Saturday, June 13, 2009

Testing our Power and Control and Almost Happy Feet!

We went herding again today. I wasn't sure if Reese's feet were ready for pounding the pasture just yet, but they have healed over the past couple of weeks enough that we have been back to playing fetch in the yard, walking our 3 milers and a even got a couple of runs mixed in. I am still waiting for the Mushers Wax so hopefully it will arrive tomorrow and we can start building some toughness into those little toes. We thought we'd take a chance and see what would happen and headed to the pasture. I worked her once and she did tear one toe again, but the others are all intact. So back to the soaking her toes in the tub she goes. At least I know what to do this time. I checked her toes as soon as we were done and Jackie the vet med expert was there to take a look at it.

Reese did a great job, her flanks are really coming along nicely I couldn't have been more pleased with how she did. Of course since she did so well we have no pictures or video for viewing pleasure, but you'll have to trust me and when I do get some pics and new video I think you will be surprised.

The pasture we are practicing in is rectangular in shape. The sheep were against the fence but about a 1/4 of the way across the field on the left so they were not backed into a corner. The plan (and it worked) was to walk Reese down the middle of the field and a little to the left which is the side the sheep were on as we got closer the sheep started to move and I let Reese go, she went towards them and went wide and got behind them and moved them away from the fence and we started working flanks around them as we moved out to the middle of the pasture.

As she worked her flanks she was testing her power and her ability to control and move the sheep. She started out a fair ways from the sheep, keeping plenty of distance between herself and the sheep. As she worked them she started moving in closer and closer. As that happened the sheep were not moving too much and then on the next direction change she widened out and the sheep started to move again. She adjusted a bit each time around to see where she could be and what was working the best.

This dog has so much power from her father and her mother is phenomenal at reading the stock. Reese is starting to figure out what power she has and how best to use it. Each time we are out there she shows me something else. It will be interesting to see what her ability to read the stock turns out to be, and based on what her mother does it should be quite good!

We also celebrated a graduation and a birthday and as always enjoyed good food, good conversation with good friends.

Reese's Sire Imp Roy 250932

Here are some pictures from the past week of Reese being silly playing with her ball.




A snooze-a-day....

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