Kate's first field trip

There are cows in the usual field that Hope and I go to right now, but Don had mentioned that there were some other fields on the other side of his property that I could use. Up until today I've always just taken Hope, but the problem with that is with only one dog to work I generally spend more time hooking up the trailer, loading everything up, getting there, getting back and putting everything away than I do actually working. This morning I was feeling particularly brave...and decided to take Kate too.
I've never actually been to these fields before so we drove around till I found the least hilly of the bunch. Then I let the sheep out.

The usual suspects in a deceptively flat looking field.

The sheep were their usual ridiculously light selves and left. It's what they do. No problem, I had already thought of that possibility and planned to work Hope first so that they were tired when I got around to trying Kate.

Hope doing his thing. I'd love to say that the reason why he's so far off the sheep (if you look closely at that little smudge in the field he is moving at a really nice pace) is that he's incredibly "powerful", but really it's what I said before - the sheep are REALLY light.

Any way, at some point I decided that the sheep were "tired enough" to give Kate a try. I brought the sheep back near the trailer, put Hope away, and grabbed Kate - and by then the sheep had taken off. So... I put Kate away, got Hope out, and brought the sheep back again. Then I started over. I did that three times. That should have been my first clue. However, I had no intentions of letting those sheep wreck my plans for Kate. The fourth time I grabbed her, moved faster and tried to catch up to the sheep. A little voice in my head told me that this probably wasn't the best "set up", but why listen to reason? I told her to lie down, walked between her and the quickly leaving sheep, and sent her. At first things looked good. Kate was casting out, and then she got past me, took off straight down the field after the ewes and they all disappeared over the crest of the first little hill. Then they disappeared over the crest of the next not as little hill. They didn't come back. At that point I decided that maybe I should start running... when I got to the top of the second hill this is what I saw.

I took these pictures later on. I'd love to say that I was so cool under pressure that I took time document my stupidity, but no I was too busy running and thinking " I believe I just lost a dog and three sheep...maybe some of them for good".

That's right. I saw nothing. No sheep. No dog. No noise except for the sweet sound of bird song. Bird song's not so sweet when you're having a mental heart attack...

I also took a picture looking back at the truck where we all started out to give a bit of perspective. As you can see, sheep weren't the only ones who had a good run.

So there I was, standing at the top of the hill, catching my breath, and looking at the empty field in front of me, thinking - and then I saw sheep heads bouncing around in the poplar trees. Kate was running around them in circles. I gave her a quick shout to let her know where I was and incredibly she brought them back to me.

Good girl Katie!

Crisis averted, Kate and I had a good time working out in the field and I took more pictures of her cuteness.

That's my tale. We all made it home safe and sound so I'd say it was a successful morning!

The sheep

Are apparently very well fed...


They also aren't complaining about getting too much work.


They've been kicking up their heels on a daily basis and they love playing King of the Castle.


But they are a wiley bunch.


As soon as I head out to take pictures they go right back to acting like ordinary sheep, standing around, grazing, and chewing cud. I'm forced to take pictures with my little camera from the deck of our house.

Obviously Hope, Kate and I will have to do something about about all this secret frivolity. Sheep - more work for you!

I've been a neglectful blogger

100 lashes with a wet noodle for me!

I had a GREAT time down at Louanne's and then at Holly and Len Brunner's. They did a fantastic job putting on the Paxton Valley SDT. I'll be going back next year. Here's a shot I stole from Louanne's blog.

The trial field - not huge, but a bit of tricky thing with dips and hills that aren't as obvious from this end as they are from set out which is down by the house.

Hope and I finished out 8th out of 30 I think. Not too bad and I know where I need to make some improvements - mostly with myself. The dog does what I tell him - I need to make sure I'm telling him the right thing....

Now, on to my lame excuse for not blogging sooner. I got home Monday night and...well...I've been gone for almost 2 weeks. So I've been catching up around here ever since and things that breathe or need to be watered DO take priority.

The dogs are happy to be back together - and Bruce isn't really blowing me a raspberry is he?

Travis and I are happy to be back together too - sorry no pictures - you'll just have to take my word for it.

I've got more to blog about, but blogger has once again decided to give me difficulties uploading pictures. Rather than have you turn your monitors on their side again, I'll just give it a day - that seems to work.

As Usual...

I'm away at a trial with the best of intentions...and I forgot the memory card 'sfor my camera in my laptop...which is back at Louannes.

So, for updates this weekend, check out Louanne's blog at Phantomridge.

Excitement at the OK Corral

If you'll remember, I had asked Ms. 508 to indulge me and have a calf the other night. She still hasn't but tonight Ms. Lowline decided to stand in for her. We found her with this.

This whole "having a calf thing" was fairly new to her so she needed a bit of assistance figuring things out.

So Kyle and Louanne stepped in to help them settle in together.



The calf went on a magic carpet ride to the maternity ward.


Spitz (sunflower seeds) seemed to be an important part of the process.

I got the lucky job of choosing the new calf's name. Everyone's name this year starts with B so... BOB's your Lowline!

And now for your entertainment

The other day I gave Craig a very expensive, highly specialized dog toy. His prize?

A broccoli stem

Which is a cunning opponent.

Craig

will

conquer.

Conquering produce is exhausting work

Dogapalooza

I believe that Hope feels like he's gone to Doggy Disney Land, or as Louanne loves to call it - Dogapalooza.

Let's do a quick run down of what he's been up to down at Louanne's.

This past weekend we sorted sheep for two days for a herding instinct test and an all breed fun trial. Two full days of practical work. Sorry, no pictures. As usual I didn't think of the camera till it was all over - but I can say that there was a great turn out, the weather was good, and fun was had by all.

Monday we went out to Randy's and spent the afternoon with him, Abe, and Penny working dogs in a nice big field near his place.

Penny and Duncan waiting while Randy sets sheep.

Of course he's gotten lots of training back at Louanne's place as well.

AND he's hung out with Isla - the center of his universe.

They've gone swimming together.

They've gone to check cows together. If Hope had his way they'd do EVERYTHING together.


I tried to explain to Ms. 508 that it would be great "blog material" if she actually had a calf while we were out checking, but unfortunately she seems to be running on her own schedule.

And the fun's not over. We'll spend a couple of more days here and then we'll all head to BC to the Paxton Valley trial.