SS Cressa Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I am not sure where any of my herding questions should go since we are still in the beginning stages and we haven't a clue how far we will advance. But one question I have is... My background is agility training. I use my body to tell my dogs where to go. One thing I keep noticing specially when I get a video of my self is how often I combine my body language into herding and I notice when I do, I increase my dogs handler focus. This might be a silly question but is their any ways to correct myself? I know "stop" doing it. But most times I am not aware I am doing it or realize after the fact. If you do cross disciples how do you keep each venues separate for one self? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaBluez Tess Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 put your hands in your pocket and stand in a marked area. Lean against a post so you cant move or gove body signals. Get your dog NOT to look at your for signals or body language. I used to do dog frisbee....it was a major change for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Cressa Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I think I might need super glue or duct tape for me not to use my arms. >.< will try it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Have a friend smack you with a whip if you are giving too many body signals or talking too much. Worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Cressa Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 LOL We were talking about a shock collar for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 another case of ducktape to the rescue! Kinder that a whip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynthia P Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I had to put my hands in my pockets...still do from time to time! Cynthia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildFlower Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I started my first dog Daisy in agility for a short period of time before we moved on to stock work. But really working your dog on sheep is different than any other type of activity you can do with your dog (agility, flyball, obedience, etc), IMO. It just takes time for "you", the handler to catch up with the natural instinct of your dog. Put your hands in your pockets and try to be "very still" in all of your movements. Not that you should stand in one place but try to put very little pressure on your dog by waving your arms about when they are appropriately/correctly moving the stock. Lots of practice! I remember at my first clinic, the clinician kept telling me that we were rewarding the dog by allowing them to move the sheep and being very calm. Only making some sort of directing or correcting movement to the dog when we want to change what they were doing. It sounds a lot easier than it is to actually do. I'm not sure if that helps at all... The other suggestion I would make, is if you have not already, pick a copy of a good stock work instruction book. Reading about how to start a dog and seeing diagrams may help you. A few a would suggest are: Lesson from a Stock Dog by Bruce Fogt Herding Dogs: Progressive Training by Virgil Holland Top Trainers Talk about Starting a Sheepdog: compilation from various handlers Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Cressa Posted February 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 Thanks for the book reference. I hope to be ordering them in a week or two. Any other books I should read? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donald McCaig Posted February 7, 2013 Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 Dear Wouldbe Sheepdoggers, Don't scare the sheep. Donald McCaig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Cressa Posted February 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 Who is it by? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynthia P Posted February 7, 2013 Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 I"m not sure Don't scare the sheep is a book, more of a concept! Anna Guthrie has a stockdog book, Working with a stockdog, as well. I highly recommend Vergil's progressive training. There are some videos as well, for handling some of the USBCHA finals are good to watch. Also the series Comebye2007 on Horse and country TV is great. http://www.horseandcountry.tv/episode/come-bye-2007-episode-6 If you are in the northeast USA you could join NEBCA and they have a huge library of books cynthia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smalahundur Posted February 7, 2013 Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 I"m not sure Don't scare the sheep is a book, more of a concept! "Don´t scare the sheep" does make a great booktitle doesn´t it? I´d look into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted February 7, 2013 Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 Who is it by? I don't know if you meant it but that was great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Cressa Posted February 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 >.< I meant it. Cause when I Google it I got 20 different hits for a variety of things. And seeing I had asked about books.... feeling sheepish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted February 7, 2013 Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 Ahh don't feel sheepish...it was truely funny , now I have to go hunt to see if he really meant a book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted February 7, 2013 Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 >.< I meant it. Cause when I Google it I got 20 different hits for a variety of things. And seeing I had asked about books.... feeling sheepish. I, for one, thank you for it. A simple misunderstanding that brought a smile to my face, which was much appreciated today. As if we haven't all misunderstood someone, something, sometime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloria Atwater Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Hands in pockets! At one point some years ago, my trainer took away my crook, because I was waving it as if I was landing air craft! So, hands in pockets, seriously. And have a friend nag you until you're tired of it - by then, you'll be self-aware enough to stop doing the body language. ~ Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Cressa Posted February 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Cressa gets spooked by the crook. So on the plus side I don't have another thing to wave around. But yes will try to remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 I think it's good you aren't using a crook for now but if you can when you're not on sheep try and get Cressa used to something like a crook. You might need it one day. And she should be getting used to bits of pressure from you. So play games with it off stock. When I'm standing around with friends after working, I'll keep the stick in my hand (I use a very thin yellow driveway marker as a stock stick) I'll used it to scratch my dogs back or tummy. Just touching it on them and telling how beautiful or wonderful they are with my sweet voice gets them comfortable with it. When I was relatively new, one of my mentors told me I use the stick to much and to quit using it altogether. So I did. I had a dog at the time that was famous for bringing sheep to me hell bent. He never respected my space so would push the sheeps right over the top of me. With a stick I could wave it and the sheep would veer away. Well I left it out of the deal. I ended up on my bum but it made me work through that dogs issues of not being so pushy! And although hands in your pockets are a great way to not use them, I have fallen that way too! Without my hands to catch me! they don't call me Grace for nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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