[Because it’s Memorial Day, I’m going for “Blog-Lite” today. Content-rich blogs will begin again next week. Thanks for letting Maggie, Willie, Tootsie, Jim and me enjoy the holiday. And thanks especially to all the veterans who deserve our gratitude and respect today. We don’t tend to go to parades, but I always take time to sit by myself and think about all the sacrifices that have been made. I hope you can find time to do that too today.]
We’re just back from the first sheepdog trial of the area, Nippersink or Swim, one of my favorite trials of the year. It’s well run (Margaret, Patti and crew, you are amazing), challenging but fair, and simply gorgeous. It’s like walking into an Irish photo calendar in the month of May. The title is based on the fact that the Nippersink River runs through the trial course, and the Open Dogs have to cross it and bring the sheep back over a bridge. Seriously.
Maggie and I ran in Pro-Novice (think “Intermediate”) on her first standard trial course ever, and I’m happy with how she did. She wasn’t great, but for a first experience on a course that big, with sheep pulled to two different areas like little magnets surrounded by steel fences, she did well. She turned in short on her first outrun (Surely the sheep couldn’t be any farther away than this!?), but stopped when I asked and redirected herself beautifully. The second run she did a lovely outrun, and both times she did a good fetch and first leg of the drive. She panicked on the cross drive (imagine her needing to move the sheep to the south when they were being pulled to east or west) and brought them back to me before she should’ve, but that’s a classic mistake made by inexperienced dogs. Don’t get me wrong, no laurels to rest on here; we have our work cut out for us. But Maggie did a lot right, and most importantly, she had a good time and learned a lot, which were my primary goals.
A few photos for you:
Here’s a friend moving the sheep off the course into a holding pen. Each run has a different group of sheep–part of trialing is never knowing if you’re going to get that one “impossible ewe” who makes your dog’s life extra challening.
Here’s another friend standing at the post for her run in the Open class. She’s waiting while her dog runs around to the sheep, who are barely visible under the three trees on the right, not to mention over a substantial creek. Yeah, they really are that far away!
Part of the fun of trialing is spending days with dogs everywhere, not to mention with people who love them as much as you do. Just in case someone tells you that Border Collies are always black and white, here’s an illustration of what happens when you breed for health, soundness, disposition and working ability instead of size, shape and coat color:
I didn’t get any good photos of Maggie working, but I did get a photo of Willie that is going to be an all-time favorite of mine. I thought long and hard about whether to run Willie this summer or not, and decided not to. He’s only 10, and lots of dogs run at 10, even 12 years, but he’s just never been that sound and he’s indicated to me that he is uncomfortable in tense situations with sheep. Willie assuaged all my angst about whether I’d made the right choice when I took him out on the course for a photograph. While he had seemed blissfully happy sitting with me in the spectator group, he began tongue flicking and looking nervous when we sat in the area where you wait for your turn to compete. It couldn’t have been more clear to me that he was happy to work sheep at home, but not compete in trials. Thanks Willie, and, oh yeah. . . I love you.
Andy says
Content-rich or not, I love this post, especially the last paragraph. Thanks for loving Willie for who he is. And those healthy, varied, happy-looking BCs – so wonderful!
christina peters says
Trish, I follow your newsletters and have admired you for so long. I’m not much on writing; hard to get me in at my computer. But I must say that your picture of Willie is just so telling. Our dogs have as many different abilities as hairs on their bodies. Most important is that they are able to have fulfilled lives, complete with challenges and successes; no matter how we measure them. Thank you for everything that you give to us and our lovely companions.
Christina Peters, CA.
Peggy says
Love the way you share the understanding you have with your dogs……. Thank you
LisaW says
I literally breathed a sigh of relief for both you and Willie when I read that last paragraph.You both knew, it just took until now for you to sense it in each other. I wish there was a word for it — something like umami but as a tacit relational umami. (I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense but words sometimes fail us.)
Lovely photos as always and thank you for the Memorial Day ritual of spending a bit of time in remembrance.
gail lilly says
Your posts are routinely interesting as well as grounding. To share your thinking re: whether or not to have Willie compete was a lovely tribute to you and your work with dogs. That you were able to focus on what Maggie did well was a lovely gift to all of your readers. Delightful to read that you were pleased with Maggie’s efforts and her happy attitude while working. Your description of training as a process not a mandate for perfection was refreshing. Your decision making highlights your love and respect for your dogs.. Thank you for sharing so candidly your priorities as you and your dogs go through this life together. I always just feel more wholesome after finishing one of your articles !! LOL and all I have done is read!
Monika & Sam says
It’s easy to see why that last photo is a favorite. It says so much, elegantly and with resonance. Well done.
Diane says
As much as any persons wants to run sheep, or agility, or whatever…you need to try to understand what your dog wants and needs as well. A lesson I am happy to attribute to you. A love I am happy to share with my dog.
Barbara says
Thank you for sharing how you decided not to run Willie. I bought my GSDs because I love the sport of obedience. I love to compete, love the thrill of being in the ring, love my dogs no matter the score. Sadly, although my two older dogs have done quite well and earned numerous titles, as time went on they told me (or I finally heard) that they hated being in the ring. How could this be when I love competing? They are well trained and healthy. But eventually they simply quit in the ring. Several friends have pointed out that the common denominator in this is me. I am struggling to enjoy working with my dogs (including a youngster who has not been in the ring yet) without the expectation of showing in a trial. Since I do not know what it is about me in the ring that puts them off I have no idea how to fix it. Maybe there is no fix. They are great companions and hiking partners and they seem to enjoy training and being with me. At my last trial, Miley (age 5) warmed up fine but I could feel the energy drain out of her as soon as I handed my leash to the steward. She got a middling score, but the next day she simply stopped in her tracks in the middle of the heeling pattern. “I quit, Mom.” I am hoping to either figure out what I am doing wrong, or come to an acceptance that it is okay for them to be just dogs.
