Archive for October, 2006

Jillaroo primer

Young Kate, 14, wrote in a while back and asked a few questions about a career in jillarooing … I thought I’d answer them here in case anyone else was wondering …
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Alpha bitch

Here’s me being the alpha bitch with Rousie.

He was barking from the back of the ute this morning when I sent Diamond around the mob.

I simply stopped the ute, got out and grabbed him by the muzzle and said ‘Rousie, quiet!’

You can see from the tongue and the licking that he is saying, ‘Okay! Yes! Sorry!’

Pups will lick as a way of communicating that they are submitting. We had no more barks after that — so if I went off with the older dogs and came back to a quiet pup in the ute I gave him lots of praise!

Always remember to praise a dog — good education is about balance … discipline ‘and’ reward.

Keeping an eye on the action

Here’s a snap of ‘Frog’ at the end of the board shearing our hoggets and behind him, with the alien glowing eyes is our little Rousie.

We had him tied up in the shed so he learned not to bark (and annoy Frog) and so he got used to all the smells, sounds and action!

He’s ready now to start working small mobs of quiet sheep. We’re hand picking a few hoggets out of the mob to keep near the house to start him on. Stay tuned for his introduction to sheep herding!

One of the mob

Apparently the name Rachael is Hebrew for ‘ewe’.

I’ve always liked the fact I was named after a female sheep!
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Poddy feeding time

John and Charlie feed the poddies, Adam and Lee, while Shania waits her turn.

Desert mum in the snow

It was amazing to see Edith, our tough little Waler from the Tanamai Desert out in the snow with her foal, Whip Crack (Cracker for short).

We rugged all our other horses the night before it snowed, but as Edith has never had a rug on her, she just had to bear it.

That’s what we love about the Waler — she’s doing so well despite the tough conditions. And to see little Cracker scooting about in the snow was a vision splendid!

Seeking shelter

Our bareshorn two-tooths tuck into the hay and shelter beneath the pines.

Snowmen

Making snowmen with Rosie and Charlie before we load the round bales onto the back of the ute.

Selecting a pup

Step One;  Find a reputable breeder.

If you get a pup that’s well bred and has a good temperament, 80 per cent of your work is done.

We bought our pup from Matthew and Margie Johnson of Pandara Kelpies in Westbury, Tasmania.

Matthew is one of Tassie’s top dogmen and we trust his judgement completely. Read more…

Mates with Mother Nature!

It’s hard to believe we’re in a drought with a photo like this — but we still are in the worst season!

People say farmers are always whingeing about the weather — but the complexities of having a business partner like Mother Nature are difficult to understand if you’re not working with her every day.
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