Hi there! Cait is still working on her next blog. She won't tell me what it's about. She said it should be ready soon and in the mean time she said I could write something again... she is such a good girl!
I guess it's inevitable... at the close of the year you look back over the past 12 months and reflect on your accomplishments, defeats and your life in general. You look forward to the new year and make plans, set goals and hope. There are lots of great moments and it's hard to pick just a couple. But as I look back over the past year, and see how far my little Cait and I have traveled, four events stand out in my mind...
First was in February when Cait got the SJVBCA Novice Top Dog award for 2009. We received a nice jacket from the club. I had already moved her up into Pro Novice and we had been to a trial or two and not done very well. But receiving the award made me think back on our first trial in January 2009... when I was so nervous and forgot most of my flanks and Cait was so wild the sheep just ran around me in circles... to the last Novice trial in October where I was able to stand at the post and drive the whole course. During lunch when I received the jacket with every one telling me to put on the jacket and I remember my hands shaking so bad that I couldn't even unzip the darn thing.
Second was the invitational SDT at the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles. I had been lucky the year before and had been invited as a filler, with Zeke, because all the Big Hats were at another trial trying to qualify for the national finals in Klamath Falls. I got invited back and of course Cait was the dog to go. I was nervous because we would be competing against big time handlers with open dogs (here I was a novice with my 2 year old dog and there were dogs there that had competed at the National finals!! Scary, I tell you!) It would be our first arena trial and I knew the sheep would be light and with pushy, speedy Cait it could have been a disaster. We got to do our first competitive sheds and single and we nailed them! My goal for the day was to make it in the top 10 so we could move onto the final round. We did! Everything went well during the second go except a little bobble by me during the single... I got flustered and Cait felt that but we finally got it. You can really tell on the video when I started to get nervous you can see Cait get quicker and tighter... just goes to show how much your dog feeds off of you and your emotions. I think this was the most fun trial of the year for me. Everyone was very complimentary and thought Cait was a really nice dog. I even had several handlers come up to me and tell me that we should have placed higher than we did. WOW!! I was just happy to be there and make it to the top 10.
Third was the Pleasanton Scottish Games. We had never been to a timed obstacle trial and I really had no idea what to expect. The whole weekend was a crazy, loud, nerve wracking time. I was pretty nervous but my little girl came through and saved me... yet again. Everyone was so nice. The spectators were there in droves and they all wanted to talk and pet the dogs. Cait was in her element there... she is a sponge when it comes to soaking up attention! What really hit home for me that weekend was when Cait and I are working the sheep everything else disappears... the bagpipes, the drums, the heat, the millions of people, the screaming kids, time, everything. All that is there is Cait, the sheep, the obstacles and the strategies I have worked out in my head. We won a belt buckle at the trial.. my first ever dog one. I can tell you that, for some reason, I am more proud of that one buckle than all the horse ones put together.
Fourth was the Porterville Fall Driving Trial.... the trial I wrote about last time. A large part of our success was the luck of the draw... we just happened to get sets that wanted to move. (That and the fact that my friend, Judy, set out during my runs and she told the sheep that a bad ass little bitch was coming up the field to get them and they better get their cute fluffy butts moving!) Whatever it was I felt Cait and I walked away from that trial with a even better partnership than ever. And I learned to ALWAYS think positive!
Looking to 2011... My plans are to get an additional dog to trial with. Make more progress with Cait. I feel like I really need to step up my game, as I am the weak one on the team. Cait always gives me 110% and any mistakes she makes is from trying so hard. Moving her and I up to Open is always on the back of my mind but I feel we both need more experience and miles under our belts. Hopefully, we can make it to a lot of trials, work lots of different types of sheep and learn and learn and learn!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Moving Forward
Hi! its me Cait! my mom said i have to work on opening up my flanks so i can't post anything this week. she has some stuff to say. i told her she needed to get her whistles more consistent and maybe she didnt have time to post either but she never listens to me!
so i will turn it over to her.......
