It's A Tradition

Way back, at the CWCCA National Specialty in 2012, Porter trialed on ducks for the first time. We had only even practiced on ducks a handful of times.

But yet he did the impossible - he took Reserve High in Trial out of the Started A Duck class!

Well, flash forward to the CWCCA National Specialty in 2015...

It is Stout's 1st trial on ducks. He has a little more duck practice than Porter, but not much. And what happens?

Stout also goes Reserve High in Trial out of the Started A Duck class!

Yes, I tried to recreate the photo  :)

I just hope Stout can finish his title a little more quickly... We are still working on getting that last leg for Porter!

More details coming soon!

Herding Photos - Porter!

This weekend Porter, Stout, & I will be doing a little AHBA herding trial.

 

This will be Stout's second herding trial EVER! And this will be Porter's first trial working at above a beginner level. Yes, we will have to DRIVE :) 

 

Ok, now I'm nervous.

 

Anyway, in honor of that, I am finally going to post the herding photos from the Cardigan Specialty!

 

Can anyone spot the theme in the sheep photos?  :)

 

 

Herding Ducks

3 for 4. Not too shabby for a pushy little jackass...

Porter & I entered the CKHGC club's inaugural duck trial over the weekend. It was a 3 day trial, with AKC in the morning and AHBA in the afternoon, so dogs had the opportunity to actually run 4 times each day.

Although Porter rarely practices on ducks, I couldn't pass this up  :) I thought it would be a good training opportunity for both of us to work on our trial stress & issues.

And we did pretty darn good. Not just with being able to qualify, but I never did feel like puking  :)  I didn't cry. I kept my nerves well under control, even when I realized that an HTD duck course sure looks an awful lot like B course! There were no fences & just wide expanses of tall grass around the perimeter... I was well aware of the possibility of Porter pushing those ducks straight out into the wild green yonder & having his own little slaughter...

But we conquered it. Twice! Which earned him his HTDd I title!

We also did one run of AKC A course, looking for that last leg... Didn't happen. But he really did a nice job once we got the ducks out of the corner on the outrun & chose to forego the fetch to the cone. He just drove those duckies right around the course! I got a "nice recovery - good choice to go on" in my comment section. I always get a lot of compliments on knowing when to quit  :)

Here is a video of Porter running HTDd on Friday. I also filmed on Saturday, but ended up with almost 2 hours of the inside of my jacket pocket & then the back of the lens cap...

Sorry about the terrible YouTube music... I had to cover up the wind noise.

I also had the usual great comment son my score sheets. I love that! 

If only I had a nickel for every time they commented on how pushy he was... Or maybe a Q instead of a nickel  :)

And when I first looked at this sheet, I was a little taken aback. I mean, I thought our Z chute was pretty darn good! LOL?

But it's actually "1 OL"  (1 point for off-line)

"Need To Rent Ducks"

Ok, this just cracks me up - I had to share! I saw this on DeltaBluez Stockdogs blog:

From Craiglist:
_______________________________________________

Need to borrow/rent live ducks (not a joke) 

Hosting a house party. Need ducks for party game.
Ducks will be unharmed and I prefer the owner remain with the ducks to ensure proper care and safety to both my and your standards.
Compensation: invitation to party, free drinks for the entire night, or if you prefer small cash fee ($40?)
Details: ducks will be gently secured into passenger seats of model train set. origami hats made of 1, 5 and 10 dollar bills will be placed on each ducks head.
Guests will pay a dollar for an opportunity pick a hat from a ducks head as a prize as the train passes by them. One dollar per attempt (lap around tracks)

Serious inquiries only please.

• Location: Austin

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/aus/3639313186.html
_____________________________________________________


And here's a duck video to go with it. Just imagine these little guys showing up by train...   :)

Deja Vu



What was it that I said on the blog on Friday?

 

I believe it was something to the effect of: Porter runs all over me & doesn't believe that I have any control over his behavior? Or that he has no respect for me?

 

Wait, no. That's what I was told this weekend...

 

Damn it.

 

Ugh. Herding is hard  :)

 

Watching a collie herd ducks - the only photo I got all weekend  :)

CWCCA Specialty Herding Photos - Part 4

Thank you again to Perry Photographic! These are the last of the herding photos  :)

(He was too excited by the ducks to get any closer to the cone)

(Oops, that's a split)

(Wing to the face again!)

(And again)

(And again! You'd think he'd get the hint that he was just too close!)

(Another of his infamous lie-downs)

Up next, agility photos!

CWCCA Specialty Herding Photos - Part 2

Thank you again to Susan & VW Perry of Perry Photographic! Yes, I bought the whole CD...  :)

(Nancy R. taught us how to parallel drive!) 

(I like this one because it looks like he's actually taking a flank!)

(Giving them the side-eye)

(Wing to the face!)

(And now he's angry!)

(See, he did try to taste them!)

(Cross-drive)

("Hold 'em")

(His infamous lie down)

(Penning)

(Oops, almost forgot the last one!)

Celebration! 

And those are most of the photos from our Reserve High in Trial Duck run  :)