Archive for the ‘outruns’ Category

STOPPING THE DOG

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

I have been driveling on about the importance of a “flank” to move sheep appropriately.  However, the other element necessary, just as important, is the “stop”.  It’s not for the reason one would surmise.  Stopping the dog does NOT stop sheep, especially if they have a draw to go to.  The stop serves TWO purposes: (1) placement of the dog  and  (2) keeping the dog from doing the WRONG thing.

Remember, the flank is for positioning the dog w/out moving the sheep.  The stop allows the handler to observe the sheep and determine whether the “walk up” in order.  When the dog stops, the sheep will indicate which direction they will go.  This allows the handler to move the dog into another position (if the heads are not facing the direction h. wishes) or tell the dog to move them straight.  One can NOT get a straight line out of sheep w/ a dog in constant motion.  When sheep are being pushed around, they will make every attempt to FLEE.  A good handler wants SETTLED sheep; maleable and compliant to the dog’s pressure.  This absolutely will NOT be achieved w/ a dog in constant motion.

The second reason for the “stop” is to keep the dog from doing the WRONG thing.  So, if h. gives the dog a “go by” command and the dog goes the wrong direction, he can be stopped INSTANTLY before the damage is done.  It helps the dog learn FASTER if he is corrected the MOMENT he takes the incorrect command.  It’s important when training flanks to stop the dog instantly when he goes the wrong way.  DO NOT repeat the flanking command in an attempt to make him change.  JUST STOP HIM.

The stop is necessary for teaching a drive.  Universally, herding dogs want to bend around the sheep, instead of walking straight into them.  How to get the straight “walk up” will be the topic of next blog.

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FLANKS, FLANKS & MORE FLANKS

Friday, May 28th, 2010

I have been droning on and on about the importance of the dog really knowing “right” vs “left” and the distance they should be from the sheep.  Now I am adding “Squaring”.  What are square flanks?  Why important?

The flank is not always a circle.  It is a left or right turn THE DOG MAKES in order to reposition self to advance on the sheep.  When told to “go by” (left) the dog should turn into his left shoulder and go that way.  When told to stop, he should stay at the distance from the sheep and not take three steps toward them.  Same w/ the “Awee” (right) turn.  Everytime the dog takes those fateful steps toward sheep, they move in reaction AWAY from the dog.  Alas, there goes a straight line and the scoring points.  Nearly 100% of the time when I am asked why the sheep are not going straight, it is the flank that caused the problem.  When we square the dog, the sheep go straighter and the line of course is achieved.

This is all going to be so much easier to illustrate WHEN I GET THE CAMERA GOING!  Yes, I purchased a very nice video camera and will be using it to upload the examples of all I describe.  Some of us do better SEEING than reading.

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Outrun training

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Earlier I discussed the importance of “flanks” in your herding training.  They should be wide enough to let the stock know the dog is there but not within the “flight zone” so that the dog can get into proper position to illicit movement desired.

The end result of this is the “Outrun”.

The outrun is a GIANT flank that allows the dog to get around the stock and begin the gather.  Border Collies should have a natural cast to acheive the outrun but other breeds can be trained to do it.  It takes more work, lots of chasing the dog wider but I have seen Aussies, Rotties, Aus. Cattle dogs, GSD, etc go in excess of 100 yds to do the gather.  Having a great outrun will allow the handler and dog go to any trial and do well.  I routinely train my clients and their dogs to prepare for a Border Collie novice trial, even if they are not a BC.

When pushing the dog to go wider, they usually look at their handler as if they are CRAZY.  I mean, seriously WHY so wide???  Frequently the dog is looking WHERE to go, as in a geographical location,  rather than AWAY from the stock.   If there is a hill near the lift point, the dog will not want to go up it or around it.  This is a GREAT opportunity to teach the dogs that terrain is NOT a barrier.  MAKE them go around it.  When you go do a trial with a tree trunk, small hill, rocks, whatever on the outrun path, the dog will not see it as a barrier and go TOWARD the sheep.  From your training, you can indicate to the dog to go AROUND it, thus not getting too close to the stock.  If you have done your FLANK training properly, the dog will know to go wider on the command.

You will NEVER be able to train a good outrun in a fenced, small area.  The dog needs to learn the sheep can GET AWAY.  I start ALL dogs in outrun training in an open field and yet when we first go into an arena, the dog almost always runs too tight.  The fence puts pressure on them and they want to get tighter.  However, it’s so much easier to get them to widen out if they have learned it in the field.

The outrun is the technique needed to get the dog into position for the “lift”.  I will be discussing the importance of the “lift” in the next blog.


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