Worked Jem

Jem does not have a recall and barely knows his name so I have been working on that in the house and today I took it outside.  He's pretty sensitive so I think it will be easy to train.  He had a long line on and at first all I did was walk into the control pen where the sheep were and call him to me and then we walked up towards them and did some recalls and outs.  I finally let him go and he circled the stock as I walked to the corner and then I waited for him to stop. busy feet. When he gave me a pause, is sent him on an away because that is already his bad side.  By the end of the training he actually walked up to the sheeps rear and sniffed her.  Before this he would not come that close or would bite first and ask questions later. Don't get me wrong, he is not a tough dog like Dare, just not a comfortable dog with stock. Not secure or confident.  His go bye is much more relaxed and it's really obvious.  No problem, I can fix it.



Dually got to work inside flanks again. He was not as good as last time. I think I will change the sheep out for goats next time because the sheep get the game and keep coming out of the corner which is not what I want to happen. He got stuck a number of times today.  I sent him in to get all the ducks out of their pen to put away  for the night and he went in and held them in the back corner.  I knew he would not take a flank there so I downed him and he let the livestock get by him so they could get to the barn.  I think that is a step up.  Normally he would just hold till I went to get him.

Inside flanks

I had lessons all day and then I made myself a grilled hamburger and zucchini and fresh from the garden asparagas.  MMmmmmm

I kept Jem in the house all day and he is doing better. Less sore.  I also gave him traumeel and something else I can't remember the name of.  He played in his crate with the kong that Cash left behind and I stuffed it with PB and dog cookies.  He didn't do as thorough a job on it as Cash did.

Planted a few flowers under the flowering Peach tree which is just lovely right now. Lots of blossoms means lots of peaches.  I can't wait. There is nnothing like a fresh juicy peach right off the tree and mine are gooooood.

I worked Dually tonight on the corner exericise with 3 sheep. He has to push them into the corner and then he must take a (good)inside flank and take them out without breaking out of the pressure which he likes to do.  He did it well a few times and I was quite happy with that.  I am going to start moving farther away and see if he can stay in that pressure.

Jem

  Dually and Jem had a fight yesterday.  Dually had a blood nose and Jem had a cut in his ear.   Jem is lamer today than he has been.  Might be a trip to the Vets in his future soon. He will not be allowed outside to run the fence for a while.  He might have a sprained leg or toe .

I had my first pedicure yesterday. I was not impressed.  I will not probably do it again. I can do just as good a job.

I bought a new phone yesterday a Samsung Galaxy S5.  I haven't been really happy with the iphone since I got it and lately it has not been working all that well.  But I lost my games and on one I was on level 140.  Grrrrr. Going to go back and see if they can transfer the game and not just download another one.

Lessons all day till 3 today.

Tomorrow is a day off and Monday lessons all am and then off the the repro vet at 3 for Edge and so I can spend some more money. I need to schedule a fun day to make some cash.

Bear update

Yesterday was busy as hell. Lessons all day and then everybody under the sun calling me. I did see the EPA officer and he tracked the bear and goat carcass to out back of the arena. It apparently got caught under a tree and the bear left it. Everybody agreed the bear would be back for it.  It was not  eaten at all. 
  Nat and Joe came and helped me put  some electric around the barn area and then I locked all sheep goats and ducks in the barn only to find them out this moring in the yard between the barn and house. They chewed on my brand new parsley plant amongst other plants they shouldn't be touching.

Mike from Dept of fisheries and wildlife  came today and he helped me put the goat in the tractor and I buried her.  It took me 2 hrs on the damn tractor and If I had been thinking quick or at all I could have had the well guys who came with  a backhoe do the work much more quickly.   He suggested I put some more electric wires up. I will but I am kinda tired today. 

Jem is in the house loose and being a good boy.  He has been lame in the front for a few days and it might be his fence running but it might be something else.  He won't be loose at night though.

