Sweet Dreams of Sheep tonight for Little Ben

Today at Leanne Huber's I worked Jet and Ted (thanks Leanne!) Then I took little Ben in on a line to see the sheep. It was cute, he bounced in, not really noticing them, as they stood very still by the fence.
I slowly walked forward and suddenly he saw them - and froze in this position!

It was easy to take a picture, as he lowered his head and creeped forward. To me, it is quite amazing to see this instinct kick in. Also, it is so pretty to see this pose. Jet does it a bit - Ted not at all. I was pretty excited and sent the photo to Jenny Glen who said hmmm, maybe he will have a little style on sheep!

The sheep stared back at Ben, sizing him up. 

Ben is a thinker. If you read the post below, you will see that I describe him as a very serious puppy. He barked, and when they didn't move, he sat down to study them. He never shows fear in a situation. He is such a neat little guy. I could hear the wheels turning.

Then Ben stood up, and took a few steps towards the sheep... watching with his ears up as they suddenly turned away and began to trot along the fence....

And just like that, they headed out to the big field to munch on some grass on a beautiful October afternoon. Ben watched them go... frozen with wonder! You can see them - white dots heading into the setting sun over the Rocky Mountains in the distance.

Don't worry little Ben. One day, you will be Big Ben and you'll know just what to do!

Sweet dreams tonight, little guy.

Update on my weight loss journey

Today I officially broke the 100 pounds lost mark - 101 pounds lost since Fall 2007. It's taken 4 years but I have never put it back on over that time since it's been slow. The experts say if you keep it off for 5 years, you will never put it back on.


It has been slow because as a Cancer Survivor, I know my metabolism is slow and this impacts a lot of things. But by reading Wayne Dyer - Change your Thoughts, Change your Life and Excuses be Gone - I have realized that you can harness incredible mental powers for amazing change. I also love Jorge Cruise's Belly Fat Cure - Fast Track.

I have 12 weeks to Maui-time, and 45 pounds to my goal. I might make 30 pounds by Maui in January - and I'll save money on food there because I AM NOT GAINING ANYTHING BACK~ ! Fish and fruit diet only!

I can't wait to see Wayne Dyer again in Maui, to tell him and show him the new me. I have a picture of me with him from October in Maui last year that I will bring in January to his retreat - and I am going whale watching with him and the group too! It's a goal that keeps me going.

I really want to run seriously next year. I admire the running culture and think it would be a great addition to the things I do with my dogs.

Soon, I will post a 'before and after' shot. Not yet though. Maybe at Christmas. And one more thing - I have lost 19 pounds since the picture of Caden and I (sidebar menu) was taken! My face looks so different! I can see "me" again in the mirror.

But you know what? I was always inside. And that is important to remember.

Serious Play - Jet teaches Ben a few things

Serious puppy - serious play! Between Jet's hardnosed ways and her puppy's serious nature, play takes on a whole new meaning. Ben is just not one of those silly puppies, probably because he had no littermates. He struggles to keep up with Jet and does a good job of it. Ted flies around on the outskirts too. He's a good boy but really doesn't want to be nipped by Jet so he's careful of his distance.

When I watch Jet interact with Ben it is so fascinating. She urges him to take the toy and gives him lots of opportunity to get ahold of it to tug. She lets him tug it and sometimes even lets him have it. He stalks, and lies down, and runs in big sweeping circles around her. I see so many of the behaviours I expect to see in a Border Collie puppy as he gets a feeling for his body and his mind starts to click.

It is so cool to watch him develop - I just love it!

Ben in stalk mode - eyeing up his momma Jet

Dogging Jet hoping for a crack at the toy

This is the above photo - you can see Jet enticing him!

Another shot of him putting his head down to eye up Jet. This is always followed by a burst of speed!!

Ben says he'll just sniff the ground, rather than confront Jet. Ted hangs back too.
Girl Power!

Jet tells Ben to lie down!

Jet invites him to tug. I can learn from Jet. She controls the play - yes or no.

More tug! She tosses him around... see the video - he is so determined!

And of course, Jet wins and the chase is on! They twist and turn, he is getting so fast!

There are some things I wish Jet would NOT teach Ben, hahaha.

Caden and River and I are on the GSD side. The GSDs want to be with me. We all observe the Border Collies at play. I do mix them together under supervision but do it more in the house when they are calm, rather than when they are outside and over-excited about toys.

