Not for the first time I find myself questioning Grady’s future as a working dog.  Granted, most if not all of his shortcomings are most likely my fault.  But he will be five this spring and I’m wondering if I can rectify what went wrong and bring him around.

Yesterday was his turn for chores.  I took him in off lead, a mistake only from the standpoint that he was more interested in just about everything besides the sheep.  He didn’t push them off me and it was rather like feeding without a dog’s help.  He wouldn’t even look at the sheep, not directly, but skirted around them and avoided them at all costs.  Still, he was excited beyond belief to be going in with me and daily tries to find ways into the pasture.  When the snow was still piled high he clambered up a snow bank and launched his 60 pound self over the fence to come in with me.  Yesterday it wasn’t until we had been in and out several times and I was taking the first load of hay in that he “clicked”.  Bad timing.  But up to that point he really hadn’t shown me anything.

So when do you say a dog just doesn’t have it?  I’m giving Murphy another chance because I let him down.  I think it’s only fair I give Grady another chance because I screwed him up.  But I’m not sure how much of a chance.  Last year he was wishy-washy at best.  The type of dog that truly annoys me, what I term the “slash and burn” dog.  Dives in, does some “work” then darts away.  But I didn’t really work with him all that much and a lot of time in the pen was spent arguing because he didn’t have a down.  Goes back to working on things off stock.  I think it’s either a respect issue or a confusion issue.  Because of who his mother is (Rowan) and who his grandfather was (Duke) I didn’t trust him 100% and came down on him when I shouldn’t have.  So I’ve got my work cut out with this boy.

I only hope we’re both up to it.  This is my year of evaluation, observation and attempting to rectify.  Should make for an interesting year, hey?