Use of a Stand vs. Lie-Down in Stockwork

[TEC]

Bruce Fogt's "The Working Border Collie" magazine has moved to an online edition. For a time he says that access is free of charge, but that viewing will later be restricted.

 

Several excellent articles are available. I like Bud Boudreau's "Putting a Stand on a Dog". He sees pushiness as a positive feature, that in the long term can make a dog great. Assertiveness/push that results in overflanking or unwanted cutting-out of sheep are gradually dealt with by means of the down ("not to break the dog of a good quality"), which eventually leads to a "steady" command. Over "weeks, months, maybe years" the down and stand commands are used less and less. He puts proper flow and pace into a dog, rather than take push out. Otherwise a dog may lose power, becoming overly command driven or mechanical.

 

Link to "Putting a Stand on a Dog".

 

Boudreau gets a good down which merely requires his one-time command. Only then does he allow the dog to stop in a standing position. If his dog(s) blow-off a stop command, he goes back to consistent use of downs until they are solid again, before returning to the stand. He never settles for a creeping stop.

 

Some time ago, I requested my score of the judge at a break. He graciously took the time to review it with me. He finished with, "Don't take the push out of your dog". I asked whether he saw something I was doing to remove push. His answer was, "No". On further discussion I found that it was a compliment to my dog, and that he was simply cautioning me not to mess-up her boldness. I was perplexed the judge's somewhat back-handed praise didn't tell me what to do in order to obtain more control, while continuing to instill flow, pace and balance.

 

Reading the succinct "Putting a Stand on a Dog" clarified a lot of things for me. I began to implement Boudreau's suggestions last week, and am already seeing good results. I believe my Border Collie has a solid down in her when managing stock (we are getting there); something I was beginning to doubt. She has always been happily obedient off-sheep, and now I am seeing it working stock. Looking forward to further training and work this spring/summer. -- TEC

[GentleLake]

Isn't it great when tings come together and you have that light bulb moment?

 

Hoping things continue to go well and that the results this summer are smashing!

[TEC]

Isn't it great when tings come together and you have that light bulb moment?

 

Hoping things continue to go well and that the results this summer are smashing!

Yes.

 

Thank you, and wish you a great summer, as well. -- TEC

[TEC]

Re: Making a dog big or small.

Had a good experience grazing a friend's ewes and lambs today that hi-lighted the differences between stand, sit and down. This was practical work with about 40 sheep and limited time, therefore decided to put most training on the back-shelf until next session.

I placed Josie in a "sit" at the point between two corrals that I knew the sheep would want to take a right turn. They needed to exit directly from one gate to the entrance of another nearby pen with no detours. I felt that the narrow width she had to cover allowed for a sit, as that position would give her enough notice/presence; more so than a down. Like a trooper, she steadfastly remained in place, hardly shifting her weight as the sheep spilled out, on their own, from one corral across to the other. She understood her job.

Similar situation, but wanted sheep to leave the corral and make a right turn up the hill, rather than go left toward various mischief they could get into. This time put her in a solid stand in order that sheep would take notice, and to allow her to look big to cover/block a wide area. The sheep exited the corral on their own again, and turned in the correct direction, but for some reason bunched-up near a gap in a hedgerow. Three steps (on command, one at a time) convinced them to move through toward the hill. Who knows, maybe the pressure/presence in a stand was a little too much for those sheep, making them nervous to pass through the hedgerow ahead of her? Might try a down next time.

A ewe in the corral had gotten her neck stuck through a cattle panel trying to get at feed. Put Josie in a down at a good distance while I worked the situation. I think my dog understood that the ewe was in distress, and therefore she did not need numerous "get backs" as seems to be usual when I tend to an individual sheep (an issue we are working on). Anyway, I freed her, and looked-up to see she was about to pass near my dog to join her friends in the field. I told Josie to "stay", and darned if that ewe didn't pass within 2-3 feet. Josie just put her ears back, and made no eye contact as that ewe trotted right past. I believe she remained small in respect for that unfortunate ewe.

It was a sunny spring day watching well behaved lambs/ewes graze on the hillside, only requiring a few minor adjustments to keep them in view and together. Relaxing job for both of us.

Before putting the sheep away, I took the opportunity to practice a shed of the entire flock. Got them moving and stretched-out into a column about 3-4 wide, my dog in a down at an appropriate distance across from me. I gave her a short flank in the direction of the flow to get her on her feet and to catch the attention of the rearmost sheep, then called her through. She assertively walked in making her own gap, and turned toward the group I asked of her. I believe my dog, on-her-feet and moving, had significantly more presence than a standing dog or one on the ground. It allowed her to virtually make her own hole.

Today's work reinforced for us the roles that stand, sit and down have, as well as the presence/pressure my Josie can exert standing vs. moving. Nonetheless, our upcoming training sessions are going to emphasize the "down" nearly exclusively in order that I can better depend on it, whenever and wherever .-- Happy Easter, TEC

[Maja]

That article is about my Darine!