We started just with practicing flanks- we are adding verbal cues to Come Bye, and Away. (Aswell as pressure.) She favors one side of course, but Jenny helped us to overcome that today and she was doing both pretty well with both. We were using her Lie Down to help with the flank changes.
With the outrun we started with me close to the sheep, and Brit farther away (maybe 10 or 12 feet from me to start). Using the flank name and pressure to move her. I was a bit nervous until I saw how well she did the first time. Gradually we increased the distance between her and the sheep. I am still in the middle in case I need to step in to push her off. She was a bit sticky to release so I think I will work on that a bit at home- maybe if her Come Bye and Away cues are more solid to her it would help her to understand? Is that a bad idea sheep dog people?
It feels like she is progressing fast- and with each lesson I am more excited to be working her. It is just so cool to see the wheels turning in her head. Today it was hard for her, we made her take flanks she didn't want to, and the outruns (and sticking to balance) was hard on her mentally. But she worked through it and was still eager to go. It is interesting to see her figure things out. I still feel that she knows far more than I do.
Things I learned today:
Sheepherding is not black and white.
Sometimes Lie Down doesn't really mean Lie Down, and some times you have to let the dog make decisions. (i.e flanks)
Sometimes Lie Down does mean Lie Down and I can step through my sheep to put pressure on her to stay put.
Backing Up in a straight line is a talent that does not come naturally to me. I think I need to practice. lol
Letting the dog go the way she wants can be used as a reward.
There's a lot to remember. lol
Things Brit learned today:
Sometimes Lie Down means Lie Down. :)
Some Cats are friendly (Cali, the calico barn cat came out for a visit, and then ran around the sheep like a pro...)
Sheep are the most fun, ever.
PS. I actually said That'll do today. Makes me chuckle just thinking about it. lol
Oh, and I brought along my own photographer this morning. :) Thanks Wendy, they are awesome! These are just a few- you can see the whole gallery here
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| I wasn't joking about the cat. She walked out onto the field like she owned the place... |
6 comments:
awesome shots! She looks so happy! As far as practicing cues for comebye and away at home, nope, dont do it. The cues need to be in respect to her position on the sheep - only. Does that make sense? If you work on the commands/cues at home away from the sheep she will lose the meaning of the command with livestock in the equation. I was told over and over again, never use those commands unless the dog is on sheep. Gosh I hope that makes sense...
BCX4- that makes total sense.. that's why I asked. I meant to ask Jenny today, but forgot. :)
Looks like you all had a great time, well maybe not the sheep:)
Great pictures! Looks like Brit had fun. I sometimes think about trying my dogs on sheep (though I know they will never have the mad skillz a border collie is born with), but then, I see a border collie doing it and think, no, I should just wait until someday when I have the right dog for it.
Brit was a lucky gal the day she met you!
Amanda:
You and your friends take the most awesome photos of your dogs. You capture the essence of whatever emotion each one is experiencing in the moment. I love checking in to your blog to see what you've been up to next. I wish I was as ambitious as you with my cardis, but darn it -- work takes up way too much of what could be puppy playtime!!
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