Dog Community

Herding training has improved obedience by leaps and bounds! Training is fun again.

Posted : 8/11/2008 9:50:28 AM

I'm so amazed at how far Neiko's obedience has come due to our herding training. A few months ago I really struggled getting him to lie down at a distance in general. I tried all kinds of different methods but nothing really worked. Since we've been herding sheep though, those commands have translated over to every day life nicely. Last night I had him out in the front yard, off leash, and worked him on lie down, stay, walk in (slow walk vs run), lie down again, walk in, stand/stay and come. Rinse repeat - all at a distance. He loved it and his tail was wagging the entire time. I wish I had taken a video of it. Maybe I will tonight.

Seeing how well this has worked with Neiko, I have started training Lily like this as well. I'm finding that the quick action commands really keeps these dogs interested and they find the training fun rather than boring and repetitive. Lily ate it up - although she is much better at sit than lie down.

I started Abbie on this too but to a much lessor extent - something that her puppy brain can handle. Training this way seems so much faster than the typical obedience lessons that we did before. The dogs don't get bored and start sniffing and such. They stay very attentive and think it's a game.

Has anyone else trained very fast moving commands like this?

brookcove

Posted : 8/11/2008 12:21:35 PM

.Has anyone else trained very fast moving commands like this?

Of course I have to say yes! But, you might be surprised that I often do it backwards - I don't take a dog to sheep until he or she is comfortable following my commands quickly. Most of the dogs that end up here thrive on "busy" expectations from training - it's why they make great working dogs.

I think a lot of it is about trust, and giving the dog a context for what you are asking. For herding dogs and dogs from the working group, this is especially true.

This doesn't mean you have to have sheep to get this effect. You can do the same thing by making obedience part of whatever the dog enjoys - incorporate downs and stays into fetch games, sits and fun heeling exercises into walks, big recalls and distance downs into romps and offleash hikes, etc.

kpwlee

Posted : 8/18/2008 8:37:54 AM

Jewlieee
Has anyone else trained very fast moving commands like this?

Yes quick succession works much better for B.

Jewlieee
The dogs don't get bored and start sniffing and such. They stay very attentive and think it's a game.

similar to my experience - we had some very difficult times in our class because he would get so bored and lose interest. Once I realized that he needed to be kept busy we did a lot better.

One thing I also recall is that the more distractions there were the better his focus - if he was asked to perform in chaos his intensity was startling!

Still cracks me up that when I say, "do you want to do some learning" he gets HYPED!

Maxs Mom

Posted : 8/18/2008 8:56:58 AM

YEAH JULIE!!

I find when a dog finds the right "fit" for a job they are so willing to do it. GO NEIKO!!