Time Flies!

Fall is upon us in NH. Getting ready for Winter, when there was no time for Summer...how time flies! So much to do, trying to get front area leveled before having to put posts/fence back in and sheep there for winter. Raising two pups,...yes I'm crazy but lots of great skills can work on at home and in class, as they mature. Good not to hibernate.

Pup Suede is growing up! Still a gangly, loose-jointed boy-but sweetest, tough-guy ever. Almost named him Clint! His first time on sheep a few weeks back, very keen and no quit. A bit too forward for the knee-knockers we went for a lesson on. He is definitely a cow dog. So...yesterday as I was doing a little one on one with each dog in training, etc figured I would let him hang out with me in back field. Practicing some recalls, as he can be "selective" in hearing as he hits 5 months, just general stick around with me stuff. 

I am picking up downed branches from recent deluge and windy storm and fixing e-net...next thing I know-Whoosh! Sheep go flying by, with a red thing in hot pursuit. Almost killed myself slipping on a rock (we grow rocks in NH) and getting foot tangled, climbing over the electronet. Try to find a "stick" to use to bend him out off them, um nope they were all dry and cracked the second I tapped the ground. He is a header for sure, which in this case worked for me as he got "stuck", tranfixed watching them a few times. 

So, even though I don't like to reward self-rewarding behavior, like a pup giving themselves access to sheep..how could I resist not turning it into a training moment? He does have the ability to get around and let go of pressure, just needs to be convinced. He is probably a better dog than I deserve, so will try not to waste him.

13 weeks

One of my ewes just lay down after awhile, she couldn't take it! :)  He was not being a normal dog to her, I guess. Of course, he is also beautiful...so I used the chance of him stopping, to snap a few photos with my phone. Was able to walk up on him to catch him, which was nice-none of the keep away crap. He also did not send them over the e-net, which tells me he can rate...when he wants to, so another + to our unplanned lesson. 

He had obviously found a hole that was possible to wiggle under-have to give him kudos for being creative! The plan is a lesson next week in good fencing, another exposure a month later and then probably just let him grow up over the winter. He needs time to grow into his body. We are going to obedience classes, just to keep him out there for social opportunities and working on our relationship. 


Crazy loud class with 10 dogs, another 10 on other side of a curtain...he is completely unfazed! We will work on obedience skills, he is a smarty-learned heel quickly with click & treat with place of reinforcement. Before I know it, he won't be a puppy anymore...Time flies!

And Ffin...what do I say about the little man, born on my Dad's birthday, insisted on staying...reminds me of both of his wonderful parents...more about him soon! He and Suede are completely different, yet completely perfect.