terrecar

Happy Birthday, beautiful Kit!

Thanks Hooper2. I’ve been keeping an eye on that list as well, because although my Border Collie is clear, my Aussie/Border Collie mix has not been tested yet. Since I believe Aussies have a higher documented incidence of having the MDR1 gene, I was going to have her tested via Wisdom Panel, but the test at the link you provided offers a lower price. Jami74: Moxidectin is on that list, but I’m not suggesting anything can be concluded from that, especially since: ”Higher doses (generally 10-20 times higher than the heartworm prevention dose) have been documented to cause neurological toxicity in dogs with the MDR1 mutation.” And of course you’re using it as a topical.

Maybe you can give me some tips on my cat. I brought a kitten home from the shelter a couple of years ago. She’s lovely, but I haven’t been brave enough to get a tree since.

I wasn’t at all offended by GL’s first paragraph. I’ll leave it at that. I do hope the OP gets something beneficial out of the discussion re: progression of training though. I am personally a linear thinker, so I do best by learning tasks in that manner. Not everyone has the same learning style [ETA: which granted, might be a limitation.] However, that isn’t the entire reason I find shedding intimidating. It has more to do with a fear that the sheep, once separated, will bolt and things will fall apart. Flora & Molly, don’t let my own anxiety about shedding rub off on you. As long as you are working with a competent trainer, you are fine. As Smalahunder suggested, sometimes a task that seems daunting turns out not to be so when you actually do it. That one just happens to be daunting in my own mind. As far as the barking is concerned, you have gotten some good advice. Enjoy the journey! ETA2: Perhaps one of the pieces of the shedding puzzle I am missing is that it should probably be attempted after the sheep are settled.

Lupus is something worth exploring with your vet, as it can also cause lameness. I would follow Nancy’s excellent recommendation to look into TBDs as well. I’d at the very least start with a SNAP test for Heartworm/Lyme/Ehrlichia. I had a dog SNAP-test positive for Lyme who never had any symptoms. So, I went with a Quant C6 test to check levels, as Lyme can do damage to the kidneys [ETA: If left untreated].

That has to be frustrating. Hopefully others will chime in with some ideas.

You might ask your vet if it might just be pano, although I’ve only known that to occur in German Shepherds. It can supposedly occur in any breed. That would not be bad news since it is self-limiting. Here’s some info. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/panosteitis-in-dogs

[ETA: Reading this thread over again, I have to apologize to GentleLake (and the board) for interpreting the last line of her post negatively. I am rarely unkind (I even fretted after posting an insensitive comment about a duplicate post, recently). Thanks, Julie, for helping me see this in a different light.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is such a bizarre comment in a thread about taking a dog to sheep with a trainer, that one has to wonder at the point of it— particularly in light of the fact that it follows a rabbit-trail away from the OP’s specific circumstances. I get and appreciate your comment , Smalahundur. Shedding (though not penning) seems daunting to me, but that is likely because I’m viewing it in the abstract before attempting it. Regarding the quote above, I would like to point out one thing (and this is for fellow novices). The verifiably competent folks on these boards speak often of the importance of finding a good trainer/mentor and, if possible, attending sheepdog trials. For those who don’t yet have sheep, these settings are probably the best way to network and learn; and I dare say they have been the way forward for many on this board. However, books can be very helpful, especially for an issue that you might not be able to think through while on a training field where things can move so fast. Your trainer, not being a mind reader, might not pick up on the origin of your problem. Mr. Fogt’s book addresses a problem I had with beginning to drive; my dog would flank around toward the sheep’s heads-even while I thought I was positioned correctly-because I was not effectively communicating what I wanted. My dog was not wrong to anticipate a walk-about. I was inept at getting her to switch gears. Down time reflecting on a lesson and reading about the specific task can be helpful for the next time you attempt it. Clinics and trials are especially helpful. I wish I had the opportunity to attend more, because they are usually held at farms (and I haven’t seen an idealized and artificial one yet) where there will be people who can steer you in the right direction. For example, I found someone at a clinic who trials at the open level; someone who offers training and would be better suited for me to continue learning Border Collie handling. The trainer I use is suitable for my level and helpful in providing an opportunity to learn sheep (including a much valued opportunity to be present at Ivermectin dosing and hoof trimming). However, she has Aussies. I never would have known about the Border Collie person had I not attended a clinic. To the OP: I am glad you found someone to help you. I hope you learn a lot and have a wonderful time doing so!

@Smalahundur Watching Aled Owen demonstrate the shed with a student and her dog recently was interesting. Seconds before the sheep parted like the Red Sea without either group bolting, I tried hard to perceive the movements that would produce that result. The only question I could think of was, “What just happened?” I kept my mouth shut. ETA: So you’re right. I am not going to get it until I try it (under tutelage, of course). To the OP, I have not taken my Hannah (Aussie/Border Collie mix) to livestock, but we did live on some property with goats for awhile. While she started out barking at them (they were in a large pen), she quickly lost that response once she became more accustomed to them. This might also happen with Molly, although the situation is different.

Vergil Holland’s book is great. I also really like the way “Lessons From a Stockdog: A Training Guide” by Bruce Fogt is organized. The diagrams illustrating tasks are a great help as well. Mr. Fogt’s book is divided into chapters such as “Balance”, “The Outrun” and even “Learning to Walk Backwards” for clumsy newbies like me. The explanations under the chapter headings are clear and accompanied by real life examples and scenarios. This is not a thick book; it is succinct (with elaborations) and well written. The book takes you from beginning training and on to all the things I couldn’t begin to try (shedding!) at this point. I highly recommend it!

Dogs are very attuned to body language, arguably more so than verbal cues. If you pair the “get in” with a body language cue, you can work up to getting your dog to heel straight while remaining silent. For example, I paired a “sit straight” with a look behind my shoulder, then later phased out the verbal cue. So, eventually, when my dog came in crooked, all I had to do is look over my left shoulder and she would straighten her sit at heel. If you practice this often enough you can do it quickly and somewhat surreptitiously. Even better, after awhile my dog would anticipate the body cue and finish straight automatically.

Watch the tinsel and that long, thin ribbon; two things I would make sure a pup doesn’t get into. Intestinal obstruction is bad enough, but stringy items that could be ingested are particularly dangerous. Watch the tin foil. In my experience, there is a lot of tin foil floating around during the holidays. If you discard foil that was used to wrap leftovers, the scent left on the foil (for example greasy turkey breast/skin) is a powerful draw to a pup that might think a trash can raid is in order. An ex-pen (for the tree) is a good idea for keeping the tree cordoned off from all but the most determined pups. For the ball obsessed, thin glass ornaments could pose a problem.

There is a genetic test for DINGS (congenital deafness combined with vestibular dysfunction) in the Doberman Pinscher. Whether or not that mutation (on the PTPRQ gene) has any parallels to vestibular disease in a Border Collie would be a Mark question.

He looks happy. What a pretty boy!

@dumbbird7 Technology moves so quickly! I had always considered myself tech-savvy, having done a little programming in prior employment. But... I grew old and fell behind when MS-DOS became a dinosaur and the new kid on the block was graphical user interface. My most recent problem was disappearing punctuation on my iPad, which seems to have reappeared with an update. No idea. So, I totally get it! Welcome to the boards!