Jump to content
BC Boards

Young dog busy turning heads


Recommended Posts

Hi Bob,

 

I am still a very newbie at training dogs. I have only trained two dogs and both were just the opposite of my new pup. Both of those dogs were very pleased to go to balance when I started them. Both of them I trained to open. My new pup (11mon) is quite the opposite. He likes to go straight for the heads. It does not matter where I am he is always at the heads. As soon as he turns them he runs around to the heads to turn them.

 

A little bit about my training situation: I have a couple (5) of very dog broke sheep in about 1 acre field. When we start he circles once the heads of those dog broke sheep are away from me he stops and walks in and as soon as they turn he starts circling again. I manage to stop him so that he does not circle right away around them rather pushing them towards me when I back up. Now the problem starts ..

 

When I turn, the heads of the sheep turn with me. He does not see any sense to go around to balance the sheep to me. He wants the heads. I cannot get him to go to the back. I am in-between the sheep and him and sheep are facing me (of course they are dog broke!). I step into him to get him around he just goes to the right and left of me trying to go past me to the heads. I do not get him to go around to balance them to me.

 

If I turn instead of him to get into a sheep sandwich he will come around right away for the heads.

Do you have a suggestion on how I can get this dog to balance sheep to me? Do you start a dog like this differently?

Should I use different sheep? I do have a lot of non dog broke sheep available.

 

Thanks!!

 

Jenny

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Hi Bob,

 

I am still a very newbie at training dogs. I have only trained two dogs and both were just the opposite of my new pup. Both of those dogs were very pleased to go to balance when I started them. Both of them I trained to open. My new pup (11mon) is quite the opposite. He likes to go straight for the heads. It does not matter where I am he is always at the heads. As soon as he turns them he runs around to the heads to turn them.

 

A little bit about my training situation: I have a couple (5) of very dog broke sheep in about 1 acre field. When we start he circles once the heads of those dog broke sheep are away from me he stops and walks in and as soon as they turn he starts circling again. I manage to stop him so that he does not circle right away around them rather pushing them towards me when I back up. Now the problem starts ..

 

When I turn, the heads of the sheep turn with me. He does not see any sense to go around to balance the sheep to me. He wants the heads. I cannot get him to go to the back. I am in-between the sheep and him and sheep are facing me (of course they are dog broke!). I step into him to get him around he just goes to the right and left of me trying to go past me to the heads. I do not get him to go around to balance them to me.

 

If I turn instead of him to get into a sheep sandwich he will come around right away for the heads.

Do you have a suggestion on how I can get this dog to balance sheep to me? Do you start a dog like this differently?

Should I use different sheep? I do have a lot of non dog broke sheep available.

 

Thanks!!

 

Jenny

 

I have to apologise to you for not answering your question right away. Somehow I missed it. Your dog needs to have some good old manners put into him so that he recognizes you are there. Get a good stop on him so that you can control where he is and then start to gather with him after you have control of him. You may have to use a long line for a while to get the stop (lie down) on him but don't go back to gathering until you have it. Just walk him up and down the fence on sheep with a walk up and lie down until you can stop him well. Sounds like he is a strong one who wants to do his own thing right now and he is not much into pleasing you. Once you have control of him he will be easier on you and try to do as you wish. Get back to me when you can stop him on sheep and we'll carry on from there...Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...