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.
...

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.
...

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.

Sep 20, 2009

Week 44

Star passed a mile-stone this week. With 60 days of training on sheep under his belt, he has crossed some hurdles and is really starting to come on. He learned a few new lessons this week, and polished his skills as we at last had some cool weather and got back on the big field for a day.

This week's lessons:

  1. Trust me, I know where they are
  2. It's a big ol' world out there
  3. Flanking against all instinct

Here's an excerpt:

At first, he flanked to a point, then tried to reverse instead of going into the tight quarters and tons of pressure from me and the sheep. It only took a bit of encouragement and repeated flank commands from me to get him all the way through, and after that it was easy. Then I made it harder. Once the sheep begin to move away from me from Star's pressure, it's as if he is being squeezed through the hole until he hits a certain point, then shoots out the other side. If he had a thought bubble above his head while doing this, it would read; "Wheeeee!!." There after it became easier to get him to come through, and he did so brilliantly in both directions without the least bit of hesitation. To make it harder, I flanked him through, then stopped him when he was precisely between me and the sheep, and had him drive the ewes away. No problem. Star man was a very good boy today.



No comments: