Livy-less

Yesterday I went up to Tommy Wilson's International Shedding clinic and handed the squirt off for some training. She was good and wild for the 7 1/2 hour trip ahead of her after watching her pop's turn! Poor Liv hasn't been worked in the last 2 months, I just haven't had the time or the sheep (ie non-lambing ones!) for her to work. The house is already noticeably quieter without her and Ella romping about.

Don't know why that would be.

Be a good girl, Livy!

Gabe continues to be The Man. We've had a minor hiccup in that I've managed to reign him in a little too much. Oops. He's learning to work ewes with lambs and even had a lesson on rams to get him jazzed up again. He is not a soft dog, just VERY biddable and a total team-player. My cranking on him and confusing him left him a tad hesitant. 100% my fault, but thankfully he's so forgiving and malleable that he's back to his old self! I'll continue to keep him free and happy...we'll trial someday and whenever that day is will be fine. His outrun is big and beautiful, flanks are pretty, and is starting to really *understand* driving. He is beginning to hold lines, a cool development for a dog with little eye. He feels his sheep well even though he doesn't yet exhibit much eye. Our current related project is to correct over-flanking on the drive. If I'm not pro-active he tries to slip up the side to catch the leader's eye. All in all he is coming along great, especially considering that I don't know what I'm doing and he's my first dog to train! What a boy!

Yay for me!