Training

Now that I have the round pen up I have been back to training. Last weekend I started with Courtney and Harley. Granted Courtney is worked more often in real chores but she and I have become lax about stopping and sides and slowing down, so, back in the pen where we can work on that.

Harley, on the other hand, needs to work on the whole tamale. Last weekend was the first time in MONTHS that I had her out on sheep. So, she was a little wild to say the least. I had the rams in with her too and this of course doesn't phase her in the least. If they stop and try to press a point, she won't hesitate one iota to grip their muzzles and make them mind. Her lesson lasted about 20 mins before it was time to stop on a good note and leave it for next time.

We worked out again today. Courtney, Ezra and Harley. Ezra hasn't been worked for a while either. Ezra has issues about livestock (sheep/cattle/goats) facing her off and trying to fight her. Needless to say, per her breeding she is not going to take no for an answer and will give as good as she gets, which can get her into trouble on sheep. And since these ewes are a tad smaller and far more aggressive then the larger sheep, war ensues a lot if she presses them too much - especially when they have lambs. She is very good with sheep, mind you, but doesn't take being rammed lightly. She will stare down a ram or ewe from 10 - 15 ft away trying to get them to turn and move were she wants, but sometimes they just don't want to go where she's asking them politely to go and then all hell breaks loose. They ram her, she grips them, I yell at her to back off, they ram her again, she grips again. You get the picture.

So, today I worked Courtney on more finesse work. Stopping, rating, 'out' as in turning away from the stock (relieving pressure and slowing everything down) and moving to the fence line then going in the direction I've asked at a reasonably slow pace. Getting her to walk has always been like pulling teeth. At 10 yrs old we are still working at it. But she was getting it. Since she is in Advanced Sheep/Cattle, working at a slower pace bodes well for that work. Bodes well really for any work. But Aussies, being Aussies, are pushy and like to work up close and personal. Courtney is no different. She'd rather work the cattle pens any day of the week. To her, it's fun.

Ezra was next. Ezra can be very sticky. She has a lot of eye for an Aussie and has a tendency to get stuck in a trance when working ducks for the most part. Hence, one reason we haven't finished her Advanced Duck title. If one breaks off she will not leave it and will work it back to the rest of the group like a cowhorse, or die trying! Sheep can be no better. Today it was getting her to forget about the two rams that were on the other side of the fence (outside the round pen and hanging around just within eye sight) and work the flock that we had in the pen. This I could tell was stressful. She hates having things that are, in her opinion most likely, in disarray. All stock should be together. So, for a while it was the reminding her that we need to forget about those rams and work the ones in front of her. Then it was teaching or reteaching her the 'out' command. One side for dogs is always easier then the other. For her, going to my left (away) is easier for her. She re-learned quickly that as soon as I said 'out' and she turned her head away from the stock, I would say good girl and let her continue on.Otherwise, I would tell her no, out, and block / 'push' her away from the stock until she did. It took a while longer for her to release the pressure on her right (go bye) side. Finally she got it. Timing is everything. And with several good repetitions, we called it for the day.

Harley, the speed demon of her mother in red, took a quite bit longer to work. First it was just getting her to wear down so she would be more responsive to what I wanted. Then we worked on the out, stops, and turning directions, slowing down/rating her stock - which she does well WHEN she has tired herself out; mostly it's my bad. If I worked her more often she would be more responsive quicker, so that is something that I have to do.

But all in all she did well. I could stop her, call her away from the stock, sit her away from the stock and wait until the ewes were more rested before sending her out. After one bonk in the side by the flying rake, she then figured that even though I may be 60 feet away, I could still reinforce my agenda when I wanted to. It was a wake up call and then she started really listening and watching instead of just having her merry good time.

Next weekend I am hoping to get the fields mowed, rest of the fence up and do more training. Alas I do have a wedding to go to so my weekend will be cut short.