Bringing the Pregnant Ewes Home

What a beautiful sunny day it is today, a great day to bring the pregnant ewes home for the winter. Jessie was eager to work, she's such a great dog. The sheep were back in the marsh, that's very wet land, and Jessie ran and jumped or swam the ditches like a real pro to get to them. 

As soon as they saw her coming. all sheep flocked together and soon we were on our way.

We had to go through the village roads and most people in cars who had to stop smiled at us, as they were probably entertained. A few sourly looking faces aside, everybody seemed to love watching us walking our little flock home...

The only glitch we had was when there was a farm a bit further up the road where two dogs came running down the driveway, barking at the sheep. So the sheep were frightened and turned back, not daring to go past the dogs. But there was Jessie, and if she didn't give them the eye they would not have minded us humans standing there at all and darted past us. Jessie reminded them the only safe way was past the dogs and away from her, or else..

The sheep were content to be home, and they will get some time outside to graze before they go in. 

In a while it will be lambing time, we are looking forward to it!

Moving Sheep on All-Souls Day

We didn't know there was going to be such a fog when we decided to move the sheep today, but we did it anyway. I took Jessie and Suki with me: Jessie because she knows the drill as she has been doing this every year for 5 years now and Suki because she is very good covering the flanks.

The sheep that was in a nearby field for 2 weeks now jumped the ditch without hesitating to join the flock again, what was a relief to us because that meant we didn't have to make a detour to pick it up.

It was a bit tricky when we had to walk on the road a few times but everything went well, considered. We picked up two groups in Steendorp and walked through Temse village to Tielrode where we put them in the marsh there, a walk of about 5 kilometers.

There were two times when a small group in the back took a wrong turn, but Jessie brought them back on track, while Suki helped me to block them so they turned in the right alley and caught up with the others again.

Finally, we reached the marsh and drove them in, and the flock disappeared into the fog....

Well done, Suki...

... and Jessie!

Aaaargh! Or when you have a bad day

When moving sheep today, we had one that decided it didn't belong to the flock. There's always the one... sigh. It started even before we gathered them, this one brown ewe was standing apart from the others. And the moment she saw the dog started to run out, she turned the other way and ran away from the flock. The flock itself moved the way they were supposed to, but she kept going in the opposite direction. So I told Jessie to look back and go and get her, which she did. But the whole way that darned ewe kept on defying the dog, and I must say Jessie was very patient but stern too.

The ewe had to turn and follow, even when she didn't like it and kept on challenging Jessie. But Jessie never budges, so we got them all together again.

After 50 meters however, the same ewe suddenly turned away and ran down the dyke again. So we had to bring the flock back to her this time, as I was afraid the ewe would jump in the ditch she was standing next to looking at it as if she was saying: if you try to get me back I will surely jump in the water! After that we decided to move the whole flock alongside the ditch until we reached the new grazing area, which she seemed to be happy with.

Jessie did a good job, as usual. But then I noticed I lost my car keys somewhere along the way. We kept searching for an hour, but I couldn't find them. I must confess I had visions of that sheep on the BBQ then, even though I am a vegetarian.........

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....