how to control herding?

• how to control herding? badrap Posted : 3/7/2007 3:04:26 PM i know i'm fighting an uphill battle against breeding and instincts here, but if anyone has some advice on how to manage herding in the little red heeler i'm "fostering" right now, it would be appreciated. today at the dog park, "warren" was herding varitek every time he picked up more than a walk- nipping at his heels, pulling out his legs, etc.  even after tek gave him a huge head butt that knocked warren over, he was right back at it (i know, i know, that's what he's supposed to do[])  but poor old tek just wanted to run around!  i finally had to leash warren so i could play ball with tek. so, i would like to try to manage this because i'm concerned it might affect his adoptability- his social skills at the dog park are maybe going to get him in trouble. LIKE 12 REPLIES 286 VIEWS LAST POST SPIRITDOGS Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• denise m Posted : 3/7/2007 3:30:48 PM I will pass on the advise that was given to me. "To train a dog not to herd, you first have to train him to herd." It's like training a dog to stop barking, by teaching him to 'bark' on command - followed by 'quiet' on command. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• badrap Posted : 3/7/2007 3:39:14 PM good point.  i guess he needs some direction for that instinct.  books?  links?  plain old training tips? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mrv Posted : 3/7/2007 4:50:58 PM Respectfully, that is not herding behavior, that is pain in the butt behavior.  It is about control and to an extent prey drive.  Basic obedience and a cease and desist command make more sense.     0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Brenda Hicks Posted : 3/7/2007 4:53:20 PM Try [linkhttp://www.cattledog.com]www.cattledog.com[/link]  or [email=ACD-L-REQUEST@apple.ease.lsoft.com]ACD-L-REQUEST@apple.ease.lsoft.com[/email] Good luck with your foster.I wish I had some advice for you. I have two red heelers.Frosty loves to play ball.Myrt could care less about ball but she will chase Frosty till she finds something interesting or Frosty gives her a nip.     0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• badrap Posted : 3/7/2007 5:02:59 PM okay, maybe not herding behavior.... i just haven't really been around too many herding dogs and i've never really seen another dog do that before, so i just assumed that it was some kind of attempt to herd him, which, if i may say, seems to be about control, which could be some kind of dominant issue...   we've been working on basic obedience, which he's been quick to pick up.  he'll do sit, down, and stay with fair reliability for a complete beginner.   but thanks for the reality check[] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mrv Posted : 3/7/2007 5:06:14 PM you are right, herding is about control... but it also requires a delicate balance between three entities.  The herdsman, the herder and the herdee....what you are describing is an on going thing in my house,  "play with me, do it my way, Im bored, Im gonna get you.....etc." 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• badrap Posted : 3/7/2007 5:07:01 PM one more thing:  did i do the right thing by leashing "warren" and removing him from play?  or, barring a "stop" command, was there a more appropriate action? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Chuffy Posted : 3/7/2007 5:27:18 PM Sorry this doesn't answer your immediate question but this is a point that might not have been raised yet (other than the suggestion of teaching him to herd) and that is:  What outlet are you currently giving him for this bhvr?  Giving him a suitable outlet will make teaching him to stop doing it when you don't want easier - or dare I say it, possible. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• badrap Posted : 3/7/2007 5:34:32 PM my dogs and i typically go for multi-mile daily runs, but warren won't run with us- he seems unnerved by it somehow, which i guess i understand because 2 days ago he didn't know how to walk on a leash.   i was hoping to get him to run full throttle at the dog park, but i'm not sure what to do to entice him to do that, since he seems only to want to chase.  i can't get him engaged in a retrieving game just yet.  i'm trying to spend a minimum of 30 minutes per day working on obedience training with him as well.   what kind of outlet did you mean? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mrv Posted : 3/7/2007 6:14:13 PM In my opinion perfect solution,,, prevents the practice of inappropriate behavior.  You can always pay attention through quick position change commands.  The praise and attention will be helpful and he will have something to occupy his attention. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• badrap Posted : 3/8/2007 5:31:03 PM went to the dog park this morning, and every time he got to chasing, i "captured" him and put him on his leash for the next few ball tosses.  by the time we left he was only doing it like 20% of the time, which i would say is a vast improvement.    thanks for the suggestions and encouragement! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 3/8/2007 8:07:40 PM Not having him practice the bad behavior is half the battle, but the other half is "leave it - come", or some other "shut-off switch" that you can teach him. [] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login