Sheep herding and weaves

I took Tigg and Chip on a sheep herding day, this was just a session to see if your dog had the herding instinct. Although I had tried Chip on sheep before and he was actually quite good, the difference was I was in the pen with the sheep and Chip was on the outside, this time it was one big pen with the dog in the pen with the sheep. Therefore as Chip could now be with me (rather than outside a pen) he spent the whole time walking backwards staring up at me. Tigg on the other hand was excellent. From the minute he saw the sheep he didn't take his eyes off them. I let him off the lead and he went straight around the back of them, I was able to tell him to lie down as he got around the back of them as you don't want the dog to just keep going round and round in circle.

He was even strong enough to squeeze his way between the sheep and the fence to get them away from the fence, whereas alot of the dogs would just hold them against the fence.

Elaine came with me and she worked him the second time as I tore my Plantar Fasciia tendon in my other foot whilst working Chip. Tigg was really good and it was good to sit on the outside and watch him and as Elaine said it felt good to feel like you were in control of the sheep and the dog. Thoroughly enjoyed the day and might consider taking Tigg back for a few more lessons.

Then on Sunday I held a weave workshop up at my field. Although I had to sit down for most of the day due to my foot, Elaine helped me hold dogs, put out toys/treat pots etc, it was a good day. The first group were quite inexperienced, so we did alot of work on the channel and V weaves and I think they went away with a few exercises to work on and were pleased with the work they had done. The second group were alot more experienced so all the work was done on the upright weaves, but we were working on entries and positioning of the handler. I had them sending the dogs through all 12 weaves on their own and recalling through. Also had them moving away from the weaves to get into position for the next obstacle. They all worked really hard and I really enjoyed teaching them.
Now for a weeks rest and continually putting ice on my foot, I really hope it heals soon, so I can continue training Tigg.

Weaves & Contacts

Just been to Nancy's and had a really good lesson (thanks Nancy). I had told Nancy that I wanted to concentrate on the weaves with Tigg as I am struggling to get him from V's or Channels onto the uprights. Anyway Nancy had a look at what he could do on theV's, then we tried putting some of the poles upright and it is clear that he really doesn't understand. So with Nancy's advice we kept him on the slightly open V's and practised lots of different things. He was completing the weaves with me infront or if I left him to do them all by himself and I didn't move from the beginning. He knows that he has to do all 12 weaves regardless of where I am or what I'm doing. I am now just going to practice lots of those exercises and NOT do any upright weaves with him for a month or two. I will go back to Nancy in about a months time and hopefully we can see what stage he's at. The one good thing is that I have spent alot of time working on weave entries and he did prove that he can find the entries. I will continue to proof those whilst on the V weaves.
We then talked alot about his contact position and he does a lovely touch at the bottom of the contact. I have talked to Nancy about his contacts and I am going to do a similar exercise that Nancy has been doing with Niamh. I am going to put my dogwalk plank down onto the mini table and just practice running him at speed down the plank and proofing his contact position.
Nancy has given my alot of things to work on and I must make the effort and go up the field and put the ideas into practice.
Anyway off to do abit of sheep herding with Chip and Tigg tomorrow and then I've got 2 sessions of 8 people/dogs coming upto my field on Sunday for a weave workshop. At least the weathers improved.

The Weekend

Well another update in a short period of time (what is going on). Saturday we had Toni Dawkins come to our club for a training day. I love training with Toni. I had decided I wasn't going to run Tigg and had booked a lesson with Nancy on the Friday instead, unfortunately couldn't go to Nancy's as her ground was too wet. Decided I would work Tigg, but I would only do little bits then put him back in the van. He did some really good bits and pieces and I was very pleased with him. He had lovely tight turns (so glad i taught him the "steady" command) and his contacts were excellent and had infact speeded up abit. The real problem I had with him were the weaves and I know I've got to go up the field and put the work in to help him. Then we took Toni to the pub for lunch and had a good ole natter. Then I worked Chip in the afternoon group, his contacts are abit hit and miss at the mo, but can't moan as I can't make up my mind what to do with them. I think I want to run them, then I change my mind and I want him to stop, so no wonder he doesn't know what to do. Anyway he was his usual brilliant self and did some really good bits.
Sunday I went to C-side. Bernadette set a lovely veteran agility course and Buzz loved it and he did a lovely wait. Buzz did have the fastest time, but it was clear round only and a little bag of biscuits (which Buzz loved). After alot of hanging around I finally got to run Chip in the jumping, he was going so well, then went off to look at the tunnel, so although clear, it was slow. I was pleased that he didn't have any jumps down. Then after more hanging around, finally got to do the agility, by now, my feet were killing me and I was freezing cold, but once I get on the start line, I forget the pain I'm in and just run. Chip did a lovely run, got all his contacts and again left all the poles up. He was lying 2nd when I went home, but it was very early on into the class. I was just pleased he got his contacts and didn't have any jumps down.
By the time I got home I could hardly walk as my feet were so painful, I soaked them in a bowl of dettol and they felt better. I've got an appointment with a clinic in Surrey on Thursday that specialise in making orthotics for people with Plantar Fasciitis, the orthotics are very expensive, but if it cures the problem I don't mind paying.
Having a lazy day today to rest my feet then off to training with Mac tonight.

