UPDATE ON TRIM
and her HERDING ADVENTURES
We have been doing a lot of herding...well, as much as we can anyway.
Since the last update, which was forever ago, we have been trying to go herding weekly at the Hawkesbury Sheepdog Club and have also managed to get down to Debs a couple of times for a few days at a time.
She is turning out to be a really nice sheepdog. She is extremely keen, has a lot of natural talent, has a lot of courage and is being very patient with me while I try to learn as much as I can about this very challenging activity.
We have certainly progressed from the last update where we were balancing in the yard.
As you can see from the photos, she is working quite well in a paddock now and has really started to steady up behind her sheep..
Trim is stopping on my command (not always the 1st command, LOL), but we're getting there. She is also calling off the sheep very nicely when I ask her. We have spent a little time moving sheep from a paddock to a yard & then to a pen. This has been a great learning curve for both of us. Apart from the satisfaction of doing some real work, she is learning to be patient and although I'm sure she'd rather be out moving, she (and I) are realising that part of being a good sheepdog is being able to settle the sheep & wait quietly when needed.
We have started little casts, which will be the beginning of her outrun and I am starting to also put commands on her flanks so that she will learn to go the way that I want her to go around the sheep.
There is so much to learn & it seems, so many different ways of achieving each goal. Sometimes I get worried about stuffing her up. I know she has talent and this can be a scary thing for someone who is just starting out. Then I go out with her & everything "just works" and it is an amazing feeling to be part of a team & watch her do, so naturally, what she was bred for.
Free Hit Counter