I am a big believer in trying to move forward and improve in my life. Staying at a stand still or moving backwards depresses me.
This was a lesson I learned two fold at a trial a few weeks ago.
The sheep were tuff... they had never been worked by dogs before. They were not mean or agressive but would just stand and look at your dog. Sometimes they would walk toward the dog and try to figure out what the strange, little black and white things were.
Cait did not do well with this. Friday when the sheep were unloaded from the truck to wander around in the field... Caitie got to keep them from wandering too far. She was a bit overwhelmed. She would hold her ground til they came toward her and then off she would go.So all weekend I went back and forth between pulling her from the trial and letting her have a go at it. My reasoning.... I didn't want her to have a bad time of it... she had not been on these kind of sheep much before and I wanted to be able to work with her to build her confidence more before I tried to run her on them. I DID NOT want them to go after her or fight her or scare her. We got a few chances to help move the sheep to back and forth form the pasture to the trial field and I helped her as much as I could.... also at the set out pen we got to move them in smaller groups.
Trial morning rolls around and I am still undecided. I am out at the set out pen and my mind is going around and around. What my heart and what my mind are telling me are two completely different things. Finally, I think... what the heck??? Give it a try. I can always call her off and go help her.
It comes our turn... I am running late for cause I had to hike from the set out to my truck to get Cait and then back to the trial field. No more time to sit and watch and worry, just walk up to the field and it's our turn. Up to the post and then off she goes... I have half a minute to continue worrying and then...... HERE COME THE SHEEP! I didn't blow her down at the top cause I wanted her going in a quick as possible, no creeping up to the sheep to give them time to stand and face her. The fetch is not pretty but I let it go cause what is important to me right now is that the sheep keep moving... I don't want to flank her too far and get her up in their eye to give them cause to stop.
I retired her during the drive, after the sheep slowed down they decided they didn't want to move. That's ok... we accomplished what we set out to do... we moved the sheep and, hopefully, Cait gained some confidence with these kind of sheep. The next run was better! We completed the course and did quite well.
So the moral of the story? Actually there are several. The most important... trust my dog, she always comes through for me. Let her run and get the experience. Give her the chance to prove herself. At least to the best of her ability. We learn from our failures... they show what we need to work on.
And, of course, by letting her run... we moved forward. A very important goal in my life. I didn't let my fears, doubts and insecurities get the best of me and I let my dog do what she loves best. That, to me, is moving forward. When you don't do what's in your heart and believe in yourself (and your dog)... that is not really living your life it's just existing.
so i will turn it over to her.......
I am a big believer in trying to move forward and improve in my life. Staying at a stand still or moving backwards depresses me.
This was a lesson I learned two fold at a trial a few weeks ago.
The sheep were tuff... they had never been worked by dogs before. They were not mean or agressive but would just stand and look at your dog. Sometimes they would walk toward the dog and try to figure out what the strange, little black and white things were.
Cait did not do well with this. Friday when the sheep were unloaded from the truck to wander around in the field... Caitie got to keep them from wandering too far. She was a bit overwhelmed. She would hold her ground til they came toward her and then off she would go.So all weekend I went back and forth between pulling her from the trial and letting her have a go at it. My reasoning.... I didn't want her to have a bad time of it... she had not been on these kind of sheep much before and I wanted to be able to work with her to build her confidence more before I tried to run her on them. I DID NOT want them to go after her or fight her or scare her. We got a few chances to help move the sheep to back and forth form the pasture to the trial field and I helped her as much as I could.... also at the set out pen we got to move them in smaller groups.
Trial morning rolls around and I am still undecided. I am out at the set out pen and my mind is going around and around. What my heart and what my mind are telling me are two completely different things. Finally, I think... what the heck??? Give it a try. I can always call her off and go help her.
It comes our turn... I am running late for cause I had to hike from the set out to my truck to get Cait and then back to the trial field. No more time to sit and watch and worry, just walk up to the field and it's our turn. Up to the post and then off she goes... I have half a minute to continue worrying and then...... HERE COME THE SHEEP! I didn't blow her down at the top cause I wanted her going in a quick as possible, no creeping up to the sheep to give them time to stand and face her. The fetch is not pretty but I let it go cause what is important to me right now is that the sheep keep moving... I don't want to flank her too far and get her up in their eye to give them cause to stop.
