I am so pleased to say that we are back on the B I G field, which has been so good for my dogs over the years. Star fared well here as he learned what an outrun really looks like, and how to listen and find sheep that you can't see. I can see his confidence increase with every step of the bigger gathers and longer fetches. He and I both love it here.
This week's lessons
- All ears, or listen and trust me
- Re-setting the outrun odometer
- Drive like you like it
Here's an excerpt:
I let Star unload sheep from the trailer and drive them out into the field for me. I lie him down out of sight of the sheep beside the trailer gate before I open it, and he has to lie there until the sheep come out and I ask him up. This teaches him obedience and to trust me that sheep are not necessarily going to escape when they start away from him. Earlier in his training he would jump to cover when sheep started away from him and I let him go so as not to diminish his enthusiasm or confuse him. When sheepdogs first start training, they're main thought is to get sheep, and if I do not gradually take a dog from "get sheep!!!" to "get sheep when I ask you," I run the risk of souring an otherwise excited youngster that is only doing what hundreds of years of inbred instinct tell him to do. In the beginning I sacrifice obedience for enthusiasm every time.
Happy father's day to all the happy dads. I wish for you an exceptional day.
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