Just Photos Today. No Labor on Labor Day!
I’m continuing my tradition of “little labor on Labor Day,” and so am posting a pot pourri of pictures in hopes you will enjoy them. I’m writing this as Jim drives us back from the WWWSDA Midwest Championship Sheepdog Trial outside of Hudson, WI. Skip and I didn’t run, but both dogs got to work on Saturday, picking up each group of sheep done with their run in the Intermediate class (“Pro-Novice,” or “Ranch), and getting them back to the rest area with shade, food, and water.
Sometimes it is easy–the sheep know they are done and where to go. Other times some ewe has a bad memory, or would rather stay outside on the field and graze, or things haven’t gone smoothly on the run itself, and your dog has to do some serious work. I absolutely love “working the exhaust” at this trial, because it’s often you and your dog truly need to keep your head about you and do some important, good work. Besides, the view makes my heart sing. Here are Skip and Maggie, bookending the scene with their opposite ears up:
It’s a massive, sprawling course, the most challenging in the Midwest, and without question the most beautiful. Here’s my friend Tresa and her good dog, Claire at the very beginning of their run–you can see Tresa check her watch (to keep track of time, the teams were allowed six minutes to complete the course) while Claire rockets away on her outrun. (The sheep are about 250-300 yards away to our right.)
Here’s my second favorite part of the trial: I got to meet our friend Laura, long-time blog reader, and her new guide dog, Kyle (and sister Julia, don’t want to leave her out.). You know Laura and Kyle from my recent post about what guide dogs and their humans want us to know. They live nearby and came to say hi. Kyle is as sweet as a dog can be, and was perfectly behaved the entire time. What a treat for me!
I didn’t run Skip in the trial because, after getting 1st and 2nd at earlier trials (note: small ones), Skip’s “eye” started coming out on “heavy” sheep, and he starting going so slowly on the drive that we weren’t finishing the course. (People tend to think that “stalking border collies hypnotize the sheep, but actually, it’s the opposite!) I found myself putting pressure on me and him to “Fix It!” before this trial, but got a hold of myself and took a breath. More pressure is a last thing that a dog like him needs, and I decided, especially when he came up a little lame after a unsatisfying training session, that I pass on this trial. Hard to miss it, and a tad hard not to watch runs and think “if only,” but his limp went away after a few days, so we got to work exhaust together. He and Maggie both were absolutely perfect, they didn’t put a paw wrong and I walked away with my heart so big and gooey it was ridiculous.
That lasted until I walked off the field to go back to the car. The dogs knew what was up. They heard: “That’ll do,” and they decided that meant they were TOTALLY done and so they ignored me when I called them away from sniffing something suspicious. The message was clear: WE WERE PERFECT. WE ARE ON BREAK NOW!
I did have to explain that, actually, we do still need to keep working together; which is difficult to do while laughing so hard. Their minor moment of On Strike passed quickly, and we got back to shade and water and the car soon enough. I just thought it was such a great example of how dogs need breaks too.
Here are my Most Adorable Dogs in the Entire World hanging out with Jim. This is actually from a week ago, when I audited a Kathy Knox clinic. I’d argue that Jim is the Most Adorable Husband, but he’s hidden by the sun screen. Next time.
We took a day off from the trials on Sunday and explored Willow Creek State Park nearby. It’s a gorgeous park, with a kick ass waterfall. It’s a popular attraction though, so if you can go early in the day, I’d advise it. It is a bit of hike up and down, but we went at dog-sniffing speed (matching that of a toddler in front of us), and we all had a good time.
A few more photos for fun: This is friend Paul’s dog, Ben, after working in the Kathy Knox clinic. I love the yin/yang curve of the tongue and paw. (Sounds like a British pub–Ye Olde Tongue and Paw.)
Remember the book Dog Smart that I’ve raved about? The author, Jennifer Holland, joined me on The Larry Meiller show last week. It could not have been more fun . . . okay, maybe if there’d been scones and Earl Grey tea? If you missed go to the link, it should be in the archives.
One last shot from a while ago: A male Baltimore Oriole in full color, helping himself to an orange I’d put out. I have had more fun these last few weeks watching teenage birds, (especially Red-Bellied Woodpeckers), learning how to perch on the feeders, or getting fed by their parents right on the feeders. It’s pretty slow at the feeding stations now because so many birds are molting, getting fresh feathers for the long migration, or just winter, ahead.
