PET CONCERNS

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

The outrun is the course the dog takes to get behind the sheep. The correct pattern is like half a pear (Fig. 2). To teach Nell this, I chased the ducks into the pasture. I downed her about 100 feet from them and got up close to them myself. Then I gave her a right or left command to get her to circle around the ducks. I kept her well away from the flock by forcing her out with my fishing pole. As soon as Nell was behind the ducks, I downed her, said "Move up" and let her wear the ducks to me as I walked around the pasture.

It took me a long time to teach Nell the outrun. For nearly two months I kept her off the ducks while getting her to circle one way and then the other around them.

Sept.14:It has been two weeks since I've been able to take Nell to the ducks. I discovered two things: Nell is in heat, and the ducks are setting on eggs. Besides, Richard (my dad) wants me to take the duck pen down for some work he wants to do on the pasture. I'm just reviewing the basics with Nell at this time.

Sept. 24:Yesterday, Pat Welsh came over and said I should try Nell with the sheep!

Before Nell's outrun was as wide as I wanted it, I took her to the sheep. I had her under control around the ducks, and she had gained courage enough not to be put off by a sheep butting her. I had Nell wear the sheep to me, starting with a group of three, the same way she had with the ducks. It was harder with the sheep.

Before sending Nell on her outrun, I said, "Look, Nell, look for the sheep." When I was sure she saw them, I sent her around them. It is very exciting to give the command and watch your dog race off in a wide arc. When she got behind them, I downed her for a moment and then told her, "Move up," so she'd bring the sheep to me.

Driving

Oct. 22:Pat Welsh came over and said Nell's outrun looks good and that she is ready to learn to drive.

Oct. 23:I started Nell on driving today. She moves very slowly and doesn't like doing it.

Driving (herding the sheep away from you) is not natural for a border collie. Its instinct is to bring the sheep to you. I began by chasing a few gentle, slower-moving sheep out into the pasture. I had Nell move straight toward the sheep in front of me instead of going behind them and holding them up to me. She did not like this and moved stubbornly at first, so I praised her a lot and only worked on it a short time each session.

During driving practice, if Nell would start to go around the sheep to bring them to me, I would down her and then tell her, "Move up." I also had her move right and left while driving the sheep to control where the sheep were going.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print