Vickie Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) just wanted to share an experience Yesterday someone who lives near me asked if they could bring a dog over to see if it had potential for agility. I said Ok (but was a touch apprehensive) Dog is a one person dog. Used to be a working cattle dog in the outback. Hasn't done anything for a few years. Doesn't take to other people & has bitten before (people who were warned not to interact with him who thought they knew better) I have always admired this dog from afar, never touched him though. He slinks around his owner just like many working dogs do & obeys commands. Anyway...I was very calm with him & got him sitting for a ball. At first he wouldn't bring it back, but me turning my back a few times & walking off soon changed that and after a couple of mins had him dropping it at my feet. Next we moved to a low jump. I just walked around it & kept him calm. I discovered that, like many working dogs he responded naturally to me applying & releasing pressure. Pretty soon I was able to throw the ball when he took the jump. 10 mins later I was able to get him to take the jump consistently but he wasn't really offering it. We had a break for 5 mins to let him have a think. When we came back, he started offering the jump straight away & was driving over it. Other than the 5 min break, this dog went solidly for 40-50 mins with no sign of tiring. I'm looking forward to our next session. A year or two ago, I would never have attempted this with a dog like this. It has made me realise just how important The experience I have gained over the past couple of years is. Sorry this is long winded & probably a bit boring . I just wanted to share. Edited March 17, 2011 by Vickie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Not boring at all Vickie - it's a good reminder to keep an open mind too and not write a dog off because of preconceptions. I hope you are videoing the sessions at least for your viewing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) No video TSD, but it's not a bad idea. I think the thing is, I was ready to pull the pin if I felt at all uncomfortable. As it turned out, I got so carried away reading the dog that I forgot to be worried. Not a reason for complacency, but it was nice to feel confident in a situation that I never thought I'd feel confident in. The bonus is, I get to make a great dog's life better Edited March 17, 2011 by Vickie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 that's really cool! thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Wonderful, Vickie - what a buzz for you, the owner, and of course the dog. You know, you are so right about the pressure/release thing - it's one of the things I leaaarnt from having the chance to do sheep work with Kirra on a farm - works for the dogs as well as the sheep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 What a great session and a validation of your skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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