brookcove
Posted : 8/25/2008 3:54:51 PM
I have to say that of all my dogs I find the BCs the most difficult. They pick up the basics with no problem, but you've got to be very consistent and they get odd notions.
It took me forever to teach Gus to "go to your bed". Then I realized that he thought that when I pointed outward and said, "Go to bed" I meant come under where my hand was pointing and sit and wait for his treat. Because I had naturally started, as usual, with pointing right next to his bed.
Cord never did learn "lie down." He thought the only time he should lie down on command was on sheep.
Ben thinks he can only eat if I say, "okay" in an exact tone of voice. God forbid I should have laryngitis that day or something.
Ted won't take food from your hand. I found out it happened when he was five weeks old. Before I got him. His breeder was having trouble with possessiveness over food with him, and used the trick of teaching him to only take food on command. She would offer him food, then close her hand if he grabbed for it. He's so sensitive to what you want, that he got the idea that taking food from hands was a no-no. It doesn't matter how wonderful it is or how hungry he is, he will not take any tidbit from anyone's hand.
This is why about 50% of the Border Collies that come into rescue, get some fantasy story about being "beaten" attached to them - they get weird notions.
Compared to the BCs, Zhi, Lynn and Maggie are so cut and dried. Insert treat, output behavior.