Donald McCaig

Dear Aspiring Sheepdoggers, Although the handler may, I doubt sheepdogs learn very much running in a trial. There are few things more useful than setting up a training session on a friend's farm. Unexpected sheep, unexpected terrain, unexpected pressures. Way back when, I ran Luke and June in the Sturgis ! nurseries and upon their return ran them in an open trial so I couldn't run them in anything less. The rest of that year, whenever I yearned to run in a trial, I phoned a friend instead. Run in the cool evening, overnight, run in the cool morning, drive home. It seemed and now seems to have been a really good idea. Donald McCaig

Dear Amy, Usually the judge doesn't care which two the dog takes off during the SPLIT but I've been at trials where the judge wanted the last two but called it a SPLIT. What my old Intro to Phil prof called "A mere terminological dispute" which takes up time at the handler's meeting. Donald

I've heard it said that way too. It's only confusing abstractly. Donald McCaig

Aspiring Sheepdoggers When a judge calls for a Split, usually though not invariably on 4 sheep, the dog/handler teke off two and exhibits control. The Shed, commonly on 3 or 4 sheep takes off one sheep and controls it. There are variations when more sheep are available and can be collared: "2 of the 3 collared sheep for the Split", " an uncollared sheep for the Shed" etc. but these varients are more common in the UK than here. Donald McCaig

Dear Pearse, With due respect I disagree. I think the USBCHA trial is more flexible than you suggest. It's not uncommon to introduce a maltese cross or eliminate the shed and split. One year, when my sheep (2 ewes/2 yearlings) were likely to be to easy to shed, I put a collar on one ewe and the handler had to declare: ("Ribbon" or "No ribbon" before he/she shed. Some years I've narrowed the gap between the gates. I've run in trials where the Pen was a stock trailer. So long as what's required is a fair, practical test of the sheepdog's working abilities, I've always felt free to (cautiously) innovate. You're right that handlers often practice on the "standard" trial. I do so myself and spot for friends who wish to work sheep their dog doesn't know. But sometimes when training I'll drill that part of the course which the dog finds difficult and as ithe dog "gets it" I'll make it harder than the real thing. Donald McCaig

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/07/25/two-children-died-over-the-weekend-in-hot-cars-thats-682-since-1998-it-isnt-getting-better/?hpid=hp_hp-morning-mix_mm-story-i%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Dear Doggers, I retired 10 year old Fly last August. She never did like trialing and she was 10 years old. Subsequently 3 year old Jake has done the 3 T's (training,traveling, trialing). He's much more biddable than Fly, has a good outrun, doesn't mind shedding but is not as keen and far less natural. Last night Anne woke me to say the shearer was on the phone. He's a west virginian and we'd postponed shearing because of the floods. He assured me he still had cleanup to do but he could resume shearing. Although we are pasturing a couple hundred ewes we've only 7 sentimentals of our own: rank, cranky, clever dog breakers. A neighbor has six. It's hard to find a shearer for such a small number and when he calls, we rearrange. Sunday afternoon. Okay. Unfortunately, Sunday I'd planned to visit a friend in prison. He's had a hard time lately and it's no routine visit. It's a 3 hourdrive but if I get there at 8 and visit for an hour I'll be back before the shearer arrives And he says he can shear seven sheep without any help from me anyway. But it's supposed to rain this afternoon and tmorrow morning and wet wool doesn't shear. The grass is thigh high, unmowed, so I'm teaching Jake to ride the ATV behind me. I set up the barn for shearing and went out where the Magificent Seven usually hide and when I spotted them, sent Jake. They split up and ran into the woods. I guessed where they were and Jake brought them out again but soon as they could they split back into the woods. Tall grass in the field, impenetrable woods. Regroup. I went back to the house took my pharmacopia of morning pills, ate a couple biscuits and went back out with Fly. I bought the ATV after I retired her but somebody had taught her because she jumped right on. The sheep had had time to regroup and return to their favored bedground and when I spotted them I sent Fly. Fly brought them and held them together until they streamed into the woods again. Maybe, just maybe . . .there was this place they usually came out of the woods winters when I'd sent Fly to gather them for feeding. Maybe . . .Yes! She brought them out into the narrow path I'd bushhogged into the next field and drove them ahead of her into the barnlot and into the barn. I drove up and fastened the gate. She was quite pleased with herself. Donald McCaig

