Bringing pregnant ewes home

Today was the day we brought the pregnant ewes back to the sheep farm.The first group was a small one, and on the way to the farm we picked up another group. In each group was a ram too, but they gave us no trouble.

We walked the streets and the fields to the farm, but there were only a few cars who had to slow down behind us so we were quite relaxed on our walk. The sheep even decided to try some grass along the way.

When we left the road, we walked via a small path to the big fields.There was a long line up there, really funny!

But then we got on to the big fields.

There is always one, isn't there? A ewe who gets a bit annoyed at Jessie because she urges her to follow. But nothing Jessie couldn't handle, though she had a bit of a stand off with this ewe. The ewe gave up in the end and rejoined the group.

We had to make the sheep jump over some ditches, that was a bit exiting and some of us got wet feet ( Not me, I have Muck Boots! ). Finally, we reached home...

The beautiful Suffolk ram didn't want his picture taken, but Jessie held him for me so I could taken one anyway.

A job well done, thank you Jessie!

walking with sheep

Today we moved sheep from Steendorp to Tielrode, acoording to Google maps about an 8 kilometer long walk. The sun was hiding behind a low cloud deck, and there was a chilly wind blowing. But the views were stunning, walking along the river Schelde. We had to cross the market place in Temse though, that was a bit exciting. But no worries, Jessie was on the job! She helped steering them in the right direction, and we arrived safe at our destination...

 Almost there...

A job well done...

Happy dog

 Tired dog...

The Irish National 2014

This year I was so lucky to be in Ireland at the right time to see the best of the best compete in the Irish National Sheep Dog Trials at the An Grianan Estate, Burt in co. Donegal. I was also happy to see some old friends and meeting some new friends too. The weather was mostly dry, apart from some drizzling now and again. And even when the sun peeped through the clouds, the chilly wind made sure everyone kept their jackets on. I managed to take some pictures too, and was very impressed with Claire Somers-Cashen's run:

 Claire shedding...

... and penning...

and taking the single!

Jessie was very interested and mesmerized by all the runs too:

Trying to make the most of it, I had to have some fish and chips of course, and since there were lots of stalls with food and drinks that was no problem. In the ISDS tent I bought Jullie Hill's latest book, finally the revised version is available and I can recommend it to everyone interested in Sheep Dog Training.

We had a nice day and I'm sure we will be back!

Moving sheep with Jessie & Jai

Today and yesterday, we moved some sheep on the dikes along the river Schelde again.
Jessie always guards the front flanks, so the sheep don't wander too far from the footpath.

They succeed to escape at least once anyway. The sneaky maidens just wait until she's covering a few on the left side, and then an other bunch of them just scoots down the other side towards the ditch. Fortunately I was aware this time, and while Jai and me covered one side, I sent Jessie very quietly around the other side so she could lift them gently up the slope again without any jumping in the ditch!

 Because there were a lot of bends and curves on our way to their new accommodations, it was really hard to keep them on the right track. Add that they were hungry, and you know how hard it was to keep them in line!

Finally we got to our destination, the ladies were happy to have fresh food, and the dogs were happy to have a rest.

Still keeping an eye on them though!!

Good boy, Jai!

Suki's first time of moving lambs

Last week, I got a call from the Sheep Farm, could we please come and help to move a flock of ewes with lambs? They tried it once before on their own, but the lambs scattered over the place and they were working for hours with a few people to move them 2 kilometers....

Of course we'd like to come and help! Jessie was used to it anyway from previous years with the former shepherd, and it would be an opportunity to take one of the youngsters with me for some "real work". I decided to take Suki, as I think she is the one who is the most cool in the head. A good choice, as it turned out.


The shepherdess setting up the portable fence at the new grazing area:

 Helping to put up the portable fences:

 Jessie and Suki inspecting the fences, wondering where the sheep were...

 After we had set up the fences for the new grazing area, we went a few kilometers further to collect the sheep. From there we were going to drove them to the new grazing area. Jessie run out to gather them all and brought them to us, and off we went...


Jessie and Suki having a look at their charges:

At first I had Suki on the long line, to keep her with me in the rear gard. I covered the left rear flank and Suki the right rear flank of the flock, as the shepherdess and her father covered the left front flank and Jessie the right front flank. Then there was the young son who drove his step up and down the left flank which was also the side where the cycling and footpath was. The dogs had to keep the lambs from wandering too far too the right into the shrubbery.

When we were halfway, I saw Suki understood her job and let go of the long line. She worked nicely alongside me, keeping behind the flock and keeping them from straying.
As we reached our destination a little group of lambs tried to escape into the shrubbery, but Suki proved again she had the job covered, and brought them back in a calm way.

All we had to do was push them into the new grazing area, that was no problem for the dogs:

 

After that we just had to close up the fences. The ewes were calling their lambs and the lambs were bleating for their mums, and after they all found each other again they started grazing, all happy with the new grass....

Wow, we ARE improving...

