I do practice impulse control with the dogs every week. It’s amazing in how when we do walks on the track, all the dogs stop at a certain point. Can’t tell what the point is but they stop and don’t like going past it. Unless your name is Joe and you have blue eyes and use them to great effect. He’s getting sneaky because as he gets older he knows exactly what I want. So he gets a bit sneaky here and there because he knows that I know he’s creaky. So I cut him some slack.
Impulse control is what you guys work on when you practice your stay, wait, take it/leave it. Teaching to hold on to that impulse to just do it. Very important. Something I think a lot of adults could improve 🥴😝😉😉.
Second video in the comments to prove they do wait for me.
For help improving your dog’s impulse control call so they don’t steal your mince pies, Christmas chocolates or knock granny over when she visits! Call Paula 07866-270133.
Can’t help her little self. 🥰🥰
Fog is clearing up now. Sunshine trying to break through. Quick cuppa for me then round 2. Feet are perishing.
Misty!!!! The dog who has pushed a family to the brink, almost over but not quite!!
Out of a dogs home at a young age, a list of ailments, some incredibly weird and wonderful. 2yrs of training, some behaviour meds thrown in to help. Finally!!!! Finally!!!!! Off lead playing with other dogs. Whoop!! Whoop!!! Whoop!!! Absolutely chuffed to mint balls for them all!! It’s been an looooooong, looooong journey but her mum has stuck with her. Been to the vets, followed advice, cried buckets, picked herself back up and pushed on.
Misty was very reactive towards other dogs. Very hyped up, extremely ramped. Has underlying health issues not related to her conformation this time. Unravelling all this has taken time. Lots of time. Giving her chance to mature has been a big part of her progression. Finally yesterday at a breed group gathering she mixed well with others! She’s had break throughs along the way but yesterday was a BIG one. So pleased for everyone. Absolutely wonderful to see, and hear 🤭🤭🐾🐾💝. She’s still going to be a work in progress for a while but I think most of it is behind her now.
Breed play groups can be very helpful. Different breeds play in different modes. Giving your dog a chance to mix within its own play pattern can be very helpful.
Working breeds can be difficult to handle for almost 3yrs in lots of cases. They are SO sensitive, ultra absorbing, masters of over thinking, the kings and queens of OCD patterns. We work, we try and time is a great healer. Maturity is all that is missing in some cases. It’s simply training and time. Something Misty’s mum Alison has given in spades. I’ve had one or two or more of these dogs myself. 😉😉. Teaching dogs. My NO dogs not yes dogs. Some present it differently. They simply shut down from training. Too much pressure for them.
Dont give up! Give it time. Eat, sleep, train, REPEAT. Because….well Ta Dah!!!!!👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
More training, more practice for Maeve. Exercise for me and sheep 😆😆.
Working on Maeve rounding off her flanking. So her ‘away’ cue is go out to the right, right around the back of the sheep. Not what she was doing previously. Going part of the way out, then short cutting across to the sheep. Square flanks. Makes the sheep come charging at me at speed. She’s still not happy on her come bu cue yet when we turn and no verbal cue is given she seems to do it perfectly. SO!!! Tomorrow I’m going to see if it might be down to ME!!! I need to make sure I’m giving her enough room to get that come bye flank in properly. I suspect I’m setting her off wrong footed.
I will be looking into stock proofing sessions soon. My dogs will hold the sheep in position whilst we work with clients dogs to prevent chase behaviours. This works for cats, bikes, cars and to teach impulse control.
So keep an eye on the page. Tomorrow Maeve and I will be back at it. Training happens by repetition!!!
Paula.
Thought I could hear helicopters on my last dog walk….didn’t see anything….till on the way home
As you were lads and lasses
Sun is shining, wind is blowing as ever. Get my own wooly jumper on and it’s out to the other wooly jumpers. With Maeve. She’s still learning her ‘sides’. Left and right. Or ‘away’ and ‘come bye’. Her left is her weaker side. So I’m gently building her confidence with lots of repetitive turning each session. Problem being is that very tiring for her. Plus me!! 🤣🤣🤣.
She has no line on her, just me, my voice and the trusty blue stick. The stick is an extension of my arm. It helps to guide Maeve around the sheep, helps stop the sheep running me over here and there when Maeve gets fresh. Part of the training is knowing your dog AND the sheep are getting tired. So sessions are short. Today she got back in for another turn but she didn’t really have the stamina for it bless her. So it’s rest up and I’ll try again later with her.
Just working up my courage and energy to take Isla up for her first ever session.
Maeve has been having a few regular sessions on the sheep this week. She’s still got a long way to go but she loves it. She’s very natural as well. Keeps a good distance off without too much pressure from me. She diving in still at times when she’s feeling pressure. Scatters the sheep. It’s a sign of nerves though. So I shorten her distance, stay a little closer to the sheep and guide her more.
Sessions are literally 10/15mins because it’s physically demanding for her and the sheep. To say nothing of my legs!!😆😆
I think you’ll agree her face says she hates every second of it. 😉😉😉🤣🤣
She is nagging me to go again just now.
