Jump to content
BC Boards

Before our turn


Guest Blackwatch Border Collies
 Share

Recommended Posts

Guest Blackwatch Border Collies

I hope to hear what others feel is the best practice to do with your partner before its your turn on sheep. Should you drill the dog on downs, make sure he/she is listening to you...or practice calming yourself and centering your thoughts about the course. Not be prepared can be unsettling to your doggie partner also. Which do you do?

Carla

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Pipedream Farm

About 4 runs before mine, I take my dog out to make sure she's empty.

I then put her back in her crate (my dogs get wound up watching).

When it's time to go "on deck" I bring her out on lead correcting her for pulling.

I make sure she doesn't see the sheep go into the exhaust.

We walk to the post lined up with the fetch line (if possible).

Part way to the post I unhook her (depending upon my trust in her to stay with me or at least come back to my side when called).

 

I try very hard to stay calm and go onto the field as if I'm working my dog at home. This is the hardest part for me. The times I've been able to go onto the field just to work my dog are the times we've done our best.

 

Mark

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Blackwatch Border Collies
About 4 runs before mine, I take my dog out to make sure she's empty.

I then put her back in her crate (my dogs get wound up watching).

When it's time to go "on deck" I bring her out on lead correcting her for pulling.

I make sure she doesn't see the sheep go into the exhaust.

We walk to the post lined up with the fetch line (if possible).

Part way to the post I unhook her (depending upon my trust in her to stay with me or at least come back to my side when called).

 

I try very hard to stay calm and go onto the field as if I'm working my dog at home. This is the hardest part for me. The times I've been able to go onto the field just to work my dog are the times we've done our best.

 

Mark

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another thing people like to do a few runs before they are up is to show their dog the sheep being lifted by the preceding dogs. This way the dog in question gets an idea of where the action is going to be. For really big outruns this can be pretty important. Even for smaller outruns with greener dogs, all the excitement and distraction can easily make your dog go to the wrong place unless they clearly know where the sheep are.

 

charlie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Pipedream Farm

Along the same line of thought as Charlie; I try to get on the field (behind the post) after the sheep have been exhausted but before my sheep are brought to the set-out point. That way my dog can see the movement of our sheep. Depending upon the layout of the field and what has happened in the run before you, this may not be possible.

 

Mark

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Blackwatch Border Collies

Thanks for the replys ~ I like the idea of letting the dog see the lift and I like the idea of getting to the post before the set out. I will have an opportunity to try both this weekend. It will be my first time out with this dog and also a long time past passed since I have been at the post. CP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...