The DOG and EWE 163 King Road Forestville, NY

SEPTEMBER 2013 A HUGE THANK YOU to Chelle for procuring the sheep's

hay for the winter. That was insane last year with all the price fluctuations. Very indebted to how she pulled it off.

CHECK OUT the new columns added to this issue – feel free to write me your thoughts – questions – or something you'd like to see. I'm really happy about the new columns – hope you enjoy them, too.

There's a few things to remind people of – IF you use something put it back. This goes for throw sticks, tools, etc. If you use a long line – roll it back up and put it back. ALSO – if your dog poops in the working areas – pick it up. IF your dog poops in the mowed areas – pick it up. If you bag it – take it home. I have pooper scoopers around that you can use – toss in woods or tall fields.

The electro-net has been working out perfectly. I've taken it on the road to the herding demonstrations as barrier fencing and as control rings. It is great at keeping the sheep where they are supposed to be. Plus at the farm, it is allowing me to put the sheep in areas where they can graze overnight.

Make sure to read about the new pricing being put in place effective September 1. I still have a variety of options and most importantly – PLEASE spread the word about herding at the Dog & Ewe.

PLEASE read the information regarding Mumble – last page. If you can help at all I will be very appreciative. You can also print it out as a poster and hang it up in various places – training bldg, vet offices, pet stores etc...

Being Planned for 2014 – first week of June is our Cappy Pruett sheep & cattle clinic– July 22 – 24 Jan Wesen will be coming back for sheep clinic– July 26-27 AKC Herding Trial – ASCA trial **tentatively** & AHBA trial not sure of dates yet– August 8-10 Kyle Smith sheep herding clinic– October 11 – 12 Kyle Smith sheep herding clinic

I will start taking deposits for any of these clinics after January 1.

SEPTEMBER 2013 - The Dog & Ewe Lesson Schedule

SUNDAY - GROUP Lessons 2 pm to 5pm NEW CHANGE – these will be ongoing. Pay per session - $10.

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY - PRIVATE Lessons Tues -11am to 3pm Wed 3pm to 8pm, Thurs 3pm to 7pm**. $25 per lesson. If you have never had a lesson before, the first lesson is $35 and each one after that is $25. ** THURSDAY afternoons – $60 per lesson. Cattle lessons take place in Sherman, NY near Mayville. Lesson fee includes cattle rental fee.

SATURDAY – CLINIC 11am to 3pm 12 dog limit Will run each Saturday through the fall. $35 per person. Each person is allowed up to two dogs to work that day. We will take a lunch break – bring your own. Sept 7, 14, 21

**All Herding Lessons will be outside, so wear appropriate clothing. Bring towels for your dog and water.

PRACTICES & RENTALS - Students are welcomed to a free practice session before or after their lesson, if they take private lessons or on Sunday. Any other time practice will be $10. All others - practice sessions are $20 (up to two dogs) You will have to demonstrate the proficient skills necessary to work on your own.

REFER A FRIENDAny student will receive $10 off their next lesson for referring a friend. That referral must commit to 4 wks of Lessons, Saturday Clinics or Privates. Just let me know who you have as your “friend” so we can give you $10 off your next lesson!

IF ANYONE is entering dog trials- obedience, agility,conformation etc – or going to a vets office, pet store or groomer – I have brochures and flyers that can be handed out or pinned to a bulletin board – LMK and I can supply you with them. I appreciate any referrals, or setting out of flyers. Remember, the sheep are supported by student lessons and we really need to encourage more people to come and try herding here.

KYLE SMITH Stockdog Clinic October 5 & 6 (Irving, NY)

All are welcomed to come audit – just pay for lunch $8. Come see what herding has to offer you and your dog. You don't have to own livestock to start herding. Clinic time from 8am to 5pm.

Remember students can join the student chat group http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/wnyherding/

AKC HERDING RUN THRUs A COURSE Sheep / Ducks & B Course Ducks, PT, HT

$10 per run - 10am to 1pm September 1 & 5

The PORTA-POTTY is here!! Like in years previous, I will be asking for DONATIONS to keep it around. It costs about $70 per month and it'll be here from April through November. Need to raise about $560. THANK YOU to those that have been donating.