I retired her during the drive, after the sheep slowed down they decided they didn't want to move. That's ok... we accomplished what we set out to do... we moved the sheep and, hopefully, Cait gained some confidence with these kind of sheep. The next run was better! We completed the course and did quite well.
So the moral of the story? Actually there are several. The most important... trust my dog, she always comes through for me. Let her run and get the experience. Give her the chance to prove herself. At least to the best of her ability. We learn from our failures... they show what we need to work on.
And, of course, by letting her run... we moved forward. A very important goal in my life. I didn't let my fears, doubts and insecurities get the best of me and I let my dog do what she loves best. That, to me, is moving forward. When you don't do what's in your heart and believe in yourself (and your dog)... that is not really living your life it's just existing.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
My First Trial
Hi! its me Cait, again. i met you last time. i wanted to tell you about the first trial i ever competed in.
i was about 1 1/2 years old then and i was still learning about how to be a good sheep dog. (my person was just learning about sheepdog stuff too and i had to help her sometimes. shes kinda slow. but she tries hard so i have to have alot of patience) we had worked and practiced to get ready for the trial and we were both excited about going.
when we got there she told me that Zeke was going to go first in the big dog class. then my class would be later in the day... i didnt like it too much i was ready to go!! i was not very nervous but my mom was... alot! so i got a good nap in so i could be all ready to go.
i watched Zeke and he did great... as always. he is a very cool dude!
it was my turn and my person was so nervous her legs were shaking and she was about to throw up!
EEWWWW! good thing she didnt tell me all this til later.
i dont remember much about the run cause i was so excited. she sent me on my outrun. i ran down to get the sheep quick as i could!!
GO GO GO GO!!! SHEEP! SHEEP! SHEEP!! YAY!!! YIPPEEEEEE!!!! SHHEEEEEPPPP!!!!!!!!
i brought the sheep to her fast i could, it wasn't very straight cause the sheep were going soooo fast and i forgot to lie down when she told me and i wouldnt take the flank to get them straight. im sorry, but it was all so very crazy!! the sheep were running fast and i had to keep up. we went through the panels and i was in a hurry cause i was so excited.... i think it was cause my person was too. the sheep kept going around and around her... and i had to lay down alot. then we took the sheep to the pen, a little quick footwork and in they went. YAY!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!
it was over so fast! my mom picked me up in front of everybody and gave me a big hug!! I think she was crying too. it was a little silly but i put up with it cause i love her.
she was very proud of me and i was proud of her too cause she didnt throw up and embarrass us both.
that nice lady, Sally, gave my person a big compliment and told her that i was a good dog and i was going places. the judge, Bill, told my person some things we should work on for next time. then we got to do it again!!! WOW this is FUN!
and you know what? we got FIRST PLACE!!!! now i dont really care about that but it i was happy cause my person was proud of me and everyone told her what a good dog i was and that made her very very happy.
we got to come back the next day and do it again. two times! and you know what?!?!? we got first again!!
i think i like this trial thing! and you know the very best thing about it?..... i get to get sheep!!!!
i was about 1 1/2 years old then and i was still learning about how to be a good sheep dog. (my person was just learning about sheepdog stuff too and i had to help her sometimes. shes kinda slow. but she tries hard so i have to have alot of patience) we had worked and practiced to get ready for the trial and we were both excited about going.
when we got there she told me that Zeke was going to go first in the big dog class. then my class would be later in the day... i didnt like it too much i was ready to go!! i was not very nervous but my mom was... alot! so i got a good nap in so i could be all ready to go.
i watched Zeke and he did great... as always. he is a very cool dude!
it was my turn and my person was so nervous her legs were shaking and she was about to throw up!