That’s it for me today, I hope this comes to you after you’ve had a relaxing holiday weekend (or just a weekend if you live outside of the U.S.). Tell us your Favorite Thing That Happened in the last few days! Mine is easy: Skip was bringing a tough group of sheep off the course when one turned and faced him, looking for a fight. I saw that the other sheep were moving away, and so asked Skip to lie down, my voice quiet and musical. He did instantly, taking the pressure off the ewe enough such that she turned and followed her friends. But then he didn’t hesitate to get around toward the front of that same group, now charging like deer for a hole in the fence that led to their evening quarters, not the rest area. He turned it off, then turned it on like a champ. Good dog Skip. Tell us your Favorite Thing, we’d love to smile with you!
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About the Author
Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus is an applied animal behaviorist who has been working with, studying, and writing about dogs for over twenty-five years. She encourages your participation, believing that your voice adds greatly to its value. She enjoys reading every comment, and adds her own responses when she can.
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So happy that you worked your good dogs on the exhaust shift rather than trialing Skip. A weekend of fun for everyone without the pressure of competing, and both dogs (and you) doing a real job.
And so happy that you, Laura, Julia and Kyle met! And that Larry Meiller is still going strong – takes me back to my Milwaukee days back in the 1980s. And that Jim had shade to relax under when he was off-duty from General Usefulness.
My Favorite Thing That Happened this past week was when the bumblefoot scabs came off our Welsummer hen’s feet, showing clean, healthy skin beneath. She’s been living in my bathroom for three weeks with every-other-day foot soaks and bandage changes; we’re (almost*) all ready for her to be healthy enough to return to the flock. Just a couple more days… *Rowan’s Favorite Thing has been a HEN In The HOUSE! OMG OMG OMG!
Chris from Boise: You know all us chicken-less animal overs are looking up “bumblefoot” right now, which sounds adorable, and of IS NOT. And I’m in Rowan! A hen in the house, a hen in the house! OMG! How fun! (Theoretically.)
Patricia, fabulous commentating at the championship today. I learned so much from all your extra information sharing and thoroughly enjoyed my morning. It’s thanks to your blog many years ago that I learned this trial was just. Short drive from the Twin Cities. Incredible seeing those talented dogs trust their handlers and make that second outrun to sheep they couldn’t
See. And then the shed … chef’s kiss.
My favorite part of the week was bringing my young Aussie/bc mix to the championship today and seeing our training lay off as she just relaxed in that busy environment, she was pretty intrigued with the sheep too.
Nikki, thanks so much for the kind comments about my announcing at the trial, and so glad you enjoyed it! The Int’l Shed is just amazing isn’t? I love it especially because that’s when you get to see the dogs work very much on their own, understanding the exercise, and quarter-horsing the sheep who try to escape without a word from the handlers (no time!). And congratulations on your Aussie/bc being such a good girl! Kudos.
Wonderful photos – the orange on orange of the Oriole is stunning!
Our week was not so good – papillon Freddy was attacked by a Staffy in full prey drive mode a week ago. It could have been a lot worse – had she bitten down hard I don’t think he would have survived – but he was bruised, punctured and absolutely terrified, and all the humans involved were scared and upset. It was heartbreaking seeing happy, confident Freddy hunched in pain and shut down in fear, but there is happy news – after a careful week of pain relief, gentle exercise at home, and discretely managed walks in familiar places meeting mostly familiar dogs I am hopeful that he is well on the way to recovery. Sensible, easy going Sophy has been a huge help – if he begins to feel anxious he looks to her and follows her lead, and as the soreness wears off he is getting back his bounce and joie de vivre.
We are not out of the woods yet, and there may be set backs, but the good advice I have absorbed over the years from you and other behaviourists has been so helpful, not least in building back my own confidence from the feeling that I had failed in my job of keeping him safe. There is research available on how to prevent trauma in humans leading to PTSD, but little on avoiding it in dogs. Perhaps a topic for a blog post at a non-holiday time?!
Frances: Oh no oh no oh no! I am so sorry, what a nightmare. I’m so glad that Sophy is there to help, the ASPCA has found, in their work with traumatized dogs, that other dogs are as important as any other factor in helping dogs recover. Poor Freddy is lucky to have you, and I’m so glad he is recovering. Do remember that the efffects of trauma often simmer undercover, and come out weeks or months later. So keep up what you are doing longer than you might think you need to. Wishing you safety and peace in the coming weeks.
Love the one ear up, one down in both dogs in the top picture.
I had comps for the ballet last week and took a client for an “away from the dog evening”. Her daughter sent us a video (in case we were missing her dog?? we thought).
