Kynic Stockdogs
Rural K7L 5C6 Kingston, ON, Canada

How wonderful! I loved the comment one person made about how the highlight of the event was to watch the working dogs. Perhaps this is another example of Covid’s many sliver linings: People re-discovering their communities and ways to reconnect with a more grounded way of life.

This is exciting! Kynic Bess, recently promoted to right hand on a large commercial sheep farm in eastern Quebec. You can watch Bess and Claudie Fortin-Miousse doing a demo of some of the typical work they do starting at 38 minutes in. Wonderful teamwork! https://m.youtube.com/watch

Getting ready for training season! Clearing out my newly fenced paddock. this little field will offer plenty of challenges as it has lots of places for sheep to hide, many unique features to work around, draws in several directions, and four different gates. Step one is to clean up all the branches left over from having removed a few dead trees, and to pick up newly surfaced ankle breaking rocks. Quiet, meditative work done with plenty of moral support and careful supervision!

Part 3 (of 3) of my wonderful discussion with Alexandra Kurland and Dominique Day about the importance of balance in training. You can find all three episodes on the Equiosity Podcast in all places you listen to podcasts, or go to https://www.equiosity.com/ #equiosity... #positivetraining #balance #beyondtheclick #rabbithole #nerdytrainer #nerdytraining #themovingcanine See more

Apparently I’ll be doing laundry later... #kynickismet #kynicstockdogs #bordercolliesofinstagram ... #bordercolliesofontario #bordercolliepuppy #helperfering See more

I love snow for many reasons, not the least of which is for the stories it reveals that would otherwise go untold. For example, there’s the story of the very large fisher who lives just behind my new sheep field. Or the story of the large deera buck in love?who has been pacing the perimeter of the field where my goat does spend their days. And then there’s this story, shared below. The story of the mid-sized canine who can easily pass through the old fence system, and get i...nto all my fields, but not get out through the new fence. And so, once his travels have been complete, and all through-fare options explored, he had to re-trace his steps and leave the way he came. Trying a new entrance, the far side of the newly fenced area, he found the path he was seeking. Thankfully, he opted to leave my sheep alone, despite passing through the fields in which they are spending their winter. Presumably he’s not hungry enough to risk the guardian dogs’ wrath. In the sketch below, black boxes are buildings, the black lines are the old fence, the red line is the new fence, and the green dotted line is the coyote’s path. #kynicstockdogs #farmingwithpredators #livingwithnature #newfence #coyote #sheepfarming #farmingincanada #canadianfarmer #wintersecrets #snowstories #footprintsinthesnow

Guess who turns 15 today!!! I asked Hannah how she wants to celebrate and she said that breakfast would be a nice start. Followed by a nap. And then maybe a good hour hike around the farm followed by lunch and another nap. And wrapping up the day with dinner and a nap would make it perfect! I said, Hannah, that’s no different from every day! She replied: When you’re my age, you’ve learned to live life to the fullest. And the wisdoms of naps and regular meals and exercise.... I might throw in a pedicure, a massage, and some special treats, just for fun. Happy Birthday my amazing partner and dear friend. What an incredible ride it’s been, and it’s not over yet! Let’s see what mischief we can still get into together in 2021, and beyond! #HLHannah #kynicstockdogs #naturalrearing #naturalrearingbreeder #ageinggracefully #springchicken #stillgoingstrong

The most helpful girl #delriadaaoife #kynicstockdogs #helperfering... #bordercolliesofinstagram #bordercolliesofcanada #bordercolliesofontario #mybestgirl #workingdoginwinter #unemployedworkingdog #laundrynight See more

Today I remember the dog who started it all. Who changed my life and set me on a path that has lead to everything I am doing now. To WHO I am today. I knew there was something special about him coming into my life when I discovered he had been born on my 21st birthday. How special, I could never have predicted. As an irresponsible 21 year old university student at the time I brought him home, I definitely had to rise to the occasion to do right by this dog. And, while I was ...far from perfect, I did my very best. Jake was my best friend and companion for nearly 14 years. Together, we explored North America, travelling through six provinces and over 40 states, and lived in six different cities, including Vancouver, Ottawa, Boston, Houston, and Chicago. Jake was my rock. The one constant in my life as I tried on different careers (and different relationships). Throughout it all, we hiked, we biked, we paddled. We explored every inch of the world around us, from the Grand Canyon to the Rockies to the Maritimes, from the Red Desert of Arizona to Texas to PEI. We swam in the Atlantic, the Pacitifc, and the Gulf of Mexico. And so much more. We sure made the most out of our time together. Which was far, far too short. But I’m grateful for every minute. Jake died 16 years today, teaching me as much through death, loss, and grief as he did through life. There’s a joke that Border Collies should come with a warning label: If you buy this puppy, you will eventually end up with a farm, and sheep, and a whole lot more border collies. Well, look at me now. It wasn’t a warning, it was a prophesy! And one that came true. Jake never had a chance to work sheep. But his legacy lives on in Hannah, Desiree, Clayton, and now Wyrd, who are all making up for that oversight. Only happy memories remain today. RIP my beloved friend. And thank you for everything. #travelsiwithjake #thedogwhostarteditall #bordercolliesofinstagram #BFF #lifechanger #heartdog #eternallygrateful #thankyouforeverything #spiritguide

A little barn hunt to start the day off right. I throw a scented article (scented with my scent) into the hay stack and let them search. This is a favourite game to play during morning chores. In addition to some brain work, this is a great physical workout, climbing and balancing on wobbly bales of hay. #kynicstockdogs... #canineenrichment #workingdogs #bordercolliesofinstagram #bordercolliesofcanada #bordercolliesofontario #workhardplayhard #positivetraining See more