EEWWWW! good thing she didnt tell me all this til later.
i dont remember much about the run cause i was so excited. she sent me on my outrun. i ran down to get the sheep quick as i could!!
GO GO GO GO!!! SHEEP! SHEEP! SHEEP!! YAY!!! YIPPEEEEEE!!!! SHHEEEEEPPPP!!!!!!!!
i brought the sheep to her fast i could, it wasn't very straight cause the sheep were going soooo fast and i forgot to lie down when she told me and i wouldnt take the flank to get them straight. im sorry, but it was all so very crazy!! the sheep were running fast and i had to keep up. we went through the panels and i was in a hurry cause i was so excited.... i think it was cause my person was too. the sheep kept going around and around her... and i had to lay down alot. then we took the sheep to the pen, a little quick footwork and in they went. YAY!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!
it was over so fast! my mom picked me up in front of everybody and gave me a big hug!! I think she was crying too. it was a little silly but i put up with it cause i love her.
she was very proud of me and i was proud of her too cause she didnt throw up and embarrass us both.
that nice lady, Sally, gave my person a big compliment and told her that i was a good dog and i was going places. the judge, Bill, told my person some things we should work on for next time. then we got to do it again!!! WOW this is FUN!
and you know what? we got FIRST PLACE!!!! now i dont really care about that but it i was happy cause my person was proud of me and everyone told her what a good dog i was and that made her very very happy.
we got to come back the next day and do it again. two times! and you know what?!?!? we got first again!!
i think i like this trial thing! and you know the very best thing about it?..... i get to get sheep!!!!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Hi! my name is Cait and i am a border collie. My person says that we are just starting a blog and maybe i should introduce myself and tell you a little about my past.
Well, I was born in Nevada. My mom is Susy the Border Collie and my dad is Misty Oak's Keper. My dad is a cow dog (cows are alot bigger than sheep and they are kinda scary). My mom, Susy, is a pet border collie, she likes to get chickens and i was told that she gets in trouble for that. When I was about 3 or 4 weeks old we moved to Placerville, Ca. Then when i was 5 weeks old we traveled to Oregon to visit family.... i really didn't know anyone but i didn't care....my mom went so i was happy. My name was Shasta then. Susy's person is named Joyce and she is friends with my person, Carie
When i was about 9 weeks old my mom's person, Joyce, went to visit Carie. Joyce told Carie that she wanted me to live with her and I did!!
my new person said i was to be a sheep dog when i got older... what ever that is.
and i grew up... i played with the other dogs and i did all kinds of fun stuff thats puppies do (my person says i was a good puppy.. i never chewed stuff up and i didnt dig in the yard and i always listened to her like any respectable border collie should do) and i got to ride in the truck and we went to sheep dog trials with my Uncle Zeke... hes a pretty good sheep dog too. i met alot of nice people and i watched Zeke alot cause he got to go work sheep and i thought it was pretty interesting.
When i was about 10 months old my person decided that we should go out to see the sheep. Up close and personal. i had watched Zeke and i knew what i was supposed to do! i ran around those sheep and showed them what a good border collie i was...
WOW!!!! IT WAS SOOOOOO COOOOOL!!!!! OMG!!
i guess i did good cause when we went to the house my person was smiling and she told me i was a really good girl.
So after that we went out to visit the sheep about once a week. i really liked it.
Then one day we went to my person's friend's house, her name is Shelly, to work sheep. She thought i was a good dog too and this made my person very happy. i like it when my person is happy, it makes me happy.
Then my person told me we were going to go to a clinic with a famous sheep dog trainer and that i should work very hard and listen to what the famous guy tells me. So i did. He told me i was a nice dog. i liked him.... his name is Jack Knox. we have been to a couple of clinics with him since then. i like it... its hard work but its fun cause i learn lots of new things and best of all.... i get to work sheep.
Thats pretty much it... the start to my sheep dog career.
