Quick show report

I'm an idiot and forgot my ring time on Sat so didn't make the show.... Thankfully I didnt' break a major, I know I would've been tarred and feathered for that!
Sunday was cold and damp but Abby showed really well and we were RWB. I'm happy with that and the quality of entry. So next weekend Rosy and Abby both get to strut their stuff!

13 isn't really THAT old!

Well it isn't is it?? Cardigans should be allowed to live forever!:-)) So Beli's birthday is tomorrow and since I have shows this weekend I wanted to make sure I took some special pics and blogged Beli.


Evy says "Dont say my Dad is old!"


Beli says "Just throw the stick, really THROW IT"

"See I'll bring it back every time!" Young whippersnappers don't know what they are talkin' bout!

Abby says " You may be old but I'm not sharin' my egg with the likes of you!"

Evy " You may be my pops, but I'm not sharin' my stick either!"

Beli just laughs...

Nobody will share with me but I'm still the happiest guy around! Cuz I'm 13 and proud of it~:-))

New Blog

I decided to journal my herding exploits with my dogs on a seperate blog this year. I'm going to try and post specifics about my training on each dog, hopefully I'll be able to stick with it. I tried a written account a couple years ago and it went to the wayside rather quickly... So one of my resolutions is to keep a better account this year so I can look back, as my memory fades and remember what I did to "fix" problems and work through training issues.
The new address is www.cardiherd.blogspot.com , if anyone would like to follow along:-)

Gettin' work

No pics to prove it but I have been working dogs everyday this week. Diane M. from MA has been here since Monday and every afternoon I've worked at least two dogs! Yeah for me and the girls:-) Sally and Rosy were yesterday and they both did pretty well. They both got to pen and do some decent outruns. Rosy just needs lots of miles before March! Sally is coming along and I'll be deciding soon whether to run her here this Spring or wait. Evy and Abby got worked today; Abby held sheep and did a couple outruns, did pretty nicely. Evy worked quite a while; she did some outruns driving and shedding. Outruns could be better but I did get some flanking work done, squaring her off. Driving was ok, shedding was pretty good; still improvements to be made.
So far the new year is going according to plan:-))

Starting right!

So many goals for the new year, most involve getting out and working dogs why not start the year that way? I worked every dog this morning, even the puppies! No pics of the adults today its been so long since they've been worked had to work out some kinks... Everyone did really well. Sally did a great job shedding our working group and moving everyone to the back of the farm. Got a couple of good outruns from her too. Abby did FABULOUS! Abby took all of her flanks, did some beautiful outruns, nice driving, couple of really nice sheds too; just great overall work.
Both puppies did really well, this was probably their 2-3 time on sheep. Remy is pretty laid back but doesn't mind taking hocks from time to time (or tails if they are available). Dory is very intense and focused, always wanted to find balance. She reminds me a lot of Abby and grandma Libby; that is very exciting!

Remy boy bringing his sheep

He's a bit slower than Dory which is good for pics, he was really boogeying to get to balance here though!

Nice distance off his sheep and going around nicely here.

Dory getting down and dirty:-))

Yes that is sheep wool she is carrying, like I said focused! She grabbed it and kept on going, had to show it off to Remy when she was done.

Rosy did some really nice outruns and flanks. No fighting today nice and smooth. Her drive transitions are really nice and she is walking into pressure REALLY well. I'm looking forward to trialling her this year!
Finally Evy... Evy was rusty we had to dust out her ears for a bit:-)) She did some really nice outruns from my side in my big pasture opened up. Great job driving and shedding; even working a single and look backs after sheds. Lots of work on her before trial season but she'll do it no issue.

Both Abby and Evy got a second adjustment and are feeling great, running smoothly and soundly! So we are starting our 2011 the right way with some great VERY happy dogs working the farm!

Goodbye 2010, Welcome 2011!

Wow the last post of 2010! What a wonderful year I had, so many wonderful things... BUT the most important was having my Beli boy for another year! Always my heart dog and best friend but also the longest living dog I've ever had and in FABULOUS shape still, I feel like the luckiest person alive (and maybe I am:-))) Otherwise, I finished my 4th HX dog and second BBE HX, Abby, who also produced a lovely litter that I am so proud of at 4.5 months.

Remy (Raglans Ratatoullie) while he is going through some funny growth stages at the moment I just love him. Wonderful temperment and such a fun guy to be around.

Remy front 4.5 months, what a pretty boy!

And then there is Dory (Raglans Just Keep Swimming) Lovely girl who is so much like her mother, yes she is having a bad hair day:-)) So balanced and nice she had to stay though.

Dory front 4.5months

Rosy also made her mark on the year with her BBE 1st at the 2010 CWCCA Nationals. While I was not able to trial her this year, next year will be her year in the herding arena. And then there is my little Sally, puppies were not in her immediate future but she has taught me why I enjoy my dogs. She has reiterated again and again why I enjoy breeding, training and exhibiting Cardigan Welsh Corgis! I love that little bitch no matter how many times I have to tell her not to eat live chickens:-))) Evy turned 7 this year which is a milestone for me as she is from my first litter and is my first BBE HX, while she never finished her Ch she has proven her worth on the farm and continues to be an enlightening dog in herding training;Evy certainly inherited her fathers heart!

I did have to say goodbye to Laura and Wish and of course LauraXBeli puppies and AbbyXTigger puppies but they are all in such wonderful homes!

Of course there were a few disappointments such as another year without starting school and loosing my Grandma Hill recently. A new year brings hope and closure though. I have a lot to look forward to in the New Year, school, the CWCCA Nationals in Houston, trialling my dogs and who knows what else!

So after this long winded post.... HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! I look forward to a wonderful and fruitful 2011!

Good News, Bad News

Well bad news is that my paternal grandmother died today. Not unexpected though sad none the less. We honored her during our dinner this evening remembering all the wonderful times that we had together. This picture was taken just over 1 week ago, my sister, Lauren on the left and my mom in the red sweater. We sang Christmas carols and visited for as long as she was able.
The good news is that Nemo has a new home! He left with Amy and Jay this afternoon with his new friend Jackson, the Pembroke. I will post pics when I get them.