Kelliwic Kildare
b. 01/27/05

©2008 Michelle Dobbs

January 2009 News: Taking a break…or two…or three

I didn’t work the dogs very much during the last quarter of 2008. After our trialing season culminated in late September at the NEBCA Novice Finals, I felt somewhat burned out. Although I still looked forward to working with the dogs, I was out of energy. I continued with our weekly lesson, of course, but couldn’t rally myself to get out for any extra work sessions. That was the start of a quarter which passed quickly, but fitfully as far as working the dogs.

©2008 Michelle Dobbs

Dare was spayed in early October, so she missed two weeks. We had a couple of lessons, then Perky fell ill on our regular day (Thursday), and of course a lesson was out of the question on that sad day. The next Thursday, our instructor tore the tendon in his knee just hours before our lesson, requiring surgery. I rented field time and worked on my own once or twice during his convalescence, then we had a regularly scheduled lesson. We had no lesson on Thanksgiving of course, although we attended a Jack Knox clinic that weekend. Christmas was also on a Thursday, and between visiting with family and work commitments, I didn’t have time to rent the field or take a lesson on an alternate day. So, I shouldn’t complain much about Dare and I needing a lot of work, but boy—it’s making my goal of trying to be ready to trial in Pro-Novice next year look further and further out of reach! I feel a team should be working competently and consistently at the level they’re trialing at, and ought to be working skills and training a level above that. Dare and I (well, mostly ME) aren’t there yet, and we have a LOT of work to do if we are to be ready for next year.

The highlight of the quarter was attending our second Jack Knox clinic, in November. Saturday brought us very lovely weather—sunny, and not too windy. It could be a wee bit chilly if we sat still too long, but overall it was the best that we could have asked for at that time of year. I brought Dare out for our first work, and gave Jack a “laundry list” of things that Dare and I could work on…squaring her flanks, keeping her at the right distance off the sheep, getting her pace, and so on, not to mention all the work that I need as a handler. So Jack said to go ahead and show him.

I think anyone involved with dogs, especially in a competitive aspect, has had their share of being humbled by their dog. It usually occurs soon after a big brag about how wonderful has been doing and the incredible things Rin Tin Tin or Lassie did just last week. Now that you’ve bragged, the dog immediately does the opposite, by acting as though it is completely uncivilized and has never had a whisper of instruction in its life. This was one of those times—sort of. After talking about all the work we need, Dare worked for me about as nicely as she ever has, and barely put a foot wrong. Perhaps she felt soothed hearing Jack’s Scottish accent calling out instructions to me? Ha! She certainly wasn’t perfect, but it was far from a demonstration of “We need to work on EVERYTHING!” What’s up with that, dog? You’re making me look silly by looking good!

Walking out into the field for our second work session brought teasing from Jack: “Okay, Miss Perfect.” I found out later from two other handlers that he remarked to the others while I was out in the field, “there’s no reason why this dog can’t be winning at Novice-Novice trials.” So, keeping that in mind, I try to remember how I felt that day when Dare worked so well for me, and what I was doing that helped her be correct. Of course my problem is that I can hardly remember what happened five minutes ago! But there is hope for us. That is one of the important things I brought back from that clinic—the knowledge that she and I CAN do it right, and we even had witnesses to prove it. Keep on keepin’ on!

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Kelliwic Kildare
black and white rough coat
ABCA 261758, AKC DN10573002
(Andy ABCA 66947 x Perky HIC ABCA 125827)
DNA CEA/CH Normal
OFA Fair: BCO-6881F30F-PI
CERF clear: BCO-3053/2008—41

Dare ~ “Miss Hips” ~ Puppy ~ BorderCollie! ~ Monster ~ Little Vixen ~ Nosey-Nose ~ DareDevil

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Meet the other Border Collies at Kelliwic: Kaylie, Perky and Branwenn