It seems like every time a stranger approaches me while I'm out training my dogs, they make some comment along the lines of "yeah, well my mutt is just a pet, he doesn't need all that fancy stuff."Why is basic obedience vitally important to any dog? Tonight while making dinner, I dropped a bottle of Thyme. It shattered (who knew those things were still made from real glass) and broken glass and dried thyme were all over the kitchen. I was able to call Buddy and Diva away from the mess and put them in another room while cleaning it up. Buddy got one good lick of the thyme, but came when called. Half an hour later, I'm taking a cookie sheet full of bacon out of the oven, and the bacon grease spilled onto my kitchen floor mat. Not only was I able to call both dogs away from bacon, I was able to put them both in a down-stay while I cleaned up the mess. I won't say that Diva isn't in there right now investigating the kitchen floor on a molecular level. But basic obedience got them out two very dangerous situations. True, a less clumsy owner might help a little, too.;)Just for some eye candy and because I'm really proud, here are a couple of photos of Buddy from a herding trial two weeks ago. We got a career-high 92.5 out of 100 points!This is called the Lift...where the dog first makes contact with the sheep.This is the re-pen. The dog has to hold the sheep away from the gate while the handler opens it, then put the sheep away.

Maybe next time respond with:"How'd it work with your kids?"

"Stuff happens" - a dog slips its collar. Goes out an opened door. Runs toward a car they recognize. IMO - a good obedience class can stop the potentially-awful ending to these scenarios.I called Jack, my Cattle Dog off a young rabbit stuck in our chain-link fence: it was squealing in terror (only fuels that prey drive) and I told Jack to "leave it" and he walked away. The rabbit lived to do stupid things another day; *I* didn't have to witness the gore of a kill - and Jack got a nice doggie treat for being such a good boy. But it all goes back to good obedience.

Great pictures!!! You know we just can't plan every detail in our lives, some stuff has to happen and I'd say the training worked out well for you.

corgi-traveler wrote:The dog has to hold the sheep away from the gate while the handler opens it, then put the sheep away.You mean the dog has to hold the sheep back because they want to go into the pen????:hI wish our flock was like that when we want them to go into the barn. My wife has had to use all three of her dogs to get the flock into the barn so she can sort off the ewes/mothers of the lambs being weaned.Manners/obedience are very important for all dogs to learn.

BCSnob wrote:You mean the dog has to hold the sheep back because they want to go into the pen????:hI wish our flock was like that when we want them to go into the barn. My wife has had to use all three of her dogs to get the flock into the barn so she can sort off the ewes/mothers of the lambs being weaned.Manners/obedience are very important for all dogs to learn.Yes, the final re-pen of the A-course is into the exhaust, and the sheep know that all their pals are back there behind that gate. At many facilities, including the one where these photos were taken, the exhaust gate is also the set-out gate, so the sheep really know that it's there. It's a very heavy draw, so it really does test the dog's ability to hold the stock. It's also where the sheep want to escape to during most of the run, especially when taking them OUT of the pen that is out on the course, especially since they are usually in a straight line with each other. The crossdrive can have problems with this draw too, since in an arena course they are pretty close together. It can be as close as 50 feet or so from the far edge of the panel on the left, as shown here. I think this arena has it more like 60 feet or so, but it's still pretty close!(Yes, at the Started level the handler is allowed to pass through the center line panels as shown. Next year when we move up, handler has to go directly from the Hold Pen down to the exhaust gate)

A case for basic trianing | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
May 16, 2013
corgi-traveler wrote:

One of our exercises is scent discrimination of metal articles. In competition we use a set of metal dumbbells, but every summer when we do a demo for "story hour" at the local library, I substitute soda cans. I will scent a Pepsi can, place it in amongst5 or 6 Coke cans, and tell the kids that Pippin is going to make the right decision ;)

LOL!! Now that's cute!!

I guess when I say my dogs don't do tricks, I mean the routine "speak/sit up/shake hands" type things. But they know gobs of words - I can say "let me see your paw" and I'll get one. The best one was Ike who had a HUGE vocabulary (and long fur) - so once in a while, he'd come to the door with an embarrassed face (yes, he could look that way) and I'd ask "do you have poop on your butt?" and he'd turn around for an inspection for "dingleberries"...LOL!! Granted, not a trick - but really helpful before he walked into the house and sat down!
corgi-traveler
Explorer
May 16, 2013
BCSnob wrote:
When they are puppies we teach our dogs tricks, not for the sake of the trick but for working on the bond between us and them and to teach them how to take instruction. Once they are old enough for herding instruction we no longer have time for tricks.