CAUTION – Traffic construction at Rts 5 & 20The bridge over the Cattaragus Creek at Rts 5 & 20 is now under construction and the traffic is all boggled up. They are building a new bridge.

For those traveling I-90 – you will not be affected. The only people that need to be aware of the construction will be those that actually drive down Rts 5 & 20 and cross that bridge.

All I can say is either take Rt 62 over to Milestrip and then take Versailles to Perrysburg. Or from Rt 5 take Eden-Evans Center to Versailles and take that right into Perrysburg and then left on North, and a right onto Plank Rd. Plank turns into King a few miles down, and then the farm is down a few miles on the left.

SOLD OUT – REORDER FOR FALLHERDING PRIMER - $30 each or if you need it shipped somewhere add $6 postage – foreign orders will need to add exact shipping fees.

“I received your herding primer. Understand that all of my reading these past few years has been dog centric. Your herding primer is BY FAR the best training manual I have ever seen. The juxtaposition of the descriptions, pictures of right and wrong and training instructions is just plain phenomenal. I understood things that I had not seen before and I think your insight into canine behavior is brilliant. “ D. McDermott

the DOG and EWE - EVENTS

September 1: AKC HERDING Run Thrus 10 am – 1 pm $10 per run thru (approx 10 mins)Sept 1, 15, 22, 29: Drop In - Group Herding Lessons 3 - 5 $10 per sessionSeptember 5: AKC HERDING Run Thrus 10 am – 1 pm $10 per run thru (approx 10 mins)September 9, 14, 21: Herding Clinics – All levels and breeds welcomed 11 – 3 $35 up to two dogsSeptember 28: WNY Fiber Festival Sheep Herding Demos at Emery ParkOctober 5 & 6: KYLE SMITH Sheep Herding Clinic - Come & audit - $8 for lunch October 26 & 27: Del-Bay AKC Herding Trials at Birdsboro, PA - Cattle, Sheep & Ducks

WNY AREA HERDING EVENTS Sept 6– 8: Rochester Collie Club AKC Herding at Spiritwinds – go to AKC website for more info akc.org

Due to some unfortunate set of circumstances the AKC trial that was scheduled to be at my place this year, had to be postponed until next year. So look for an AKC Herding Trial at The Dog & Ewe for 2014!!

the DOG & EWE - ON THE ROAD

September 28 – WNY FIBER FESTIVAL – Emery Park, South Wales, NY Lots of vendors and activites devoted to Fiber. Plus of course, our sheep herding demonstrations.

Talking to the crowd

Here are some shots from the August 17 Scottish Festival - What a great time that was. Below Left: Long Day for Nor'e Below Right: Two Scottish Gentlemen

Above: Caber Tossing from the Highland Games & yes, that's a telephone pole

Above Right: Jeff with Merlin soaking in the water tank.

Right: Bag pipers

Pass this along – to anyone you may think would like to get involved with herding

Scholarship in Memory of

WTCH SILVERSCREEN'S DIDGERIDOO HSAs HTADIs ATDcsd

Didg's Scholarship has been set up by a herding student of Jean Barrett’s to honor the bond between the stock dog and handler. The recipient will be entitled to the following stock dog training sessions for a value of $135 with Jean Barrett:

1 group class (1 hour class for 4 weeks) at a value of $45, Upon the recipient’s purchasing and completing a group clinic (typically a 4 - 5 hour time

frame) another clinic will be awarded at a value of $45. After attending the two group clinics and their purchase of one private lesson with Jean Barrett

they will be awarded one private lesson, value of $45.

To apply please submit a brief statement to Jean Barrett, jean.barrett@verizon.net on why you are interested in learning and experiencing the tradition of working livestock. The award will be determined by the award sponsor and input from the herding-co-op members will be requested in the event of a tie. Deadline September 30, 2013.

The more you use the dog's leash, your stock stick or your voice, the LESS the dog has to use

their brain to connect and work with you.

TRAINING TIPS - Preparing your dog for a herding lesson

Very few dogs are able to go from their vehicles right into the herding pen and begin a lesson. Some seasoned dogs can do this, but very rarely is a young or new to herding dog able to master this task. Many are unprepared to be in a learning frame of mind where they have to concentrate, respond without resistance, focus and relinquish control of their instincts. Almost all of these dogs need a warm up session to connect and respond to their handler. When the dog is attentive to their handler and open to their communication, then they are ready to learn & work with the handler. Unfortunately, all too often dogs are brought here unfocused and not centered on their handler.