So now i am a sheep dog and i work sheep. sometimes at home and sometimes at the river were i have to run a long long ways to get the sheep to bring them to my person and sometimes at those really nice people's place , the Oxford's, and all over california... i dont know much about that... i always get sleepy in the truck and when we get to the new place i wake up and we get to work sheep.
i am a happy dog... my person loves me and she tells me i am her best girl. i get to run around and act like a crazy dog (so my mom says) i live in a great place and i get to take naps on the bed, i have a big dog family and i get good food and special stuff on my food that makes it taste really good, mom says its good for me but i dont care much about that, i have my own fluffy soft bed and my special blanket... its pink and says PRINCESS on it... and, oh yea, i get sheep!
Well thats about it... i can tell you more stuff later on. i will tell you about what i do every day and what my person and i learn when we go work sheep and about when we go to trials and about the other dogs i live with and all kinds of things. sometimes my mom wants to write stuff.. thats ok with me, cause most of the time im too busy doing important sheepdog stuff!
Well, I was born in Nevada. My mom is Susy the Border Collie and my dad is Misty Oak's Keper. My dad is a cow dog (cows are alot bigger than sheep and they are kinda scary). My mom, Susy, is a pet border collie, she likes to get chickens and i was told that she gets in trouble for that. When I was about 3 or 4 weeks old we moved to Placerville, Ca. Then when i was 5 weeks old we traveled to Oregon to visit family.... i really didn't know anyone but i didn't care....my mom went so i was happy. My name was Shasta then. Susy's person is named Joyce and she is friends with my person, Carie
When i was about 9 weeks old my mom's person, Joyce, went to visit Carie. Joyce told Carie that she wanted me to live with her and I did!!
my new person said i was to be a sheep dog when i got older... what ever that is.
and i grew up... i played with the other dogs and i did all kinds of fun stuff thats puppies do (my person says i was a good puppy.. i never chewed stuff up and i didnt dig in the yard and i always listened to her like any respectable border collie should do) and i got to ride in the truck and we went to sheep dog trials with my Uncle Zeke... hes a pretty good sheep dog too. i met alot of nice people and i watched Zeke alot cause he got to go work sheep and i thought it was pretty interesting.
When i was about 10 months old my person decided that we should go out to see the sheep. Up close and personal. i had watched Zeke and i knew what i was supposed to do! i ran around those sheep and showed them what a good border collie i was...
WOW!!!! IT WAS SOOOOOO COOOOOL!!!!! OMG!!
i guess i did good cause when we went to the house my person was smiling and she told me i was a really good girl.
So after that we went out to visit the sheep about once a week. i really liked it.
Then one day we went to my person's friend's house, her name is Shelly, to work sheep. She thought i was a good dog too and this made my person very happy. i like it when my person is happy, it makes me happy.
Then my person told me we were going to go to a clinic with a famous sheep dog trainer and that i should work very hard and listen to what the famous guy tells me. So i did. He told me i was a nice dog. i liked him.... his name is Jack Knox. we have been to a couple of clinics with him since then. i like it... its hard work but its fun cause i learn lots of new things and best of all.... i get to work sheep.
Thats pretty much it... the start to my sheep dog career.
So now i am a sheep dog and i work sheep. sometimes at home and sometimes at the river were i have to run a long long ways to get the sheep to bring them to my person and sometimes at those really nice people's place , the Oxford's, and all over california... i dont know much about that... i always get sleepy in the truck and when we get to the new place i wake up and we get to work sheep.
i am a happy dog... my person loves me and she tells me i am her best girl. i get to run around and act like a crazy dog (so my mom says) i live in a great place and i get to take naps on the bed, i have a big dog family and i get good food and special stuff on my food that makes it taste really good, mom says its good for me but i dont care much about that, i have my own fluffy soft bed and my special blanket... its pink and says PRINCESS on it... and, oh yea, i get sheep!
Well thats about it... i can tell you more stuff later on. i will tell you about what i do every day and what my person and i learn when we go work sheep and about when we go to trials and about the other dogs i live with and all kinds of things. sometimes my mom wants to write stuff.. thats ok with me, cause most of the time im too busy doing important sheepdog stuff!
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