Exactly! We teach a couple of silly little things, a paw touch and a nose touch, not for trick's sake, but as a sort of kindergarten way of preparing the brain to learn. Also, years later while under the stress of competition, I can ask the dog for that paw touch, and it becomes a great confidence builder "Hey, I know this, it's easy! Everything is going to be OK"

That said, a couple of our competition exercises can easily be dressed up to look like tricks when we do demos at libraries, senior centers, etc.

One of our exercises is scent discrimination of metal articles. In competition we use a set of metal dumbbells, but every summer when we do a demo for "story hour" at the local library, I substitute soda cans. I will scent a Pepsi can, place it in amongst5 or 6 Coke cans, and tell the kids that Pippin is going to make the right decision ;)
Bonefish
Explorer
May 15, 2013
I had a man bring his 120 lb dog to say hello to my 7 lb dog. Tried to warn him not to come near us. But, that did not stop him it only scared my dog to come out of her harness as she is backing away and started running in the KOA that was on 2 main roads. I was lucky that she has learned the word "treat" to come back to me at the camper door or truck.

I do not like it when parents let the kids come up to pet my dogs either. No they might not bite or they could. Mine are not around small children all the time. If they ask I will let them pet only my toy fox terrier, she is a friendly visitor with a nuring home and things with wheels, canes & other items do not frighten her. The other two a rat terrier & pug/terrier mix not really comfortable around things that make sounds.

I need to make a copy of that poster for a Tee-shirt too!

Sharon
BCSnob
Explorer
May 15, 2013
When they are puppies we teach our dogs tricks, not for the sake of the trick but for working on the bond between us and them and to teach them how to take instruction. Once they are old enough for herding instruction we no longer have time for tricks.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
May 15, 2013
silvercorvette wrote:
I am not into teaching trick, if I going to spend time I teach them something useful.

Yay! Another one! My dogs don't do tricks, either. But if Jimmy comes running up and clearly wants something, I can say "show me" and he'll take me to the "problem".
silvercorvette
Explorer
May 15, 2013
I am not into teaching trick, if I going to spend time I teach them something useful. WhenI put down food the dogs sit and wait till O say OK. sometimes I point to the female first an say OK she goes to the dish and the male waits for OK and vice versa with the male. When the go out they sit at the door and wait for the leash they are not allowed out or in till I say OK
BCSnob
Explorer
May 13, 2013
While parallel to Buddy you can use a here command to bring him back to the line to avoid drifting around the other side to their heads. Then use a "there" when he is back to where he should be behind the sheep.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
May 10, 2013
corgi-traveler wrote:
Buddy and I still have a lot of arguements along the line of "No! I don't want the sheep, stop trying to fetch them to me!" And his response is "ignore those flank commands because Mom is obviously an idiot who can't see that the sheep are escaping and I must catch their heads and bring them back to her!"

ROFLMAO!!!!!!! Back to the "herders are the Einsteins of the Dog World"....CLEARLY you don't understand the problem....LOL!!!!!
corgi-traveler
Explorer
May 10, 2013
BCSnob wrote:
I find the dogs like cross-driving better than the drive away (they can see the handler). The hard part for the dog is making the turn onto the cross-drive and then not fighting that line (they are used to bringing the sheep back); the handler has the harder part in learning how to "see" the line. Try driving with Buddy while walking off to his side (about 20') and then work on his flanks with you off to his side.

Thanks, we will try that. We've been successful with some parallel driving, but Buddy and I still have a lot of arguements along the line of "No! I don't want the sheep, stop trying to fetch them to me!" And his response is "ignore those flank commands because Mom is obviously an idiot who can't see that the sheep are escaping and I must catch their heads and bring them back to her!"
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
May 07, 2013
As a side note - if you can take your training up a notch - it can be truly handy :-) It's no surprise that dogs have amazing noses - so put it to work, along with a "seek" command. Or just send them to "seek" with a hand direction, then once they close in on what you want, tell them "take it". Now you have a dog who can pick up your husbands socks; or bring a diaper for a baby; or pick up the empty cans on the deck; retrieve dropped items in a pool or lake - the list is endless.

Furthermore, knowing hand signals was a true blessing as Ike lost his hearing.

Forum Discussion

A case for basic trianing

23 Replies

About Pet Owners

Related Content

basic driving skills

In case you wonder

Basic Maintenance

sanitizing fresh tanks - basic question

Toy hauler basic questions