Yesterday was a Monday - but a good one

Lowri - I hear lots of people complain about Monday's, but ours was very nice.  One of TM's clients stood her up - not even a call.  We got the benefit, because TM took us out and let us herd the ducks.

Kearney - I went first.  TM had hung her long coat over a jump end post.  The idea was to make it look like a person and have me go get the ducks.  <snort>  The ducks wouldn't go near it.  TM tried and tried while I patiently sat at the far end of the yard.  Finally she got them somewhat close so she came back and sent me.  By then the ducks were halfway back to TM <G>  I went and got them and then TM had me bring the ducks back to the coat.  I got to practice covering stock that did NOT want to go where I was telling them to go.  By the time we got the ducks to the coat, I had totally forgot to be afraid of it.

Lowri - Then I got to go.  I did a LOT of bouncing.  But overall, TM said I was a very good girl.  There was one duck that kept trying to escape.  When I would go after her, she would hunker down and wait for me to leave.  I poked her a couple of times with a closed mouth.  That made TM laugh.  I also got to go under the trailer to bring them out into the open.  Silly ducks, don't they know that is one of my favorite places?  I finally got to hold them at the gate to put them away.  TM was quite pleased with me.

Later in the afternoon, one of TM's clients asked to see me.  I came charging out of the kitchen.  TM is a party pooper.  She cautioned me every time I jumped on the lady.  That was silly.  The lady WANTED to see me.  I was doing my best to let her.  Kearney even got to come out.  The lady said we were beautiful.  She has very good taste.

Sunday Herding in January

Lowri - Well, it has to be said!  I DID NOT get to herd today.  TM's flimsy excuse?  I had a bath yesterday and I was clean.  I am a HERDING DOG.  We get DIRTY!  I am not amused!!!  TM even carried me over to a dry part of the gravel drive for MC to work on my gaiting and stacking.  She wouldn't even let me get my feet muddy.  This is wrong!!  TM's excuse is that I am going to dog shows next weekend and she wants my ruff and feet to stay white.  I hear that I am only going to get to play in the small side yard all week.  It is graveled - hence no mud.  BOO, I say BOO!

Kearney - Chase had lots of fun.  He got to work with the baby lambs.  There are some good pictures over on Mama Penni's blog.  He had a good time.

Then I got to work the two young wethers and the one mama that lost her babies.  MC came out and interfered...er...held the lambs in one place while I did my outruns.   I still didn't like her being there on my first outrun, but I settled in very fast.  I moved my sheep every where TM told me to take them.  I was a good boy.  Then Chase got to come out and work again.

TM had him do an Advanced run, in pieces.  Chase actually did a pretty good job.  He stopped when he was told to, and did well overall.  TM had him do the cross-drive a couple of times.  He doesn't understand the need for that, but he is working better at listening.

Then a guy came over and bought TM's two wethers.  I got to help load them in the trailer.  I guess now we will have to start earnestly dog-breaking the wild ewe lambs.  That is all TM has to train with until after the Nationals.

Saturday in January

Lowri - We have lots of lambs.  All but one of the ewes have had their babies.  They are so cute!  Kearney and Chase got to play with the lambs.  I didn't!  I don't think that is fair!  TM also got mad at me - AT ME!  Just because I tore up everything that was on top of my crate.  If she doesn't want me to do that, why does she put things on my crate?  I hear that she has now changed out my crate.  I no longer have a wire crate in the car.  I am going to have to ride in the Nylabone crate.  I am not sure I like that.

I also heard that I am saving TM a LOT of money.  She isn't going to enter me in herding on sheep at the Nationals.  I will get to herd ducks, but not sheep.  She also isn't going to enter me at Cumming, Georgia on sheep.  She says I am herding with so much joy and enthusiasm.  I am very fast and talented.  She thinks I am too young to have rigorous training.  She wants me to stay joyous.  I do too.

Kearney - TM heard from Amy that my hero, Beli, is sick.  I was very sorry to hear that.  He was the first Cardigan Herding Champion and Dual Champion.  Beli paved the way for the rest of us.  TM is praying hard for Amy and Beli.  I know Beli is very brave and he knows how much he is loved.  We are all praying for them.

We are abused!

Lowri - We are so abused!  TM got up this morning and put us out.  Then she went away for HOURS!  We finally got fed and then she went to work for HOURS.  Then she said "Hi" to us and went away again for HOURS!  We are so-o-o abused!  I NEED more attention!

Kearney - TM got up this morning, let us out to potty, played with us for a few minutes before she left to volunteer at the hospital.  When she got home, just after noon, she fed us and scritched us some more.  Then she started work.  In between clients, she let us in and out.  After work, she let us in again for a few more scritches before she had to leave to attend a dinner.  At the dinner, she got an award for volunteering at the local Alzheimer's day care facility.  Then she went shopping for food, came home gave us some more scritches and then fed us some more.  Abused, my foot!

