Training a sheepdog
So, don't always believe what you read. Low trainablity? Not my puppy girl!!  |
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| How old is Phoebe? 5 months now?
I thought that the old saying was that you didn't start training a puppy until 6 months. Maybe that was just an old wive's tail [sic]. Have you taught her any tricks yet, like shking paws, rolling over, or not counter surfing?  |
| I am glad to hear that your puppy girl is doing so well in obedience classes. I could not agree with you more - I believe that sheepies, in general, are much smarter dogs than most people give them credit for - especially people who look down their noses at the breed. Their loss as far as I am concerned.
Kevin Z. |
| There is no reason to wait until a dog is 6 months old. When I first called the trainer, she said that she likes to start at about 3 1/2 to 4 months old, before bad behavior has a chance to become habit. I started with Phoebe at 3 1/2 months and I am so glad I did. She is really a great dog and as each week goes by she is able to do more and more with our family because she is well behaved. Before training, she walked me down the street - now we enjoy our walks side by side. Before training, she jumped on anyone who looked at her - now she knows that if she sits down first, she will get lots and lots of attention - all positive - instead of constant no's. We enjoy her more and in turn she gets to enjoy more too! |
| I think its great that your pup is working so well... I had some worries about training issues before i purchased my OES pup.. heard things from people about how "stupid"OES's were... and am happy to say that my OES pup is four months.. I have had her for three weeks and she is coming along wonderfully!! !!!
I have used a prong collar with an adult Akita cross(with already ingrained bad habits and aggressive behavior) that I was trying to train. So I am familiar with the prong collar.. and agree that there is a place for it in training.. but I have always been under the ssumption that it is a last resort if nothing else is working.. to get the dogs attention.. .. do you think that it is necessary to be using one on a 5 month puppy?? ?? I worry that when the puppy matures it might be so used to the collar that it doesnt faze him anymore.. and you are left with no higher control alternative if you need?? Have you tried other methods?? I am just concerned. Bailey's mommie |
| Hi!
I have done some research on the prong collar and I disagree that it should only be used as a last resort. Each dog is unique and each have different levels of sensativity. When training, you need to find a collar which lets you give the dog an immediate correction so that it learns what is acceptable and what isn't. Although my pup is young, the nylon choke was having no effect at all - it was like you weren't even using it. I had the biggest problems when going out and walking her. The trainer worked with her and said that she was touch insensative and that a prong collar might work better. It was like night and day. She also explained that this collar isn't for every dog. During one of the sessions an owner tried one on a golden and he "freaked out". For me and my dog it is working out fine. I only have the collar on her during training sessions and walks outside and because it is working so well, I don't think I have to worry about the dog becoming "immune" to it and having problems down the road. On the contrary, our walks have become very pleasant with no pulling so there is no need for correction. I think both of us are much happier! Thanks for your concern - I'll keep you updated. |
| WE HAVE ALSO HEARD ALOT ABOUT AN OES BEING AS ''DUMB AS A STUMP'', HOWEVER, AS YOU'VE SEEN WITH YOUR PUP AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 5 MONTHS AND WE HAVE SEEN WITH OURS THIS IS JUST NOT THE CASE.
O.K. I'LL HAVE TO BRAG A BIT MYSELF, GRACIE 3 MONTHS TODAY IS A JOY. SHE NOW KNOWS DOWN,SIT, STAY (ONLY UP TO ABOUT 15' AND WHEN I'M IN HER SIGHT) AT 9 WEEKS THE BREEDER HAD HER DOING SIT. SHE IS NOW WORKING ON HEEL AND HER FIRST TRAINING WALK DID VERY WELL. POTTY TRAINING IS NOT GOING AS WELL AS EXPECTED BUT I GUESS IT CAN'T ALL BE EASY. HAVE JUST FINISHED READING A GREAT BOOK WE CHECKED OUT AT THE LIBRARY CALLED THE MAGIC OF DOGS BY BILL TARRANT , THIS BOOK WAS TRULY WONDERFUL , INSIGHT ON DOGS THINKING, TRANING, BONDING,ETC. ANYONE TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS WILL BE GLAD THEY DID.[/u] |
| Congratulations on your new baby! I love her name! Maybe we shouldn't tell people how good our dogs are or they'll be a rush of people wanting OES'!! Keep us updated on Gracie, I love to hear stories about other puppies!
Ann |
| yeah that is so neat my sheepie thats 6months old to is smart as any dog she fetches and commands to no and everything people did tell me to that sheep dogs were the dumb dogs too and they are very smart i think they are the smartest of all dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| I think OES are very smart dogs. Our Sebastian is 3 months old today and he can also sit, down, and stand. We taught him to fetch his first day home and now he'll fetch anything - balls, his hedgehog and his favorite duck! Housebreaking is still a little shaky with us, too, though. He can make it through an 8 hour night in his crate with no accidents, but then have 3 accidents in one morning - even after he's been taken out! The vet said that they just grow so fast at this age that they can't always control themselves. Has anyone tried the bell on the door trick to train their OES to go outside?
Heather |
| Let me tell you Pisco didn`t need an obedience course...I have been teaching him every day ...walking, fetching,sitting...and other stuff and let me tell you...everybody keeps asking me where he took the course.
It`s just Mommy love. vero. |
| My dog Little Running Bear (LRB) is also highly intelligent. I laughed reading that others are "counter suffers" as my LRB is a car suffer. He walks around my car looking in the windows and has even climbed on the hood to get out of a down pour that flooded my carport. Not too good on the paint but hey, he stayed dry!
My question is this. Are all OES aggressive? I have a shepard (male) and a chow (female) and he growls at the shepard and has gotten in a couple of scraps with him. He was doing better but here lately has been wanting to fight with him again.He is also very aggressive with any one that is outside me fence. LRB is approximately 19 months. A friend found him when he was just about 2 months old. I fell in love at first sight. He does need obediance training, he is very stubborn and bull headed and sometimes just does what he wants whether I object or not. I'm hoping getting him nuetered will help his attitude. Any advise on calming him down and how to handle him would help. |
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