AllieMackie Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hey folks! I know I've been quiet lately, mostly because Finnegan and I have just been doing normal doggy things. Lots of walks, fetching, visits to the dogpark, obedience classes... ...until this morning! Finnegan and I went out to Rockland, ON to visit Nathalie Labelle to be evaluated for herding lessons! Okay. So. Wow. First off, no pics this time. I really wanted to focus on what Finn was doing and listen to what Nathalie had to say... however, Nat said next time, she'd be happy to stop instructing for a few minutes here and there to snag some pics of Finn and I making mistakes. So I'll definitely get some pics. Second off, please forgive my terminology and such. I've only read up a bit on herding, and donb't know massive amounts about it yet. I'm eager to learn it all as I go, so pardon any terminology errors! If you want any movements clarified, I'll do what I can. So... Finn not only passed his evaluation, but Nat said she hasn't seen this much focus, drive and instinct in a ten-month old dog in a long time. This is not to say Finn did perfectly. Right off the bat, Nat let 6-7 ram lambs into the pen, and told me to let Finn loose so we could see what happened. Finn got overexcited, flanked harshly, and drove them right through the breakaway gate out of the pen. I was mortified at first, but Nat said that's extremely common, and that's why they have a breakaway gate. So I leashed Finn on the long lead again, and this time Nat brought a group of 12 or so rams, including some adults. This way, she explained, the group is a little more intimidating for Finn and will hopefully make him take pause and watch the sheep's movements and how Tyke, Nat's border collie stockdog, works the sheep. It worked. Finn flanked far, and mostly kept an eye while the sheep moved and Tyke motioned around. Nat then started working a little with Finnegan. He naturally took to flanking the sheep, moving in a semicircle behind the sheep to keep them moving in a straight line forward. Nat was extremely impressed by his natural balance with flanking. He gets very defiant when moving to the handler's right, and moves all the way around and behind the handler. He didn't listen well to the handler cane, but Nat said that can be very common in the beginning, and that Finn is nowhere near as bad starting out as many dogs she's trained. She worked with him some more, telling me what she was doing as she was doing. She then asked me if I wanted to try! I certainly did. I sucked royal, but listened carefully to Nat and did my best. Finn listened well except for the aforementioned right rounds. Nat said I was doing well for a beginner. It's definitely tricky to multitask controlling the sheep, controlling the dog's movements, and keeping on track, but that will get better as I practice and as Finn practices and learns commands. So overall, Nat loved Finn, thought he has a ton of potential (she even said it was disappointing to hear he can't be bred now, haha) and she's eager for me to start lessons! She's good friends with Mary, Finnegan's breeder, and Nat is excited to be able to train a Mary Thompson dog, since her dogs rarely make it to eastern Ontario. Nat was going to call Mary after I left just to gush at what a great herding dog Finn is going to be. It's going to be a great experience for both of us, I think. SO yeah. Pretty amazing. Guaranteed photos next time, we're hoping to have our first official lesson beginning of September sometime. Now for the adrenaline to wear off. I am SO PROUD of my boy. He did SO well, and I can now feel that I can call him a sheepdog in training. It's great to have Nathalie living a short drive away so that I can let Finn do what he's bred to do. I'm eager to do more and see us both progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 When do you buy the farm, what type of sheep are you getting and oh, BTW, Congrats You're sunk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynthia P Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 congrats...so we will see you at some of the trials next year!!!! Two more trials in ONtario; Mine on October 17&18 in Peterborough and at Amanda's October 23, 24, 25 cynthia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllieMackie Posted August 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 congrats...so we will see you at some of the trials next year!!!! Two more trials in ONtario; Mine on October 17&18 in Peterborough and at Amanda's October 23, 24, 25 cynthia haha, we'll see - for now this is all for fun. However, I LOVE getting out there and watching trials - I'll have to check these out. Amanda Milliken, right? I can probably make it to one or both of those trials just to cheer you all on. When do you buy the farm, what type of sheep are you getting and oh, BTW, Congrats biggrin.gif You're sunk! haha, I so am sunk.Two hours in the pen today and I'm addicted. As for a farm, well, it IS my long-term life goal to own a hair sheep farm, as I also spin and knit wool as a hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 And another one bites the dust! Sounds like a great experience for both of you! Can't wait to see and hear more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderHill Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 MWUAHAHAHAHA! Take her off the grill, she's done perfectly on both sides. :-) Welcome to a really cool place your Border Collie can help take you. Liz S etc. Uncertain of Grammar but Strong of Conviction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 it IS my long-term life goal to own a hair sheep farm, as I also spin and knit wool as a hobby. Then shouldn't you have a handspinner's (wool) flock instead of a hair sheep flock? What's a spinner and knitter going to do with hair sheep? J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllieMackie Posted August 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Then shouldn't you have a handspinner's (wool) flock instead of a hair sheep flock? What's a spinner and knitter going to do with hair sheep? J. Haha, to be honest, a knitter friend told me that hair sheep was used to describe fibre sheep. I trust you guys over her. I haven'rt researched much about sheep breeds yet, amd have only spun Corriedale and Mohair thus far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_ceana Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 I am on the edge of my seat for next time's pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pansmom Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 Can I just take this moment to say that Finnegan is one of the best names I've EVER heard for a border collie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Haha, to be honest, a knitter friend told me that hair sheep was used to describe fibre sheep. I trust you guys over her. I haven'rt researched much about sheep breeds yet, amd have only spun Corriedale and Mohair thus far! Hair sheep have hair, similar to horses, which sheds out to varying degrees in the spring. People who have hair sheep generally keep them because they don't require shearing. Hair sheep fibers intermingled with the wool of wool sheep can create problems for spinners, etc. You definitely want wool sheep so that you can raise your own wool and then do the whole "sheep to shawl" thing! There are lots of breeds to choose from, and your head will likely be spinning (pun intended!) trying to figure out what you want to raise. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllieMackie Posted August 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hair sheep have hair, similar to horses, which sheds out to varying degrees in the spring. People who have hair sheep generally keep them because they don't require shearing. Hair sheep fibers intermingled with the wool of wool sheep can create problems for spinners, etc. You definitely want wool sheep so that you can raise your own wool and then do the whole "sheep to shawl" thing! There are lots of breeds to choose from, and your head will likely be spinning (pun intended!) trying to figure out what you want to raise. J. Makes sense to me! Thanks! I'll have to research the heck out of it when the time comes - you can be sure I'll be pestering you folks as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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