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Training Farmcollies
The Rules and Pack Bonding
The
most important thing you can do with your new
pup is to bond him to your family members, as
almost everything else he does as a
working dog in this environment is
dependent upon this love for and sense of order
about the pack
.
Loving a new
puppy is one of
the greatest
joys and
happiest times
of dog
ownership, and
developing a
strong loving
bond between
your dog and
family is the
basis for future
happiness in
your home, as
well as a
working farm
partner that
will help and
protect you in
many endeavors.
It is important
that you form
these bonds
while at the
same time
developing the
idea in the
pup's mind that
you and every
member of your
family are above
the pup in pack
rank.
Teaching him
limits, and
rules early on
helps to get it
into his mind
who is the boss.
These rules can
be designed to
give the idea
that your kids
are above him in
pack rank.
If you allow
both your kids
and the dog on
your furniture
with your
permission, then
the dog may see
himself as their
equal or
superior.
If you allow
your kids on
furniture but
not the dog,
then the dog is
more apt to see
himself as
inferior to
them. Dogs
feet don't
belong on people
or furniture is
a handy rule to
teach
particularly if
you intend for
your dog to help
you work in
actual farm
situations.
Grooming him
daily helps to
build a loving
bond that
reinforces the
idea that you
are in control
of him and not
the other way
around.
Secondarily,
your dog needs
to bond to the
other livestock
in your
situation.
When your dog
sees your
livestock as
part of the pack
he will be less
apt to kill it
or herd it
inappropriately,
causing
problems.
This bonding is
accomplished by
taking the dog
along with you
as you go about
your daily
chores.
Elaine Reynolds
This is the KEY - the ES/farmcollie working character is based on bonding.
| The old ARF cowdog magazine they sent me has a photo of Tom Stodghill on the cover riding a horse and holding an ES pup. The caption reads:
"Carry your pup with you while he is too young to move cows. Do yourself what you want him to do. He is a great imitator. All it takes to train a pup is to make him understand you. The younger he is the longer he will remember."
(Tom Stodghill)
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introducing pup
to livestock:
Some of my
pups have gone
to homes with
small flocks of
sheep or a
couple goats.
How should the
people introduce
the pup to the
livestock? The
owners don't
think the
sheep/goats are
"safe" for a
young pup but as
the pups are
getting older
(14 weeks) they
feel they
should be doing
something other
than the pup
watching thru
the fence.
They don't have
an adult dog
to provide a
measure of
safety. I am
encouraging the
owners to sign
up for the list.
thanks,
Barbara
Hollands
Flowerhill
English
Shepherds
Re:
introducing pup
to livestock:
We had been
bringing the pup
along with us to
do "chores"
every
morning, and he
loved it. But
last week he got
in between a ewe
and
her grain (he
was supposed to
be safely in the
hay room while
we fed,
but the door is
tricky in the
cold weather and
he snuck out).
She
walloped him --
he is fine but
he did give out
a yelp and we
don't
want him to be
scared of them,
so we haven't
brought him
along since.
We are not sure
if this is the
right thing or
not? Any and all
advice
would be
appreciated.
Kris Byrnes
Hi Kris,
You've gotten
good advice
already, but
thought I might
add a few things
:) When pups are
tiny, I'll bring
them into the
pens/pastures
with me provided
the stock is
gentle enough or
situation is
quiet enough I
don't have to
worry about them
going after the
pup. Having a
line on him so
you can "reel
him in" quick
need be is a
good idea. I'll
scoop a little
pup up and tuck
him under my arm
if he's looking
scared of one of
the big bad
sheep, or if
looks like he
might get
thumped or run
over. Not a bad
thing to let the
pup know you've
got his back,
but don't overdo
it... If he's
not in any real
danger, it might
be best to let
him see
nothing's going
to eat him, lol.
 If
it's possible to
have him on the
other side of
the fence or
panel so he can
watch while you
feed the pushy
critters rather
than being
secured out of
sight it would
be good, it
helps when pup
is allowed to
observe all the
normal working
of the farm.
Later on, when
something's NOT
normal (like the
sheep push out
the open gate
and need to be
put back, or
you've been
tackled with
your grain
bucket or
something,
ouch!)) he'll
know this is not
part of the
normal routine
and will try to
help and/or
protect you.
In this picture,
the pup's tail
is over the
kid's back!
Tish Toren
The Blacksheep Homestead
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I
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When pups do get
thumped or
stepped on, I've
found it best
not to make too
big a deal, too.
Too much cooing
or soothing can
have the same
effect on a pup
as it does on a
kid, who then
cries harder
because he has
the impression
the dent he just
got is worse
that it really
is. I'll take a
breath and ask
"Are you ok?" in
a calm voice
whether the
victim is human
or canine, lol,
rather than
doing the "OMG,
You poor baby!"
routine. If
there's no
discernable
damage, we all
go back about
our business as
though nothing
happened.
Returning to
"work" after a
pup's been
thumped should
be a
matter-of-fact
affair. But
trying not to be
overly
protective while
at the same time
not exposing him
to MORE thumps
can be a
challenge, it's
a lot like the
fine line
between being
overprotective
and letting a
toddler
explore/experiment
on the
playground while
still staying
close enough to
catch him should
the need arise.
The way to react
to the ewe who
takes a run at a
pup or
stamps/tosses
her head is to
back her off,
using just as
much aggression
and force as
you'd like to
see your pup use
someday and no
more. These dogs
are like little
sponges soaking
up information
and they watch
and process
EVERYTHING. Keep
in mind he is
learning the
rules of
engagement by
watching you, so
when you model
behaviors for
him/"be the
dog", make sure
you're being a
GOOD dog, lol.
The other thing
that
backing/driving
boisterous or
aggressive stock
out of his
proximity as he
watches
accomplishes, is
it lets pup know
he is a welcomed
member of your
pack and that he
has a
leader/alpha
that is willing
to protect him.
It won't be long
before he's big
and confident
enough to return
the favor :-)
-Tish Toren
The Blacksheep
Homestead
Rock Stream, NY
Here are Farmcollie pups being introduced to the routines of the farm
which they will later be expected to enforce:
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Most importantly, ENJOY your pup!
Training is FUN!
Life is a game with
RULES!
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