Welcome to The Real Time Canine


My name is Amelia Smith of BorderSmith Kennel and with The Real Time Canine, I am providing training technique for Border Collie Sheepdogs. Beginning with 10 week old Kensmuir Star, I will document his daily lessons in words and pictures every Sunday. Previously subscription based, the complete working journal is now available here every Sunday.
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From the moment I collected Star, his training began and you will be with us every step of the way. Good manners, willingness & confidence are necessary for him to attain my goal to become a useful working sheepdog and successful trial competitor. From the first lessons on manners & socialization to his first exposure to sheep, you will be a part of Star's journey to success.
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After a lifetime with animals, dogs, horses and livestock, I am happy to share my expertise with you. I have found success in sheepdog trials at home and abroad and have trained dogs that went on to find success with others. To learn more about me and my dogs, please visit my BorderSmith website and my BorderSmith Blog! Cheers and thank you very much.

Aug 23, 2009

Week 40

Star man learned a valuable lesson this week about who sets the pace and when to call it a day. It's hot here, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but I make the rules, and all of the decisions. This week's lessons:
  1. Flow and go
  2. When not to brush up

Here's an excerpt:

Star man made a very nice move today. I sent him on a little gather without noticing that the sheep had split. A few were brushed up under a tree about 25 yards behind the others. He started to turn in on the first group when his head swiveled as he noticed the others. Without any help from me, he smoothly kicked himself back out and gathered them all. I almost cried. I get so excited when a youngster's little bulb begins to glow. Today it was all about drive, drive, drive. We cross-drove, drove away, flanked off the pressure and turned the fetch into a cross-drive, drove sheep away after turning the post, flanked beautifully inside and out while driving, and we had fun doing it! There is still a little hesitancy about starting a flank while driving, but it is diminishing each time I work him.

I put Star's name on an entry form this week. I plan to run him at the Canine's and Ewe Trial over New Years. I have no expectation for success, but Star is ready for some experience and this will do wonders for his self-esteem.

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