carly

Make coming to you OFTEN a treat-----give her tons of praise and sit on the ground with her, petting as praising. Every time you take her outside make this happen. Make sure she has ONE command that brings her in to you......this way she will know you mean business about coming in. Then praise, praise, praise. I like to not use food, just praise. Don't try to leash her right away, just get her used to coming in. Then after awhile covertly leash her and praise, praise praise her........then unleash her. Repeat this a lot. You must make this fun for her as something she wants to do for the love and raise. I had a dog I was trainignthat had this habit and she responded well to this. The other day my neighbor's Chow got away from her while I was outside playing with Jake. She was following behind the dog, calling her and using all kinds of voices......the dog was getting further away from her. I saw this and knew that dog neeeded to be brought home asap. I told her to stop and stand still ( put the owner on a down-stay) and walked up the sidewalk a little till I could see the dog disappearing around the corner. I called her name and said "Come Back, _____" She immediately turned and came right for me, and I grabbed her for the owner. Apparently the dog does this a lot......but now the owner has learned how to get her to return. I gave her some other pointers also. Raining here and I have a meeting to go to.... Have a great day, all!

Jake did very well at Susan's today! We arrived a little early and got to see her work with another dog, and then Jake had his turn. This is a dog that I had suspected had been on sheep before, and from what we can determine, he has been. We put him in the small ring with 3 sheep and Susan began to try him out......at first he was a little playful; tail up and wagging, then after a few moments he began to focus and work. He did very well, turning the sheep and staying back just right. No nipping. Me, on the other hand, had a bit of a problem listening to our trainer, but I caught on........and began to work himn as she explained to me about what I was doing and why. It was fun, enlightening and work!! Jake has been on sheep, and she said she would try him in a Junior trial in January. After thinking it over we have decided to let Jake stay a happy (working) pet here with us. We excercise him several hours a day, walk him all around town at night, and generally play frisbee and do commands all day. I am an obiedence trainer so he is getting his commands and is well trained. I am also a fiber artist and do several fiber festivals a year in several different states...and cannot run a shop and do dog trials at the same time! Imagine that! I also wash my fleeces, dye them, card and blend colors and spin the yarn-and I hand knit all the wearable art I sell, so that alone is a full time thing. I need a clone!! Anyway, we are happy to know that Jake does know sheep, and that he is as happy here with us as he is working. I would never keep an active breed as a BC inside all day not moving. Thanks to you all, I am going to keep up with this board for the fun of it....... Carly, kept by Jake

We are looking forward to seeing Sudan tomorrow---and will let you all know the results.. We are excited tosee what he knows! Carly

Hi all, and thanks! I have found Susan Rhodes in Berryville to look at Jake-thanks to several emails to me from a bunch of you here. I called her last night and she is going to see Jake and Bill & I Tuesday morning (tomorrow) to evaluate him. After speaking with her about him, she seems to think he may have been on sheep before I got him last spring. Anyway, she will put him with some sheep and we willl see what happens. I am very much looking forward to seeing what this dog knows and can do. Would love to get him into trials if he is ok...... Thanks again to everyone who responded to my post.....I will let you all know what happens with Jake......now tell me how to get his pic up here for you all to see!! Carly

Hi everyone----- I have a BC that I rescued from an animal shelter in Virginia last March (2004) He is a male, found un-nuetured but was altered at the shelter. When I got him home, I began working with him on the acre I have teaching him a few commands.....I quickly realized that he knew most all verbale commands, and responds to human mouth whistles.....he is quick, fast and NEEDS to work, and I do work him out several hours a day.... I decided to teach him "That'll do" one day and the first time I said it, he went ot the house! I know this dog has been trained before, but have no clue where he came from. He was a Facquier County, Va shelter rescue. I really want to work him, but have no sheep, although I am a spinner, and fiber artist. I would also like to have him evaluated by a handler. Is there anyone out there who can steer me to a good handler near Mt. Jackson, Va, whcih is in the central part of the Shenandoah mountians? I can be reached at starrynights0@excite.com Thanks, all! Carly