This year, I decided to enter Jessie in 2nd class trials, because in 1st class the outruns were really too short for her. She has a lot of pressure on sheep, and although her outrun and lift were nearly always almost perfect, the sheep started to bolt and the fetch was too short for them to settle. So her OLF visibly improved, but we still had to work on the drive. And finally that hard work paid off, and she can bring the sheep in almost straight lines through the gates now. There is only one problem left to tackle: I have to learn to shed..


Off she goes...

 

 ...bringing them nicely to me!

So last weekend we entered a 2nd class trial in Alken, and we became 10th of 23 teams. If only I had been able to shed, we could have penned too and earn a lot more points, but no. Putting the sheep in a pen is something we are good at, but we never get that far and that's because of me. I've been told I rather block the sheep so they can't split up, but I just don't see it. It seems easier when you're working sheep, and I don't know why I always mess up when I'm at a trial....

 Jessie did everything I asked, driving them away without hesitation:

 

 

 So the next weeks will be all about shedding, shedding and... oh yeah: shedding!!

 

Moving ewes with lambs

Were we go training, the pregnant ewes were set apart from the training sheep. Somehow there were some ewes who got served by a few young rams that were removed from the flock a little too late, and so we found some ewes with lambs amongst the training sheep every week. No problem, Jessie would bring these mothers to the adjacent nursery field with the others. She did a great job, and twice per week for like at least 3 weeks in a row!
Fortunately, I thought of using my mobile one day. We moved one ewe with twins and two ewes with just the one lamb each.


The ewe with twins was rather complacent...

But the two ewes with one lamb were very, very reluctant to leave the field and go join the other mothers!

Jessie did a good job though, I was very pleased with her :)

Lambs, lambs, lambs!

It's that time of the year again, lambs are everywhere!

Jessie and Suki helped me to catch ewe mothers with lambs that had to be dosed, and then put on a trailer to go outside. It was Suki's first time on lambs and she did great! She kept distance, worked really cool and was standing her ground, the lambs would not escape!

Very pleased with Suki, I am, as she takes a lot after her mum Jessie and has lots of power.

When your dogs make you happy

There are days when you have a breakthrough, and suddenly your dog starts to work as a real team member and understands perfectly what you want him to do. I had a few training sessions like that with Jai, and it made me go home with a big smile on my face. Suddenly his outrun goes perfect, he gets his sides right, and he stops on the spot when told... that are the moments when you know it was worth it all. Of course there are also times when he behaves a bit naughty, or when he doesn't get it or doesn't want to get it what I'm trying to tell him, but he is no robot after all! I love this boy!

And I do love his mum, Jessie! No sheep will pass her, and she is always ready to help out. She can shed now, and she does it very determined. And of course we bring those sheep somewhere, ie. to a corner so I can inspect them closely, and to have a purpose for shedding sheep off makes a huge difference for a dog. When it makes sense what they have to do, they accept the command really more easily! Good girl, Jessie!

Garden Ballet

They never got lessons for it, but my dogs can really do some awesome Garden Ballet!

Beautifully, they move synchronously around in pairs, the girls and the boys.
Floyd always in the lead with Jai following him, and Yoshi and Suki turn and twist alternately.
They also mix up and separate again, it's really wonderful so have a look!

Of course it's just my sheep dogs herding each other, but it makes a nice story, doesn't it? :D


Have a nice week!

How nice to have keen dogs!

So went went training this afternoon: Jessie, Jai and Suki were eager to come along when they saw me in my "sheepworking"outfit. The others had to stay home, I can't work 5 dogs in a row.Yep, I'm getting old, I know...

Jessie and Suki trying to figure out where we were going:

Oops, a whole head through the window!

First Jessie, she had to separate a group of about 8 sheep from the others and drive them away. Then I made her look back to the other 20-something, go gather them and drive them to the shed to lock them away whilst we were training. The smart sheep didn't like to be separated, I had to work hard to create a gap. Fortunately, Jessie comes into smaller and smaller gaps these days and I think we finally mastered the shedding part of sheepwork, after more than 7 years...

Anyway, after putting the remaining sheep in the right spot, I called Jessie back and started with Suki. Boy, did I had to work hard again... In the latest sessions I really am putting a lot of pressure on her to take her lie down better, with the result she tries (and sometimes succeeds) to have a go at the sheep and pull some wool. I know it's stressing for her, but I scold her anyway and immediately when she made a good flank I also praised her. It seemed to work, she did her best and flanked nicer for me and so I praised her again and the she got more relaxed. When I saw she got mentally tired after a while and started to dive in again, I stopped our session on a good note when she fetched the sheep to me nicely. She came off the field with me without protesting, so that was a good recall too, great!

Suki, still wanting to keep an eye on the sheep:

Then I got Jai out of the car, who was ready to work some sheep! I really love that little guy, he is such a delight to train. He seems to know what I'm going to ask before I ask it. I started him on whistles today, he picked them up as if he already knew them, really weird is that. But hey, I'm happy with it! Next time I'll be testing if he still knows them :)

And Jai seems to learn fast now, and wants to please and work with me most of all the dogs now. Yes, I am very happy with him.