Looking Ahead

This is the time of year when Scott and I take stock of our previous season of trials, look to make improvements, and plan for the next year:

Scott and Don had a very good year in 2011.

Scott and Don in the National Finals double lift

 He won days at Strang Ranch, Dr. Ben's, Wild Rose, and Bow River.  He was also the reserve champion at the Bluegrass, won the Western Canadian/Canadian Championships, won the first round of Meeker (before gripping out in the semi finals) and  the semi finals at the Nationals. He finished up the Nationals in 4th place with a best shed trophy. His disappointments this year were usually due to a turn back that wasn't quite clean enough so Scott plans to help him along with that this winter.  At 5 years old, Donnie is well seasoned and we have high hopes for him this spring and summer.

Scott also had a nice year with Maid.

Maid fetches sheep in the early morning at the 2011 Bluegrass

She won a day at Heppner and won the overall, she also won a day at Wild Rose and the overall.  At Bow River, she won a day and won the double lift.
Scott decided to sell Maid at the end of the 2011 season and he is now auditioning two young bitches for the roll of Open Dog #2. 

The first dog, June, is one that readers of this blog will be familiar with.

June on the third leg of the drive at the Bow River Classic

 June is a daughter of Don's out of his first litter.  Last year, Scott ran her in the nursery classes.  June won days at Dr. Ben's, Wild Rose, and the overall Nursery at Bow River.  At the Canadian Nursery Championships, she had the win within her grasp after placing 2nd on the first day and laying down a good run on the second day but gripped out at the pen.  Fortunately, Scott still took home the trophy with Cy Peterson's Reba.  June again lost her temper at the USBCHA finals and gripped off on the fetch with the difficult sheep.  Needless to say, Scott has been spending the winter smoothing her out and settling her tension before he runs her in open this year.  So far, he is happy with the results and, this week anyway, June is forging to the lead.

Scott's second, second dog is Nan.

Nan

  Nan is out of Debbie Bailey's Ben and RC Tomlinson's Dat.  Nan broke her foot in the spring of last year and didn't get her training finished in time for very many nursery trials.  She did win a day at the Fetch Gate Nursery trial but was over her head at Wild Rose and Bow river.  Scott has been spending the winter catching up on her training and giving her some experience.  She is a smoother dog than June with alot of patience.  Add to that the fact that sheep like her and you can see why Scott is having a hard time choosing.  June with power and bravery, or Nan with a cool head and a way with sheep?  He changes his mind from week to week and I don't think there is any predicting which one he will pick. 

I'm excited about Scott's nursery dogs this year.  They are still developing and are a long way from trialing at this point in the winter but they are showing alot of promise.  I will write more detailed entries on them later but his two main dogs look like they will be Diane Pagel's Imp. Wynn (Bobby Dalziel's Joe x Angie Driscoll's Meg) and Scott's Alta-Pete Tick (Scott's Don x Maid).

Last year I had been hoping that my Hemp dog would be my number one.

Hemp turns the post at the 2011 Canadian Championship double lift -photo by Kristi Oikawa

 Although, Hemp is a great work dog, we tend to fight each other on the trial field.  It's mostly my fault because of the amount of emotion I throw at him in a trial.  We started rough last spring but things started to settle and work out for us as the season went on.  He surprised me by placing 6th at Dr. Ben's and missed the finals at the Calgary Stampede by only 0.12 seconds.  He again surprised me by placing 6th at Bow River but started his habit of doing well enough the first day to make me think we had a chance at a double lift, but then fighting me on the second day and doing nothing good.  He apparently likes that 6th place slot (I'll take it!) because he was again 6th on the first day of the Canadian Championships and although we struggled on the second day, we made the double lift. Even though we didn't finish the shed, our  method was losing us no points. We just have to learn how to get those last 3 sheep off!  This winter has been more about changing my style of handling with Hemp rather than changing him.  We continue to work on his pen flanks and practice the International shed, and I am trying to keep his head cool with my handling.  He is still my favorite work dog but has been dropped to second place in line for my trial dogs.

First for me, as always, is Laddie.

Lad's International shed at the Soldier Hollow Classic - photo by Louanne Twa

 He was 7th one day at Strang Ranch, 3rd at Dr. Bens, 10th at Wild Rose, 6th at Bow River, and 5th at Shaunavon. He really raised my hopes at the Canadians when he placed 4th on the first day but when he couldn't find the sheep on his second day I was very depressed. Lad is never a sure thing on an outrun even if he's picked them up in the very same place the day before. He redeemed himself at Soldier Hollow, where I had never been able to do anything good before, when he placed second on one of the days and made the double lift.  Laddie did qualify for the National finals but didn't do anything when he was there.  Fortunately for me, the on line broadcast was sold as a dvd and I was able to go over my run with Scott.  Turns out, even though Laddie isn't a world beater, there is still room for improvement if I change some of the way I handle him.  It was evident that I was forcing him on and never giving the sheep a chance to line out.  Obviously, I have more handling changes to work on this winter.

