Cynthia P

I will just add that my version of a "pet' and yours may differ. When we take dogs in that are pet dogs to train I see the following: *your mileage may differ behaviours I wouldn't tolerate out of my allowed at home dogs such as bursting out of the crate, not crate trained, barking at "things" some softness with a correction; and I am by no means harsh; but confused as to what to do when faced with some choices One of the most annoying things is a dog that although crate trained, isn't used to being in a crate while another one is out and fusses and carries on (your point about them always being with you) Too many interactive games such as fetch and tug; my husbands open dog would play fetch all the time if you let him...and I certainly didn't teach him that. Retreiving logs (and I do mean logs) does get a giggle out of me. I have 3 dogs that live full time with me, one has couch privileges, all of the puppies are raised with quite a bit of access to us in the house. But all of them can be crated if necessary. When grown and training they spend a lot more time than any pet person's dog I know in their kennels or crates. They almost all love to come for car rides to the feed store, or more likely that the car ride might lead to sheep work. No one sleeps on the bed unless it is the mini schnauzer and my husband is away. Don't worry about the pedigree too much, unless it is all sports or show bred; I try not to even look at a pedigree until I decide if I like the dog or not So my advice, if you are asking, is to create a working partner. Let them do some thinking on their own, learn to be off leash, be reliable, quiet when you want them to be; a couch potato if you want. Teach them to tie out to something and not bark. Enjoy them and take them to whatever level of training they and you are capable of Cynthia (and 14 border collies, a huntaway and 2 mini schnauzers...5 white dogs....but who is counting)

Dan, Two exposures is nothing; Both of my husbands open dogs are loose eyed; and he does ok (those would be his words...he has won trials and been in Kingston SDT double lift! They also work over 3500 sheep and does ok...so don't take that as they might not make an open level dog. It takes a lot of training and work to get a dog to open level, far more than a very good farm dog. The finesse is taught and practiced. Hope to see you at some trials coming up. As Donald posted, come see us at www.ontariobordercollieclub.com We have a fun day this sunday near Blackstock Ontario and a trial near Lindsay next month. Good luck and keep at it! Cynthia

We train as long as the footing is good. But windchills and temps below -15C or about 5F make me a bit of a weenie; I figure my dogs need a little break in the winter; Good for them

Thanks! I love watching handlers shed; it shows how they read sheep, how they understand sheep; Good sheep handlers seem to make the shed effortless!

We had an interesting conversation this weekend with Michael gallagher; When people say their dog can't hear their whistles, he points out my husband, who mouth whistles, softly...and his dogs do what he wants at 400 yards. Im pretty sure Preacher and Spec aren't super hearers...just listeners Perhaps all the shouting with whistles isn't teaching them to listen. Thanks Donald, always an enjoyable read

You can teach a leave it command. And train it to leave it, with the wire...that being said, it'll happen at least once! My old giant schnauzer never really did learn about the hot wire. or I guess he kept relearning. Everytime he hit it, he turned around ready to give another dog/person hell for what just happened. The border collies learned early with the electric netting...the worst was Boomer who ran about 2 km away after hitting the wire But doomed describes it! Cynthia

I don't think you should give up on her. I have a bitch with lots of eye and I have learned to work her (with the help of trainers) to bring out the good and minimize the stickiness. It took a while but when she is working well, you wouldn't know she had struggles walking up and flanking to kingdom come (very quickly however). Another friend of mine competes with a dog that couldn't move sheep 4 years ago. She was persistent when others said to give up. Really good trainers will be realistic but will help you train her to be better Cynthia

When they are that age, I usually let them out to potty, but not to play; If he were not to pee when you let him out, than I would have put him right back in. I find that they will whine for a potty break until about 16 weeks. Use your common sense and if you think it has been the right number of hours, he probably has to potty Cynthia

I wish I could help. But then I would need volunteers to take care of my farm. My husband is running for his first time in the finals. Will be cheering from Ontario!

Normal

I start my puppies at 7 weeks in crates (when I breed so by 10 weeks when they go home they are crate trained) Rule of thumb, 1 hour for every month of age. So at 3 months they could stay for 3 hours without a potty break. By 12 weeks mine can go all night without accidents and about 5 hours during the day. Never too early to start with an hour or two. We feed ours in the crates so they love their crates. Start now, when you can and if you need to leave him for longer put him in the pen

Yes...i'm ashamed I always joke that my dogs all have prick ears, just peer pressure from the Giant Schnauzers (i've had 3 giants and 2 minis). But I don't have any Giants left...is that my penance so now i shall have a hound dog

Those big crowds are hard on a dog that doesn't find that "motivating"! Those sheep at Kingston come from an island with about 1500 ewes. The sheep are a composite of Dorset/Coopworth/NC/Rideau I think...no hair sheep, tough, savy and will measure up a dog! Fly did well in the first run without the giant crowd, but probably found it tough in the second go. At 80 acres, the sheep won more than the dogs! Donald, did you leave your crook? One was left near where you had Mr. and Mrs Dog....I think Amanda may have it now Cynthia

One of my puppies in my litter just has very very houndy ears. It takes everything in me not to tape them (as I did have Giant Schnauzers and have taped many an ear). Spec, the dam, has very large prick ears...and I hope that the puppies ears do something other than be a hound....I'll massage and I'll hold him on the ATV and drive into the wind...but taping, i draw the line! When he works well and sheep respect, i'll get over the hound ears...But many a working /trialling friend of mine has looked at him and said...FREE TO A GOOD HOME! So don't think we don't care how they look...we know we are vain, there isn't a reason such as water resistance or drip resistance or hearing at a distance or...... I'll find a picture when i'm not travelling so you all can make fun of him!

Adding salmon oil will help. Also look up a recipe for Satin balls. That has always helped put weight on. Sometimes boys that are 9 months- 2 years are just skinny. Mine are; feeding them more just results in more poop. And remember, most vets see dogs that are not working dogs, and may not be used to the "buff" shape some of our dogs are in. Cynthia