aron and sheep

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

My Rottweilers and I have dabbled with herding, just enough to make me appreciate the skill of a good working team. What they can do together is nothing short of amazing. I first started herding with BumbleBear. Little Blossom the Berkshire sow would escape her pen and the yard then feast on the neighbors’ garden. Usually when I was late for work. Now a Berkshire sow is not a pot belly pig this old girl was many hundreds of pounds, if she did not feel like going back in her pen it was a serious project to get her there. The first time I explained my tardiness the boss he thought it was funny, by the third or fourth he was not laughing any more. I decided I’d better get the problem under control immediately. Rottweilers were originally herding breeds so I put the dog to work helping me. BumbleBear and I would drive three hours or so to Delaware to take herding classes. BumbleBear was never titled for sport but she used her skills to get that sow back in the pen and sure made my life a lot easier!  Xena did her instinct test and earned one leg towards the beginning title but that was as far as we got, a lack of time and search and rescue commitments got in the way. Herding is time consuming if you are going to do it right. Aron, pictured above, recently attended a herding instinct clinic as part of a fundraising event for the shilo shepherd club.

I have been thinking a lot about the discussion in the search and rescue community about training dogs in drive. Drive defined as the inherent desire to perform some behavior/activity. So the trend is to “develop the dogs drive” by playing with a toy” until the dog is obsessed with that toy then transferring the toy to the subject or source until the dog eventually associates the subject or source with the toy/treat reward. The theory being that the dog is working in drive because he is working to get that toy. I have been thinking about that. There are two activities the dogs and I have participated in where the dogs considered the work the reward. They were mushing and herding, we never had to train with a secondary reward system.  The work was the reward. Even my piggy rottweilers would turn their nose up at a cookie when there were sheep to move. Interestingly when the dogs are trained in drive for herding or mushing most of the training is not about developing the dogs desire to do the job. Most of the time is spent putting controls on the dogs so we could make them stop doing the job, or at least play within the parameters we set. This is just a hypothesis but I suspect if you need to “develop the reward system” you are not training in drive no matter how enthusiastic the dog is for his ball or tug or tidbit of treat. An argument, I think, for starting with the right dog. The one that would do the job given the opportunity regardless of the trainer’s presence.

We are pretty excited about the up coming snifferdog class. Starting Wednesday March 14 2006. This will be the first ever class to teach the dog/people teams the skills needed for the level I snifferdog title. It is going to include developing a reward system, teaching the dog to indicate the article and practicing hunting for the articles. For more information or to register for the class call (410) 236-2788 or email vttois@carr.org

The significant thing with private training classes/programs is that they are focused only on you and your dog. As a result the same amount of information that is presented in a seven-week obedience class can be covered in only three visits. Our private obedience program is a formal class much like the group obedience classes it starts with introducing your dog to the concept of manners, things like walk on a loose leash, wait politely at the door, greet people with four feet attached to the floor. There are no commands given for these exercises we put the pup in a position to figure out for himself that the way to get what he wants is to play by your rules. We follow that with teaching the dogs some fundamental obedience words. If your dog understands the concept of come, sit, down, stay, and heel you can pretty much tell him where to be and what to do to keep him safe and under control in almost any situation. This class can be taught at our location or in your home. As with any obedience program this is designed to introduce you to the concepts of training your dog to do what you want, the amount of progress will depend on how much you incorporate it into your everyday life with your dog. As with learning any new skill if you do not practice it pretty soon it will fade away. Because the program is flexible for folks that want some additional coaching it is always available to them. The price of this three-visit program is $100.00 for the first visit and $60 for each additional visit.   plus travel if you prefer it at a different location.Many times folks don’t need or want a whole obedience class they just want one thing addressed. We offer an extremely flexible program for that. A one-time visit to develop a protocol to meet your needs and whatever follow up if any that you feel is necessary. Some examples that we have provided to folks include

• Getting the dog to come inside when called from the back yard.
• To prevent the dog from rushing out the front door when it is opened.
• To help prepare the dog for a holiday visit with family.

The cost of the one time visit is $100.00, follow up support via email or phone is included, additional visits are discounted, travel may be extra.

fifiandbuckrr

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

I have been taking Fifi to as many places as possible. Here she is meeting Buck. Last week I took her to VA for a few days while Ursa took a cadaver test. While we were there we imprinted Fifi on training aids and let Fifi climb on a small rubble pile. Cindy observed that while she really was not “agile” she did not let that slow her down at all. She so wants to work she is happy to play any game I invite her to try. While everyone loved her they all agree “Fifi is very bouncy”.

HPIM20361

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

Fifi
She had quite a time with the snow the first morning she put her head outside took one look at the deep snow came back inside turned around, put her behind out side the door and peed, without the whole dog ever going outside. Later I took her and buck out to play in the snow, they had a blast running around together!

maggieandherball

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

In keeping with the “fun” philosophy of the snifferdog title the dogs have proposed. And we could not disagree so there are some changes to the sniffer dog test the articles. They have changed to be more along the lines of treasure items appropriate for dogs.
1 tennis ball,
2 stuffed beanie baby,
3 small (less than 3”) diameter plastic food bowl,
4 metal snap from a dog leash
5 optional item (must meet pre-approval from evaluator. Some sample examples
- business card
- plastic Easter egg
- jingle bell(s)
- tea candle
- old cell phone
- small slipper
Cat litter pooper-scooper (clean!)