Dear Doggers, I train with corrections. I have never trained with a clicker or a treat. Your "corrections" trainer "prong collar on an 8 month old puppy?", "Shock collar to cure reactivity?", "Alpha rolls"? is incompetent and gives a bad name to those of us who know how to use corrections properly. Run, don't walk from this yo-yo before he/she ruins your There-nothing-much-wrong-and-he-ll grow-out-of-it-dog. At your agility class you should meet some "positive reinforcement" trainers. It isn't the best method(s) but is a big improvement on this bullshit. Donald McCaig

Dear Doggers, One of the few advantages of geezerhood is those things one isn't obligated to do. I needn't provide Mr. Zuckerman with my personal information on Facebook, nor need I twitter or tweet. This forum has some very knowledgeable Border Collie people who treat one another and newcomers courteously. I thank Eileen and Heather for making it possible. Donald

Dear Aspiring Sheepdoggers, In the handler's meeting, the judge announces what sort of shed he wants but usually, for full points, he'll want the "Last one on the head" because that sheep can see its mates escaping and is, hence, the hardest to separate and hold. He may or may not allow, but deduct for an easier sheep (ie. "first one on the butt"). That sheep is acceptable but not a perfect shed. Also, handler's when short of time may leap into the sheep using "too much man" for partial points. Donald McCaig

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/why-thunder-and-fireworks-make-dogs-anxious/?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=health&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Health&pgtype=article

Dear Doggers, Alas, sheepdog notions are not set in concrete. When I started in the early 80"s clappy dogs were valued more than they are today - at least here in the US. Probably because a dog that goes quickly and easily off its feet is easier for the less skilled handler to control. Nowadays, although you cannot win a major trial with a dog who won't go off its feet at the shed or pen, the upstanding dog who stops and/or pauses while erect is preferred. I remember being amazed at Dorrance Eikamp's Rex - who won the Sheridan National Finals in 1991. Great dog, extremely clappy. Donald McCaig

Dear Ms. Luana, When I ask a young dog-new-to-sheep to lie down and he does I wonder what's wrong with him. Lyme? Fearful? Happy to disconnect? But: you can get most of them to lie down IF you're on the same side of the sheep as they are. Block them left, block them right, repeating lie down, each time meaning it. No liedownliedownliedown. After the dog discovers it cannot get around you to the sheep (and sometimes he'll be able to) you approach him softly. repeating the lie down command. Try to hold his eyes. Don't stop saying Lie Down until you've got his collar. Get between him and the sheep and block his access. He'll try to trick you but you have the advantage. Donald McCaig

Dear Ms. Luana, You are doing much better and consequently so is your dog. If I were your instructor I would advise you to lose the long line. It's hard on the dog - especially when the grass is high - and Spillo clearly doesn't need it. Lie him down and leash him when you're finished. Absence of the long line might increase his keenness but . . . What follows is pertinent to all novices, not just you. Because a whippy stick is no big deal to humans it's easy to assume it's the same for the dog. Not so: like an airplane propeller on a runway it signifies danger both by blur and noise. Add a plastic bag to it you have a powerful tool - so powerful I never use it except on a dog who wasn't listening at all and was determined to take down a sheep. It's the trainer's nuclear bomb and in the video I can see Spillo being overwhelmed by it. His response is to become vague and disregard everything he's learned (coming through, splitting them up). When your instructor suggests you lower the whippy stick, I'd go a couple steps farther. First I'd try without it and if it turns out Spillo does need it (I don't think he does), remove the plastic bag. You're using a very powerful correction every few seconds and this sucks the want-to out of the dog and encourages you to rely on a tool when you should be work-bonding with Spillo. Keep at it. The better you get the more fun it is, for you and the dog. Donald McCaig

Dear Ms. Luana, You're doing fine and Spillo seems a good beginner's dog: brave enough, calm enough, keen enough and biddable. Sheepdog training seems counter-intuitive to many - especially those who've trained dogs who need extrinsic rewards to work - but the basics will become clear fairly quickly. Becoming skilled takes years but it is wonderful fun, you'll meet wonderful people and many beautiful dogs. Enjoy! Donald McCaig

