Doggy Decisions

I had six hours of drive time this weekend to reflect on my animals.  After weighing everything I've decided to leave things as status quo.  It's not that I think no one else can do justice to my dogs, it's that I'm not ready to let one of them go.  I've decide to really focus on stock work and obedience with them for the next little while - or until snow flies and it gets to hard to herd.  Diva was a very good girl for Sarge.  She had one "episode" while with him.  Otherwise she was happy and well behaved.

Ryder is clearly very, very attached to me.  This discovery when we tried to leave him at Sarge's house Saturday morning.  He lost his stink.  Even crated he freaked out.  We drove off and circled around - giving him a 10 minute window to calm down.  He didn't.  So he ended up in the truck with us.  The next time we left him outside in the yard with Diva and he was better.  But he was Mr. Clingy.  Where I went he followed, even shoving his body in the tiny bathroom.  The first night he even had an "accident" in the house.  Very unlike him.  He's quite the nervy little fellow.

Today I worked them both.  Ryder is really starting to understand his flanks and has gained a lot of confidence while driving.  I had been toying with the idea of entering him in the Northlands trial in November but it turns out this year it falls while I'm still working so he'll wait for spring to compete.  Divan and I began the attempt at driving.  She's so headstrong it's a bit challenging to redirect her.  I'll take her to Ken's and get some help with that.  It was a fun way to end the weekend.