Lil Miss LeiLani Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Hello ! Well we are currently doing Obedience classes with Zorro & also would love to see what sheep herding is about ! If anyone can give me any info on Sheep Herding, and places in Brisbane (pref. West/Sth side - we live at Forest Lake) that would be great. Zorro is currently 7mths old - what age etc is the best for them to start, whats involved etc ? Thanks muchly everyone ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Colin Webster is giving a clinic up there in a couple of weeks. http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...c=104474&hl= He is brilliant at starting a dog. Using his methods have turned by older boy from a raving lunatic on sheep to a dog that is calmer and starting settle. We even worked ducks calmly last weekend. Warning - herding is addictive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsD Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 (edited) Colin is God IMO , but Im not sure if this clinic is suitable for a beginner dog - you can ask Tracey & she will let you know. Tracey also holds lessons down at her place at Chambers Flat, so if you are interested send her a PM. 7 months is fine to start, if you train with Tracey she'll teach you using Colin Webster's method which is really great for the dogs, very calm & positive, no dogs out of control, no running around yelling & smacking the ground with sticks etc. And I agree with Janba - very very addictive . Edited July 10, 2007 by MrsD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Miss LeiLani Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 Sounds good ! I'll get in contact with Tracey. Won't be looking at starting until End August- early September. Zorro will be about 9mths at that stage - and desexed so hopefully a bit more settled ! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Miss LeiLani Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 So what exactly do we do with the dogs when sheep herding ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsD Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 So what exactly do we do with the dogs when sheep herding ?? In what way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Colin is God IMO , I agree. Colin is God. He is also postive and truthful about the dogs. I had just about given up on my older boy, but Colin has helped so much. When I said a while ago that I would be happy just to get the test levels with him Colin said that if I kept on as we are now we would go on to the trial levels, but it would take a lot of work and patience. It is easier to start a dog correctly than to retrain a dog that was started incorrectly. Colin starts a dog of on the lead with you and another handler. You stay in the correct posn in relation to the dog and the sheep while the other person walks behind the dog holding the lead, guiding it into the corrrect posn and stopping making mistakes like rushing and chasing the sheep. I am in front of the sheep and the second person is at the end of the lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Miss LeiLani Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 Well i've never seen it done before so have no idea how it all works!! Thanks Janba - is that your GSD ?? So do the sheep run or do you start off with them walking etc & move up ? Do the BC take to it straight away ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Well i've never seen it done before so have no idea how it all works!!Thanks Janba - is that your GSD ?? So do the sheep run or do you start off with them walking etc & move up ? Do the BC take to it straight away ? The idea is to move them at controlled pace, not running and stressing. The sheep have a pressure point where they will move away from the dog. Where it is depends on a lot of things like how much exposure they have had to dogs, how strong the dog is on sheep, the breed of sheep etc. Some dogs turn onto sheep straight away, some need to see them a few times, some never turn on. You won't know till you try. The pup is a border collie . He is a tricolour and though you can't see in the photo he has a white chest a white under his nose and chin like a goatee and moustache. He is 6 months old today and was 3 1/2 months old in the photo. Their is a thread in the video section that has herding videos in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsD Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Ahhhh sorry C&Z, Janba has explained it pretty well anyway, the idea is to work at a controlled pace & most dogs instinct (especially breeds like kelpies, BC's) is to gather the sheep & bring them back to you. Also as Janba said, some may take some time to switch on to sheep work & some may take to it instantly, but that doesnt mean that the dog will be working perfectly straight away, just that the instinct will be there, they still need alot of teaching & guidance before they can be considered to be working well . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsD Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 He is also postive and truthful about the dogs. I had just about given up on my older boy, but Colin has helped so much. When I said a while ago that I would be happy just to get the test levels with him Colin said that if I kept on as we are now we would go on to the trial levels, but it would take a lot of work and patience. It is easier to start a dog correctly than to retrain a dog that was started incorrectly. Yep ain't that the truth , Im glad I started Colin's method with Jarrah early before he got too many bad habits & I'll be using it on Jonty as well (stubborn toad he is ) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Miss LeiLani Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 Thanks everyone !! Thats great. I think Zorro would really like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Miss LeiLani Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 Janba - looked like a GSD from the back in that pic ! Have you got any more pics? My little man just turned 7mths last week. Don't they grow up quickly ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 (edited) Janba - looked like a GSD from the back in that pic !Have you got any more pics? My little man just turned 7mths last week. Don't they grow up quickly ! I have a lot of pictures of when he was little but not many recent ones. He is usually moving to fast or asleep at the moment They do grow and change quickly at this age. Zorro is gorgeous. I love the dark faces. EFS dork to dark Edited July 10, 2007 by Janba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsD Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 the dork faces. So is that a technical term then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 the dork faces. So is that a technical term then? Typo because I am so used to saying my other BC is a dork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 the dork faces. So is that a technical term then? Typr because I am so used to saying my other BC is a dork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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