valdemarfarm Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 I have a bunch of bcs. Usually I let them run loose twice a day while I do chores. However, the younger ones are working each other and playing chase a lot. When I put them in on sheep, they aren't as keen as I'd like. Do people separate their youngsters when they start training them? Is it to late to rehab them? One is 2.5 years and the other is almost a year old. Thanks, Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 I allow a lot of play time (I don't kennel my dogs at all), but they are always supervised. I loathe seeing dogs harassing each other, ie, "working" and stop it as soon as it starts. If I catch it in pups, I just distract them. If I get one that already has the habit, I try distracting, then only letting that dog loose with dogs that don't trigger the behavior, then correcting the dog in controlled situations once my relationship with the dog is sound. My dogs all (well, the Border Collies mostly, but the others pick the habit up), know to follow me from room to room in the house and the habit stays with them outside. So playtime always involves keeping an eye peeled for me. I can't have the dogs out when I do chores - it's too easy to get in trouble. Just today my 4 1/2 month old pup got in while I was moving a bunch of lambs from one pen to a grazing area. Thank goodness he's got good instincts and can take a ton of pressure, and the lambs are very gentle and humble. But many more "oopsies" like that, can set back even a good pup like him. Yet another very good reason for closely supervised playtime. What I do now that it's so hot, is have about an hour walk/playtime in the morning right after it starts getting light. Then chores, then I might work Ted for a bit. About an hour before sunset I can get in more training and playing and then we move the lambs to their night pen and feed them. After sunset we take the Border Collies and the kids for a couple mile walk up the farm road. Then kids and dogs are both ready for their evening meal and bedtime when we get back. About midnight I take Ted and Sam and Maggie out for another walk - Sam and Maggie because they make it through the night better with one more bathroom break, and Ted because he took up marking when Sam arrived so he's on a tight bathroom schedule until he gets over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_ceana Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 Rebecca when do you sleep??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 Lately, with the pup, not very often! He can go all night now thank goodness. During the summer I don't sleep much. I love summer nights here in the south. And this time of year if you don't push working time into the night on both ends, you won't get much done. This year, spring was horrendously wet and muddy. I had several accidents in a row trying to work - so I missed a lot of training. I'm trying to make up for that now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenajo Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 I have a bunch of bcs. Usually I let them run loose twice a day while I do chores. However, the younger ones are working each other and playing chase a lot. When I put them in on sheep, they aren't as keen as I'd like. Do people separate their youngsters when they start training them? Is it to late to rehab them? One is 2.5 years and the other is almost a year old. Thanks, Cathy Hi Cathy. How do the dogs respond when you tell them to knock it off? I don't mind mine playing unless it become obsessive (the herding each other thing you describe). With consistancy - basically a 3 strikes you're out plan - they do learn what I will and won't tolerate. I'm on Grace's case right now for trying this - and I'll win Coicidentally she's a year old too, but after that the case is different. She's blue blazes around sheep most of the time. With a large group of dogs there is always something brewing to watch out for. It's easy to let them have more casual time when you have only a few. Grace says hi to her Uncle and Cousins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valdemarfarm Posted June 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Hi Cathy. How do the dogs respond when you tell them to knock it off? I have to admit that I don't pay that much attention to them because I doing other things like feeding sheep or filling stock tanks. What I've started doing is taking the 1 year old and the 7 month old out individually at least twice a day for 15 minutes and then putting them up in their crates until I'm done with chores. I'm trying to use the 2.5 year old for moving stock around before he gets to run with everyone. This 2.5 year old has been spoiled by allowing him to work the other dogs and he'd rather do that than take the pressure of working the sheep. So I've been using him more and he is getting keener on the sheep. I'm still not seeing the eye on sheep like he uses on the other dogs, but he's getting better. I'm looking for a new home for him because I don't think he'll become the type of dog I like to run in trials, but he'll make someone a good dog. He's very sweet and people oriented - maybe too people oriented! Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenajo Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 You just can't turn that many young dogs loose together and not pay attention Cathy. Not if you want them to stay out of trouble LOL Best they have seperate times out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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