Lablover Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Over the last two weeks I have been training an eight month old farm bred kelpie. She will be returned to her owner who lives in suburban home in a few days. The dog was totally untrained, and is very active - what I call a big engine. She has come along very well, but I remain with one concern. Her high pitched excitement yelping. The generally excitement yelping has certainly resolved, but when greatly excited she yips, ie when chasing and not catching/herding one of my very fast athetlic young labradors? I am a working/ field labrador devotee, so may I ask kelpie experts, will they yipping resolve or are farm bred working kelpie's known for such? Suggestions greatly welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Herding types are not quiet, and some have more of a bark than others - some like a bit of bark for working stock. My dogs don't bark when we are working/training/competing (some do) but can be vocal at other times - when they think I have been talking to someone long enough on a walk for example My oldest girl is the worst and has a real piercing quality to her bark, Kaos's is a bit deeper so not so bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) I don't know about kelpies in particular, but I do know a lot of working breeds that squeal when excited... ETA: In most it seems like frustration.. as you say, when they can't catch another dog or if you take another dog out without them, etc. Edited January 6, 2012 by wuffles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Piercing is so a good desciptive word Kavik. She used to do FREQUENTLY, chasing water when hosing, going training, chasing my other dogs, .....any excitement really. Love every working breed...but that YIP!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 I don't know about kelpies in particular, but I do know a lot of working breeds that squeal when excited... So true, far be for me to say my labradors do not bark at training! Amazing what we become "used" to. Noise, what noise????, especially when I am concentrating at training!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Yes yes yes frustration. Thanks, the correct terms escape my brain often. Yesterday I was speaking to a Bomb dog breeder, and I was trying to marry "sharpness" in working labrador traits/behavior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Just another thought, as I sit resting and pondering. Maybe I should simply proof drop further. Not very comfortable barking position. Would she simply yip earlier (in the barking sequence?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedazzledx2 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 My working bred kelpie is noisy when frustrated...being crated while I work another dog will set him off! This is a constant work in progress as I don't like barking dogs! When he is working sheep though he is silent and calm. My previous kelpie girl (station bred) was a barker and I remember many an agility trial where I wished she would just shut up so she could hear my directions!!!! Since her I'm made myself a promise that I wont have barking on the agility field...that is very specific though and I would think easier to train/control than non specific barking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Thankyou for your reply Bedazzled. I would worry MORE if she had no reason to bark. With my labradors I can reward so easily with a retrieve, for example. Can hardly throw a sheep for Tassie - the Kelpie. She so...does not belong is a busy family with children. The owner is experienced in working kelpies, owned quite a few over the years. Tassie has a lot of go. Delightful little dog. Been interesting concentrating on another breed. She sure loves attention and pats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Just another thought, as I sit resting and pondering. Maybe I should simply proof drop further. Not very comfortable barking position. Would she simply yip earlier (in the barking sequence?) My girl can bark till the cows come home in the drop. The only thing that eliminated barking with her was an immediate end to ANY attention I gave her when she started barking- no eye contact, no commands nothing. She wanted attention and even me redirecting the behaviour was achieving her goal. I have a screamer, a grumbler, a yipper, a yodeler, a howler and a woofer. I have to say I dont notice barking much these days, my dogs learnt that it doesn't get them any attention from me, but it doesn't stop them trying to get others to look or yell at them. Nothing better than a well timed 'shut up' to keep my dogs barking...... That said my girl barks before work, but shuts up when I am working her (unless I stuff up then she tells me off) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasha Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 The Kelpies I have had over the years are generally noisy when excited when I am throwing the ball or things with all the dogs. That excited piercing sound you say she makes when chasing I think it common in any breed. Mine do it when chasing rabbits or possums etc. Our friends has terrier that do it when chasing each other or rabbits and things as well. I think is a different excited thing not just a regular happy excited dog sound. Not sure its something you could stop as such as its a chase response. The way to control it is to not let her chase the other dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 the high pitched yip is coupled with prey drive and chasing things around. Working kelpies do bark a lot to move stock, you sure know when there's one on the truck. Will she carry things around in her mouth? I found that can shut them up Conversely start with some training, if she also barks when you are throwing a toy do a little prey control. If she barks and carries on put the toy behind your back and ignore her until she's quiet then immediately throw the ball. Keep repeating you will find the yipping will decrease quite a bit. Then progress to introducing another dog into the equation while she is doing the same thing etc to try and not associate other dogs as herding/prey items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 Thanks again everyone. The dog was reunited with the owner about 2 weeks ago. They report " a very different, obedient and quieter dog ". Phew!!! Training other people dogs is stressful!!! Hey Nekhbet, you mention "drive". Golly bit over discussing "drive". Hours upon hours of speaking to Customs, Bomb and Police dog trainers and breeders. I love high drive dogs, visit mine!!! Not show, very different labradors. Some say, ugly, I say gorgeous!!! Can be a bit over top and their off switch, can be slow, but I love the type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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