Like anything you really love to do…All too soon the Party is Over!
The last morning dawned fair and bright! Very cold and damp, but the promise of a beautiful day was in the air.
The flood of the day before was soon forgotten as we all went to work . The mud was with us for sure and made standing up an art! But we all managed!
Everyone worked in the big arena! There was so much progress from Sunday’s start. Dogs and Handlers were doing things they did not know was possible. So many good dogs!
I wanted to learn to pen sheep in the free standing pen and work on the L chute.
I have noticed that in trialing folk seem to send the sheep in the pen and then the sheep run out before the gate can be shut. I figured there was a technique.
So here is how it can be done successfully.
You bring your sheep up to within 30 feet or so of the free standing pen and have your dog hold them …What you want to do is make the sheep want to go in the free standing pen. You open the gate wide and let your dog bring the sheep into the pen nice and easy and then you close the gate ! Easy as pie! NOT! But the trick is the hold and the easy way the dog brings the sheep to the pen… do not hurry!
Then you send your dog come bye round the pen and down him 30 feet off the pen. Thus taking the pressure off the sheep so when you open the gate they walk out instead of stampede!
The day was over way too fast! Soon we were packing up and folk were heading home!
Full of ideas, hope, knowledge and lots to ponder and work on!
Tosha and Renia working on their fetch in the Arena!