Body language. Donald McCaig

Dear Doggers, Ms. Mum is right. In the 1980's handlers imported dogs from cool Britain and ran them right away in our south. Once overheated, twice sensitive: ruined some pretty good dogs. At Belle Grove 2, October temps were in the 90's during qualifying and only one old dog who probably shouldn't have been entered suffered apparent distress. Thankfully it was cooler for the finals. But that was in October after dogs had acclimatized to heat. And, it's worth noting, were allowed to go to a water tub on the course without point penalty. It's something that concerns every summer/fall trial host. What do you do when it's so unexpectedly hot dogs may suffer heat stroke. The only fair answer I could think of (never implemented) was to eliminate tasks (shed, pen, single) as well as points for those tasks earned by dogs that ran when it was cooler. Heat's a problem bound to get worse. Donald McCaig

Dear Doggers, Australians I talked to many years ago preferred bareskinned dogs for heat tolerance I suspect theyre right. I am very cautious about overheatig which can happen chasing rodents as easily as working sheep. Young dogs ain't got good sense! Donald McCaig

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Dear Doggers, Last weekend at Dr Ben’s trial I reminisced with Ben and Hub Holmes, old friends who ran at the 91 Sheridan Finals. Ben came 2nd with Ann in Nursery and Hub was running (I think) Dan at the time. The trial field was a polo ground, flat as a pancake and it was very very difficult to know where your dog was relative to sheep and obstacles. It was my first finals and Gael ran poorly: 33 points. Although I wasn’t mucha handler I expect much of her poor showing was the defective mitral valve we identified later. The Sheridan Chamber of Commerce (gents in red blazers and string ties) had a welcome reception for us and the basques held a festival (kins folk dancing) during the trial. Spectators from all over the west in big American pickups. It was the last time the USBCHA gave jackets to all the finalists. I still have mine. Tommy Wilson’s Roy crossed over on the second outrun but when they got into the shedding ring, he and Roy were magic. Roy separated or held sheep with a glance. He never came through and Tommy just ghosted around. When they were finished, all fifteen sheep were still in that shedding ring band he took the five collared sheep to the pen. It brought tears to my eyes. Dorrance Eikamp (sp?)’s Rex was the clappiest dog I’ve ever seen. Up and down like a dust mop. But he won and Hubert Bailey bought him on the spot. Bruce Fogt’s Hope was 11. She was Bruce’s first great dog. As soon as her sheep missed the drive panel, Bruce retired Hope to never ran her again. It’s a painful decision but Bruce made the right one. I’ve always respected him for that. All these years and lives shaped by sheepdogs, sheepdog friends, trials, awe and laughter . . . Donald

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/06/01/this-border-collie-is-getting-its-dream-summer-job-bark-ranger/?hpid=hp_hp-cards_hp-card-national%3Ahomepage%2Fcard

Dear Doggers, The OP mentioned "doing a hold ..." ? Donald McCaig

Dear Doggers, The OP wondered, "Will this be a lasting behavioral issue or will her attitude towards stock gradually improve and get better as she sheds concern of wrongdoing?" Building confidence takes patience and skill. The more clinics and lessons you can fit in the better. When working her in the small ring, try working using body language w/o verbal commands. Donald McCaig

Dear Doggers, At the Bluegrass last weekend I was very aware of what constituted good manners when people are wandering around, each with several to many offlead dogs. Good manners is keep your dog(s) apart from others' dog(s) unless you have a good reason to speak with that person in which case both parties are constantly aware of their dogs. I expect there were between 2 and 3 hundred dogs of every age present and there were no dog fights. In 35 years I have never seen a dog fight at a sheepdog trial. Donald McCaig

Dear Doggers, Depends on how it works when It's a little bit older. If, at 3 years, it wins a trial I'd be inclined to consider it. Very very few North American handlers (like myself) have BREEDING at the top of our todo list. Some, like two time ISDS International winner Raymond McPherson wouldn't breed his males until they were retired from the trials (8? 9?). He believed having enjoyed sex, his males might be focused on THE WRONG THING. In my experience with trial/companion dogs, once they're regularly trained for stockwork their offstock manners improve so "fixed on motion" and "little impulse control" are a non-issue. Their world makes sense. Donald McCaig