brookcove
Posted : 8/12/2008 9:27:55 AM
The problem is that there's only a couple commands that mean
anything apart from the stock. Lie down, which means stop (distance
down, same as UD training), and recall. Even "down" can be flexible -
it really means, "Make the sheep stop moving." Sometimes the dog
actually has to move to do that if they try to break one way or another.
The other commands:
- Come bye: circle one way while maintaining the same distance from the flock. Usually it's clockwise.
- Away to me: circle the other way while maintaining the same distance from the flock. Usually counter the clock.
- Walk up: increase the speed of the stock (it does NOT mean,
physically move closer to the stock although that is usually required)
- Time, Take Time, Steady, Ho, or dog's name: decrease speed of stock.
Most herding trainers (BC trainers in particular) have no desire to
be big meanies. It really is in our best interest to use the most
non-aversive methods possible since herding itself is tough to begin
with. That's why I cringe when I see someone say, "The world is full
of pain and adversity so we should use aversives to get the dog used to
it." It's not our job to add to the pressure a dog goes under during
herding training, it's to minimize it and give him tools to work
through it with our help.
I do have to say that many "all-breed" trainers I've seen were, in my opinion, terribly harsh.
You
have noted yourself that the dogs get reinforcement from being allowed
to use their instincts. So this is how training usually goes (with
trainers I respect):
- The dog is allowed to interact with the stock and instincts kick
in. Please note, however, not all instincts come on line at the same
time. There's not a "herding instinct" per se, but a mixture of play,
prey, response to pressure, eye, reactivity, desire to control, and
willingness to be a team player. There's a lot more but those are the
ones that we try to get to in the first few sessions.
- Being allowed to use the instincts freely is the dog's greatest
reward. If I taught a dog to down in all situations, regardless of
what was going on, strong enough so he'd do it in the presence of
sheep, that means I have some interest strong than the sheep. The dog
will ignore the sheep. If I tell him, "Good dog!" he thinks not, "I am
a good dog because I laid down here." Rather he connects my praise
with what is foremost in his mind - "I am a good dog because I ignored
these sheep." When sheep sense the dog is not in control, they start
to bully the dog. This is a painful experience for a dog bred to
work.
- So the next step is not to assert control over the dog, but
rather to encourage the dog to assert control over the sheep. I do
this by making sure the sheep are the kind that will reward a dog doing
even vaguely what he's supposed to, and then moving in such a way that
I take up the space where the dog is not supposed to be, and leave open
all the space that the dog IS supposed to be. I may have to correct
the dog for trying to ignore me (taking my space), and for any
roughness on the sheep. Otherwise I will leave all the rest alone.
- Soon the picture is of a dog that is circling around to the other
side of the sheep when I move. At first he does this because I move
towards him and he's been conditioned to move into the space I leave.
But soon he does it because it feels good to be in control! That's the
second level of reinforcement and the whole goal of training - dog in
control, while the person is only there to provide direction. Here you
will see the dog leave play mode and go into a more balanced use of his
instincts. He relaxes, the sheep relax, and the dog is thinking about
sheep, you, and everything.
- Now he's open to suggestion. At first I will ask for behaviors
that are easy because they are natural things to do. Ask for lie down
when the sheep have already come to a stop, ask for the dog to circle
on command while we ourselves change the sheep's direction (or because
the dog has to go that way to maintain control). We will do this for a
long, long time. Ted's two and just start this, though he probably
could have started it six months ago if I hadn't screwed him up and had
to start over. My trainer has a dog who started at five months, and
just now at a year old is getting to the next step. Other dogs may
stay at this level for years, or a lifetime.
In these videos, Ted's working on the next level of training. I
need to be able to put him where I need him at times, without it making
sense to him from the standpoint of instinct. Because he's operated
for so long knowing these commands but only half listening because he
could also rely on his instincts to do the right thing, there's a small
battle for control on occasion. It's well worth the trouble for both
of us though. When he's finished, I'll be able to handle my sheep with
him, in an almost entirely stress-free manner. And there's many
situations where being able to put him where he doesn't understand,
means less stress for him.
There's an old saying that good sheep
make good dogs (that's a holistic approach that's been around for a
century!), and good dogs make good sheep.
There's no way or
reason to pretend that any all-positive reinforcement herding training
exists. But I wanted to show that the herding world is always on the
lookout for less aversive ways to do things.