herding_guy

Hope Connor is in perfect health very very soon.

WHAT?????? Feeling flat when working with a dog - what, how, who, when????? How could you ever feel flat? Grab that lead, your treat bags, clicker, whatever (oh and the dog of coarse) go to the park and work / play with that dog. Now look at his / her wagging tail, honest eyes, loyal nature and tell me you feel flat. Whenever I feel flat, down, low energy etc etc guess what I do - go work with my dogs. When I spend time with my dogs I lose sense of time, never feel down, never feel how hot or how cold it is - all that is is me and my dog and maybe a few hundred sheep Get into some play time with your charges, make a fool of yourself and have some fun. Your charges need you. Sending you energy vibes through the WWW now. Dave.

Good on you guys! I have seen many dogs returned by farmers because they wouldn't work - most of the time it was the farmer that wasn't allowing the dog to work. Some very good dogs have been lost to poor handlers with high expectations. Keep up the good work. David.

There is one spot left on sunday 29th jan " this Weekend" So anyone that would like to come along Pm me with your Number and i will give you a call. cheers Dave

K9 This is so true, my voice is everything when training and proofing on stock. My second tool is my body posture / positioning. A weak nerved kelpie - how unusual I have two of these - One is a 18month old female who used to run away from sheep and ducks she is now working cattle confidently and winning trials. Another a 5 year old who performs with confidence in front of crowds. Was crowned the Casterton Australian Kelpie Idol for which he sat for photos by the press, pats from strange people and kids, strange people calling him by name and he didn't even flinch. It can be done - prey drive was the key along with patience, perserverence, strong leadership. understanding and reading the dog well. Bring the little guy out to my place we'll get him going and have lots of fun as well.

You noticed! Sorry OT

Does this go for sex drive too? It is all theory though, open for debate.

No, I'm not that smart I'd thought it might generate sum interesting reading though. I'd like to hear of some methods people have used. I always put my energy towards the prey item / lure / stock ignoring the dog and therfore taking all pressure off dog. The dog should always feel that I'm allowing him to join into my game with my prey. I also use a woooshing noise & "geddy geddy geddy" sounds weird but it works. It did for the dog I used it on but I wouldn't describe him as strong nerved. I like that. (where are those purle tights?)

Like every one is different so are dogs and what might be an aversive to one is not to another. A rat trap is of no consequence to me if it meant gaining $1,000 but put 240 volts of electricity as a booby trap and I might think twice about it. I see this all the time when working/training dogs on stock - to some dogs the work (being in drive) is everything and it takes a hell of a lot to condition a stop. Whilst others simple body pressure is enough. Every dog is different and therefore it is important to read the dog. Steve, as for "turning on the nerves of a dog through multiple corrections" would this be the case for a solid nerved type dog and would you bother trying the method on one. Kelpie-i, I know the video and method your talking about and have trained a dog to heel with this method as you know. The method is more like correction/ reward/corection/reward/correction/ reward in quick succession (reward being food) hard to describe in writing. It does help a dog learn to accept correction. What about methods used to keep dogs in drive when they lose prey focus, what do people do? Now back to the kelpie cave.

hope to see you soon Shinji

Oh, is that what the whistle is for....I thought your kettle was boiling No, I guess not and you saw me toned down.

Hey YB - good thread I know I have to work on my time management skills too, my classes always seems to run over time. May I add; The ability to read a dog and handler. The ability to work with what you've got. Passion Experience - loads of.

Hi DOLers. It was great having everyone out on Saturday. Scout loves the work (helping me get everything ready) and I enjoy the great company of people from this forum. Let's organise another early start very soon. Cheers, Dave.

YB - that's a shame we were looking forward to seeing you. Give Connor a lamb shank instead. See you soon. Dave

I'll be up at my normel time of 4am might get a sleep in on Sunday (5 - 6am). YB - sounds good, where is the breeder? - tell me more Saturday. PS please note time of this post - have already taken Scout out for a run.

No memberships required ....this is not an association event - This is herding training (mostly human training, hey Sparty) Pippi - you can come down a little later. Kelpie-i - come on down - I want your dog!

Come out with Sparty,Clover, Pippi, Yogi and KELPIECUDDLES (I'm closer than Lancefield). Let's see if he has what it takes. Dave.

Most dogs respond better to whistles an I can help you with this...not a problem.

No ducks yet but not long now. What time next week? I'll have to come up to your place when you have the VHA day - keep me posted. Dave

Congrats to all that passed - WELL DONE!!! Looking forward to hearing from a couple of the other DOL passes.... Dave HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Looking forward to seeing you guys on the 29th January and with the amount of interest we have had we might have to do one very soon after. Please email me ASAP to book in. Cheers, David.

Vickie, I respect your opinion and agree with you in many areas. You obviously don't agree with ANKC or 3 sheep trialling either as these style of trials really don't simulate real work on a property at all they are just for fun / sport. I rather yard utility trials because these trials simulate real work with more sheep. I don't really care at all for ANKC or 3 sheep trials. I also don't agree with breeding dogs for "looks" and "physical appearance" for showing (some people claim this is cruel and needless) but you dont see me jumping on the breeders community forums declaring how cruel it is. Each to there own. How respected do you think my opinion would be there. Although here your opinion is highly respected. Which says a lot about working dog people I think. A sample of what has been learnt from one of my workshops is this.... this lady came to one of my herding workshops and now has a great appreciation for what work goes into training a herding dog. Thats what it's all about. Out of all the people I have had come to a workshop only 3 are coming regularly to keep training and 2 of these were working bred dogs that are very talented. I wouldn't waste someones time for 12 months that is ludicrous. The dog has talent / instinct or it doesn't. I don't do push button training, I work with instincts only. I'll have to come up to Sydney soon and we can have this discussion over a cool drink...you are always welcome to come down here as well. cheers, David.

NO Vickie, you are not alone, I agree. That's why I give people a safe and controlled environment to learn about, stock, stock flow, canine instincts, natural training, obedience, leadership and to test their dog. If the dog doen't work for one reason or another they can try one of mine. Herding is all about moving stock from point A to point B in a quiet, safe and orderly non stressed manner. No one is going to hurt my sheep! This thread was started to highlight one herding association rule but it stirred a few pots out there. Can I state - I take every dog on face value - IMO and experience there are good and bad in every breed due to environment or genetics. I have seen a poodle, pitbulls, labrador and even a cavalier herd stock in real situations. Some good and some bad but they got the job done. I am a qualified trainer / instructor who has been working with dogs and instincts for 20 years - I can read dogs. From the breeds I have denied due to predatory aggressiveness they have mostly been border collies, Aussie shepards and heelers. Therefore I'm not going to deny someone the oppurtunity because of the breed of their dog. If anyone is going to give herding a try then please, please, please make sure you do it under the guidance and supervision of a qualified trainer / instructor and experienced herding trainer. You do not want to put your dog or other animals at risk. Herding can be dangerous too, especially in the real world with non habituated stock. Cheers, David.

Sunday 29th January it is. :rolleyes: