2017 July August

not to push Dude, and there are times he looks absolutely brilliant
even though the young boy brain is still engaged more often than
not. Lack of exercise during the cold, rainy stretch we’ve been
having, hasn’t done any good either.
So I keep our sessions short. I try to remember he’s just a punk
kid even if he looks like a grown dog, and I make every effort to
recognize when I’m starting to ask too much too soon. He helps
with chores a couple times a week and, now that the weather is
beginning to be more cooperative, we’ll be able to start more regular
training.
In the meantime it’s deep breaths on my part, along with
constant reminders that he’s a kid and it will all come together…
eventually.
Mystery Pup Journey – Cattle
Finally, Finals!
Mystery Pup Whip
Whip has been adding some skills and trying to polish up his
flanks. We’ve started sorting in and outside the take pen. This is
going well as he’s downing in the pen when asked. He does get a
little pushy outside the pen when covering but he will also down
and listen. He’s a little tight on one flank so we’ll keep working
on that. We’ll be working on adding a lower gear to Whip. I’m
looking for a walk. The plan is to down him quickly when he
picks up speed; I think I’ll also use a line and add a command like
steady. We’ll also be looking to add ducks. We’ve worked them
and he’s kind to them but doesn’t really understand the pressure
and coverage needed for a good group. We can train and practice
flanks and controlling speed on ducks.
For most of us, finding cattle to work is a job in itself. There
are those few blessed to live on farms and ranches or who have
enough land to own a few head of cattle for training purposes. The
rest of us either have to drive hours to train on dog-broke cattle,
take our chances on any cattle out in a field a farmer will allow us
to work, or only work cattle at a trial. I have done all of the above.
This situation is frustrating for those of us who want to honor the
purpose of our breed as being all-round stockdogs, with a preference
for cattle. Add to that the periodic conversations on social media
that trial dogs aren’t real dogs and working ducks is a joke, and the
frustration is intensified. Admittedly, there are those in the program
who have zero interest in working cattle for whatever reason. I think
that’s as a big of disservice to our breed as saying working ducks
is pointless.
However, recently, I was given a wonderful opportunity to
have a place to work cattle. A lady about 45 minutes from my place
had a young cattle dog pup she bought to help her and her husband
on their commercial cattle operation. As she told me, she needed
a farmhand to help her when moving cattle between pastures and
gathering for medicating, calving, etc. Someone suggested she
come to me to get started on sheep. Helping her start her talented
young cattle dog has morphed into a chance for me to take my dog
to her place to work cattle.
She has a great set up for starting a dog. She has two very
nice-sized pens separated by a gate and another large holding pen
for cattle. This gives the opportunity to work on moving cattle
between the pens and sorting. It has been refreshing working with
this lady because she has no interest in trialing. She just needs a
dog that can get it done on the farm. She has that pup. It’s been
amazing watching this young dog figure it out.
And, the opportunity to work my dog at her place has been a
godsend. We are able to work on his issues with cattle in a low-stress
situation. I have volunteered to help her when they medicate their
herd so that I can get the “on the ground” experience with cattle. I
hope to maintain this relationship for the benefit of my future pup.
As for Finals, we are continuing to trial and watch the standings.
We are training at this point “as if” – as if we are going to Bryan,
Texas this fall. I have been studying Finals videos from years past
(thanks, Miss Dana, for taping those runs), and I’ve narrowed
down the focus of my training to these basics: solid stop; an out;
and, consistent response to inside flank commands. I think if he
has those things down solid, we will get there.
Mystery Pups Topper, Biggie and Talent
Topper and I have been working on a slow command. I am
using the word “steady” and he has been responding remarkably
well. I am using the age old method of lying him down when he
does not respond, but I am also using a shake can if he does not
respond. Just the noise is enough to make him slow and I can do
it at any distance. I’ve also been working on letting him drive
anywhere and making a big deal out of him doing it. He tends to
want to stop and wait for a command. I’m trying hard to shut up
and only take a step when he stops to get him going. I think he is
getting it.
Biggie has been lame for a while so I have not been doing
much. I will occasionally take him out and let him drive in the
big field and work on his pace. I am pleased with what he is doing
although I wish I could do more. The lameness has been ongoing
and not well diagnosed.
Talent actually showed me some talent last weekend. He is 11
months old and I worked him on three old billys who would turn
and challenge him. He either just stood and waited till they moved
or he jumped up and nipped them and then held the pressure. I was
pleased with that. Then I worked him on a group of 12 or so young
kids and he worked very hard to keep them together and balance
to me. If he could only breathe right, there might be hope he could
make a working dog.
Mystery Pup And Toto Too
A solid stop-out-of-motion and a solid stay are invaluable
tools to have when training and when working a stockdog. I had
planned on putting these on And Toto Too before I started her on
stock, but I kept not getting that done and then needed to use her
when my main dog was injured. So, I started her without them
and have continued working her without her being solid on these.
She’s a biddable dog with a good stock ethic, so we’ve been able
to get by without them. However, I kept seeing things she does
that she could be doing much better, things that would be so easy
to work on improving if only she had a solid stop-out-of-motion.
But as I was more in getting the chores done with her mode than
working on getting her ready to trial mode, I didn’t address these
issues beyond adding another mental note to self. (This is not the
AUSSIE TIMES May-June 2017 81