Up's and Downs

Tigg has now joined a class at Tenterden as upto now he had only been trained up my field on his own. The first week he was excellent and I was really pleased with all he did. I didn't do the full hour and put him away on a good note. Last week was a different story, he would not concentrate on anything, he kept sniffing the floor and eating the smallest piece of horse crap he could find and had forgotten how to weave. Anyway I put him back in the van as I really didn't want to continue with that sort of training. This week, I got him out and was obviously abit dubious about how he would behave, well he was great. I had set up the course that Nancy had posted, which meant we could do lots of little bits. We did a circuit on the contacts going twice round and his contact were the best they've ever been. Then we did a few jumping exercises, which involved scooping him inside me (which I haven't done alot of) and he was a star. Then we worked on wrong end of tunnels, this proved a little more difficult and I will need to go up the field and work on this. Then I put him through the weaves a couple of times on the lead, took him off and he was fine. I then put him away as I was very chuffed will all he had done. I did have a lesson booked with Nancy tomorrow, but now that we've got rain, unfortunately it will be too wet at Nancy's. I'm hoping I will be able to go sometime next week.
Anyway I've got a Toni Dawkins training day on Saturday and I'm working Chip, then I've got C-side on Sunday and I'm looking forward to that and so is Buzz as he's got veteran "AGILITY", yes he loves his contacts. Took Buzz into training last nite, just to remind him about his contacts, it just goes to show, you still have to put the work in even if they have semi retired. He broke his wait about 3 times and this is my dog that I would have said was 100% solid on his waits, but the fact that I have done no training with him (not even waits) shows. He then ran his dogwalk even though I had asked him to wait. He was very funny and was soooo pleased to be doing a little bit of agility. Anyway he's still sound this morning, so thats a good thing.

Training & Ribble

Well it's been a while since I last posted, but not much has happened. A couple of weeks ago while training at Mac's I tore the Plantar Faciia tendon in the bottom of my foot. I had only just got to training (after driving for an hour) and managed to do about 6 obstacles with Chip, when it felt like an elastic band snapping under the bottom of my foot. Well that was that and I limped out to the van and drove back home, I then spent the next week resting it totally and putting ice on it every 3hrs or so. I could hardly walk let alone run a dog and was quite disappointed as I was due to start working Tigg at club on the Wednesday. Anyway i didn't want anyone else to work Tigg as he is still a baby, so he didn't get to train, but I did manage to get Catherine to run Chip. He was a good boy for her, but did take the p..s abit on his contacts.
Foot is now alot better and I managed to work Tigg and Chip last week, I'm glad I worked Chip as this was his last training before going up to Ribble. Chip obviously knew I was not up to full fitness and he was soooo bad, I was not looking forward to Ribble with this wild merle.
Needless to say, he was still wild at Ribble and I got 3E's in the classes I ran, and Leah got 20th in the pairs running him with Eve's Dash, even though Chip had 2 poles and Dash had a refusal.
Tigg is going well at the moment and I have a got a training day lined up with him with Toni Dawkins and another with Natasha Wise. Must also make the time to go over to Nancy for some 1 on 1 as I do enjoy that and Nancy gives me ideas to go away with. Tigg is due out at the end of April and think his first show will be Lewes.

Chip doing abit of Training

A while ago I went to Nancy's to do some training and Leah kindly videoed it for me, so here is a little of what we got upto.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Jeb-UcEpfNY

Happy New Year

Yes I know, I haven't written anything for quite a while, so here goes.

Well Olympia came and went and in fairness to Chip he worked really well, he just responded instantly to my commands which were too early, therefore he got E'd. Had a good day though, spent lots of money and Chip got to say hello to lots of kids.


With regards to Tigg's training, he is now weaving on the upright weaves. Although it is slow, he is thinking about it. I am still running him through the V weaves to encourage speed. He will be starting at Tenterden next Wednesday, this should benefit him as he has only been trained at home in the field alone.

On News Year Day I went to Camber Sands with Elaine and Catherine. Between us we had 5 collies and 3 Aussies, they were all very well behaved and it was even commented on by a couple of horse riders how good they were when we put them all into a down while they rode past us. Anyway we walked for over 2 hours and the dogs had a great time.

Buzz loves going anywhere that there is water, so he was in heaven.

Heres a few of the dogs, Pi and Tigg were not in the picture as they were too busy stalking the group.

Pi (Chips little brother)












Tigg