More than Star this week, it was I who was learning, or at least being reminded...again. While correcting another dog that was here for lessons, I noticed the effect on Star who was feeling the tension and fairly unhappy. I kenneled him where he felt safe, toned down my efforts and remembered how much intellingence in Border Collies is tempered with sensitivity. This week's lessons:
- Body language
- I don't like it when you do that
- All is well that ends well
Here is an excerpt:
All is well that ends well and even though Jan's dog started rough, she finished well. By the end of the lesson she was flanking between the fence and the sheep, tucking in the ends and listening beautifully without any desire to chase. I worked Star the next day and he was as keen as ever with no apparent damage done by the tension from the day before. Having said that, I am sure I could create permanent damage if I continued to subject him to tension and going forward I will take precautions to make sure that doesn't happen. I know that my little man is sensitive to pressure and needs encouragement, not intimidation. This week I had a good lesson in that and yet another reminder to be very, very careful with pressure and correction. A little goes a long way with most Border Collies.
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