Ben's Ears - 14 weeks old

Yesterday, Ben's "other ear" came up! He'll be 14 weeks old tomorrow. Suddenly, with both ears up, he is looking like quite a young man. He doesn't have his mom or dad's head at all. It's a big, all boy head. I am going to go through pics in his pedigree this weekend to see who he may favour, at least in appearance. And, he is just one tough, serious pup. I *NEVER* hear him cry. And he is quite silent and very determined. It's so interesting to watch him grow up!

You can see his Ma and Pa in these pics, and their ears.

Today's Tracking Class - new post on Your Tracking Coach Blog

Today was so fun. I taught another class and we are forming a great group. It was freezing though... thanks to Kristine and her son Brian for the coffee!

Here is the link to the post - I am trying to move my instructive posts on tracking to the coaching blog.
http://yourtrackingcoach.blogspot.com/2011/10/todays-tracking-class-line-handling.html

So on the Spiritdance blog, you just have to put up with my own personal stories and experiences.

And on that note, I was just so proud of Caden who was handled on a short track by Kristine.

And Jet did a 3.5 hour old urban track with a very close gallery. Awesome experience for her!

Ben's puppy track, and random photos of a nice afternoon

Today, Ben's track went very well. Caden and River also did tracks, while Jet and Ted stayed home. I missed herding this weekend and owe Ted a nice walk on his own. I need to figure out my time with five dogs that are ALL in training. Some days I swear I feel like superwoman, working, running a house and training these dogs, plus fitting in a social life! (that is my pat on the back to me).

Here are a few random shots of the day

Today Ben's track was textbook! We used dried liver and he was very good (video below).
An hour later, I played around with him on the grass and he sniffed the area where we had tracked.

I found a treat and called him over. He is so serious, this puppy. Like Jet.

Ben sat and watched some people in the distance. I think he marvels at the number of people there really are in the World! He thought it was maybe five or so. Now he believes there may be hundreds!

Video of his footstep track. PLEASE forward to 1:30 because I set the camera on a concrete parking barrier and didn't realize that it was not aimed properly (embarrassed, ha!)

 

Caden also did a track today. Today it was all field unlike his urban track yesterday (which will be on the coaching blog). He did well but I didn't video as I wanted to focus on handling. This is our shadows just prior to starting!

Here he is at his article. It was a 500 meter track and 1 hour old so he worked very hard.

River also did well on an 800 meter track. She blew me away today. I am uploading video. I missed filming the center portion of her track, and the parking lot turn. I cried over that. I stopped to take this photo and forgot to hit record again. Waah! She is such a special girl. I just treasure her and it felt so good to be behind her.

Tonight at home, tug o war with a tracking glove.
Jet says "I am the tracking dog!"
Ben says "no, I am the tracking dog!"

Ben's First Track - What a Serious Puppy!

http://yourtrackingcoach.blogspot.com/2011/10/puppy-ben-starts-tracking-humility-and.html

If you read this link, you will see the title of the post is 'humility and improvisation...' which is how best to describe the tracking session with Ben today!

Spiritdance Big Ben - the first puppy to have my kennel name - so exciting!

Well Ben now has his shots and is micro-chipped. I can actually register him with the CBCA now, and the CKC for tracking only of course. I'll be sending in the registraton papers for Spiritdance Big Ben! It is so exciting - the first puppy ever to have my kennel name on it.

My vet says they are seeing a ton of parvo right now and to keep Ben under wraps until his final shots. Scary! I want to start him tracking this weekend, so may have to find a remote field somewhere.

Stay tuned for Ben's intro to tracking this weekend. I can hardly wait, as I plan to journal every moment in photos and video.

Getting re-aquainted with Jet and Ted on sheep

I went to Leanne Huber's today to work Jet and Ted, and of course Ben came for the ride. I feel like I am getting re-aquainted with both dogs now that I am working them more consistently. They have both aged a little and are a bit different than the dogs I remember. Calvin Jones told me I need to work the dogs I have *today, and let go of the past and old memories. Of course this makes sense, but when I work them it is hard to do. Today I felt like I made that breakthrough and worked the dogs more in the moment.  They are both 6 (Jet turns 6 this week) and have a few years of trialing ahead of them still... and Ben is the rookie who will be my next generation. I am so excited!

