Working November 19, 2011

Today when we arrived for our lesson we had to wait a few minutes so I took this time to work with Blaze on some obedience. Lie downs, that'll do, here, and there commands. I am very happy with how he was taking these commands with whistles, dogs, sheep, and people for distractions.

This time our trainer had a group of 150 ewes out in the big field so we started with them. He's never worked such a large group, and it was tough. He wasn't sure how to control such a large group and therefore was cutting in alot and not staying off them like he needed to in order to control them. We tried doing a few outruns but in the end it just wasn't working because he did not stay far enough off them. Therefore, we put those up and got a group of about 5 out. He did much better with the smaller group. We started with just balancing and flanks. Then we started working on outruns again. This time we got more distance on our outrun (30+ feet). We also worked on sending him when the sheep were starting to walk off. He handled this well. We also worked on pushing him out more on the outrun by following him just a bit while he's on his outrun. He's still a little tight, and the reason I was told is because he's not turning his head out when I give him a flank command. He's still turning his head in/looking at the stock and therefore he doesn't get out as far as he needs to. We'll work on that next time. His lie down was better, but not great yet. So we're going to try something new next time that will hopefully nix our sluggish lie downs.

He still likes to grip once in a while, which has been normal for him. But on our second time working after a break, he gripped once and it sent one ewe (which was later taken out of the group because she kept leaving and being a pain to work) running down the fence to the other side of the pasture. Blaze did take off after her, but he was running beside her the whole time so I didn't say anything. To see what would happen. He never gripped again and was trying very, very hard to get in front of her to bring her back around, but in the end he couldn't and I called him off. He came and lied down right when I told him. But I was very, very proud of him for TRYING and THINKING.

Then he did grip a couple mores times (not a needed grip) but I kept quiet and he brought them right back on his own to the group and me.

There were a few other dogs working in-between Blaze and I and he was off leash in a lie down for a few minutes while watching the other dogs work. Then he was tied up and was perfectly calm and QUIET the WHOLE time, even when another dog started to cry. This is a HUGE improvement for him! To lie down off leash and watch other dogs work and to not cry at all while tied up and with other dogs working.

I could really see the progress in this lesson. He's really matured nicely lately! At the end, the trainer said "once you get his lie down perfected, there's no telling how far you'll go with him." Can't wait to work this dog again.

Working November 11, 2011

After working on leash manners, lie downs, and that'll do's for 2 weeks at home, we went back for another lesson. Today we started out in the big field that has a round pen in the middle. At first we let him work the sheep through the round pen. Flanking, finding balance, and lying down on the outside of the pen. Then we went inside the pen and brought the sheep out to the big field (possibly 400yd by 300yd). Here we started working on outruns, balance, and lie downs. 

He made lots of progress. His outruns looked good. We were doing a 'sheep....me.....dog' outrun set up. Very little, probably 15ft between dog and sheep at most. His lie down was better than before, but no where near where it needs to be. We can have a perfect lie down at home, but something about being on sheep makes his lie down slow. We also worked on walking in a straight line without him blowing the sheep past me. Basically working on getting out. 

This was about all we worked on this session besides continuing to learn his side commands and getting on to him for gripping. 

Personality

Late Sunset

Snow Day...in Alabama?

New pictures...really?!

Shots from August-September

Beach Vacation 2009

Feel The Wind

The title for these photos is "Feel The Wind"

Copyright Jennifer Derrow 2009

The Foster Puppy

This is Temporary (or Puppy Doodle as I call her). She was found on the side of the road near a busy highway. Hopefully she'll find her forever home soon!





Copyright Jennifer Derrow 2009

Some Random Favorites

These are just some random favorites of mine. Photos that I've taken over the summer.

I shoot with a Nikon D40X and use two different lenses; A Nikon 18-55mm and a Tamron 70-300mm

COPYRIGHT by JENNIFER DERROW 2009

New Look!

I haven't been good at keeping this blog up to date with what I'm doing with Blaze.

So I'm changing the look of the blog. It will now be a blog for my photography AND the occasional Blaze/dog update. Of course, alot of my photography IS dogs!

Lake fun!

It's getting warmer outside now. . .that means Blaze and I have started swimming.

Here it's Spring Break, so we've gone out to the lake twice already this week. Blaze has a blast, splashing around. . .getting me all wet and sandy.

And hey, I get to have fun playing with my dog. . .and it's helping my much needed tan ;-)

Nothing new. . .

Well, Blaze is a year old this month. Actually, the 10th. February 10th to be exact.

It's been a tough, heart-warming, loving, frustrating first year with my *first* border collie! I love this dog to death, and he's taught me alot. But there also have been multiple vet visits where it seemed like there was no hope, or just little puppy things that he's gotten himself into that required more than just a "wait and see" mindset.

