JIG

DOB: 2/14/2015
Height - 20''
Weight - 45 lbs
OFA: Good (Hips)

Jig stems from thoughtful and calculated breeding from Royal Cattle Company kennel in Nebraska.

6x to WTCH Vest Bell Star Gent
5x to Hangin' Tree Dude
5x to WTCH Judds Chickasaw Dan
3x to Slash V Andrews Redchickaspike OTDc
3x to WTCH Chickasaw Powermax
3x to WTCH Diamond S Sam

To say she is well bred would be an understatement.

Jig possesses a big motor, notable athleticism, and has more than a healthy dose of natural ability. Even in her early working career I seldom have to "place" her in a position to move cattle the way I need them to go. She is loose-eyed and will "wear" on her cattle and keeps them grouped moving without direction from her handler (innate understanding of balance). She is currently building confidence and will be a veteran soon enough as we start rotating cattle on grazing as we enter the Spring of 2017. 

As of this writing (April 21, 2017), Jig has put in a full 45 days of work anywhere from 3-6 times a day as we continue to "time-graze" our paddocks daily. Jig has begun to develop into what I thought she would be. She has consistently shown the ability to fetch cattle at 400-600 yards and work "out-of-sight" of her handler picking up strays over hills, in timber, and ditches (sometimes she goes missing for 5 minutes or more but always comes back with what I sent her after); as more responsibilities come with hay season and syncing/breeding cattle for clients sometimes we have to fetch cattle at dark and have become comfortable in sending her in pitch-black darkness to pull each herd off their respective paddock and into their loafing pastures. Furthermore, with these days on the job, Jig has gained the confidence to stand in pressure to belligerent pairs and deliver a blow when necessary to entice them to move forward. Jig continues to shine breaking herd bulls and steers and prefers to grip low between the dew claws and hooves of the heels and prefers low on the front legs vs. the head. While she is still raw, she is receptive and will make a special cowhand by the time she is done here.

Outside of working...she has a dynamic personality and is overly affectionate with me but initially standoffish with strangers but typically loves women. She takes her job as protector of the property seriously as well.

As of March 2017 I have started using Jig daily.
High expectations. Videos speak louder than words.

Videos below show what Jig is capable of:

(Videos of beginning training are towards the bottom of the page)

Initial Work & Early Training

Jig hadn't seen hardly any cattle yet and barely started her training; hence, me using the clicker. 

This is the beginning of Jig's training. Only seen cattle a handful of times before this: -- Winter doesn't leave many jobs for the dogs so I chose to make one with Jig on this frigid day. 

Jig got a healthy helpin' on calf shenanigans in this one. Jig's first week of actually being used as a hand. 

Had some babies over the ridge that we couldn't see when we brought the herd out so I sent her to fetch'em. She hasn't quite figured out the calves yet as she doesn't like to grip them. She prefers larger stock. 

Had just taken pairs off the hill pasture after timed grazing. I'm closing the gate and a nosey calf approached. Jig almost touches them all but not quite. She hits both front feet and a heel for good measure.

1st week of work in pasture continues (only pen work prior to this)– Only a handful of times on pairs.

Not bad for a pup.

Today was the first day of attempting to transition to whistle commands. A little miscommunication on my part (slurring words with the whistle in my mouth). 

As you can see she wants to wear on her cattle regardless the distance. 

On the the lift there were no cattle on her left equal with her so she was where she needed to be for balance to drive the cattle to the corner. As one stray came over the ridge I asked her to "look back" and she covered it and paired with the others.

We have some ground to gain in altercation as she didn't want to stand in pressure but it's early on and we'll get there. She's only been worked a handful of times with pairs at this point. 

Again, early in training as I was trying to get her "excited" to come forward once we brought the cattle to the corner. 

Jig in slow-mo...holding the gate on these bulls and steers. (March 2017)

Jig on a big gather - March 25, 2017 - in some rain at dusk

This group of heifers have never wanted to group. Jig does a good job wearing on them to keep them headed where they need to. 

Sent Jig on a blind gather on this one...about 60 days of training at this point. 

 The pairs were on the other side of the hill in the pocket out of site.

3 weeks of training at this point. Very green. 

Nice outrun. 

Was reserved to send her after this pair considering it was born just hours earlier and she had never been in this type situation and I couldn't be there to help. But...she needed the experience. As you can tell...she's not comfortable in confrontation at this point in time; however, she did learn more about the "bubble" on this particular job. As you watch other videos dated later on you can see how more miles resulted in more confidence. 

Can't be mad at this run. I wanted to put her on "auto-pilot" to see how she would handle the situation on her own. I was pleased with her to say the least with as little exposure as she's had at this point (and handling her first newborn pair)...Especially when she acknowledged the "there" command to stay on the outside of the bubble of pressure; which resulted in no more "friction" and a smooth drive to the gate.

This presented a challenge so I wanted to get in on film.

There is a herd adjacent to this group on the other side of the cross fence. I was pleased with her being receptive to what I asked as her natural thought process was to group both herds together and fetch both herds to the barn.

My mistake at the end asking her to "go by" when she couldn't see that one had gone around the gate at her eye level.

Tried to catch the tail-end of the gather with these heifer pairs balking at the gate and Jig walking into pressure on one and backing her down. I was holding pressure where I was so I couldn't get around to film but you can fix your eyes on the one walking in reverse (she has a 2 week old calf at side). I would have liked for Jig to have gripped the head but she gripped nonetheless and carried on like nothing happened. That's what you want...You need patience, a good clean grip, and good sense to work with pairs. You won't ever find my dogs "seeing red" or gripping when it's not necessary.

A couple more instances here where she stood in pressure and the heifers moved off that pressure. At the very end there was an opportunity with the same one that wanted to dance at the beginning of the video but again...she stood in pressure to her and the heifer decided to submit.

I'd say Jig has come along and gained some confidence since Sioux has been on the shelf with being pregnant. She's not perfect by any means but she's getting polished sure enough. Distance work is where she shines. From the B Team to the A Team...She's a special little dog.