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.

Apr 25, 2010

Week 75

Shedding. Star and I have returned to shedding 101, and there was marked improvement this week. With less and less hesitation, little Star man began to understand the task at hand, and successfully shed off, held and fetched sheep to me. It should't be long now, and I will be able to run him in open.

This week's lessons:
  1. Wait right there
  2. Follow me
  3. And here's the reason

Here's an excerpt:

Ah...improvement. Today Star not only came through more readily, but managed to keep the two groups split on one occasion and fetch quite a ways before I laid him down and let him re-gather all the sheep. Star did some really nice work for me. One mistake I see hands make is expecting their young dogs to hold the shed for too long when training it. The shorter each individual exercise, the less pressure, and less opportunity for error. In the beginning, I only expected Star to come through the hole in whatever manner. Then straight to me. Then I asked him to come in facing the right group. Then come through and lay down in the middle. So today, after he did all that, and had a nice fetch going, I quit while we were ahead. In other words while he was absolutely right, and before something could go wrong like the sheep breaking over top of him, or one hanging back.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

rhodesviki@yahoo.com
I think your site Real Time Canine is spectacular wish i could afford to subscribe...SPECTACULAR!!
My daughter, Nicole Rhodes, editor of Stockdog Magazine, could probably use your knowledge as part of her magazine, or collaborating, or ????

Amelia said...

Hello Viki. I intentionally kept subscription rates low so everyone could participate. I'm so sorry you can't join us. Bartering works for me as well, and I would be happy to consider that with your daughter. Cheers, and thank you for the very nice comment. I appreciate it very much.