Midnight Sheepdogs

26/01/2025

My last trial of the winter 24/25 series today. It was also my last trial in the cradle / new handler classes.
Over the summer and the following winter Ice will run in the Novice classes. While Gwen will run in the starter classes this summer and the Nursery classes in the winter.
It's been an amazing experience taking part in these trials and I have Ice to thank for giving me enough confidence to step out there and take part. 💙

23/01/2025

17/01/2025

☀️ 2025 Summer Trial Dates ☀️
We look forward to welcoming everyone along to our summer trials, entries will open beginning of April
🔸️Each day will have an AM and PM trial
🔸️Each trial will have a limit of 35 dogs
🔸️Limited to 2 dogs per handler per trial
🔸️All entries must be placed through the website, through making an account
🔸️ Payments should be paid to the EASS bank ASAP to ensure your place
🔸️Membership is £25 for the year and allows reduced entry fees for trials
Any questions or problems, please email [email protected]
We look forward to seeing you all soon!

13/01/2025

She's dedicated to farm life 💕

13/01/2025

When training isn’t going well, the first instinct is often to try to change your dog.
But the answer is more often found in changing yourself—

Blame is easy.
And handlers often assign responsibility to the wrong source. They may rationalize:
it's limited time (frequency/duration of training sessions)
the sheep
something that happened off the training field
their dog’s innate ability
temperament, or other.
The cause they attribute (often unconsciously), eliminates their accountability.
This includes, “It’s me”, if said with resignation.

Change can be hard.
It can feel frustrating, counterintuitive, messy and almost always requires admitting you’ve made mistakes and need to alter course.
It’s uncomfortable.
But when you’re humble enough to evaluate your mindset, your training method
your commitment to continue learning
and be accountable,
you’ll find the answer is within yourself.

One way to get started is to revisit the challenges you are facing. Evaluate how you can develop to become a better, more intuitive teacher.
View training obstacles as a catalyst to gain knowledge, develop skills, and grow.
Reframe frustration and fear of failure; instead of “I have to change” embrace the opportunity, “I get to change”.

If self discipline is difficult, you need motivation or if a training issue is outside your experience level, recruit help.
With technology, even when you’re unable to travel, you have access to experts and can immerse yourself in knowledge.

When I understood it was my responsibility to honestly assess my dog and change my teaching approach to best match his individual characteristics (including amount and type of eye, excitability, maturity, temperament, self confidence, etc.)
it was a game changer.
Instead of expecting him to figure it out or adapt to my style, I needed to learn how to adjust to him.
While the principles stay the same, the individuality is paramount; for both training and for partnership.
The more I work on myself, the more my dogs improve.
macraeway.com

11/01/2025

A frosty start yesterday morning on the stock checks before heading up to Carlisle.

09/01/2025

08/01/2025

BVA results.

Gwen- scored at 15 months

Hips: 5/8 total 13
Elbows: 0/0

06/01/2025

Black beauties in the snow 🐑❄️