March 14th, 2025

I Guess We Are Starting Again

Over the winter here in Vermont, most sheepdogs do not get worked much—or only very little—in our own fields and barns.

Most of the work my dogs and I do is close-up work in the barn. This includes holding sheep off feed, getting them out of the barn, working in tight quarters, and just general close-up work.

Emma has the advantage that I am a better handler than I was three years ago, and so when she works in tight spaces, she is pretty good for barely a year old (her birthday is tomorrow!!).

Bella working sheep in Vermont March 12th, 2025

Bella, however, had the misfortune of being the dog I learned with.

Bella is the one dog who mirrors my panic, thoughts, and intentions back at me—and so much more than me—that we have been getting into some trouble lately. I blame myself because I didn’t know better then, and now that I do, I need to help her make better decisions, which means sometimes putting her into tough situations (high pressure = panic for Bella).

So I see the mistake, and the mistake (unfortunately) happens, and then I put her back—and back—into that same situation so we can both learn how to control ourselves.

It is a process, one I thought we had moved past, but apparently, we are starting again...

Happy Training!

Addi and her dogs