Maybe it’s not that Griffon doesn’t like the puppies, maybe he just doesn’t like their frenetic behaviour. Just looked up from reading to see this, which made my heart smile. Kismet was on the couch first and fell asleep. Griff just curled up behind him. #tiredpuppiesaregoodpuppies ... #alliscalm #kynicstockdogs #kynickismet #kynicgriffon #bordercolliesofinstagram #bordercolliesofontario #bordercolliepuppy #becomingfriends See more

Bonfire, nearly full moon, mild weather... A quiet, peaceful, and calm start to 2021. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! #startingoffright #2021willbegreat #alliscalmallisbright ... #happynewyear2021 See more

For two short days, I’ve opened the doors to my mentoring program, Dog Sport Scholars (doors close again at midnight, December 31st). I created Dog Sport Scholars (DSS) to be the program I wish I had to help me become the dog sport trainer of my dreams, but that didn’t exist. Lucky for you, it does now. DSS is a monthly mentoring program designed to help you become the trainer you’ve always dreamed of being:... Confident. Calm. Joyful. Skilled. Successful. Whatever success means to you. Inside, we focus on BOTH ends of the leash: Mastering handler mindset for success, and mastering critical, advanced concepts in dog sport training. We’re passionate, we’re supportive, we’re technical and nerdy. This ain’t your grandmother’s dog approach to dog sport training. Curious to know more? Click here: http://eepurl.com/hmUDxL Note: This is the last time you can join at $57/month. The next time doors open, the program will be $97/month. So if you’ve been considering joining, do it now! #dogsportscholars #positivetraining #dogsports #mindsetmastery #masteryourmindset #make2021awesome #designyourlife #livewithintention #goalsintoreality

Kynic Wyrd and I enjoyed a wonderful winter hike today with @caro_kirk. We even managed go spot, admire, and NOT interact with several porcupines! Wyrd also got to meet several new (non-border collie) dogs, and hang out with children for the first time in his short life. He did very well, and other than initially being a bit worried about the new dogs, he seemed have very much enjoyed himself. Especially all the attention he got by the puppy-loving children. #kynicwyrd... #winterfun #hikingwithdogs #bordercolliesofinstagram #bordercolliesofontario #winterfun See more

We often think of training as skills we teach our dogs to do. But with few exceptions, our dogs already know how to do the behaviours we are asking for. Dogs already know how to sit, lie down, come to us, stand, sniff, follow a track, herd sheep, weave through things, go through tunnels, go over jumps, and so on. We aren’t teaching them how to do any of these things. What we are doing in training is teaching them to do them when we ask. We are teaching them to respond to c...ues that we give with these behaviours they already know how to do. In other words, training isn’t about teaching our dogs skills. It’s about developing a language that we both understand and can use to communicate. Simply put, training is communication. We’re always talking to them, and they’re always talking to us. But often, we’re not listening to, or understanding each other. Training is building that language so that communication is simple and clear. #positivetraining #dogsportscholars #beyondtheclick

Oh for crying out loud. They’re supposed to be hibernating this time of year! Actually, this one was. Aoife just decided to go visiting in its underground den. *sigh* #delriadaaoife... #quilled #porcupinequills #norestforthewicked #wherearethepliers #bordercolliesofinstagram See more

I’m running my brand new Loopy Listening workshop over at FDSA this week. What’s Loopy Listening? It’s using the concept of Loopy Training to train your eye to better hear your dog’s whispers during training, so they don’t have to shout. What does a shouting dog look like? It looks like barking, biting, spinning, sniffing, quitting, running away and so on. Basically worked up stress high behaviours, or shut down stress low sensitive dog behaviours.... If you struggle with either end of this spectrum (and in some dogs, we see both), then you need to hone your Loopy Listening skills. The workshop is only $29.95. For details and registration, go to: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.p/courses/29846 #positivetraining #loopytraining #loopylistening #whisperdontshout #optimalarousal #successwithsensitivedogs

Phoenix has joined the ranks of my personal guard. For some reason the boys prefer to lie on the hard floor at my feet while I work, to the comfortable beds and furniture all around. The much more practical girls are all happily napping on soft, squashy surfaces. I have to say, this behaviour does make feel loved lol #kynicphoenix... #kynicclayton #kynicgriffon #kynicstockdogs #bordercolliesofinstagram #bordercolliesofontario #devoted See more

Penning without a pen, with Maxine. #kynicstockdogs #workingdog #herdingdog... #workingsheepdog #bordercolliesofinstagram #bordercolliesofontario #workingsheepddog #practicemakesperfect #teamwork See more

I had the privilege of being interviewed on the FDSA podcast about my new workshop, all about Loopy Listening! Loopy Listening is the term I use for learning how to hear our dogs whisper, so they don’t have to shout. Dogs speak in behaviour, and so many of the problem behaviours we encounter in dog sports come form our dogs having to shout at us!... Do you struggle with arousal issues? A dog who shuts down and quits? These are shouting behaviours. Loopy listening will help reduce and even eliminate these behaviours, as once your dog starts to feel heard, he’ll no longer shout to get his message across. Curious to know more? Check out the podcast at https://fenzidogsports.libsyn.com/e192-helene-lawler-loopy- #positivetraining #loopytraining #loopylistening #smarttraining #optimalarousal #successwithsensitivedogs

Someone has decided his new job is to help me with my zoom coaching calls. #kynicclayton #bordercolliesofinstagram #workingdog ... #helpingnothelping See more