Sheepdog News

Sue: Hebrides, Day Three

I love this already. Good long sleep, brought my own coffee, another trip to the loch to try out the cute little camera that Amanda lent me.

Sheep everywhere. Scotties with lambs and what seem to be North Country Texel crosses.

After a delicious vegetarian breakfast at our b and b we headed for Waternish and the trial. Not knowing either time or exact location did not matter. We kept driving till we found it, and after awhile people showed up and the trial started.

We knew Arthur Mawhinney and Jim and Shirley Cropper.

The field was gorgeous. Right on the loch. Weather cool and overcast with rain to come in the pm.

We cowered in the car long enough to avoid running first but drew up 6 & 7 with Joe and Flo (our choice of first dogs).

A lot of dogs did not find their sheep, Flo included. Her outrun was not what i might have hoped for and though she took all my stops and redirects it was not a success.

Sigh. Should i have brought Rue? Too late.

Bev however had a good go with joe and her ears perked up at the thought of her score

The sheep are feisty little Cheviots. Not lambs but they have an inclination to drop about every fifth or sixth run.

Afternoon report.

An education it has been.

Today both dogs crashed. Peat said I want right. And i overrode him. He uncharacteristically tried to cross–did not, but had a heavy lift and shall we say a strong fetch. Tight turn round the post, lovely straight soft driveaway and looking like a very neat turn onto the crossdrive. Sheep split, stalled, faced him and he gripped off.

Bummer. Especially when Bev has tallied how much each run costs if you add up the cost if the trip and divided it by the number of runs.

Now that is no fun. At least not today. But I really learned a lot today.

Also ended the day with a Guinesss on draft and a lobster dinner at a pub with Jim and Shirley cropper and some friends of theirs from England and Scotland, Rhubarb crumble and custard to boot.

And i saw two hedgehogs tonight. Another reason to live here. I love hedgehogs.