Perils of Point Pleasant and Field Observations

We have now run two trials on the field at Point Pleasant with two different groups of sheep - range ewes in October and home farm flock this past weekend (Mothers Day). Theoretically the home flock should have behaved differently (in some ways they did - they were much easier to move and turn) but the draws and features of the field combined to make for the same danger points.

Please understand this is NOT to make excuses because there were some danger spots that we simply did not handle as well as we should. But the spots were consistent enough that - watching all the runs before us we should have been better prepared to deal with them. Some we were, and some we were not.

First, the trial field is a big flat rectangle which should NOT be complicated. The field is probably a little over 300 yards to set out (from in front of the fence - open outrun in the fall has to go through the fence which is an added complication.)

The outrun should not be difficult but for a relatively large number of dogs it was both in October and Mothers Day. Piper had no trouble with the outrun at either trial but several dogs did. The only thing I can think of is that because the field is sooo flat and the grass is fairly high, that the dogs have trouble seeing the sheep at the end of the field. Anyway, several dogs at both trials went out about 1/3 to 1/2 way and either crossed over or wanted to come back. Some eventually found their sheep and some never did.

The sheep are set out from a pen near the top of the field and to the handler's right of the set out post. The pen is pretty close to the set out and there is a hard draw back to the set out pen. Therefore it is an almost must send right field when the sheep are set out for the open. Otherwise if the dog comes in at all flat on the bye side the sheep are on a fast escape back to the set out pen, usually with the set out dog trying to help and it quickly becomes a mess. Proper outrun is away and ends at about 1 o'clock to hold against the draw.

For Nursery and Pro Novice, the sheep are brought far enough forward that there is room for the dog to go deep behind set out and control the sheep. Thus, both outrun sides are opened as possibilities. But if you go bye, your dog had better go deep and get behind the sheep or else they are going to go hard to your right and maybe back to set out. Piper went bye and deep and did not have this problem. In fact, she was one of the few dogs who was bringing her sheep along the fetch to the handler's left (and then I messed her up - see below). For most dogs it was necessary to guard the right hand pull on the fetch (this was definitely true for us in October).

The other danger on the fetch is that if the dog comes too far forward on the left of the sheep (away flank) they will take the opportunity to turn back and escape towards set out. This is what happened to Piper on the fetch. We were about to miss the fetch panel to my left and so I flanked her away - but too far. Instead of simply turning toward the panel opening, the sheep took advantage of the opportunity to turn back toward set out and attempt to escape that direction. Piper came around and caught them but crossed the course in doing so and we lost major points. But it was OUR MISTAKE which opened up the escape route. And we should have known that was the danger point. I should have been more subtle with the adjustment or simply let them miss the fetch panel.

The next danger point is at the post. If the sheep come around too quickly or the dog does not come around to tuck them in they want to run for the House which is to the handler's left. This can lead to wide turns and starting the drive off line. On the other hand if the dog comes around too far they will start back off line to the right and headed toward set out at the top of the field. (This happened to a couple top open handler and dog teams).

On the drive away, most of the groups wanted to lean slightly to the right (leaning toward an escape to exhaust) and needed to be held from that tendency. A small minority of sheep wanted to lean the other way just to keep handlers honest. But the biggest problem with the drive away was keeping the pace controlled. If the sheep managed to accelerate as they approached the panel they would just go on through, make a slight angle turn, and high tail it for the exhaust. This either resulted in a very wide turn with a cross drive starting way off line or a complete escape of sheep. It is absolutely critical on this field to keep the drive away at a controlled pace and too time the come bye flank correctly for a tight turn. If this was good the rest of the cross drive was good. Fortunately we managed this part of the course well.

Final danger point was at the cross drive panels. If given a chance to turn up field towards exhaust the sheep will take it. A tight turn is essential here. And this is another spot where we blew it this weekend throwing away a beautiful cross drive with a total mess at the cross drive panels.