Hold That Line !!!!

We had a week in between trials to get some training in. If the early training runs were an indication we sure needed it.

After a relatively decent bit of training in the lower field on heavier sheep, Jennifer brought out the runners to test us. At first we failed miserably. I could not get Piper within twenty feet without the sheep taking off to escape. We almost had to buy Subway for class a couple times.

It seems Piper was getting up from her lie down straight into a flank instead of walking up. With these sheep as soon as she would catch their eye they were GONE. So we needed to get her to stay behind and in the pocket. She was doing this fine on the fetch but the drive was a mess.

So we tried driving toward the lower field and the fence which created a natural end to the runaway sheep. Also if she got up so much as a half step to the side instead of straight on I downed her immediately. If the sheep escaped well so be it but she was not going to turn it into a flank and retrieve game. It took some micro-managing and being on full alert but it actually worked. As long as I made her walk straight in and controlled the pace she actually managed to hold a line and looked pretty good doing it. So we know she CAN do it. I just need to stay on her and not let her get away with either flank or fast get ups.

Next week Bill Berhow's trial at Dunnigan Hills.