BEAR ATTACK

 Today I was woken by a screaming goat at 3am. I did not get up right away because I thought she had her head stuck in a fence but it kept on.  So I got up in my robe and slippers and went out side  to find a goat down and unable to stand. She had bite marks on her neck so something had probably gotten here spinal cord. Everybody else was in a bunch at the top of the corral. I went back and got Edge to go and get them and put them in the barn. They did not seem too upset about the dog being out there which was confusing  because if it was coyote they would have been frantic.  So the flock is locked away and the down goat is not getting up. I dragged a piece of cattle panel over to surround her and protect her till morning. Ha I did not know what i was dealing with. 15 min later and I am back in bed and she starts screaming again.  I go out again in robe and slippers and open the gate by the porta potti and immediately back up and go back into the yard as if that would have helped me if the bear that I just saw wanted to get me too.  Anyway he is trying to pull the goat over my brand new fence and messing up my fence big time so I go out and start throwing stones at him.  duhh am I stupid or what?   Anyway, that does chase him off for  few minutes. I go and get the car and drive down there and drag the goat outside the fence because obviously this thing is not going to leave without his prey.  I also call the police and go back to the house and wait. Goat starts sceaming again and I go out in time to see the bear drag the goat down into the woods in spite of my screaming at him.   I decided rocks were doing nothing and didn't try that route again. Just after he drags her into the woods, a cop shows up but says he's not going after a bear and his pistol would just piss him off anyway.  Great thanks for the help. He said he would report it to the environmental police which is can of worms I did not want opened and he leaves.  So it's 2 hrs later and I can still hear the poor goat screaming in the woods.  I hope it stops soon.

FIRE

Fire  arrived today at 4:30.  He licked my fingers from inside the crate and I had no trouble taking him out of the crate and getting a leash on him at the airport.  I liked the way he looked right away. He moves like Royal and has a short coat like him, but  his blaze is more even.  He is very sweet and confused. He and Edge got along ok and then I let Cash out and no fights but it was a very short period. As soon as I saw him start to run the fence line looking for a way out, I grabbed him up and put him in the  house. It was almost like he was panicked which I guess he could have been. I will have to keep a close eye on him. I don't think he is micro chipped.

I took him on leash to the sheep fence and called the sheep  up. He spooked backwards at that and then would not walk up to a goat on the fence. Hmmm not good. I  hope he has more to him than what I saw tonight.  I can't see this dog working cattle but maybe I am wrong.

Tonight he is in a crate in the living room whining a little bit, but I'm sure that will stop and if it does not I will move him upstairs to a crate next to me.  Just easier having him downstairs right now.

I worked Cash today for the first time and he did a nice job.  Fairly sensitive but good interest.  I worked Edge too on driving the sheep around me. He did better than he did a week ago, not sure whybut I'll take it.  Dually did not get to work today so tomorrow for sure.

I had 2 lessons in the am and then 2 more newbies scheduled neither one of which showed up. One said sorry she forgot and the other is not responding to my email. 

House appraiser will be over this week for this house and for the Fla house the inspection is Monday.

Snow is gone

I think there might be  a little left but not much.   There was enough gone so that I could back the trailer up the driveway and level and park it for the next tenants in June.  glad to have that done. 

I had a Verizon repairman come today, a guy I used to work with , but didn't know very well, He fixed my line and removed the drop that was down off  the barn and even helped me back up the trailer into the right spot. Thank you John.

Tim came over and picked me up and we went down and picked up my tractor at Ed's.  easy peasy.   Then I brought it home and hooked it up and went and got the utility trailer and loaded it with brush and dumped it. unhooked and parked it. Dually and I went to the place where Tim can get flat stones for me walkway to see if they were what I wanted and they look fine to me so that's good. He might not be able to get the big ones out but oh well, we will make do.

Then Dually and I went to Klems to fill up the propane tanks for the grill.  Of course the grill is falling apart so I had to go on line and order replacement parts for it. I am not sure I can get the old parts off. Michael you might have to come and help me.

I was going to grill salmon for dinner but no grille so I baked it and it was just as good and less mess.

Lessons are starting next week and the week is plenty full already.