So I might be taught the answer to this later on in training since Conan and I have only had 4 lessons... but I was wondering how you train the dog to run a little to the outside of the sheep instead of directly behind them?

Our pen/field is only dirt, no grass, and the sheep kick up A LOT of dust. In fact, Conan will stop sometimes just because he's yacking up dust! I've noticed the other dogs (they've all been herding a while) don't have this problem and it's possibly because they run to the outside of the sheep. Directly behind them, he's right in the middle of everything they kick up. It's really been upsetting me because by the third run he's pretty over it and doesn't have much patience in following the sheep.

I have a vet appt. on Friday just to make sure that there isn't any respiratory issues, and that it is in fact the dust. I can try to use the flag to guide him out to the side a bit, but it's really hard to be in front of the sheep (so he has somewhere to bring them) and behind them (to guide him to the side) at the same time. Any ideas? Thanks so much!

Mark the correct herding position when he happens into it?

Isnt that why you have the staff? Don't you use it to direct them wide?

I try, I'm probably just not very good at it yet since I've only done it three times. We've had four lessons but my boyfriend worked him on one of them because I was sick.

I probably just need more practice. Thanks!

Is there a difference in corgi herding style, as compared to BC or GSD? Could that be part of the reason he follows so closely behind them?

Corgis do have a different style as compared to other herding breeds, just as the BC, GSD, Aussie, etc all have their own styles. I may be wrong but I believe I read a while ago about the Corgi being primarily a driving dog, which would explain him naturally following close and directly behind the stock.

By running to the outside of them, do you mean to the side instead of right behind them?

Yes, Corgis are driving dogs so he does work a lot closer than the BCs. My trainer only has BCs, but in the group lesson with us there is another Corgi and a Corgi mix. One of the reasons I chose to go to her is because she isn't dead set on making every dog herd like a BC. My only concern is that the other Corgi/Corgi mix don't seem to have this problem with coughing up so much dust. That's the main reason we have the vet appt. Friday, to make sure there isn't any other reasons he might be hacking away.

And yes, by running on the outside I mean to the side instead of right behind them. He can still be tight on the sheep but just not directly in the dust the sheep kick up. Does that make sense?

 Quote: Katie Finlay

And yes, by running on the outside I mean to the side instead of right behind them. He can still be tight on the sheep but just not directly in the dust the sheep kick up. Does that make sense?

That makes sense! And if I'm interpreting it right, then I don't think you would want him to be to the side unless you're trying to turn them or change the angle of the direction they're heading in. Remember, the way the dog herds is by working off of the stock's flight zones. If the dog goes to the left then the sheep will head right. If the dog goes to the right then the sheep will head left. Even slight deviations will affect the way the stock respond.

What does your trainer think about the coughing in the dust?

Oh I get it! I must not have understood her. She mentioned being on the sides when turning but also mentioned that he might be couging so much because he's directly behind them. She said normally dogs stop coughing (if they do) after the first few lessons because they learn how to not take it in. But Garrett (boyfriend) said that he wasn't sure if he would ever stop coughing, and she thought he might be right. So I don't really know what else to do about it. Conan has had a history of chest congestion about a year ago. I'm not sure what it was other than chest congestion, and we've since moved to a new vet because our old one didn't really ever give any explanation to any problem (he was sort of the "your dog is sick, give him these meds" guy and we don't like that). We had him on antibiotics and he seemed to get better. He doesn't cough at home though, just when we herd. I really don't know how to keep him from coughing

Well, hopefully it will subside with more experience! Do tell us what the Vet says!