Hi All,
I was just wondering if anyone knew when the next Saturday morning training session at Elmore would be???!!?!?!?!
I am chopping at the bit to get to some sheep to put into practise all I learnt at the workshop I attended last weekend~!!!!!!

Don't know about the Elmore one, but how was your workshop on the weekend??

It was great. We were really out of our legue. Everyone there had properties and some had even started 3 sheep and yard trialing. But it was really good and it gave us an idea of what each step is. I have learnt a lot of new "tricks" including getting the dog to take their sides using a dry method of trainig. Most of all I learnt how to read my stock better and how I can help the dogs to work better.

dry method? can you explain as I know many trainers use different terms.

This sounds really mean. But it is not too bad. They kick up a stink at first but get use to it. It requires you to put your dog on a 1.5mt of so lead and using a piece of polly, rake handle (or we use a long riding crop) with a plastic bag on the end ask you dog to take it's side with whatever comands you use. If the dog doesn't not move use the tool you are using to push and guide the dog to move the way you want it to. Ie: left, right, back and hold it to their chest so they can not move up to teach the steady command. Also you can use it to teach them to do the walk up command by giuding them to keep straight on their walk up. They must stay at the full lenght of the lead at all times and if they wont move a tap on the butt or ground will get them going. You only do this for about 2 mins 3 or some times a week and it seems to work.
we did it on the Saturday afternoon then again on the Sunday morning and you should of seen the improvements in dogs. Some dogs went from lying on their back screaming to just doing as they were asked. Only thing is you must finish on a good note as with all training

oh ok, I haven't heard it called the dry method LOL! I think most trainers use the plastic bag on a stick, some use a garden rake (plastic) but I prefer the bag.

I think it is mainly the noise that makes them move more than anything. What ever gets them going and works I am willing to use it!!!!

Elmore is this Saturday, looking forward to seeing all you have learned.
We also bring home a couple of new steps, and can't wait.
So see you there.

BUGGER!!! I just knew you were going to say that. Yesterday we made plans to go away for the weekend. BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER. Please keep us informed as to when the next one is!!!!

Thanks

WOOO HOOO,
Have spoken to the OH and have changed our plans!!!!! We will be up there tomorrow (prop about 9am though if that is ok)
See you then. It will be just me tomorrow, no mum and dad.
See you then!!!!
You bringing MOJO with you tomorrow???

I encourage everyone that is able to attend the herding training at Elmore to attend. It is great to spend the morning working the MONSTER sheep. TJ is always there is you get stuck and speaking from experience even the numb nut dogs (like my Libby) can be good at it. Plus it is a great activity to do with your dog!!!!! Most love it!!!!
And then you can watch Titch do it and get a real show!!! (Plus a reminder of how far you have to go!!!!)

I wish I was closer :(

Will Elmore training still go ahead during the summer months?

Not sure, best to ask TJ.
I wouldn't think so, I think it would get bloody hot there. But not sure all the same.

Another change of plan. Dad just loves those sheep so much mum and dad will be coming too!!!!
So we will have the full load, including mum's chomper ACD. Though see will not be having another go after sheep after her attempt to have leg of mutton last time!!!

At least the ACD is good for something.
Last weekend she got a pass in her CCD
First on her ring
& Highest scoring member of WODC for CCD
(this is the dog I brought!!!!)

I'm assuming not as yes too hot but just curious.

Elmore will go through summer as we only work in the mornings, but again as with wet weather, call to check, if it's going to be stinker and above 34 then training will be cancled.

looking forward to a great day, and believe me when I say Titch is just a beginner, but I think she is perfect.

We start practising for the December Binalong yard trial tomorrow, so I hope I don't end up on my caboose.

Yes Mojo will be there.

See you all there

Have a good day, wish I was there. I'm yet to see Titch in action...

Well training is over for the day, I can feel every muscle in my body, and I am as dominating as hell on way to much testosterone.
I'm walking on 4inches of mud and sheep poo.
I'm hot, sticky, bothered and I stink.

Tell me again why I do this?

Because my Koolie loves it and I love her.

We stepped things up this time and introduced, circuit training, where you go through multiple yards of vary sizes, opening and closing gates, through a solid chute(no bars, just solid fencing), into the race and out into another yard.

It is supposed to mimic yard work, good preparation for yard trials.

