concrete

I pulled out of a trial this weekend because the weather forecast was in the high 90's and I felt I would be selfish to run my dog and somebody else's sheep in that heat. I would never train at home in these temperature's, I've been training early morning and at dusk for short periods. Evidently I'm in the minority on this and wondered how people felt about trialing in very hot temperatures.

Kevin Brannon

Hi Inez,

I was at Claudia's and it was not my best trial outing, but I learned what I needed to work on. I haven't been to a trial for 7 years and that was a good one to get back into it . Hopefully I make it into the Fogt's trial this summer. The reason I asked though is that there are a few very good trainers close to you and quite a few good trainers. Claudia, Cole Hidey and Lyle Ladd all live in that area. I have learned more from a few hours with a good trainer then from years of reading internet opinions.

I must not have been clear in my post Waffles, I was just talking about excessive barking not behavior problems in dogs in general. I have some very well exercised dogs who would bark at the cats every time they walked by if they thought it was ok, so I don't see a relationship between a lot of exercise and less barking. In other words I think dogs bark regardless of the amount of exercise they have excepting of course extremes where they are to tired for much of anything. This is just my opinion though, I'm not a dog behaviorist and I have nothing other than my own experiences to base this on.

Kevin Brannon

It is a well accepted idea that lack of exercise in dogs leads to behavioral problems...barking being one of them.

There should be a lot of information on this well accepted idea floating around the internet or in reference materials I could pick up at the library. I am always interested in looking at studies and research about canine behavior.C ould you direct me to a few that you are getting your facts from. I don't view most barking as behavior problem, just something I don't want to listen to all the time. So I would like to read more on the subject of barking being a behavior problem also.

I was at a trial in Greenfield this past weekend where you there Inez?

Kevin Brannon

Most of the time excessive barking is an outcome (that is why correcting alone typically does not work) of something else such as lack of exercise, lack of mental stimulation or sometimes too much stimulation.

I have had very good results from firm consistent correction. I usually have anywhere from six to ten dogs in my kennels and they don't bark a whole lot. Usually when people pull in the drive , the sheep get out, they hear a siren or some other out of the ordinary circumstance. A quick "that's enough" ends it.

I haven't found any correlation between exercise and barking. I would be interested in reading your information on barking and exercise. Could you point me to some on line references?

Kevin Brannon

Wasn't Ralph Pulfer's Tweed a merle? He was certainly an excellent dog and was bred.

Kevin

My Belgians park out on their own. They must find it comfortable, I've seen them sleeping parked out e. My horses are work horses I don't show or pull with them.

I think to breed these dogs ethically they would need to do all the DNA test for both breeds and of course do at least two different test for HD. Then if their screening of potential puppy parents was rigid enough I think it would be ok.

Kevin

This was done to the mother of one of my dogs by a well known breeder that had to know what they were doing. I called Patty and asked if you were allowed to change a bitches name after giving birth and she said no but I don't think anything was done about it. I think it's underhanded and the people who do it are well aware of what they are doing. I'm very tempted to say who this person is but think maybe discretion would be the better part of valor in this case.

Kevin

I have a round pen but only use it with horses, it is my opinion that if a dog is old enough to handle training it is old enough to handle corners.

Kevin

Thats bad news about the levamasole. I've been using it with good effect for a few years now.

I agree with Julie and Eillen about shearing. The real secret is in the various holds that smooth the skin and convince the sheep they can't move. The scariest part of learning to shear was when a sheep managed to get free and I was trying to keep it restrained with one hand while not cutting anybody with the shearers in the other.

Kevin

I usually worm by myself with a dog in a corner somewhere and don't bother with hog panels, trim feet the same way. I use a crook for catching sheep never carry one while training.

I have to agree with Becca about Mericks smelling good. I've never gotten the nerve up to drink it though.

Kevin

I've had between 5 and 10 dogs constantly for the last 11 years and I've never seen two dogs hug each other so I'm thinking this is a human behavior we teach a dog to like. I'm not saying dogs don't come to like hugs. I just don't think it's something they actually need.

Kevin

I teach driving pretty much from the start now. Especially with dogs that have a natural tendency to flank around pressure. I've also found that holding sheep off while I put out feed can help a dogs driving by getting them use to holding pressure.

Kevin

As far as working stock goes a sit command is useless while a lie down is very important especially to a beginner.

Kevin

If you give your location I'm sure you will be pointed in the direction of some good breeders.

Kevin

I'm with Marilyn. If they had the dog that short of time and you sold it for over a thousand I'd give some back but if it was a puppy price keep the money for your trouble. I wouldn't do any business with them again.

Kevin

I have taken back 4 dogs in 9 years. One I had an agreement that they could try the dog for a month and it didn't work out so I took it back and later he bought another dog from me. The others I just went and got when the owners didn't want them anymore. I trained and resold three of them and and the other is out in the kennels now in the process of being trained. The only way I would give a refund is if there was a health problem or it was an agreed apon trial period. Giving a refund will not in any way help your business. If the person just didn't like the dog and you give a refund it will just encourage others to not work with a new dog through the break in period and aske for a refund.

I don't sell Border Collies as pets anymore because the nicest, most checked out people still call you one day and say the have to sell Fluffy because he makes Jr sneeze and do I want to buy him back. Then I say I won't buy him back but I'll come get him tomorrow and they always say Ok to that. Retrain the dog, and give some farmer that needs a good hand a deal.

Kevin

Bruce Fogt recommends this method in his book.

Kevin

I use the same method as Bill. I stand on the left side of the ewe with my knees against her chest, grab her lower jaw with my left hand thumb inside her mouth, push her head around against her right side while pushing her butt down with my right hand then just roll her up and back against my legs. Once you get the hang of it it doesn't take a lot of strength. I had back fusion surgery in December and did 20 ewes yesterday. I always roll them so they are on the cheek of the rear hoove I'm trimming and they can't kick it around as much. Never had any trouble with any of the hooves I'm not working on. One other thing I do mine in the barn and stand against a wall and it's easier on my back. Good luck.

Kevin

I have a tri-colored dog listed as black/white on his pedigree also. I don't think it matters all that much because everybody describes their pups differntly when they send in registration papers. There is no actual standard on how to describe the pups that I know of.

Kevin

I believe that I said dogs will act submissive and sensitive to manipulate their owners not fearful. I was not picking on anyone in particular and apologize if I hurt your feelings Kristine. The second definition of manipulate in my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is "to manage or utilize skillfully" and I believe this fits what a Border Collie does when it acts submissive or sensitive to get it's way.

Kevin Brannon

There is a pamphlet on the Border Collie Club site that is called "Living with a Border Collie". It points out that Border Collies will act submissive and sensitive in order to manipulate their owners. I have raised and trained a number of Border Collies for stock work in the last 10 years and have had only one that was truly soft to the point he could barely stand a correction. I have trained a number of dogs that were raised as pets and acting submissive to keep control is a common behavior to them all. I am amazed at the number of sensitive, soft dogs owned by people on this board and propose that most of them are simply manipulating their owners.

Kevin Brannon

I have some field fence with a hot wire across the top to keep the horses from working it down. My meter for my fence only goes up to 5500 volts so my fence carries something more than that. Last week the ram got his horns stuck in the field fence and while trying to get him out of the field fence (an excellent ground by the way) I hit the hot wire with the top of my head. While not as bad as getting shocked in the private bits and pieces it did feel as though a very big man had hit me in the head with a 2x4 and I did drop to my knees in shock. So if you do decide to touch your fence don't do it with the top of your head.

Kevin

P. S. The tin foil hat I was wearing at the time may have added to my discomfort.