She (the daughter) had solved the problem of their apparently low-yielding raspberry canes by catching Rosie (the dog) red pawed, delicately picking off raspberries and stuffing her face!
Love the raspberry story, Charlotte! The St. Bernard of my ex and I, Cosby (named in 1968, one of the “before times,” ate an entire bucket of blueberries I’d spent an hour picking. I taught him to pick his own, and ever after (this outside of Ketchikan, AK), we had to deal with purple drool.
I finally finished something on my “bucket list”…to read “The Other End of the Leash!” I was camping for 10 days in Northern NY and got to Chapter 8… My 5 1/2 yo English Cocker, pretty much freaks out when a car drives by and I feel that I have tried just about everything! Well then along comes “Enough, Tap, Tap”. I had 4 days of camping left and by god…it worked! I would need to give him a reminder every morning and the rest of the day he was calm when a car drove by. We even changed campgrounds and it still worked! Now at home it works on the deck, but is a challenge in the fenced yard. Anyhow, thank you soooo much!!
Lisa B: So glad it helped! Kisses to your English cockers, my mom had two of them for many years, we all adored them.
Gorgeous pictures and what a wonderful holiday weekend for you and your darling pups and Jim! My favorite thing that happened over the weekend is the beginning construction on my dream of Top Notch Dogs Positive Training Pavilion and ‘Bed&Biscuit Tiny Homes” boarding! All a gift from my beautiful Momma🤗💞. And shortly we will be establishing our nonprofit, Dinky & Twinkle ‘s Little Stars Senior Animal Sanctuary! I would love for you to come visit someday out here in beautiful Colorado!
Wow, Melissa, that is truly exciting!
A friend and I were out of town at a lovely workshop at The Ranch. We added a visit to my favorite cousin who turned 80 this year. Perfect trip.
What’s better than that? Coming home to my wonderful dogs! They enthusiastically told me how much they missed me! They cuddled and solicited as much play as I was willing to give! Really. Can’t think of anything much better.
Totally agree Barb about enthusiastic greeting when you come home, especially from a “perfect trip!” What in heaven’s name did we do to deserve our dogs????
We’ve seen pictures of him, Trisha. You won’t get any arguments about Jim winning a most adorable husband contest!
I love the opposite ears up pic!!
A favorite thing I’ve been doing is swimming in our pond with our 7 yr old newfie. Especially exciting bc she isnt so much a swimming newf but has hip and knee issues that water therapy can really help with.
Previously she would only walk in up to her chest. I noticed she was bothered when her ears got wet so i started having her wear a life jacket to keep her head up. She now seems to enjoy our water sessions and gets quite enthusiastic. It feels good to have something i can do for her. She will most likely be on leash restrictions for the duration.
Patricia, did you stay to watch Donna and Opal in the drive championship? One ewe gave Opal a hard time. Wonder if that’s the same ewe that gave skip a hard time. Opal handled things very well!
Was a beautiful labor day at the WWSDA!
My sweet girl Rose set her own course at agility class last Thursday (not quite the holiday weekend, but close). She was to take a jump and then the A frame, but a tunnel (her fav) was enticingly close, so she took that. On the repeat, our awesome trainer said “I will help her out”, by blocking the tunnel entrance. Rose took the jump, looked at our trainer, then at me and took a different tunnel, coming out with tail high and the happiest gait. Sometimes, a girl just wants to have fun…
For Frances,
About 18 months ago our 13-lb rescue dog was attacked by an owl. Multiple puncture wounds–apparently it tried to pick him up but he was too big–and a cracked vertebra that showed up on an X-ray a week later. The emergency vet got him cleaned, stapled and gave me an antibiotic and strong pain meds.
When we got our timid little rescue pup a year earlier, of course we told him he was safe now and would never be in danger again. Wrong. We got him the best medical care; he was injured and scared anyway.
But now he’s fine, still with little-dog anxieties but not scared of going out at night or hearing large birds. They do heal, as do the humans involved. It may not be completely okay but it will be better.
Such great photos! Sounds like a good Labor Day in our books.
[Off topic, but Freddy is no longer sore and apart from a seroma that is clearing has few physical signs. He is greeting most dogs and humans happily, although I am being discreetly careful. He had a bark at the one dog we have seen that resembled the Staffy that attacked him, but settled down once it was far enough away to ignore. So I too am now MUCH happier – I will be taking your advice to be careful for some time to come, Trisha, and I am aware his anxiety threshold is still much lower than before the incident, but we are definitely heading in the right direction.]