Good for you for listening to Willie and believing what he told you.
Bruce says
Trisha, kudos to you for recognizing Willie-as-he-is rather than Willie-as-he-is-supposed-to-be. I think sometimes owners of purebred dogs see the breed characteristics rather than the individual, and the two do not always match.
For instance, we had a black lab with zero, and I mean zero, retrieving instinct. As in, the poor dog was totally confused why the human threw away a perfectly good stick, tennis ball, etc. He did like to swim . . .
The picture of Willie is gorgeous.
Robyn says
Of course I agree with all the comments on your observation that Willie didn’t want to work trials. But I also wanted to thank you for showing the variety that comes with breeding for health and stability. That is proof of truely loving dogs. How much more interesting to have functional and stable dogs than photo-copies of someone’s ideal.
Sharon Woolman says
Thanks for sharing! Wish I would have been there with the rest of you but the time spent helping my mother was really needed and well spent. Sounds like Maggie learned well from the first outrun and did better the second time. Good girlie!
Alice R says
Lovely post. So wonderful that Willie wants to quit when he physically should. It would be so much more difficult for you both (and Maggie)
if he loved it still.
Cathy says
Love this post! So glad that you and Maggie had a good time and learned a lot. I was particularly moved by what you wrote about Willie. My BC was doing well in obedience until the high jump because he took off too far from the jump. I spent much money and time re-training when doctors determined that there was no physical problem. There came that day at the training center when he went to the start line because I asked him to, but his body screamed, “I do not want to do this any more.” I am so glad that I listened. Yes, I am wistful sometimes when I steward at a trial because my guy is so good at everything else in obedience, including non-jumping utility exercises, but it was the right decision. Now we concentrate on activities we both enjoy like freestyle, nose work, tracking, and a little herding. The photo of Willie is wonderful as are the others. What a beautiful setting!
Trisha says
Thanks for your support about Willie’s retirement. I had decided not to run him this summer several months ago, but given how well he was working at home (he handled the “lamb flock,” Maggie the rest) I began to wonder if I’d made the right decision. His injuries from last summer appeared to be well healed, and he seemed so happy to be working again that I began to second guess myself. But working at home is one thing, dealing with the stress of a trial–unfamiliar course and sheep, lots of people and dogs, excitement in the air–is another. I was so grateful that he made it crystal clear to me that I made the right call. Just another gift from Willie, my Sillie-Willie-Billie Boy, who has other nicknames, but they are, uh, unprintable, because he can be an idiot sometimes, and I don’t say that lightly. You’ll see what I mean when the memoir comes out.
Kat says
LOL unprintable nicknames. I hear you there. Finna has a lot of those nicknames too. Fidiot and FISBO (For Sale by Owner) being the only two unflattering ones I could share.
Thank you for modeling how to really listen to your dogs. And for sharing your stories about herding. I’ve always been a little sad that the only thing I have for Ranger to herd is cats. He herds The Great Catsby back inside whenever the cat decides to venture out. He does not herd the cat in the house but Ranger adores those times when the cat goes out and we ask him to put the cat back inside. Finna despite being a herding mix has no interest in herding. She’s more interested in channeling her inner terrier and hunting rats and mice.
Gorgeous photo of Willie. I love looking at your photos.
Cathy R. says
Sounds like you and Maggie learned a lot from each other. I have to say that I have admired you and how you train for a very long time. I would like to think that I could be just like you when I grow up! LOL. The picture of Willie is awesome. Something I would think you’ll hold close to your heart. And I am sure that he appreciates the fact that you “listen” to him and don’t require that he work when he is uncomfortable. There’s nothing that hurts my heart more than to watch someone make a dog work. Especially when it’s clear that the dog does not want to do what is being asked. I loved all the pictures but I have to say I mostly love the picture of Fleck the red and white border collie. He and his mom are old teammates and pals of ours.
Jean says
The last two sentences coupled with the picture brought a couple of tears to my eyes.
Pamela Zander Owen says
Thank you for sharing this experience. I have never been involved in such work, but find it so interesting. I always come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of my own four-legged companions. Love the photo of Willie!
LisaH says
Would you be able to share the names of the 4 BCs? The second one looks very familiar and I am curious if s/he is related to my little female as all her litter mates are working, and trialing dogs, in WI.
kelly Schlesinger says
Lucky Willie that he can work sheep at home and not have to worry about those oh-so-stressful formal affairs! I feel the same way about having a small dinner party at my house versus going to a dress-up gala!
Lucky Maggie that she has a fun date for the auspicious events.
Kelly Schlesinger says
I would love to hear your thoughts about sheep dog training and how you operate in an environment in which many don’t share your outlook on canine learning. When I took my young BC for a test and some initial lessons, I was disappointed in the reliance on dominance theory and use of coercion and intimidation We consequently returned our focus to agility; in other words, we fled.
muttzrule says
Thanks and lol , what a relief to know that sweet Duncan, the canine good citizen who has indoor potty issues when stressed, isn’t the only dog with an unprintable nickname or two. I send him and his sister outside during cleanup so they don’t hear me vent. Just yesterday, I came home to a reeking house. Mr D had peed in the living room. Don’t know what triggered him. Even worse, it’s a brand new laminate floor in a rent house 🙁 Does anyone know how to permanently get that stink out of laminate without damaging it so he won’t keep on pottying there?
Love the pictures, and the various colored Border Collies are just as beautiful as the familiar black and white. Happy Retirement to Willie!