I'm looking forward to debuting my nursery dog this spring.  Ford is a son of Tom Forrester's Pete and Norma Stewart's Lena.  This cross has been very successful for Lori Cunningham and her Matt dog and I had hoped to get one just like him.  Ford is similar to Matt, and shares his cool head but time will tell if he has anymore of Matt's abilities.  So far I am enjoying training him and this year is just a practice year for us.  He will only be 17 months old at the Bluegrass so my plans (and I BETTER stick with them) are to be willing to step away from the post when and if he has trouble. It is important not to push such a young dog but to keep his trial experience positive to make a better and seasoned dog for next year's nurseries.

What trials we will start this year with is still up in the air.  Other than the Bluegrass, and Dr. Ben's North Carolina trial we are still trying to figure that out.  We are hoping there will be one or two more at the beginning of May that we can get to.  In the mean time, we continue training and keep our eyes on the prize - The National Finals. (link)

On Line Sheepdog Training Lessons

There is a new concept in sheepdog training coming down the pike. Lora Withnell was sitting around one winter craving more. More dog time, more sheep time, more clinician time. But the rain, snow, lack of daylight, was keeping her from getting it done. She came up with a novel idea. Why not have clinics on line? So she went to her buddy Geri Byrne and the two of them came up with Little Horse Mountain Productions' Sheep Dog Training Courses.
Instructors have been lined up to do weekly lessons and answer questions from the viewers. Starting at the top, Lora and Geri have picked their first instructor to be Alasdair MacRae. Alasdair has pre filmed several courses for you to learn from. After Alasdair, we are honored to say that Little Horse Mountain Productions picked Scott! We are still in the planning stages for Scott's lessons so if you have a burning issue, feel free to send me an email at jennyglen@altapetestockdogs.com and we'll see if it will fit into the curriculum. These courses are not designed to replace lessons or clinics because every dog is different and there is no substitute for one on one help. Lora's dream was to provide more information to those who eat, sleep and breathe sheepherding. Especially in the restrictive winters.
I hope we'll get to interact with many new people when Scott's lessons begin!

Best Shed Trophy - Addendum

I wrote in my last post that Scott had won the best shed trophy more times than anyone else. I was wrong. As I was placing the cup on our shelf for the year, I noticed that Alasdair MacRae had also won it four times. Does that surprise anyone? He won it twice with the great Nan, and twice with Star.
I remember talking to Alasdair in 2004, the year Scott won the Nationals, about the upcoming double lift. He told me that Star couldn't win it because she was too hot mentally and she would tire herself out before she could finish the shed. It turned out that no one got the shed that year and Scott won it based on the best outwork. However, it is a testament to Alasdair's handling and training that he was able to bring out her best work later on and win that best shed trophy twice. Happy retirement, Star.

2011 USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals - Carbondale

The 2011 National Finals is in the books now: Alasdair MacRae is again the National Champion! This is his 3rd win with the 10 year old Star and it was her last run as she entered retirement when it was over. She is Donnie's mother and we hope he can win it as many times as she has.
Reserve Champion is Vergil Holland and Brooke who happens to be a half sister to our Donnie (they share a father). 3rd place was the 2008 National Nursery Champions, Suzie Applegate and Buzz. Congratulations to all of them!
Donnie ended up in 4th place in the finals and made a heart stopping save in the shedding ring. His biggest shortcoming was his 2nd fetch. I had been praying for clouds to cover the sun since it was the warmest day of the whole finals. The thermometer would not have told you that it was very hot out but with the high elevation, that sun burned. The sheep didn't need excuses to be any heavier in the heat. My request was answered and just as Scott and Don took the field, it cooled down. Unfortunately, the clouds brought with them a wind that happened to be coming right from the 2nd lift point. Donnie couldn't hear Scott's whistles to stop or flank until he was well past the fetch gates. All he knew was that he had to bring them so he brought them - but on a very left hand fetch and lost all his points for that part of the run. On a good note, Donnie and Scott did a great shed and once again, Scott won the best shed trophy. He has now won it more times than anyone else starting in 2001 with Fly, 2002 with Cub, 2009 with Maid and now in 2011 with Don.
On the nursery field, the heavy sheep were the undoing of many of the youngsters. Many of them couldn't move them and it wasn't really a good time in their careers to come up against these kind of sheep. Traditionally, nursery is where you mold your future open dogs, not take away their confidence by putting them on sheep that can beat them. Nonetheless, some of them still got it done. Alasdair MacRae's Li showed particular strength in the first round and won it, but was called on a grip in the second round. Suzie Applegate's Tru (a big rough coated sable son of Alasdair's Nap) was third overall and showed great promise for the future. Bill Orr's Sly ended up as the Reserve Champion which wasn't a great surprise for us since we had seen him when we were last in Carbondale this past spring. He had ruled the sheep back then and did it again when it counted at the finals. The champion ended up being Amanda Milliken and Dorey. June moved them just fine but couldn't resist a chomp on a hock as she neared the post in her first run. Scott has plans for her this winter! Reba showed great heart and ended up in 11th place overall. You could tell these sheep were hard for her but every time Scott told her to get up and move them she did.
The town of Carbondale was charming and the people were welcoming. Everyone I met had been or was going to the trial and early estimates of the gate were 9,000 people and that was with a rain storm every afternoon! I heard several residents ask if we are coming back and I heard it is a possibility. I hope we do. Despite the troubles with the WiFi (which wasn't the fault of the hard working finals volunteers), it was a classy, quality finals that ranks right up there with Gettysburg (my favorite), Virginia and Klamath.

