Star gained a lot of ground this week as he is very precocious and learns quickly. I have to be oh-so-careful not to ask for too much too soon, as it is easy to do with one so capable. There comes a point in a learning session where a pup can become over-tired mentally, physically, or both. Once that happens, they are complying, not learning and it does them no good at all. This week's lessons:
- Driving
- The inside flank
Here's an excerpt:
After working the other dogs, I started again as I had the first time, with him wearing sheep to me, but when I stopped to let him drive, he kept trying to head them and I worried him trying to keep him on my side of sheep. He became confused. Instead of recognizing that and returning to something he knows and is comfortable with, I switched back to inside flanks, which worried him more. It wasn't until he refused to lie down and kept moving away to avoid me that I realized I had gone too far. At that point I did finally return to something he likes and simply trotted around the field giving him the shush-and-flank letting him have his sheep his way. Ending on a happy note, he got another break while I worked the others.
The first-ever BorderSmith webcast was cut short by technical difficulties. I have them resolved for next time and I sincerely hope you will join us. To be able to instant message your questions, you must sign in, which I hope everyone will. Your participation is definitely the best part.
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