Papa Ron was here

Lowri - Last night, PR was here.  He brought Aidan and Daisy.  I love Aidan except when he tries to steal TM.  He comes over to say "Hi" and I jump up on TM to get in between them.  I disguise it by licking his face and kissing him, but I think TM sees through that ploy.  She has started calling each of the other dogs over and making a big deal of them while preventing me from interfering.  I don't think I like that!

Then I got a bath.  TM said I was a dirty, pig dog.  So into the tub I went.  I kind of like my baths, because TM talks sweet to me and gives me lots of praise.  I also get towel-dried afterwards.  Then I get to use the carpet to dry my coat even better.  Everyone says how beautiful I am when I am clean.

Finally, I got to spend the evening on the sofa with TM and PR.  I snuggle with TM for a while and then go hang over the end of the sofa arm.  Then back to snuggling.  It is a great way to spend the evening.

Kearney - I had to sleep in the kitchen.  When PR is here, I don't get to sleep next to the bed.  I think it is because I sleep next to the closet and TM doesn't want PR tripping over me if he has to get up.  But, it is better than sleeping in a crate - like Aidan, Daisy and Lowri.

Tracking

Lowri - Tracking is the best game!  TM took me tracking yesterday.  She did one track and let it age.  When she got back from the barn she put my harness on...

Kearney - ME.  She put the harness on me first!  I went out and ran a short track.  My style is different from Lowri's.  I walk up to the track and meander down it.  I go fairly straight, but TM doesn't think I am really into tracking.  I just don't see the point in sticking my nose on the ground, when I can tell perfectly well where TM went.  I take her right to her glove and I get lots of praise.  I just do it differently than Lowri does.

Lowri - Back to MY track.  TM put my harness on and I dragged her down the track.  We made a turn and I started off in the new direction.  Then my head came up and I started casting around.  TM isn't sure what happened, but I lost the track.  I think TM aged it a bit too much for my level of experience.  Anyway, TM backed up so I could find the track and I went forward and lost it again.  I really tried, but I didn't know what to do.  TM walked forward past that spot and I found the track again.  I went straight to TM's glove.  Poor thing, she is always losing things.  I got lots of praise for finding it. 

TM put me back in the car and laid another straight track.  She didn't age it very long and got me out again.  She said this was a motivational track.  Whatever, I just thought it was easy.  I put my nose in the grass and went straight to where TM lost her hat.  Then I went on and found her glove.  Personally, I think TM had better buy a LOT of gloves.  At the rate she is losing them, maybe she should invest in a glove company.  Although Kearney and I have found them every time, you never know when we won't be there to go find them for her.

Weekend Herding

Lowri - Whoa, we had the BEST time this weekend!  When TM got to PR's place on Saturday, she took us herding right off.  The creek was flowing through our pastures.  About a quarter of the middle field was underwater.  That is where we do trial work.  The round pen had a creek flowing through it.  It was MUDDY.  I LOVED IT.

Today, while I was working sheep in the big field, Gracie came over to interfere.  TM threw her stick at the cow.  When she planted her foot to do the throw, the foot didn't plant.  TM went down full length in the standing water and mud.  I DID NOT CAUSE IT!  She got up, moved her phone from the wet pocket to a dry pocket (the phone still works).  She was wet, muddy and smelly.  MC asked her if she wanted to go up to the house and change clothes.  TM decided she didn't need to get two sets of clothes muddy.  I got to finish working my sheep.  I did a very good job.

Kearney - Treasure got to work next.  She worked three lambs in the middle field.  The lake was gone, but it was very wet and muddy out there.  I know, because I got to work there next.  Treasure did a nice job.  She is learning to control her sheep.  I was proud of her.

I worked last.  I went out and saw a strange person standing by the sheep.  I didn't want to go out there and get them, but TM said I had to.  I kind of scooted by the person and TM told me to stop.  Then the person spoke and I realized it was MC.  I was embarrassed!  I started to go say Hi, but remembered (without being told) that I was working sheep.  TM set up the outrun several times.  I never spooked from MC again.  She even walked around and flapped her coat.  I was very good!

Chase - I actually went first.  I helped TM tag a couple of lambs.  Then I worked the big mamas.  We have five lambs now.  Cocoa was in the round pen with her two lambs.  She charged me yesterday and told me in no uncertain terms that I was to stay AWAY from her lambs.  I was surprised when she slammed into me.  I told TM I didn't want to work with Cocoa anymore.  TM decided I wouldn't have to for a while.  I did have to work the other young mama.  She tried to pull a "Cocoa" on me, but I showed her my teeth.  I made her behave.  I did a very good job today.  TM says I am doing well on learning the skills I need.  I am a good dog.