Practice Practice

We are now working on the element that will be required of us in our first trial in April. Jax is putting the pieces together, but it's still really a work in progress. It's like a dance recital, the more you learn the routine, the better it will be. I'm hoping to keep putting Jax through the trial routine so he'll know exactly what is expected of him.

Fetch the sheep... Naturally the were far away as they see Jax and think "predator"and book it for the trees.

 Bring the sheep down and around a handler's area. We are still at the point that I'm with him the whole time, essentially. I wont be standing from the gate and giving him whistle commands from afar...yet.

 Lie down please, trying to get him to not force the sheep in front of us. When they are rushed in front of us he's then compelled to flock them again because they've lost 'balance'. In a trial I'll lose points for that.

And continue to walk while Jax waits. It's easy to move the sheep in the wrong direction or scare them so they head for the hills. A lie down gives me a little control back.

After we have gone around the handler's area is the next obstacle. We go through the fence posts and hang a right. I need to work on where I place myself so I don't waste time or get in the way of the dog. Time is an element in the trial, the last think I want to do is get timed out. What a bummer

A good lie down to get him in control and not put too much stress on the sheep.

 Through the shoot in the back corner. Jax actually managed this one pretty well, I was sure he wanted to run in with them and grab a snack. It's super exciting when they are up in the air and trying to fly away from him. 

In the holding pen, we've practiced this one a few weekends now. Repeat repeat repeat.

Bring the sheep back out of the pen. Having Jax lie down at the backside of the pen forces the sheep out, no need to send him in. Also, that would be a holy mess. Always remember to set your dog up for success!

Take a little break, have a little chat about what we've been doing well and what we can try next. We are both learning, sometimes Jax is off the wall, sometimes I don't read my dog or the sheep and sending him astray. Work in progress. 

Next we bring the flock to the upper corner pen and re pen the sheep. This one took a little bit of work. He had the guts to go into the pen with the ewes, despite them stamping their feet at him.

Not a perfect move, however. Notice you dont see a dog but the sheep look like they are trying to get out of the way and one is going up in the air. Yup, he decided to jump in and flush the poor girls out. Classic.

"That'll do". Pretty sure you can define that look as a shit eating grin. This dog will work his heart out. 

 Happy dog happy handler. It was a lot of fun getting to the trial components and seeing what we will be doing. We have some challenges and communication to figure out but with practice we'll get there.