How Are You Positioned?

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Robin posted this on another thread and I thought it was really thought-provoking. It leads you through a survey which predicts your potential as a sheepdog handler - assuming you make no changes of course between "now" and "then."

 

From Teun's site.

 

http://www.bcdb.info/winners.htm

 

 

I don't think the message one should get from this is that if you are that way now, you'll never be an Open handler. Just a year and a half ago I'd have had to honestly admit that my dogs were obtained through less-than-stellar channels, that I rarely worked my sheep because I disliked "schooling" (I've always enjoyed chores though), and a couple other points I think have changed.

 

Just for fun I went back after I got my first "score" (rather surprising) and answered as I would have 18 mos ago, and I didn't make it out of Novice - though I was brushing Open. How about that - just exactly where I was when I stopped trialing. So I can say that personally I'd call it accurate.

 

I sort of hope so, let's just say.

[1sheepdoggal]

Ha! It was kinda fun, I did it earlier when Robin posted it. It told me after it was all said and done, that I was a lower level open handler, it kinda made my a little warm and fuzzy inside, .....until I saw the disclaimer below

[Sue R]

I compared my previous test-taking (very embarassing) from a couple of years ago, with my current test-taking (I did substitute "cattle" for "sheep" in the appropriate places). I have to say I'm gratified that the "what I do now" compared to the "what I did then" is an improvement. The "what I should do from here on out" should be a greater improvement.

 

For myself, I do think that the result I got this time was a bit optimistic, but I can live with that. Thanks for starting this fun, as well as instructive, topic!

[Laurae]

It's a great quiz. The only thing I think it lacked was a metric for how well one is being mentored or what kind of access one has to quality instruction. That's a big part of learning to do things correctly.

[stockdogranch]

Haha! fun stuff!!

 

A

[juliepoudrier]

LOL! It seems I need a bigger place, to spend more time daily training my dogs, and spend more years at it before I can ever hope to claw my way out of the ranks of open handlers and into something bigger and better! It's a fun little test, but I think it's purpose is best for comparing then and now.

 

J.

[somewhereinusa]

I didn't come up with this, but it has been said that:

 

If you can drive 500 miles,

put on your best clothes,

step into a cold shower with your clothes on,

flush your wallet down the toilet,

and still be smiling.

 

You might be suited to dog trialing.

[Tea]

I had fun with this test.

 

but I am so weird about competing. Everyone around me when I went to watch has been very kind. I have no reason to be freaked by competing, but there you are!

 

And I work sheep with dogs for my job every day?

 

Any advice on THAT? Isn't that odd? It kind of surprises me?

[Sue R]

Tea - It's one thing to be at home and it's another to have an audience, especially one that knows what you should be doing to do it well and right. I am a total wreak in front of anyone, anywhere.

[hsnrs]

Sue, what is the best way to forget the audience is there? Any special ideas about how not to be nervous? N

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Tea, isn't it funny? I'm the same way. I can't psych myself into thinking "this is just a job." It's too artificial right up to where the sheep are right with me. Then I'm comfy and forget everyone. The sheep stop being things and get personalities. hsnrs, I think what it is for me, is I need enough practice working the big courses to where I can start seeing the wee white spots behaving like sheep, again.

 

But first I have to get my baby dog around a little course again.

[SoloRiver]

I am not nervous when I go to the post. I mean, if the worst happens (and it has, short of Fly taking a sheep down and eating it on the field, which she would never do in a million years) it's not like everyone there hasn't seen something that looked just like it at some other trial.

[ShoresDog]

... it's not like everyone there hasn't seen something that looked just like it at some other trial.

And enjoyed sharing stories later, I suspect, kind of like how we chemists always eventually come around to telling stories of the infinitely varied and interesting explosions and fires we have witnessed or heard of.

[Tea]

Thanks folks, that helped me a bit! Hopefully someday I will just go do it and then laugh and then it'll be ok.....MAN! Sometimes I'm just kinda funny about stuff! Thanks! Though for your words!