Avonlea Showtime

Jan 2007:

Due to 'mom" (that's me) not being able to move around much, Ti didn't get back on sheep again for 6 months. Although he was around them occasionally while I was feeding, he didn't get to work them again until he was10 months old. Once more he went in with Cappy but really wanted me out there to work with. Once I went in the field, Ti settled in and worked nicely, covering and fetching his sheep, even walking quietly behind.

January, 2007 and another Cappy Pruett clinic. This time I could walk a little having had surgery to replace my knee, but was worried about the sheep. Once again we tried to get Ti to work for Cappy, but even more than before, he'd have none of it. Each time, when I started walking with the sheep and working him, Ti settled down and worked. On the second day, when we asked him to sit when he'd get to balance, he started to comply more willingly. As soon as he sat, I got him up again and working. Each stop then became easier as he sat more quickly. Finally on his 4th time in the ring, he went in off lead and I went in with him. This time he started working right off. Although he tends to wear more than need be, he is responsive to the stock stick and eager to do whatever we asked him as long as he could work. At this point Cappy became one of the sheep and Ti was working off me (Cappy was in there to help protect me from the sheep if need be). Several times we asked him to stop and each time he sat quickly or lay down, depending on what he was asked to do. Although he doesn't have a stay command yet, he would stay and wait until he was told what to do next. He's very calm, although trotting rather than walking, and stays off his stock well. A couple of times the opportunity was there for a bit of flossing, but he never attempted to bite. He did some mini-outruns, gathers and fetched the sheep all over the 80-100' field. A very successful training session for this 14 month old puppy. Now to get me able to really get out there and work him!

April 2, 2006:

Ti and 2 of his siblings were introduced to livestock on April 2, 2006 at 18.5 weeks. This will be their story as they grow and learn to herd!

Ti when first exposed to sheep was a little unsure. Cappy Pruett was working with him, but he didn't know Cappy, so wanted to come and visit mom, who was sitting at the side taking pictures. Cheryl came in then, and Ti decided sheep might be interesting. Wait, there are rules? Oh, well, that's ok, let's go! Ti worked in both directions and fetched the sheep nicely to Cheryl, working off of Cheryl's body. At one point Cappy took the long line and started to guide him into slowing down and stopping and being right and thinking. Ti was comfortable with that, too, as long as he could keep working. He called off easily when it was done, liking this new game