NELL
"MOLLYFLECK FIRE N LIGHT "
Raefell's Firecracker x Mollyfleck Cwmmoiro Lightning Lady
D.O.B 8th July 2004 Breeder Mrs Sheila Jones
Hugh is currently training our third generation of herding Beardies. - six year old NELL. She is the daughter of BOB (R Firecracker) & the grand-daughter of ROSIE (Ch Charncroft Copper Rose. ) See their own pages.
What follows is a pictorial record of 'training in progress'!
A video clip of Nell working with Carl at our August 09 Herding Weekend
Head study of NELL after a session with the sheep.
Despite being the sweetest, mildest girl at home she is an intense, & commited worker - amazing to watch her transformation in the sheep field! NELL was introduced to sheep for the first time by Carl at the Herding Instinct day in August 07. Notice her tail carriage & body language indicative of a 'gung ho' attitude!
Often an intense dog like NELL is uneasy working in close proximity to sheep so the next stage in her training is to accustom her to her woolly friends so that she feels at ease. Here she is working with Hugh in the close environs of the barn - building confidence.
After a few more sessions of barn work NELL is now much more confident & at ease with close work. Here you can see her steadily & calmly working the sheep out of a corner & along the fence.
Once the basic control is there then NELL can move on to more interesting work! Here she is being taught how to 'wear' the sheep to the handler.- ie the sheep follow the handler & NELL follows the sheep calmly & steadily keeping well off them. Quite a stress free exercise all round!
NELL is now ready to do some useful work on her own driving her little flock to her handler. A complete change from her initial 'let me at 'em' attitude she is a study in concentration here, note the level topline & lowered tail carriage of a dog totally engrossed in her job.
November, three months & only a dozen or so lessons after she was first introduced to sheep NELL is able to flank her flock both ways & bring them on home. A good beginning, something on which she can build in future lessons & hopefully become a useful sheepdog.
After her long absence from herding this Winter, NELL pleased us all with some good steady work with a large flock of sheep.
Although NELL holds the KC's Good Citizen's Gold Award in 'pet obedience' training a dog to work stock is still the best way to ensure that you have an reliable & willing companion
A super picture of a 'sheepdog', concentrating, & determined!
Even after a hard day Nell still has time to play with a friend
Nell working with Carl & Hugh at the May Herding Weekend (2008). Nell is working well calmly well off the flock quite an achievement for a keen impetuous dog such an improvement from her first introduction to sheep a year ago.
Another pic of Nell & her handlers working a larger flock on Twentylands in May
