red russel

You don't want to miss these two trials! Come on up and stay awhile in the Pacific Northwest. Best time of year to be here. Lacamas Valley SDT: August 14 - 17. www.lvsdt.com a run from 2012: https://vimeo.com/53825311 Vashon Sheepdog Classic: August 22 - 25. http://www.vashonsheepdogclassic.com a run from 2013: https://vimeo.com/74607364 For a look at everything going on this summer up in our neck of the woods: http://www.wastockdoghandlers.org/#!coming-trials/cq56 dave

love your choice of music!

I hope, in addition to your efforts here, you are seeking out professional help. We work with reactive, human, and dog aggressive dogs on a regular basis. We have a class called Reactive Rover. I'm sure there is someone in your area that provides the same services.

and here we go...

Hmmm... Funny. Nothing came up for it in google for me. TNTBAA is an acronym I posted last March to facebook as my new stockdog training methodology. Easiest to just paste the post here: I have had the privilege of working with Scott Glen, Kathy Knox, Jack Knox, Joe Haynes, Karen Child, Dianne Deal, Don Helsley, Alasdair MacRae, Patrick Shannahan, Faansie Basson, Norm Close... not bragging... just laying the foundation of the help that I have so desperately needed. After a number of years I been able to distill all of that wisdom, experience, and knowledge down to a simple new training methodology I am willing to give away for free to all of my fellow inexperienced colleagues. I refer to as the "TNTBAA" method of sheep dog training. "Try Not to Be An Ass" While simple for most, some of us really struggle. My dogs are showing great appreciation for the effort.

it can be a struggle for me as well as i can get frustrated quickly with tourists but i'm trying to grow and be better. and yes. TNTBAA!

When tourists land in an unfamiliar country it is not uncommon for them to say or do things from ignorance or misunderstanding that offend or tread on tribal tradition or beliefs. The natives can herald these unfortunate instances to the highest hall making painstaking point with no uncertainty or, as happens in some countries, show a bit of grace and welcome the tourist with open mind and guiding hand. There are those tourists that insist on coming to a new country and trashing about with aimless conviction and little care for native culture and viewpoint... I am all for boiling them with vegetables and having them for dinner... but I vote for grace for at least the first visit or two. dave

What Lynn said. By the time you see it here often it will be too late. If you really want to attend a clinic you will have to be proactive and seek them out. There are many regional organizations which post clinics as well but I would ask your mentors or folks you respect in your communities to get you pointed in the right direction. http://www.wastockdoghandlers.org/clinics.html http://www.norcalsheepdog.org/events/ http://www.usbcha.com/assoc/local_asns.html dave

i don't hesitate to take one of my seasoned dogs back into the round pen for a quick spin. sometimes just to give them something a bit different to do or to work on something in particular at hand.

https://vimeo.com/82479582 https://vimeo.com/82593825 https://vimeo.com/82605286 dave

60 - 80 feet across is a good size. enough room that the fence doesn't feel like too much pressure and there is room for you to back off your dog to release pressure. small enough that you can get your dog's attention and the stock can't run off.

So you are going to spend just shy of $20,000 on a dog you adopted based on vet recommendations... I'd be looking quick for another vet. And just to echo others... I had a 10 month pup that was hit by a car and had to have a rear leg amputated. The next year he and I were working on a wagon train where he was on foot for about 15 miles a day. He did great. Not my business to tell you how to spend your money but If I were you and had those funds available and was bound and determined to spend them I might get the amputation, have a lovely dog that was going to live a full and wonderful life and take the $18,000 or so left over and donate it to local rescues. Help a lot more dogs that way. dave

Jumpin... yes. wrong spot, wrong angle, trainer in wrong position, lack of release of pressure. yes. also, when you audited Jack, did you see him direct pressure to a specific body part or did you see him correcting the fact that the dog was in the wrong place... correct the wrong, let the dog figure it out. and not always but I think if you put pressure in front of the dog you may well just stop him. dave

I completely buy that I can be ambiguous and vague. I'm also suggesting there are outliers for every species. This one is wired a bit differently... as are more than a few from his lines. Sound sensitive, worried, insecure, can move anything but will be moved by nothing. Completely agree this is not the norm but also understand that not all dogs are the same. dave

you clearly don't understand your new path... it isn't one or two... it is one or five. think of M&M's

I have one absolutely like that. Who is your dog out of? It is often innate... just as somebody running at you will usually make you move... doesn't take much teaching or experience to figure that out.... but my dog doesn't get it. I have been able to, with a lot of work, help my dog understand pressure and what I'm expecting when I apply it. But then... too much pressure and he gets his feelings hurt and the lesson is lost. A dance we do together. One of the things that can make this form of communication completely unsuccessful and really screw up a dog is that folks often forget dogs aren't learning from the application of pressure... but from the release of pressure. And... as with most things in life, timing is everything. right timing and the communication is succinct and crystal clear. wrong timing, even by just a little bit, and the communication is vague, ambiguous and ineffective. Or worse yet, is teaching your dog something unintended. An example is when folks are attempting to get their dog to give to pressure on a flank or outrun. Often instead of getting the shape they are looking for they end up with a dog that just runs the same trajectory faster. Personally have been there done that. I would HIGHLY suggest a clinic with either Jack or Kathy Knox. Whether they are successful helping you straighten your dog out or not you will very much understand the effective and appropriate application of pressure. dave olympia, wa

as with all stereotypes, there is usually at least a bit of truth to them but... yes. from an activity perspective it sounds like you are set. I think another question which is oft times overlooked is "do i have the personality or character traits that will match up well with a Border Collie?" The answer for me was no... but i didn't know what i didn't know and so wasn't smart enough to not get a Border Collie... or 5. So they, along with my wife are continually outsmarting me into submission. I have had to become a nicer person, softer, more patient, more communicative... it is killing me i wanna tell ya! dave

You have your work ahead of you! i do too... I have 100's of runs on tape for a camera that is no longer operable. getting the camera replaced or fixed is one thing... watching all the runs to see which ones are worthy, another... then capturing them digitally... ugh. who are you working with as a mentor?

Glad she enjoyed them. I'll have the int'l sheds from Soldier Hollow up as soon as I can. dave

sheep

I am not claiming to be an expert on the international shed. Tip and I work on it at home with some success and have attempted it in a double lift final with very little. That said, at the basic level it isn't really that much different than a regular shed... lining out your 5 sheep, letting 3 pass, then closing the gate on the last two. With the international shed it is just done numerous times. Add a lot of strategy, experience and a bit of luck and, Bob's your Uncle, you have a shed.. I think dogs get it. Tip gets it. He knows what we are doing... he knows we are going to let some sheep pass before we close the gate. Taking the handler/dog communication to another level happens when your dog gets which ones you don't want to let pass. watch the regular shedding video again... Faansie's shed and the single I did with Tip show the closing gate with escaping sheep pretty well. A similar circumstance is the set out. Dogs hold sheep until another dog comes to take them away. The set out dog has to be willing for his sheep to "escape." dave

probably a horrible dog that will amount to no good i tell ya. will most probably have criminal intent and no instinct a'tall. for a small fee i'll be gracious enough to take the little termite off ye hands. most probably be doin ye a favor... ah please don't tank me... it be me civic duty and a blessing to us all.

Tell your mentor your dog ate your homework!

Four sheds. Scott Glen with Don and June, Suzy Applegate with Buzz, and Jack Knox with Jim. https://vimeo.com/81124566

Bordercolliesinaction.com https://www.bordercolliesinaction.com/shopexd.asp?id=356