Samantha,
I learned in Lee's first session on sheep that he was put off by the paddle; it made him apprehensive about coming towards me and the sheep. In the 3rd session I found there were a few times I needed something more than me to apply enough pressure on Lee to get his attention and to push him back off the sheep so I picked up the paddle. Once off his sheep Lee again became a bit apprehensive about the paddle so I put it down.
During these early stages of training I find I spend a lot of time finding the right corrections/training tools to get the desired reaction from the pups without it being too much for the pups. I want them near the sheep, feeling the sheep's reactions to their actions; but I don't want them too close or too wild because then they stop thinking.
Mark
