Quinn on Sheep

[mrose_s]

This is from last week, Quinn's first time on the whole mob. Normally we only get to work 3-4 at once so this was new for her.
Especially proud of her at the end where she peels them off the fence, she's not a very brave dog so it's taken a bit of confidence building to get her to push through.

I know she'd be a lot further along if it wasn't for me stumbling through trying to learn at the same time but oh well, we're getting there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbIJyWBuNX4

 

[Red Chrome]

How neat!

 

[SaraB]

She looks awesome! Very controlled, very methodical.

However, sheep with tails creep me out. I don't know why.

 

[Lizmo]

Nicely done peel, Quinn! She's very lovely on a big group!

Are you guys working on building her flank commands? She's got good pace.

 

[RD]

Good girl Quinn! She looks like she'll make such a good, reliable worker.

 

[mrose_s]

I cheated a bit in that all that footage is after she'd already done about 2 hours work. She's still learning that she doesn't have to be right up their bum, a lot of the time she would put herself int he right place but just get too close and flood me with sheep.

The place I train has a couple of instructors but this guy is my pick, he lets them work it out for themselves and think it through as much as possible. She knows her sides a bit because of training I've done at home but we go more off body language when we're on sheep. Still trying to get a reliable stop or lay from her. Which is great some days but other days she just blows me off like she's never been taught it.

When my instructor works her I can see how well she does but as soon as I'm trying to put half of it into practice myself I have everything in the wrong spot so I think she's doing well considering. She's also very, very light. You'd swear I've beaten her with rakes and bags on sticks everyday of her life to get her to back off from it. She also likes to take a sneaky nip whenever she can get away with it.

I can see a lot of her flaws are just lack of confidence related. She can't cast at any distance because she gets to the sheep then thinks she's not sure what to do and turns around and comes back, then heads off again, almost gets there and then comes back.

I didn't think I'd enjoy this as much as I do though.

 

[Finkie_Mom]

That was so cool to watch... I hope you are able to post more videos as you continue working with her

 

[mrose_s]

And this is one of Poppy, footage from a month or two ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl9d0jLoKu4

She's probably not as far along as Quinn due to not having as much time actually training but she has a lot more natural talent, she doesn't take any crap from sheep, she never gives them the chance to even look at her the wrong way. She has no problem forcing herself between sheep and the fence despite being a teeny weeny dog.
Our instructor said she's probably the best little Koolie he's seen in 40 years.

I'll have to get some more video of her in the next few weeks.