Herding training
[Insert tongue FIRMLY into cheek] She doesn't seem to have much of the herding instinct. How do we train that back into her to get her to: 1) Keep the kids in the bathroom until their teeth are brushed? 2) Herd the kids to their bedrooms at bedtime? 3) Keep the kids in the family room until all the toys are picked up? 4) Defend the flock from the predatory Easter peeps have been constantly stalking them this week? Thanks! My wife and I desperately look forward to your advice!!!  |
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| ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, the bad news: instinct is instinct. That's the part of the dog that is hardwired (or not). Meaning you either got it or you don't, and no amount of training can "teach" instinct, only help maximize what is there. That said, it's probably too early to say if Sunny has it or not. You see it when you instinct test a dog. Some may turn on to it right away, Others take some time and need more exposure before it kicks in. Therefor she may simply need more exposure to the kids before she understands what her proper job is. What they sometimes do in herding if a dog is slow to catch on is have the handler herd the sheep (most sheep will yield to human pressure) The thought is that you make the sheep move, dog is right with you seeing sheep move, dog has a primordial flashback to when she was actually expected to work for a living - instead of human working her tail off to support dog in the style to which she has become accustomed - and it somehow involved moving critters and isn't this fun and whoo-peee (sheep scattter to four corners). So I guess the equivalent would be you and your wife making the kids do your bidding, nothing new there, whilst keeping Sunny by your side in hopes that she will catch on and take over your duties for you. Don't count on it  It's much more likely she'll join the fray and offer them cover as they bolt for other parts of the house.
When my nephew was little he could not leave my dogs alone. Fortunately, my OES love kids and are drawn to them like they're some kind of midget miracle being for some mysterious reason. My nephew tested this premise. I think I only had three with me on the visit in question and Mad was maybe a year old, give or take. He had this obsession with walking them, so I'd put a leash on one and he'd trot around the house with the dog in tow. This was generally fine and dandy for the first 15 loops, and then the dog would start giving me "you must be kidding me!" looks, at which point I'd switch her out for another. This kept him occupied for some time. He was so fascinated with all things dog that he had to check out everthing related to them. Including the crate I had for Mad. After he crawled into it, he asked me to latch the door. I think I lost the picture when my last computer crashed, but there was this wonderful photo opp of boy in crate, three sheepdogs standing around crate, staring in at him, at least two of them with big grins on their faces. He took a nap in there. Grandma, dogs and I also took a well deserved nap. When my sister came home she was a little disgusted with us, but I noticed her going online to check out pet supply sites shortly thereafter
Kristine |
| Don't laugh - I have a picture of LeAnne and Lisa as toddlers in a dog crate.
They loved to play in there! |
| Glad I made somebody chuckle!
Other than a need (bordering on an obsessive-compulsive disorder) to know where everybody is inside the house, we really haven't seen any of the typical herding behaviors around kids, even when they are running circles around the house squealing like banshees in pain. Our littlest spent the entire weekend wrapping the spare leash around her neck (yeah yeah, I know, but asking that girl to stay out of trouble is like asking rain not to fall...) pouncing around on all fours and barking. On a more serious note, we can see that now she is getting more peppy that she is the sort that will need good mental stimulation, typical of course. She still has a lot of regular obedience to go that will keep her occupied for a good while, but we'll likely do some non-competitive-amatuerish agility games with her in the yard and park (did this some with our old dog). I've got a copy of "Control Unleashed" on the way too. |
chowderdawg wrote: On a more serious note, we can see that now she is getting more peppy that she is the sort that will need good mental stimulation, typical of course. She still has a lot of regular obedience to go that will keep her occupied for a good while, but we'll likely do some non-competitive-amatuerish agility games with her in the yard and park (did this some with our old dog). I've got a copy of "Control Unleashed" on the way too.
You know, that's wonderful, but why are people insisting on doing non-competitive back yard agility? Not that there is anything wrong with that, but...why not compete at some point? Just curious. WI has two rescues right now that I would prefer go to "working" homes (in my dreams, right? ) I really only wanted that for the one - the other, a three year old...she's just not my idea of an agility dog, a bit too big and almost cumbersome, and I say that as I watch her sail so beautifully over the baby gate on her way to being fed.
She really, but really is a pretty jumper. Obedience prospect anyone? We need more of our dogs out there competing. Don't get me wrong, anything you do with her will be great. But 4H prospect for one of the kids down the line? Something. She sounds like fun. Kristine |
| Dunno...knowing next to nothing about competitive agility, seems like a big time commitment when what I really need is something I can sneak in when the opportunity arises. I could probably be arm twisted into learning more. |
chowderdawg wrote: Dunno...knowing next to nothing about competitive agility, seems like a big time commitment when what I really need is something I can sneak in when the opportunity arises. I could probably be arm twisted into learning more.
It is and it isn't time consuming. All of my training at the moment is when I can sneak it in. Which works best for my dogs, since this kind of training is best broken up into little bits here and there any time I have a few minutes anyway. It can take over your life. Then again, so can most things  Depends how involved you want to get and what you want to accomplish. As I said, there's nothing wrong with not competing. It's a fun game any way you cut it.
You were the second person to comment just recently on training but not wanting to compete, so I was just wondering what the reasoning would be. Where are you located - roughly? Might be nice to go to a trial and see if it appeals. And I think some of the 4H clubs also offer agility now, so if one of the sheep, eh, I mean kids happens to be interested... Just a thought. No pressure
Kristine |
| Salt Lake City area. We were introduced to the idea 10 or so years ago at a Best Friends fund raising event, so I know from that there are local groups (at least there were). They had courses set up at this fundraising fair type thing and folks could try out their dogs. We just took the idea and adapted it to us playing in the backyard and having the dog play on kiddie playgrounds at the park (slides, platforms, etc.). The dog actually thought it was fun and it always impressed folks at the park that our dog would voluntarily run up the playground equipment and go down the slides. Haven't done it for several years because arthritis and age took over. |
| I am not sure about Utah, but MN 4-H has dog agility as one of it's dog project options. (I was a trainer with 4H for 20 yrs - retired after my kids graduated, and still am a judge in obedience and showmanship). In MN, the dog project is the 2nd largest in enrollment numbers (horse is #1). All 3 of my kids were in it, and they all are great dog owners as young adults. |
| Are you in SLC or other areas? There's a Utah Dog Agility discussion groups on Yahoo Pets groups and a Utah Dog events, same place.
Just google "dog agility Utah" and you'll come up with some info. Lucky sheepie to have found your family. The more your dog has to do, the happier they are. Creating a few "agility" items in the back yard is a good start.....small jumps, a tunnel (follow the kids thru the tunnel), etc introduces play concepts. First and foremost, obedience so the dog understands you are in command and when you command they must listen. Too bad no obedience class for kids......maybe you could dress them up in fuzzy coats and pass them off an animals for the classes The down and stay could be invaluable. |
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