Scott and Reba get set for their first nursery run - they ended up 11th overall on very difficult sheep

Reba moves the heavy nursery sheep

The Hotchkiss sheepdog trial brought their sheepcamp wagon to the trial to educate the public

In Don's qualifying run he had a lagging sheep that almost kept him out of the semi finals

Handlers traded off the "Ask Me" position to answer spectators questions

Donnie and Scott had a spectacular semi finals run and won the round!

Volunteer "Vanna Whites" paraded the scores around - this one is Scott's semi finals score

Horses grazed on the top of the surrounding hills and had the best view of all - often they stopped eating to watch

Meg looks to Louanne Twa for direction before their semi finals run

Meg and Louanne move the sheep around the post

Between the rain storms, we had rainbows!

Scott takes a risky shed with Maid in the semi finals - it didn't pay off as she gripped off right after the photo was taken

Overlooking the trial, Mount Sopris was dusted with snow from all the afternoon storms

Scott and Don take the sheep around the post in the double lift finals

During the International shed, as Scott let two uncollared sheep pass, a collared one slipped by

To the crowd's delight, (and Scott's) Donnie made a spectacular save and sent her back to the collared sheep

The sheep gave no quarter at the pen and it took 6 minutes to pen them!

Donnie and Scott won the "Best Shed award". Scott has now won this award 4 times. More than anyone else.

Back row: Vergil Holland and Brook, Scott and Don, Mike Hanley and Moss, Don Helsley and Tag, Herbert Holmes and Juno and Suzie Applegate and Buzz. Kneeling: Alasdair MacRae and Star, Roy Taber and Craig, and Amanda Milliken and Roz.

National Finals 2011

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts but unfortunately the finals was, shall, I say, screwed over by their WiFi supplier. The story I was told was that when they went to ask for their password from the company who supplied the emergency phone and the included WiFi, they were told by the people who set it up that they had no idea 'cause they were new at this. Not cool on that company's part.
Louanne has been kind enough to take me to town and we are now parked outside of the Carbondale Post office using their WiFi.
The trial itself is going very well. I understand you can watch the runs a day after they happen if you go to the finals website and sign up - so you don't need my daily updates anyway. I am taking pictures where I can and I'll load them when the trial is over. Yesterday, Maid was a good girl and got around but no pen. She should have no trouble getting into the semi's. June had a nice lift in the nursery trial this morning but gripped off on the fetch. Laddie battled hard but despite decent lines, we didn't make a single panel and no pen so we are out of it.
That's all for now. If I go to town again I will try to write another quick update.

Meeker 2011 - Semi Finals

Both Maid and Don's runs went a little like this...Need I say more?

Meeker 2011 - Day Two

Donnie ran late this afternoon. The sheep were much more lively today. Yesterday they weren't as happy due to being soggy after the rain. Don had a good lift and then true to Meeker history, the sheep tried to run off to the handler's right. Scott flanked him over hard but it took a little bit before he got over there and then got ahold of them. Donnie got them back on line just before the fetch panels but they still tried to go back and forth around them. He got them through though and marched them right down the field. Many dogs were stalling out after the fetch panels and several runs have ended right there in the middle of the field, but Don never hesitated. They went around the post and then the sheep took off on their customary run up the drive as they tried to get back up the field. Don caught them and put them through the panels and made a quick turn and on to the crossdrive. They still try to get up the field on the crossdrive so it didn't get any easier but Scott and Don's aim was true and they went through the panels and on to the shed. A quick shed and they had 1:30 to get the pen. Most dogs needed more time than that but not Don. He had one sheep dash about a little bit but he got her broke and in they went with an 85 score! At the end of the day they were still in the lead.
One more day of qualifying. Laddie runs around 13th tomorrow and Scott should be running Maid around noon. Lad needs to concentrate on lifting them and keeping them on the fetch line (instead of his usual right side of the field fetch that he does here) and Maid needs to concentrate on keeping her mouth shut! Oh, yeah, and both of them need to get their outruns!

Scott sets don up for the difficult outrun

Making the fetch panels

Don starting the turn around the post

Don makes the turn around the drive away panels

Don turns the sheep through the crossdrive panels

Holding the shed

Don and Scott pen the sheep