Stock dog training question .

[Kato]

I've never gotten seriously into the stock dog training, since I've got a German Shepherd, and they have a totally different style. I have learned a few things though, that might apply here.

I think taking a young dog for a clinic is a wonderful idea. I enrolled mine in obedience when I knew darn well she was too young and goofy to really do well, but since I didn't go in with big expectations, it still worked well. You don't have to be at the top of the class to have a dog that learned a lot and made you proud. Elsa came out proudly at the bottom of her class, but she also came out as a well socialized dog who knew how to learn, and I learned how to teach her.

It was time well spent, because when she actually started growing out of her goofy teenage stage, we were both ready and able to progress a lot. This wouldn't be the case for your dog, but with mine, I had a dog who learned obedience when she was still small enough to fool into thinking I was stronger than her. Learning to walk politely on a leash is a lot easier with a 45 pound dog, than one who's pushing 90 pounds.

Elsa still ended up being a good cattle dog, but not in the border collie way. Shepherds are dogs who are bred to keep cattle in the herd, and where they belong. She's a world class gate guarder, and if you want to empty the pen in a hurry, she's the dog to call. Cattle hauling day she's worth her weight in gold.

I'm thinking if she went along with your dog to the herding clinic, she'd still be proudly at the bottom of the class.

[hillsdown]

Thanks for all of your replies ,some really great ideas. So now I need to buy some ducks BMR ..

I am going to start her with the llama, I will set up some panels and see if she can corral him, he is not mean just goofy. Then I may try with a few of the flush cows as they are already trained and know where to go so she just has to learn the basics to get them moving.

I am hoping that we can get together with the M's later on for some private sessions with the Nikkles, and hubby and I will make a little holiday of it.

Thanks again for your help.

She is extremely bored right now as I am not letting her come with me until it dries up a bit, and the Kit Kat is getting tired of her trying to herd her around.
What a mess out there but, at least we might get some hay this summer.

[per]

[Big Muddy rancher]