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Youngster with too much eye


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Hi Bob,

 

We have a 14 month old ( out of Scott Glen lines) that has a lot more eye than any of our other dogs (we have had 8 other BCs); We are having trouble teaching her an outrun as she seems to eye them up and is really slow to go out and around. We are keeping everything small. It is icy and we are only working in a small arena as there isn't anywhere on the farm that has good enough footing for the sheep and dogs.

 

Once we have her going around, circling, finding balance she is quick and keen but when we set her up for an out run she goes out slowly and eyes the sheep at about 8 o clock;

 

If we correct her she goes slower. We've been doing lots of short work, circling, trying to free her up, not letting her stop and eye them. We have about 200 ewes and when we work her on the big flock it is much freer, putting her on just a few really seems to bring out her eye.

 

anything else you can think of? Just much more reinforcement of the circling and keeping her going? is the small arena maybe just reinforcing the eye not allowing her to get out more?

 

Cynthia (and Becca)

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Hi Bob,

 

We have a 14 month old ( out of Scott Glen lines) that has a lot more eye than any of our other dogs (we have had 8 other BCs); We are having trouble teaching her an outrun as she seems to eye them up and is really slow to go out and around. We are keeping everything small. It is icy and we are only working in a small arena as there isn't anywhere on the farm that has good enough footing for the sheep and dogs.

 

Once we have her going around, circling, finding balance she is quick and keen but when we set her up for an out run she goes out slowly and eyes the sheep at about 8 o clock;

 

If we correct her she goes slower. We've been doing lots of short work, circling, trying to free her up, not letting her stop and eye them. We have about 200 ewes and when we work her on the big flock it is much freer, putting her on just a few really seems to bring out her eye.

 

anything else you can think of? Just much more reinforcement of the circling and keeping her going? is the small arena maybe just reinforcing the eye not allowing her to get out more?

 

Cynthia (and Becca)

 

 

Hi guys. I am not much inclined to do any circling other than to teach quick reverse flanks later on in the process. I like to teach the dog to outrun right off the get go and the way I do it is to start in a small field, 1/2 to 1 acre, get between the dog and the sheep, closer to the sheep, step off balance a bit and send the dog. Keep this very short to start with, about 30 yards or so. When the dog is behind the sheep, start backing up so she is bringing the sheep to you and then when she is getting them to you do a little balance work by walking backwards and doing turns and speeding up and slowing down. No commands other than for pace, jus using the ssshhh to start with. Once you have her going and fetching the sheep to you, then you can start putting the flank commands on her when you send her to gather. She will quickly associate these commands with her sides as she is understanding balance now. Use as many sheep as she is comfortable with so that she is not getting locked on to just a few. She is reading that they are going to move and her way of dealing with that is to lock on and stop them from moving or be in a position to stop them from moving. You are right in thinking that this dog must be kept moving so if she starts to slow down when she is doing her outrun give her a very motivated ssshhh! to let her know you want her going out with purpose. If you do the above now and stay between her and the sheep when you send her on the outrun until she is gathering to you properly you eventually will get further from the sheep and closer to the dog when you send her. The idea being that when she is ready, you will send her to gather from your side. Make sure she is gathering properly with you between her and the sheep before you send her from your side. With all the circling that you have done, she is probably not very comfortable being sent to gather from your side. She is used to you being in a balance position all the time so she does not understand the gathering principle yet. It is very important that she learns to find balance at the top when gathering so don't be giving a bunch of commands when she gets there. Let her find the balance point by you moving around at the bottom if you feel she is not in the right place. All you need to control right now is pace and be careful that you don't slow her down too much either. A little bit too much push is 800% better than not enough! Get back to me after you start doing this and let me know if you need any more help.....Good luck....Bob

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Thanks Bob,

 

I'll work on this with her. She does find balance very easily, she fetches (and is a little pushy) but has a very good lie down(probably that eye again);

 

We'll spend some time on little outruns when the footing gets better in the little bigger field

 

I really appreciate your time spent with us!

 

Cynthia

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