tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post6953679069113777146..comments2023-09-29T18:37:14.377+10:00Comments on Eight Acres: Happy Birthday Puppy Taz!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-47890685183152730642014-10-13T19:50:09.451+10:002014-10-13T19:50:09.451+10:00Thanks! Yeah I was really impressed with her, she...Thanks! Yeah I was really impressed with her, she had never really chased them, she grew up with them running around the yard, she mainly just chews her bed and steals gloves :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-68509452213548578072014-10-13T19:49:13.736+10:002014-10-13T19:49:13.736+10:00Thanks Fee, I think we need to think about everyth...Thanks Fee, I think we need to think about everything we have read and seen and learnt and put it all together with Taz.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-44204714010876134612014-10-13T19:48:14.658+10:002014-10-13T19:48:14.658+10:00That is a very good point, I guess it depends if y...That is a very good point, I guess it depends if you can keep a stable herd of cattle, or buying and selling frequently. Our house cattle are very tame, and that its definitely easier!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-83055384118658236402014-10-13T19:47:04.479+10:002014-10-13T19:47:04.479+10:00Great advice Chris, lots to think about, thanks!Great advice Chris, lots to think about, thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-73594643796437346502014-10-13T19:46:37.853+10:002014-10-13T19:46:37.853+10:00That sounds lovely Dawn, so nice of you to adopt a...That sounds lovely Dawn, so nice of you to adopt an older dog :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-60851413246661929372014-10-04T09:51:40.084+10:002014-10-04T09:51:40.084+10:00How awesome Taz is no longer chasing the chickens!...How awesome Taz is no longer chasing the chickens! You are a great trainer already! Skippyherronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08268672346051254402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-83989459397521223302014-10-03T22:16:31.477+10:002014-10-03T22:16:31.477+10:00Happy Birthday Taz. I am not sure you have done a...Happy Birthday Taz. I am not sure you have done anything wrong at all. Taz is a smart dog and I am sure she can learn when is play time and when is working time. Maybe this man is not the right trainer for you or maybe you need to give it more time. Would love to take Jessie to something like that but I think we would be better focusing on her training at home.Fiona from Arbordale Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05196630415124998431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-24699692318316593832014-10-03T10:46:40.809+10:002014-10-03T10:46:40.809+10:00I too have a dog which could probably be trained a...I too have a dog which could probably be trained as a working dog as she is a working breed and certainly shows those tendencies. We have also taught her not to chase the chickens and geese which if you think about it shows how smart they are and willing to please because her natural programming is to chase. I would much rather have a pet I can trust and love than a well trained cattle dog. It would be nice to have a cattle dog on occassions but as this is a small farm we found it easier to train the cattle. They come when they are called and follow a bucket. It makes life easier. <br />Crunchie's Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10561893477545578734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-41949586110096569542014-10-03T08:42:28.548+10:002014-10-03T08:42:28.548+10:00I haven't had much experience with cattle dogs...I haven't had much experience with cattle dogs, but a relative of mine was a security guard at one stage, and learned to professionally train his security dog. As far as I understand, the playing is completely okay, in fact its normal in a dog pack, to play. Its a bonding experience and an exercise of trust.<br /><br />The security training however, was a separate thing and there were certain things not to be duplicated, ie: play. You don't want to confuse a security dog to think a person's leg is the same thing as a piece of rope. So different words and body language were used. Just as Taz has come to associate your words and gestures as commands for "play", you need to develop a new repertoire for livestock.<br /><br />The trainer you were exposed to, had learned outcomes a particular way. But it can also create mistrust and an aggressive dog. This relative took his security dog home to share the yard with his human family, so he wasn't going to beat it senseless, as some trainers had recommended he do. They came across a good trainer who actually had to deprogram "dangerous" security dogs. These were the dogs beaten into submission. A dog treated this way, only has two reactions. Give in or fight back. They may give in 99.9% of the time, but it only has to be that 0.01% they turn. Why spend so much time training a dog, only to have to put them down?<br /><br />Taz trusts you, that's the first step. The second is to get her accustomed to you issuing herding instructions. Dogs actually want to obey. It's in their nature to follow the lead of the alpha, because they're a pack animal. We only did basic level training with our dog, and she was extremely dependable, once we took the time to repeat the same instructions and issue praise after they were followed. It shows in their eyes, ear position and posture, when they've heard your instructions and waiting for the next. <br /><br />The trick is patience and routine. Taz has gotten used to the times she has to go into her pen, and the commands for play, because they are routine. So decide on words you want to issue, for her to follow your lead for livestock, and practice these commands EVERY day. Did you hear any specific words at the recent training day? Perhaps use some of those.<br /><br />Food is always the reward of choice too. Get them to follow a basic instruction and then reward them. Also, I hear it helps not to look them in the eye, but to use your body language to communicate. When you don't look them in the eye, they are not acknowledged and they will attempt to do things which will capture your attention. The trick is to only acknowledge them, when they follow the instructions you issue. <br /><br />I learned a lot from my dog training relative. They taught me we cannot train dogs by treating them like humans. We have to learn to speak "dog". That means pack mentality. It was from this relative I learned to get my dog to sit as I placed down their bowl of food, then issue a command before they could eat. It established my position as alpha, and actually gave our dog security, because I mimicked a routine they would naturally follow in nature. The alpha controls the food and the alpha tells you when its okay to eat. Had I not done that, our dogs position in the pack, could have been viewed as one of equal rivalry. <br /><br />A dog which growls around its food whenever someone approaches, is claiming to be alpha. Now when you're the one issuing the food, that should never be the case. To a human, it may seem "controlling" to issue commands before a dog can eat, but to a dog pack, its their natural hierarchy. When you learn to speak dog in your body language, and select instructions, then obedience is ensured. No aggressiveness necessary.<br /><br />By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAZ!! Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-11623227145087954912014-10-03T07:41:57.932+10:002014-10-03T07:41:57.932+10:00We have just taken on a retired working dog, she i...We have just taken on a retired working dog, she is 8 years old, she worked as an assistant dog and came from Dogs for the disabled, she is a very loving dog a pet and worker very eager to please, they told us to keep treats in our pockets whick are part of her food and taken from her daily allowance, she gets rewarded every time she responds to a command, we have a list of her basic commands, but she is keen to please and is learn new commands, I do think it is possible to have a pet that works, they only want to please you as you are the pack leader. <br />Loved reading about Taz she seems a smashing dog. Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05213759909336433460noreply@blogger.com