Many people ask how much obedience needs to be on the dog – meaning sits, stays, recalls etc. Those are important to have, but more important is focus, concentration and communication between you and your dog. That is more important then a sit and recall. Focus and concentration has to be taught until the dog learns to do it. Most are not born focusing on the handler. You have to put the work in to get the results. Some people have to put in enormous amounts while others barely have to think about it.

Most of the dogs that arrive here for herding – their center of focus is outwards. Meaning they are only anchored to their handler by means of the leash – no mental connection. Those dogs are concentrating on who they can meet next, what dog to play with, who's around the corner, oh look at the butterflies – or this grass is more interesting than mom, dragging their handlers around the farm by the leash. They are not engaging their brains on their handlers. Dogs are encouraged all too often and with a good degree of frequency that they can have more rewarding encounters with strangers or other dogs then their owner. It should be you, the handler that has the greatest reward for the dog – and I don't mean food or toys.... just you. Pay attention the next time you go for a walk – what is your dog paying attention to?

Is your dog ready to learn and communicate with you – that is the question to ask before you go into the pen for a lesson or training session. Is your dog focused on you and what you want to do, are you constantly reminding the dog to behave, leave it or focus on you?

If your dog is out of control, not focused on you, not listening and responding to commands outside the sheep herding training area – you can expect the same kind of treatment with the sheep. Focus and concentration then must be gained during the lesson with the sheep. Which means that you aren't going to have a lesson on progressing stock skills – but a lesson on getting focus from your dog. Maybe by the end of the lesson some stock work can be worked on, but usually very little time is left by then.

Take the time before your lesson to work on your dog's focus and concentration. This way you'll progress much faster in your stockwork.

EXERCISE OF THE MONTH:

OUTS - Generally speaking this is the first exercise you'll learn after learning to walk through the gate properly. We start this exercise in a 20x20 pen and work up to 50x50.

Photo at right shows a calm Malinois waiting at the gate. Notice the loose cord on the ground. No holding back of the dog. She is controlling herself and standing on her own.

The OUT exercise is basically you and your dog walking around the pen until your dog understands that leaning or moving at the livestock is not what is wanted.

The first step is positioning of the handler and dog. The handler usually takes the position closest to the fence. The dog is positioned between the sheep & the handler. Now we go for a walk following the fenceline.

Usually the dog will then take sight of the livestock and lean or move towards them. This is the best time in which to correct the dog – tug on cord and say “out”

ABOVE – photo shows dog turning nose towards the livestock – the start of the lean.

Then handler must stop walking when the dog leans at the livestock.

RIGHT – dog has made it off the fence towards the sheep, handler asked for sit and is ready to cue the dog to “out”

Give a few tugs on the cord to get the dog to roll their head away/off of the livestock back towards the fence.

RIGHT – dog has released from the livestock and has traveled back to the fence. Handler has remained stationary through this part.

RIGHT – Dog continues on the “out” rolling off the flight zone of the livestock to the fence.

Sometimes a few tugs will be needed to get your dog to release. For dogs that are strongly concentrating and focused on the sheep – the handler may have to pivot towards the fence to bring their dog's head & body in that direction.

Once the dog releases from the livestock, the handler then continues on down the fenceline. Be prepared to walk a step or two at first and always stop at the first sign of your dog rolling in towards the livestock. Then after a short while you should be able to walk the whole pen without telling your dog to “out”.

Photo above right – dog is not leaning on flight zone of livestock. Head is in the direction of travel and cord is making contact with the dog.

Why is this exercise important to master - This exercise teaches the dog to:honor the flight zoneto work the outer edgenot lean on livestock while circling / flankingto not move livestock while circling / flankingit is the start to your outrun workit is the start of inside flank workrespond to what the handler wants to have happen

Mumble is in need of help to offset the medical expenses that are occurring from

complications after his first surgery

Mumble has a “youcaring.com” site where all

his information and updates are posted during

his surgeries and recovery. While on this site, you may

also make a donation to help with his medical expenses.

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/give-a-gift-for-mumble/83033

For more information or direct donations contact Jean at jean.barrett@verizon.net

GIVE A GIFT FOR MUMBLE