Anywhooo, happy late birthday, dear boy.

From this:

To this:

Christmas!

Christmas was lovely! Blaze had a great first Christmas :) He got a HUGE Jolly Ball which he ADORES! And a Bully Stick, some balls, and 2 Wubbus. Oh, and 3, 15" bone stuffies. Jake the beagle likes those the most, though ;)

Pictures will come. I got a new Nikon D40x so it's taking some time to get used to it.

Jennifer and Blaze

It's slow. . .but busy

So, it's pretty slow around here. Yet, it's extremely busy. LOL! How's that possible, you ask?

Well, I'm was (was being the key word here, thank goodness!) really busy with midterms, Christmas parties, and volunteering. It's been a pretty boring week for Blaze so far. Not much physical exercise but we've been doing some mentel exercise. Right now we are working on Heel.

I fear it will continue to be boring for him. I've got cleaning and school all day tomorrow since we've got family coming over for Christmas (Blaze says "PEOPLE! WEE!"). Then Friday he goes to the vet/boarding kennels for the weekend. He'll have a blast, though. He LURVS the gal their who look after him and he's such a puppy when it comes to playing with other dogs.

Oh, BTW, if I ever call Blaze "Mr. Wiggle Butt", don't worry. He gets all "wiggly" when someone talks to him (just ask anyone that knows him, LOL).

Anyone who reads this, could I ask a favour of you? My friend just lost her dog in a very tragic accident. Could you maybe give her a few prayers/good thoughts?

So, for now, thats all. I'll update with Christmas pictures and the "loot" that he got after Christmas! :D

Long Time No Typie!

Yeah, yeah, I need to keep this blog up. . .it's been busy

Anywhoo, the pup is doing well. He's so attatched to me. He will follow me around everywhere, loves to cuddle, annnnd.....

Is 10 months old now! Happy 10 months Blazer Boy! So here are some pictures. . .

"Did you know I can fly??"

So yesterday was the last day of getting new doors put in and a deck covering (which ment the dogs had to be either crated while the workers were here or shut in a bedroom. Much to there -mostly Blazes LOL- dismay)

"Whaaaat? I have to be locked in here for a DAY with HEEERRRR?!"

"Look MUM, Iz gettin mee leaz"

"Iz lost anz earz, burz Iz stills wantz outz dis pace"

"Ahhhhz! FREEEEZ!"

Update!

Long time no typie! Sorry!

Blaze and I are doing well. Blaze and I are getting closer and closer each day. He's a wonderful dog.

Well, it's getting colder outside now and Blaze has started agility now since we've got some free time. Just some simple jumps and tunnel and walking up a teeter. Hehe, he LURVS the tunnel!!! Here is a recent picture of him. Right after a hard rain and wind that made all the pretty yellow leaves fall down!

Herding Day

Today Blaze and I went to a lesson. He did well. He's still got alot more maturing to do, but I think he'll be really fun to train.

But, you can totally tell I'm a newbie at this. LOL The sheep went between the pannel and the fence so Blaze needed to go around the pannel to the opposite side of me to move the sheep out to the other pasture. My trainer had the gate open about 5 feet, just enough room so the sheep could go through. And I was trying to make sure Blaze didn't go with them.
Didn't work.
He ran straight past me and my trainer dispite her banging the crook right in front of him. So he runs probably 800+ feet away chasing the sheep. So my trainer is standing there laughing -it was pretty funny- "you need to run after your dog". So I start running down there. Then Blaze stops still about 500feet still and just stands there like "Oh, wait, what AM I doing here?" So I use this time to yell at Blaze "NO!!! HERE!"

One good thing about having a punishment sensitive dog is that when you say "NO" he comes running. So he runs and hops like a mad dog to me through the pasture! Go Blaze!
We stopped with that and he played with her six month old pup.

It was SOOO much fun. I got to "work" her trained dog, Mazy. It was totally awesome. At first she was like "Uh, mom, that THING is giving me a command?" Then she was taking commands from me. It was really an eye opener for how much you have to put into it.

I have alot more respect now for those that do this.

Then we had some time to kill till my parents got back. So we got a "swimming group" together of about 8 other Border Collies and went to play in her pond. Haha, I was soaked by the time that was over. We took the dogs in the pasture and walked while the dogs roamped around and dried off. Blaze was having so much fun. He got along really well with every dog there and played with a few. And was great on his recall. Then we STILL had time to kill so we played with him on the dog walk and a-frame. He had no problems with either and we did a little SAR thing on the dog walk where he had to change directions on it.

It was lots of fun! Can't wait to go back. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures. We did alot of hands on things so it was hard to get any pictures.