Dalria Kennel

12/26/2023

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
You can tell that I didn’t raise Jesse as everyone else knows the drill on how to pose for photos 😂

11/05/2023

This was a wonderful idea put forward by WASH and I was happy to teach others what has been passed down to me over the years. These last few years of owning my own sheep has taught me a wealth of knowledge and skills that have helped me as a handler. This was a fun day of teaching not only about sheep but how that translates to being a better dog handler. The sheep are the star of the show for SDTs so it’s incredibly important to understand them. I’d love to do this type of non dog clinic again!

10/29/2023

Busy day for me with the Gotlands getting sheared today and met their new boyfriend Henrick! Made it to Ellen’s in time for their hair cut appointment and rolled up with a flat tire and no lights on the trailer as the plugs don’t match but hey we made it! 😂
I’ve been promising Jesse I would let her drive sheep on a long line, as this is the first time since her accident with a post, resulting in TPLO surgery, so I wanted her to go easy. These pups are growing up fast but the only one that will hold still and pose for the camera is Rook! He’s a ham 🤩

10/25/2023

Early morning photos with the boys Wisp and Junior

10/25/2023

When it comes to this sport it’s hard to explain the level of difficulty and commitment involved in order to excel at it. It’s the most difficult dog sport you could pick!

One thing I’ve found is that many don’t want solutions when they’re more comfortable with their excuses.

Well that’s ok for them but not for me, because it’s my entire lifestyle. When I started in this sport I was 100% determined even though I lived in suburbia, had no money, and knew nothing about sheep. One way or another I was gonna find a way! Hard work is something I really admire in others and money can’t buy that!
So even if I have to sleep in my car at trials, or put up Craigslist ads to find fields I will try to find a way!

I now live on a farm with access to sheep and that’s something I dreamed about 20 years ago. Now my most difficult thing is to be driven daily to keep training and not lose that enthusiasm I had when I started this 20 years ago. So whenever I hear the words “I can’t” from people I tell them “if it’s important you will find a way”!!
I know I will train hard for that trial and I will walk to that post, no matter the results!! At least I can do that! Come Hell or high water I will go!

10/22/2023

Two friends came for a lesson to work on their dogs not pulling or reacting to new dogs while on leash. Thank you Molli for being our little helper as she doesn’t have any type of reaction to other dogs making this a success! As a young dog Molli herself was very reactive to new people and dogs. She’s grown up a lot this last year ❤️

10/21/2023

I love getting young dogs in for training that I bred. It’s even better when they’re extremely talented too! Dane is owned by Ellen Marie Gradwell and is thrilled to own this big handsome dog who’s a Roy/Flo. He is very much like his Grandfather Cain and I think he will be a nice trial dog that sheep will love!

10/20/2023

Wisp is really turning out to be some dog!! I’m excited to finish his training so we can hit the nursery field!

09/24/2023

I hear this a lot from owners of rescue dogs.

𝗕𝗬 𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘, 𝗗𝗢𝗚𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗

One of the most common myths is that rescue/rehome dogs for example have been hit if they shy away from head pats.

Nope, dogs by large don't actually like being touched on the head by strangers and sometimes even by their humans.

Most dogs who accept head patting simply have learned to tolerate our weird ways. Of course, there are outliers, the more social individuals who love any kind of pat.

If you have a rescue/rehome, they don't need stories of why they do and don't do things, they need, training, leadership (rules & boundaries), consistency & clarity...maybe more so than dogs who grew up in the one home especially at the start of your relationship.

Yes, some dogs have had abusive backgrounds but unless you know what happened, the story doesn’t benefit your dog.

08/31/2023

Terry Mendicino’s Beck has gone from a crazed grippy pup in the round pen to a useful nearly finished nursery dog! He’s from the Flo/Roy litter and has been a blast to train up as he is a fast learner with a lot of class and forward gears. The only issue is that he’s not mine!! 😂

08/16/2023

Hay loading day!

07/09/2023

Seven and I ended up 3rd in the double lift at Sheep Thrillz. We have some work to do but was happy that some of the things we have been working on were improved. We had to work our ass off in the shed but no time for the pen.

06/27/2023

Oh my brain went down the rabbit hole of my handling. Sometimes I have to laugh at the random epiphanies I have and make a TikTok video.

Check out Tierney Graham's video.

05/30/2023

Well my young dogs came through for me today with Molli winning the first round of Nursery with 24 dogs in it, (2nd round wasn’t done when we left). Then Jesse getting second in Pro Novice only beat by Lorri and Hattie. The sheep were more forgiving for this class as the Open dogs ran on them already. It was still a challenge and an interesting field that was partially covered in tall mustard plants. This trial is most definitely a huge challenge for everyone especially the Open round, the range Rambouillet sheep, terrain, weather, and lots of good handlers competing. Big thank you to Geri Byrne who puts on this huge endeavor!! Some handlers I haven’t seen in years so it was fun!

05/07/2023

The beautiful guard dog Hazel 💕

04/27/2023

My 11 month old gaurd dog, Hazel is part cat 🤦🏼‍♀️🙄

04/27/2023

The 3 muppets: Junior, Wisp, Darla. Having three 11 month olds is like trying to cure a headache by hitting your head on a brick wall 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

04/23/2023

Seven and Molli ❤️

04/02/2023

Hazel meets the new babies ❤️

04/02/2023

Found a home

Diesel is looking for a good working home. This is a full brother to my Hazel and raised the same way. New owners do not have time or the knowledge to properly train an LGD and only had him for 3 months. He was born in May so almost a year old and has been raised with livestock. He would do best with a female LGD to teach him the ropes and someone who knows the breed. Obviously any LGD needs good fencing and good management till they are mature and trained.
He is very into his food so is best feeding separately (Hazel is also a food hound but doesn’t steal from others).His mother is GP and his father is GP, Anatolian, Maremma, and a tiny bit Komondor. Was raised with other dogs and has spent time in the house as well.
The breeder is not looking for payment just the right farm for him. So anyone who loves my Hazel should consider this boy! Located near Portland OR. Owner is willing do do a few hours of driving for delivery or meet up.

03/27/2023

I’ve come up with a way for new handlers to get in more whistle practice. it’s difficult for some to remember left and right or stop when learning so in order to get more miles under your belt try this.

Find competitive runs online however turn the sound OFF!
Then whistle your commands as if you are the one handling that dog in the video. If that dog stops or flanks you blow your whistle.

I’ve noticed my novice students only practice either during their lesson or driving in the car and for some this is fine but many need to practice more and some can do the whistles but find it tricky to connect the sound with the direction in their brain.

Oh and best put your dogs away in a crate so they don’t get annoyed with you whistling in the living room 😂