hobby, unless I would own some sheep :-O
We have break from training as well at the moment.
I am seriously considering to take Jake out of training. One is a financial aspect, as everything just gets so expensive, but as well, as I don't see an improvement in Jake. He has good days and bad days (like me really ;) )
I am sure he wouldn't do worse at shows without regular training. Maybe I let the kids run him from time to time to get some experience. On the other hand, he always looks for his mummy when he is in the ring with them.... So maybe not such a good choice after all.
Then there is Robbie, who does Agility, but without too much enthusiasm. He would be equally happy without it. He is not the fastest dog anyway and I just keep going with him to actually do something with him other than taking him for a walk.
He is not interested in sheep, so that rules that out....
All these decisions ;)
All in all this season was very nice, though we had the kennel cough and some shows were cancelled due to rain. But I feel like I have learned and awful lot and working with Max is so much different than working with Jake.
I had a few great training days. Would be nice to have the odd one during the winter, but we shall see.
Other than that, I really would like to spend some more time training some of my dogs at sheep, but it seems a very costly hobby, unless I would own some sheep :-O
Monday 6 October 2008
Mid Downs Show
Well, let's just forget about Mid Downs Show. The weather was awful and I wasn't even sure if I should go.
But I did in the end. Arrived too late, so missed walking the course. Chadiga came along to run Jake.
While waiting in the queue we got soaking wet, though wearing waterproofs.
Max did very well, but came out of the weaves one pole too early. That was a surprise, as he was excellent at last training.
Oh well, never mind. I probably didn't work him good enough.
Jake was just an Ar*e in the ring. Didn't do t al what Chadiga was saying.
as they broke for lunch then we decided to go home to get into some warm cloth. Not sure I wanted to return after being in the dry though.
After getting warm at home again I decided to go back. When we arrived the Jumping class came to and end, so I booked Jake and Max in, but told the caller and the ticket person that I have to go back and get Jake after my run with Max.
Anyway, Max knocked a pole, so I took him back, got Jake and when we came back the class was closed :(
I was a bit miffed as I told 2 people I will be back, but weather was bad and I expect everybody wanted to go home.
That was my last KC Show of the year. Now only a few unaffiliated ones. Training broke up for another 4 weeks, which is a shame as Luke just seem to get the hang of it. The garden is too muddy to train at the moment, so we have to wait for better weather. Yeah right.
This week I have booked another sheepdog session, that should be fun! :)
But I did in the end. Arrived too late, so missed walking the course. Chadiga came along to run Jake.
While waiting in the queue we got soaking wet, though wearing waterproofs.
Max did very well, but came out of the weaves one pole too early. That was a surprise, as he was excellent at last training.
Oh well, never mind. I probably didn't work him good enough.
Jake was just an Ar*e in the ring. Didn't do t al what Chadiga was saying.
as they broke for lunch then we decided to go home to get into some warm cloth. Not sure I wanted to return after being in the dry though.
After getting warm at home again I decided to go back. When we arrived the Jumping class came to and end, so I booked Jake and Max in, but told the caller and the ticket person that I have to go back and get Jake after my run with Max.
Anyway, Max knocked a pole, so I took him back, got Jake and when we came back the class was closed :(
I was a bit miffed as I told 2 people I will be back, but weather was bad and I expect everybody wanted to go home.
That was my last KC Show of the year. Now only a few unaffiliated ones. Training broke up for another 4 weeks, which is a shame as Luke just seem to get the hang of it. The garden is too muddy to train at the moment, so we have to wait for better weather. Yeah right.
This week I have booked another sheepdog session, that should be fun! :)
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