Very nice job! Natural gather and good response to the herder.
Just remember that each time he's exposed to the stock he's going to power up a bit more.

It was interesting to see the progression through the day, Bob. Rather then attempt a nip in the butt, he'd come over to my side. I'd move around to try and encourage him to get back to work, and he'd give me a fantastic heel. HAHAH.

Any suggestions on a command to get him re-interested, when he's taking a snack on sheep-$hit break? The stockman was using 'watch-him' a lot, but I'm afraid that may not work out well once Koenig gets comfortable. Watch Him is what I use before sending him out on a bite... ? Bad news for sheepies?

The herder DEMANDED respect. I really like the guy. Enough where (out of the area) he asked for Koenig's leash, and I handed over my dog for 10 min or so. No one has ever handled him besides me before. It was interesting. He didn't put up with Koe's backtalk.

He is so cute when he is excited. BTW, nice recall under distraction.

Thanks Ram! I actually thought it was a pretty poor recall. For him, at least. Ya like that body slam he give me? Ugh! lol.

Body slams = love.

 Quote: kelly byrd

It was interesting to see the progression through the day, Bob. Rather then attempt a nip in the butt, he'd come over to my side. I'd move around to try and encourage him to get back to work, and he'd give me a fantastic heel. HAHAH.

He was unsure probably of the whole situation and reverting back to what he did know. What do you usually do with him when you encourage him to work? Focus on you and heel work, right? And in heel work you move around so the dog learns how to maintain position.

When raising a dog to be a stock dog, they're pretty much just taught basic manners and a recall to avoid this sort of conflict in their mind - ie, a "what am I supposed to do - focus on the handler and ignore distractions like I've been taught or do something with these creatures, but wait, I was never able to before" thought process.

That's where that type of behavior is coming from. It'll probably take him a couple sessions to get it sorted out in his head.

 Quote:

Any suggestions on a command to get him re-interested, when he's taking a snack on sheep-$hit break? The stockman was using 'watch-him' a lot, but I'm afraid that may not work out well once Koenig gets comfortable. Watch Him is what I use before sending him out on a bite... ? Bad news for sheepies?

Poop eating is very common in new dogs. Its often a sign of stress or that once again the dog is unsure. Short sessions that hold the dogs interest, setting the dog up for success, mild corrections for poop eating ("ack!") followed by verbal encouragement when the dog does focus. Keep in mind the in one session the dog does not yet understand the commands being used, they learn them through repetition and context.

Thanks Mara. One thing the stockman really encourages is not to have a 'training' collar on your dog while at Ewetopia. He said exactly the same thing... you don't want your dog to think OB, or ignore distractions while in the pen with the sheep. A prong collar, or a e-collar, etc could encourage that dog to think OB, rather then try something new.

We did start 'Ack!'ing him on the 2d and 3d runs for poop eating. I didn't expect him to understand the commands, but he really did get the stockmans body language.


Tabatha- you are 100%! Body Slam does = love! It just hurts. lol.

 Quote: kelly byrd

Thanks Mara. One thing the stockman really encourages is not to have a 'training' collar on your dog while at Ewetopia. He said exactly the same thing... you don't want your dog to think OB, or ignore distractions while in the pen with the sheep. A prong collar, or a e-collar, etc could encourage that dog to think OB, rather then try something new.

We did start 'Ack!'ing him on the 2d and 3d runs for poop eating. I didn't expect him to understand the commands, but he really did get the stockmans body language.

You're Welcome

The idea of using any sort of training collar while on sheep is par for the course. There is no need for it, and if there is, your dog doesn't belong around stock. Long drag line are used at times but mostly to help catch a keen young dog in the first few lessons if need be.

Herding is quite different that other dog activities because you're working with the dogs instinct rather than OB. You're putting commands/control on what comes naturally to the dog.
Where you build drive for some activities, you hone it for stock work.

Herding breeds have that flank and gather in their genetics - a well bred BC may go out a gather a whole flock of sheep to you wi9th no training prompting at all. Terriers dive in and kill (or want too), in Labs the drive has been shaped through genetics to retrieve, Pointers point/flush. Maybe a bit simplified, but it's what their genes tell them to do with the "prey".

The puzzle pieces needed for herding also go into play with why the herding breeds want to work with a person - it's also in their genetics. Controling the flock is a team activity, they need to be able to pick up on and respond the the handlers signals in order for it to work.