I have no working pics of the dogs, but took a few when we were done. Following Calvin Jones' advice, I worked Jet first. She was just wonderful - again! She is getting so easy to handle and is trying so hard to work with me - you could blow me over with a feather. Her outruns are very honest and there is no cutting in like when she was a hot-headed youngster. She stops, she drives, she takes every flank... and I feel so relaxed with her.

She really is a gift, in herding and in tracking - I have never had such a brilliant dog. By the time I finish working Jet, I am tuned up and ready for Ted. I just pray I can practice enough to trial this dog and keep a head on my shoulders, and even move up to Pro Novice. It is truly a testament to Scott Glen's training that she remembers everything so clearly. Now I really need to learn to whistle, seriously. I am motivated!

Jet watches a little while Leanne works her boy

Ted's big thing is that he is so keen to work and he is a powerhouse with his size and speed. I need to be fast to handle him, and ask for a stop before I need it, or he overuns four steps - and those steps push the sheep too far off my line. Ted is pushy! He wants to come on fast, and works fast. He is a joy, really, because he wants so badly to do everything so it's just a matter of slowing those Teddy feet down. He is such an athletic dog - and today he had very nice turn-offs on his flanks - and I love to see how he runs. Somehow his body language is much more exaggerated than Jet's. She just looks like a snake in the grass most of the time as she runs very low and flat.

Ted soaks and watches the next dog work.

Thanks so much to Leanne for letting us come work her sheep and for the handling tips. It is such a great opportunity to practice.

Leanne with her 14 year old boy Jake, who adores her.

Ben came out of the car to meet a couple of young cowboys who were going to deliver a mule to Leanne's. Yes, in Alberta you call people cowboys - it is what they are and it's an everyday term. Ben schmoozed them up.

Then, Ben watched sheep. I opened the gate for a minute to get this picture - he could not take his eyes off the sheep in the distance. That is Leanne and her dog Rick, with one of the young cowboys watching them work.

Ben says, if he wasn't on that dumb leash he could have helped!

More sheep watching by little Ben...

I held him up so he could see better. Such a serious little face! He is getting more and more like Jet, his Mama, in personality. But those are definitely Teddy's huge ears, hahahahaha!

Taking my own advice - motivation track for River

I just wrote a post on Your Tracking Coach about motivation and keeping things fun plus keeping your dog's confidence up by laying frequent, easy motivation tracks. I showed the 'casual stroll' idea where your dog gets to track another dog's track to keep their interest high.

Today I had to take my own advice. Yesterday River floundered a bit as she gave what should have been an easy urban demo. I don't know if it was the conditions or her age catching up with her. I suppose that I will have to expect more inconsistency as she is 11 but I did get quite choked up as she had some trouble and simply DID NOT seem to locate the wood article.

So, today, I took her out and let her run a track I had previously run with Caden. So it was nicely laid, twice, and he tracks almost dead on, so had no weird bobbles. As you can see, she did really well today. So who knows? All I do know is that it was devastating to be behind your long-time partner and see her show her age - and wonderful to follow her today.

Nancy Thornton has a professional level Nikon. She was getting a lesson from me with her Parson Russell Terrier (see Your Tracking Coach). She took these photos of River, who looks better than I thought, but I am so used to her being so ON.

Happy Girl! She still had fun, and was not as stressed as I was about the track yesterday.

TODAY

I did a track with Caden and then let River run it. As you can see there is a long straight leg, then a sudden curve around a tree. This is throwing in a short serpentine to ensure your dog is right on track and not zoning out.

Here is Caden running this track. Remember, my goal was a motivation track for River. So I only aged this 10 minutes for Caden, wanting him to run it as accurately as possible so River would have a nice heavily laid track to follow. But I wanted him to also have a great experience. He is not exposed a lot to hard surface and I was very happy with how he sorted it out. I LOVE his turn and transition onto the parking lot in this video:

River did this track beautifully. I felt so happy today. I hope I am still tracking when I am River's age! she is nearly 80 in people years!

The 'casual stroll' game - new post on Your Tracking Coach

FYI folks - New post on Your Tracking Coach blog - http://yourtrackingcoach.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-new-dogs-in-training-progression.html

Tally the Parson Russell Terrier's first time out tracking, following Caden's demo track 'casually' and tracking up a storm!

Sheep Sense a Conspiracy - too funny

Thanks to my cousin for this one from the Truth Justice website. Very funny!