Star Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 Very weird conversation at dinner tonight. I've been spending time trying to locate a trainer that's not too far away, and also identifying some trials I'd like to visit, before starting my pup on sheep this fall. When I mentioned this at dinner, my husband said, "No way are we teaching her to herd sheep!" I was nonplussed! I asked him why he thought this would be an issue. He said teaching her to herd sheep is the same as teaching her to boss, and she's already bossy enough. That she'd get more bossy with the kids (actually, she's dropped that behavior) and our other dog if we taught her to herd. I told him I thought teaching her to herd would make her even more compliant and biddable (another opportunity to build a team relationship with your dog). Anyone have some feedback to share that I can pass on? Of course, I mean to do this in a subtle, wear-him-down-until-he-gives-in kind of way (okay, really, I'll ultimately do as I please, but it would please me to have him be supportive). So, looking for arguments FOR herding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 Generally speaking, working with a dog on livestock makes you definitely the person in charge (of the dog). The dog learns to control the stock, but only by your rules, and on your say-so, A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana A Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 If your dog doesn't see you as being charge that will definitely show up in stock work, and if you can address it there, where you hold the cards to everything she wants, then it will help in other areas of her life. Letting her boss sheep won't make her more bossy in general - she is what she is. But she'll learn an appropriate outlet for her bossiness and also that she must stop bossing the sheep around when you say so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donald McCaig Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 Dear Doggers, There is no more off-leash reliable, calm, sophisticated, go-with-you-anywhere dog than a trained sheepdog. Donald McCaig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 ^^What they said. In general, stockdog training will change your relationship with your dog in a positive way. You will become partners. J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsnrs Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 My hubby doesn't like my training and trialing my dogs either. Good luck convincing him to work sheep and cattle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Shepherd Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 My hubby doesn't like my training and trialing my dogs either. Good luck convincing him to work sheep and cattle. Okay, my solution is this: Get your husband to start herding with his very own dog! Thats how I got mine "hooked" He is more addicted to it then I am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyT Posted July 1, 2010 Report Share Posted July 1, 2010 Spouses can be difficult at first. The training really will make your dog a better family member. The unspoken objection may be that the training will change your focus, so stick up for yourself. Penny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted July 1, 2010 Report Share Posted July 1, 2010 My DH used to care. He would get upset when I was gone for weekends with the dogs. But after so many years of dogs and sheep, it's normal to him now. I think he even got so used to having some down time without me or most of the dogs that he looks forward to it now. I can remember when he got totally upset when I brought a dog home without discussing it first. Now he just shakes his head and smiles. Cause we all know if Momma ain't happy no one is happy! My dogs are much better behaved because of stock training. They will respond and work for DH if I'm not standing right next to them. I've even heard him tell his friends that "his dogs are trained to work stock" all his friends think it's cool. Just go slowly and include him in as much as you can (but that doesn't mean taking him to trials). He'll see the happy all over you and the dog and usually can't help but get on board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloria Atwater Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Oooh, boy does hubby have the wrong idea about sheepherding! I can only second and third what others have already said. The most well-behaved, obedient dogs I know are working dogs. They have learned how to walk quietly off leash, to wait at your feet while you talk or fix something, how to sit in the truck even if the door is open and to rest quietly beside you amongst a crowd of other dogs and people. Furthermore, sheepdogging is COMPLETELY about teamwork. The dog is not bossing ANYthing. Everything that dog does is at the behest of the handler. Every whistle, every command, every move the dog makes is directed to instruct the dog how and where to be. If the dog does get "bossy" ... the run goes south and the handler goes home unhappy. Done right, training dogs on sheep make them more responsive to, and respectful of, their owners. There. Print that out for hubby, I dare ya! Cheers ~ Gloria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsnrs Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 If DH would try it more than once he would be great. Dogs just love him in general. He did try it once in the round pen but gets winded. I do plan to attend some trials in the fall but mostly AHBA/ASCA/AKC type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njnovice Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Very weird conversation at dinner tonight. I've been spending time trying to locate a trainer that's not too far away, and also identifying some trials I'd like to visit, before starting my pup on sheep this fall. When I mentioned this at dinner, my husband said, "No way are we teaching her to herd sheep!" I was nonplussed! I asked him why he thought this would be an issue. He said teaching her to herd sheep is the same as teaching her to boss, and she's already bossy enough. That she'd get more bossy with the kids (actually, she's dropped that behavior) and our other dog if we taught her to herd. I told him I thought teaching her to herd would make her even more compliant and biddable (another opportunity to build a team relationship with your dog). Anyone have some feedback to share that I can pass on? Of course, I mean to do this in a subtle, wear-him-down-until-he-gives-in kind of way (okay, really, I'll ultimately do as I please, but it would please me to have him be supportive). So, looking for arguments FOR herding. Well, Mick is definitely a bossy dog. However, I found that getting him on sheep did help him. He LOVED doing it, and it definitely did not affect his behavior in any negative ways. In fact, when I was doing lessons with him, I found that I could tell the difference in his behavior (in a good way) for a few days afterwards. I'm no longer doing lessons with him, but he has become a more civilized member of society over the last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Great replies, everyone. Thanks for taking a moment to put into words what I intuitively know. My great uncle actually had working border collies on his farm until he died. I recall these dogs as absolutely the best behaved ever. Also, the point about my shifting focus is probably not too far off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaderBug Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Gotta love husbands that stand in the way of things you want to do... Good luck breaking him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Posted August 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2010 Star is nearing her first birthday, and the weather should cool in about a month (geez--that long still?!). I think I have found someone who is knowledgeable not too far away from me for a reasonable price. I think I'll just sneak off and give it a try (kind of like, if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound?) Really, I can hardly resist. I know it's not herding, but Star has taken to chasing the sprinklers out back. She runs around to the other side of them and then downs and watches them intently until they come toward her. She does this with the toads on the porch, too. Interestingly, she doesn't mess with sprinklers or toads if I'm not outside with her. I wonder what that means (if anything). I have used these opportunities to teach her "leave it" and "come" under distraction. She always listens to these commands now. So, I think she's ready. Come on cool weather! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.