BevLive: Training Prep

"Going-away-for-a-month dinner" out with my husband, Doug, last night. Did a little more tinkering around with the packing thing when we got home but didn't accomplish much in the evening.

This morning I decided I would revisit Mirk's ability to turn back. I thought I knew his turn back whistle (and he thought I did too) until I spoke to Florence on the phone two weeks ago and it turned out she had been using a different whistle. This made me a bit anxious that maybe he didn't turn back as well as I thought, so I decided this morning to do a little reality check.

 I don't like to practice the turn back during the trial season, as I'm always worried that my dogs will start anticipating the command on the fetch. This is a particular concern for me with Mirk as we have been working together for such a short period of time that I fear that our communications may be particularly fragile. But I just had to check this morning in the hope that I will need the command before the trip ends.

 However, when I got my sheep separated and started wearing the smaller group up the field preparatory to turning Mirk back for the left-behind sheep, it turned out I had a very reluctant ewe in the group. She kept trying to run past Mirk and get back to her pals. When this failed she started stamping and threatening him. This was such a good chance to work on "mean sheep" skills that I spent about 10 minutes just driving her around and encouraging Mirk to "get up" on her. He did great, and eventually she gave it up.

 At this point I gave Mirk his turn back whistle that he has never failed to take and, of course, he didn't turn back. When I gave him the vocal "Look Back" he took off like a shot. Then, naturally, the second group of sheep who had been standing down at the far end of the field for fifteen minutes left and ran up the field before he got there. Just another disastrous practice day.

 I worked Bill a bit after Mirk and reset the turn back situation when I finished with him. Got Mirk back out worked him on shedding for a few minutes and then using the vocal command turned him back for the group of sheep I had hidden with Bill. He took off perfectly and they kind of waited for his arrival. It all left me a little uncertain about Mirk and the turn back whistle. I think I will try for another practice on this before Soldier Hollow.

Worked Huck a little at the end on his driving. He is a good gathering dog but not too fond of driving. He is really nice for bringing sheep out of tough situations and seems to really relish going in corners–a nice quality in a young dog. (See picture above) This trip is going to be a long time for Huck to sit with no work before he runs at the Nursery Finals, so I'm trying just to keep him tuned up and not teach him anything new that might cause confusion.

 Two days left. It was in the low 50s this morning, clear and very cool. Could really feel the arrival of autumn in the air. It’s a hard time of the year. The best trials are in the fall, but it's also the end of the season and so very sad for an addict such as myself.