Ivy has me super, super excited about her sheep work! She is very square (naturally) like her mother, but does not slide on to her belly and lock up at their heads like Gwen would do at Ivy's age. She stays on her feet 100% and is quite free, while still having wonderful balance. I'm in NO hurry to put a down on her- given her family tree... She has lots of great sense while on sheep is and is as easy to handle as her parents- which makes training a delight. Only time will tell how she turns out, but right now I am thrilled with her! Off sheep she is character- she is the keeper of the cats. She never bothers a one, but she keeps track of darn near their every move... I don't mind as long as she comes immediately when called and doesn't loose focus on whatever I'm doing with her when she spots a cat. So far neither are an issue. She is an absolute love temperament wise.
"Sisters" at play on Christmas Day 2008.
Clare has that same "go ahead, make my day" expression while on sheep as Deal. She is a very nice pup on sheep right now. She has wonderful balance, natural pace in a baby-dog fetch line, and lots of good sense. On this day 2 of the Hog Island wethers thought it fun to turn around and stomp a foot or two at the dogs. Clare was very business-like about letting them know that type of attitude was not allowed while she was on the field! She has a great head on shoulders, which is something they either have or don't have....
This is one of the wethers that thought turning around and stomping was the right idea. Ivy got a little back up from her "old man"- the best single-sheep working dog out there I swear! ;-p He
does have a bite, but very rarely does he need it. He is simply amazing at reading stock and being 100% appropriate- he is never over-bearing and he never gets over-powered... It's so awesome to watch a dog use his own stock sense to beautifully work everything from knee-knockers to never-seen-a-dog-in-our-lives adult ewes to new born lambs with defensive moms, to the temperamental ram (oh and both never-seen-a-dog-before calves and somewhat dog-broke calves and steers too). Someone said to me at a trial once that he looks like the kind of dog that is quiet and gentle, but has the power when it's needed- she was 100% right.
Ivy has me super, super excited about her sheep work! She is very square (naturally) like her mother, but does not slide on to her belly and lock up at their heads like Gwen would do at Ivy's age. She stays on her feet 100% and is quite free, while still having wonderful balance. I'm in NO hurry to put a down on her- given her family tree... She has lots of great sense while on sheep is and is as easy to handle as her parents- which makes training a delight. Only time will tell how she turns out, but right now I am thrilled with her! Off sheep she is character- she is the keeper of the cats. She never bothers a one, but she keeps track of darn near their every move... I don't mind as long as she comes immediately when called and doesn't loose focus on whatever I'm doing with her when she spots a cat. So far neither are an issue. She is an absolute love temperament wise. 
"Sisters" at play on Christmas Day 2008.
This is one of the wethers that thought turning around and stomping was the right idea. Ivy got a little back up from her "old man"- the best single-sheep working dog out there I swear! ;-p He does have a bite, but very rarely does he need it. He is simply amazing at reading stock and being 100% appropriate- he is never over-bearing and he never gets over-powered... It's so awesome to watch a dog use his own stock sense to beautifully work everything from knee-knockers to never-seen-a-dog-in-our-lives adult ewes to new born lambs with defensive moms, to the temperamental ram (oh and both never-seen-a-dog-before calves and somewhat dog-broke calves and steers too). Someone said to me at a trial once that he looks like the kind of dog that is quiet and gentle, but has the power when it's needed- she was 100% right. 
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