indi_dog

Thanks I'm pretty excited - take that those two people on the street who called my dog a "city slicker dog"!!!!! I think Vergil says that dogs don't exactly fit into each category - they can be a little of this and a little of that. I've got my fingers crossed for a little bit of "talented dog" too!!! This book really explains a lot though, I like the detailed exercises and what to do when it doesn't work out We're gonna have a go at our HT in August - I'm working hard on calming her down before then as she can do it, and she has done the exercise in the yard before, she just has an attack of the sillies as soon as we enter the yard before she settles down and works. She actually cut my hands up on her leash trying to hold on to her (and believe it or not but it's a vast improvement from a few months ago she actually pulled me over back then)

I'm spreading the word for ya' I'd love to have her, in a heartbeat, but my Border Collie bitch is a cow and generally doesn't like other females

Hey CTD you should read Vergil Holland's Herding Dogs, it's got a little bit on "sticky" dogs. I got my copy from Borders at Highpoint. Indi got her instinct certificate on Sunday which was pretty cool, I just need to calm her down A LOT. If you've read Holland's book, Indi fits the traits of the "Keen Dog" to an absolute T But geez she wears me out.

replied in the wrong thread d*mmit

All Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Awww how's Miss Twiggy doing?

Oh Kristie I just saw this We are so, so sorry, Barks was a sweetheart and will be remembered by many

Ohhh I checked this thread 'cause I thought Twiggy had her forever home... OK, and there's also some really wishful thinking on my part too

hey Jules Use this link: http://www.whereis.com/whereis/directions.do Just type in your address, and the Herding clinics address it will give you a map, directions and an approximate travel time

Awww I love Twiggy, I'd love to do some sheepies herding with her but I don't think my border collie girl would be too impressed I have only just started herding this year, so I'm not familiar with the different clubs yet and how they work... could she be included perhaps in a club newsletter (if they have one)? I will do some googling. She would make one very pretty herding doggy

OMG Joanne - I could not imagine Bear and Pearl fighting, they are bestest buds. If only they could talk. I can't offer any advice, we're a one dog household here, just moral support 'cause I bet it was one big shock :D

She's absolutely beautiful Do you think she would be a good little sheep herder? Probably to early to tell though, just realised she is still a bubba

I think this is a more updated copy of the rules here? http://www.badsa.org.au/ankc_herding_rules.pdf

Minty was a little champion yesterday - even with slightly angry sheepies and lets not forget the agility sheepies

Thanks for all the responses and help guys, we will let you know how we progress Indi frightened a small fluffy roaming around off leash today

I will be there on the Sunday, but Indi's not ready yet so we'll just be watching one of my friends with her dog Goodluck for Saturday CTD

Hey Kavik, I was wondering about that too. My border collie book describes the breed as "not suffering fools lightly". Indi will NOT allow a jumpy, boisterous dog near her without any growls or teeth. However, she does like elderly dogs, or other working dogs because they seem to have the same sort of temperament as her (they will wander up to each other for a sniff, and then go and do their own thing). At Kepala Park, Indi is usually standing apart from the main "pack' of dogs, usually amusing herself by chasing the birds or a ball - or she just hangs with the humans!

I have met Kelpie-i before when we did the Four Paws herding workshop - actually Indi and I go to Kepala Park alot because she likes the lagoon pool I'm mad, I complain when I have to drive anywhere for more than half an hour, but when it comes to any dog related thing I'll happily drive hours Saying that, Kepala Park is only about 35-40 minutes drive away for me. Thanks for explaining the leash tension thing. It's something I'd been wondering about for a while, but I'm no dog behaviourist so it had me stumped. Indi still sometimes surprises me with her reactions to different situations, probably because I am thinking about the problem from a human perspective I imagine

Thanks guys Why does applying tension to the leash or collar put her into "I'm going to snap and growl and lunge" mode instantly? Is it because she knows that I'm going to hold her back anyway, so she can pretend she is a tuff dog and hopefully bluff the other dog into leaving her alone? Unfortunately I think I started this habit, as I used to tense the leash up when meeting a strange dog so that she couldn't get in their face (until it was pointed out to me) So far I've been ignoring the behaviour (ie. not pandering to her when she starts stressing) or when I see the tail go up, I do a u-turn on the spot and walk the other way. If she's still relaxed I ask her to do a "watch" on me too, which she gets rewarded for. It's just depressing that after trying so hard to socialise her from the very start, one experience has thrown it all out of whack. ** and editing to add - if anyone has a good recommendation of a trainer who can help me with this specific problem, then please feel free to recommend away I live about half hour drive west of Melbourne

Indi has been having some issues with strange dogs approaching her, particularly while on the lead. She will not approach a strange dog, really she's not interested in strange dogs - she has always preferred people over dogs any day. However, when a strange dog approaches her, she will go stiff, the tail goes up and the ears go back. If the dog doesn't back off, and starts jumping around and getting in her face, she will eyeball them and snap and try to drive them away. Once they are out of her zone, she settles down and just chills out (completely ignoring the other dog). She is never the instigator. I find that if I pull her leash tight when she's in the "eyeballing" stage, she will start snapping and growling as soon as she feels the leash go tight. Same thing goes if I grab her collar. (therefore I don't do this anymore) She will, however, be quite happy to lie next to, or be close to a strange dog providing it has no interest in her (ie, they can be standing side by side so long as the other dog has no interest in her). She gets along great with dogs that she has known for months, or with dogs who ignore her. She has no issues being with the working kelpies and border collies we do herding with either - I find they are somewhat aloof like her when it comes to other dogs, like they have some sort of mutual understanding going with each other that agrees with Indi. Indi used to be wonderful with other dogs up until she was chased by three very boisterous dogs and cornered. They only wanted to play with her, but she was literally cowering in the corner with the tail between her legs. After that she lost most of her easy going attitude with strange dogs Once she gets to know dogs over a period of time however, she is fine with them. She's great with people though, and will happily approach anyone for a pat. People are always complimenting us on her gentle nature (she is a quiet girl for 19 months) What do you think? Could one incident where she was frightened by dogs have turned her against all strange dogs? Does this sound like a fear based reaction? And yes I will be searching for a trainer to help with this issue too I don't expect her to love every single dog that meets her, I just want her to be able to meet other dogs calmly and without stressing.

I kept my knees together and now I have a whopping bruise on my kneecap They need padding on those sheepies horns. I was nice to the sheepies, I even apologised to them for accidentally stepping on them. Indi had an absolute ball today, it was nice meeting Kodiak and miss Sparkle today too and Kelpie-i and Superminty (hope I got those names right!) I found the stops hard to do, I've been taught to simply say STOP and place the rake in front of the dog, when teaching the dog to stop in the yard, and persist until the dog stops if need be. Today we had to step into the dogs space and kind of make ourselves appear taller and say AHHH, and then when the dog had stopped we say STOP. I'm so used to doing it the other way, it was hard to get out of the habit.

Ohh as much as I really really want rain, I hope it doesn't rain too much tomorrow... And no storms!! Indi isn't stormaphobic but I am Kodiak I will be the one patting the sheepies

Herding!!!! It's fun and dirty and noisy!!! Plus I like chasing Indi around with a rake :p

Ah I see! We weren't with the ducks, I didn't realise the ducks lived there??

Hmmmm well I picked up all of Indi's when I did herding with them last time, so it's wasn't me!!!!!!!