Saturday, November 6, 2010

Herding...etc etc etc...

Well...after a week in bed due to a drug reaction...I feel like I am somewhat functional...my life currently consists of wake up, teach a lesson, take a nap, teach a lesson, take a nap...that is about it. But each day I am getting less weak...I actually woke up this morning feeling human!!!

My dogs have had NO work...none...nada...and they are going insane.

But, I figured I could at least get them on sheep...a sure fire way to get them all settled down :) I managed to get Klink, Zip and Lynn on sheep...ran out of steam before Gator so Andy ran him in agility for me (I snuck in one run too)...and now I am feeling like crapola again. One of these days I am going to learn when I am sick, and I start feeling normal...to STAY IN BED...

Got Andy to take some video of the dogs working :) Zip did a great job as usual...at 7 1/2 she just does her job....so very nice :)


With Klink I am working on whistles with her...and pace. And clean flanks when asked. She is really getting her whistles...in the video you can see a couple of times she gave me the wrong flank or looked back at me...but she is getting it :)


And Miss Lynn...doing well with being in the big field...she will, on occasion not completely cover her Come Bye side, but that is getting better and better. Just working on bending, and fetching...and I will add a bit of driving in here and there, but didn't do that today...even did a little longer outrun with her...she figured it out :) Love my Lynn!


Now I am tired and feel like shit, didn't I learn to not go crazy when I am sick when I was like....FIVE years old?? ugh....

Oh a somewhat related note...this Jan or Feb I am planning a trip out west to Idaho :) Hopefully I am going to stay a few days with Diane Deal and work Lynn with her and also attend a young dog clinic with Patrick Shannahan...really excited about this!! Lynn will have her first airplane ride :) Sure hope it all works out that this can happen! If you are out that way, I would love to meet you!

After talking to a friend...I am thinking of having Gator try out for the World Team as it is in the US...I have a severe fear of flying across the ocean...so I am thinking...if I am going to do this...this year is the time. So I decided to jump Gator 26" as that is the height he would have to jump (he is 20.75 inches tall)...I was pretty happy with how he did his very first time at 26"...may start jumping him more at that height to see how he handles it. He has always been a good jumper, gets over anything I put in his way normally...and he is a good boy. So that is in the back of my head...What do you think?

On the other hand...is he good enough to even bother, I have no idea--of course **I** think he is the most brilliant dog to ever step foot in the agility ring :)I have a funny feeling I am horribly biased! LOL But really...I doubt we even have a snowballs chance in hell...I have never even thought about world team...maybe it is silly to even think about it...I like my little world, weekend trials, having fun and just enjoying my dogs and friends. But maybe it is a fun thing to think about, to push me a bit more in agility...to take my handling/training etc to another level? So many things to think about...

On the same note...I have been doing a lot of thinking about how much time and effort I want to put into agility...do I want to go above and beyond what I am currently doing with my dogs? I enjoy Nationals, I enjoy competing and doing well...but at the expense of not herding with my dogs...which seems like what keeps happening.

I am enjoying working dogs on sheep, working with Donna and Zip's pup Spot, my friend's dog Reese and even another possible couple of people with young pups. It is a lot of fun and I am really excited about running Klink in Pro-Novice next year...really excited :)

So what do I do? Try to do really well at both (probably not realistic...the time required is pretty huge)...or settle for being "ok" in both....or doing well at one or the other...I can't see myself only doing one or the other...I like both too much...ugh...

Oh the Even front...she is now doing some restrained recalls and there is no pain in her elbow :) Things are looking good!

OH...and videos of some of Cracker's and Gator's runs from Nationals....haven't done Klink's yet...will add them later...

9 comments:

Chris and Ricky said...

I have to admit I haven't watched all those videos yet, but I wanted to comment any way and say I am glad you are (were) feeling better! Migraines themselves are sure no fun at all and then to have a reaction to the medicine is just awful!!! I hope the doctor found something else for you to use when you get one. Do you think all the dust from Nationals may have caused it? I went through a few years when I got lots of migraines and I think it was the dry heat from a wood stove.

Yes, try to get on the world team with Gator! You guys are awesome and it would be amazing to be on that team!

Chris

Anonymous said...

Glad you are feeling better.

When it's possibly a once in a life time type of thing, you have to go for it! Gator is a great and consistent dog, so why not!?!?

The one plus to agility over herding is agility you can do with Andy and Crackers. If I had to choose between herding by myself, or agility with my family, the family activity will win out every time.

Loretta Mueller said...

Exactly...I can do agility with Andy...which is really nice...I will miss him if I do more herding trials as he won't be with me in that sport at all. He has NO interest at all in herding. Great point!

Chris--I think the nationals dust did cause it...the Dr's are planning on putting me on antibiotics for a sinus infection after everything settles down from the injection...yuck yuck yuck!

Knotty Dogs said...

I want to breed Echo to Gator. How much is his stud fee?

Loretta Mueller said...

50 million Dollars Jodi...at least that is a guess on getting his testicles put back on...and he carries purple...so that is worth at least another 5 million...

Sound good? I need to pay for all of Even's medical expenses anyway...so when are you shipping her to me? :)

Unknown said...

Go for it with Gator!!!! If the only thing holding you back is not thinking you guys are good enough... then you're just being silly. :)

Anonymous said...

Gator looks really good at 26"! You should totally try for the team!

Sarah Duke said...

I agree with Tori! Go for it with Gator. Love all the herding videos. Makes me wanna do more herding, but I'm with you, really tough to find time for both :(

Taryn said...

WOW! Both videos are amazing! I must look like I am walking a course compared to those runs! And you are so lucky Andy caught the agility bug! I have a spouse who just doesn't get why agility is so much fun, and it is a source of friction.

Truly amazing runs. Thanks for sharing!