Your dog must follow you to each gate and not engage the sheep, and then stay behind you as you open them, then you are to send your dog around the sheep.
Your dog is to collect the sheep and push them through the gate, then come to you at your call, so you can then close that gate and repeat the procedure in the next yard.
Now this yard is very long and narrow and when you send your dog to collect the sheep it has to do an actual cast.(not easy for Velcro dogs)
Now while your dog collects the sheep and brings them to you, you make your way through the chute down to the race, once there you are to open the gate to let the sheep in, once in you then open the end gate to let the sheep out into the final yard.
Eventually the dogs will also back in the race but they're not up to that yet.

Today to allow the dogs to get their confidence we opened all the gates so they just needed to push the sheep continually around the circuit.
But even this simple procedure had its problems and set backs.
The chute was the stopper for all of us and we all lost a sheep which the dog would then harass because it wouldn't follow the bunch, and a couple even tried to leap the fences, so we decided that the lesson was to give the dog confidence in collecting and bringing the sheep to you, so for the first couple of goes we didn't bother if we lost a sheep.

Then our dogs got confused in the chute because they couldn't see us, Blue jumped out a couple of times before she got the idea and Titch tried to go back the way she came because I was waiting at the end of the race and she couldn't go through the sheep to get to me.

The race was tricky because you had to stay at the head of the sheep while your dog brought them up behind you, but for some the sheep were faster than the handler and reached the race first, and then they'd decide that they'd turn around and go back, so then you had handlers in the middle of the race trying to push sheep and more sheep behind them because the dog was still pushing.

Remind me again why I do this.

Because my Koolie loves it and I love my Koolie (got a bit of a mantra going now)

In all we learned nothing is ever as easy to do as when you say it.

It was a good day with a lot of cursing mostly at each other, because we all know a little, which is too much and makes you believe you can tell each other where they went wrong, and no where near enough to stop others from telling you where you got it wrong.

We all got the idea in the end and everyone was keen to keep trying, so it must not have been a total disaster, and I am looking forward to the next one.

So I guess I have to conclude the reason I do this, is because my Koolie loves it and so do I.

You forgot to mention that cry call of the morning "I'm going to shoot you!!!!" Kelli thought it was a load of fun doing the circuit and had sheep from here to Bendigo going in all differant directions!!!! Little cow thought it all a bit to hard for a city dog and left 6 of her sheep behind for blue to pick up on her way. Libby is making a huge improvement and I even notice she is a calmer dog at home now. No more lunging at the sheep to do some wool classing!!!
I think you are on a roll.
Why do we do this.
Cos are Koolies love it and we love them!!!!
Plus who doesn't want to grow 2 inches when they are only 5 foot nothing tall. Plus I just love being covered in mud and stincking so bad Nick put the windows down on thw way home!!!!!
Plus a bonus for softie me was two puppies!!! Go the puppies!!! Lots of little lick and cuddles.
Thanks for bring Mojo he is a really nice looking dog. With a fluffy bum like some of our lot!!!!

wish I was there.....

you do it because when it goes right it is rewarding as you know what it has taken to get to that point & the dogs love it, it's in their veins they just have to be shown the way us humans expect it to be done.

Tim loved the cicuit training and wasn't too bad at it. I understand the true meaning of a velcro dog!!! Tim is one of them!!!!! So much for obedience training!!!!

Obedience training is good, no working dog can be without it, Titch was the worst velco dog ever and yet with time she has discovered that sheep are a lot more fun, and now I need to check to see where she is from time to time.
So I guess I can't have it both ways, she's happy, I'm happy

Well done people, good to see you making such progress. Disappointed that I didn't get there in time to participate.

Just a suggestion, it may help to try loading half a race especially for those velcro dogs. I'm pretty sure that there is a gate half way down that raceway. Might be not quite as daunting, then once they've nailed that and they've got the hang of what happens, they can do a whole race. Same as for backing.

Makes things "authentic" with the colourful language.
Try doing it with a backpack of drench on your back when the B*!s%*@ds won't lift their heads.

It's really great to see that the solid foundations you have given your dogs are getting used in real situations. This is a luxury that most farmers don't get, although they very much should i.e. give their dogs a solid foundation. It's easy to get too technical about things and I guess if your going to trial you have to, but remember just have fun, Coz your Koolie is!

Sheringa

You are so right, they just love it and it is quite infectious, addictive and fun, just ask Rachell’s family.

Most people think we are crazy for getting up at 5am on a Saturday morning but our koolies love it and we love them!!! Plus who does like going home smelling like a sheep poo!!!!