28. Commands Pt 1 cont. My commands:

The commands I use are similar to traditional commands. The difference may be how I use some of them.
I also have added some commands and again I will explain why and how I use them in a future post.

The key to any command is using the right command for what you want. This may seem obvious but I have seen in
competitions a handler wanting the dog to go to the right and telling it to go left. Alto timing is critical. No sense
telling the dog to stop before the command you want the dog to do is complete and as well as giving commands to late.
The final key is consistency.

Here are my commands:

Away (away to me): the counter clockwise command.
Bye (go bye): the clockwise command
Walk up: This is used to push the stock to or away from me
walk in: This command is used when turning stock or when shedding

get around: I use this command when I want to stop the stocks forward movement and for the dog to stay in that position.

 

 

 

there: Is my stop command. It is a stop and it isn’t!
stay: Just as it is. I use this command usually after the “there” command.
sit: This command is used when I want the dog to stay in 1 position for
an extended time. The dog usually lies down after a period. I do not teach my dog to lie down.

In future post I will go through each one of the commands and tell you how and when I use it and how I usually train my
dogs for the command.

See you in my next post.

Related:
6. Starting a new pup or tuning up an older dog
5. Levels

27. Streaming Video – Calgary Stampede

The following is an email I sent to the Calgary Stampede commenting on their streaming video coverage of the World Stock Dog Trial held during the 2013 Calgary Stampede

A brief comment on your coverage of the 2014 Stampede stock dog trial. As a stock dog person, rancher, trial organizer, announcer and 2 time competitor a number of years ago, I enjoy watching the trials when I can get to Calgary during Stampede. I was very pleased to see that you were streaming the 2014 trial as I was unable to be in Calgary at that time. I aside from the performance of the competitors in 2014, can’t blame every thing on the sheep, I would like to make a couple of comments about the streaming video coverage:
Showing just the dog running along the boards and then interacting with the sheep, all close in, does not give a true perspective of what is actually going on. After 2 or 3 runs it becomes very boring. This is a team “sport” and when you do not see half of the team you really have “no” idea what is actually happening. Coverage of the handler and the dog where possible and as much as possible makes the trial for those watching that much more interesting and engaging.

My second observation has to do with the announcing particularly for the streaming of the trial. A steady commentary brings to life the intricacy and the nuances of the action going on in the ring. When an announcer points out a subtlety of a dogs movement it peaks the interest of the watcher and in some instances the light comes on and the watcher will say, “now that makes sense”. When I am announcing a trial I like to sit in the audience and describe the scene as it is seen by the watchers. I have had excellent comments on this approach and even answering questions for those around me. In the 2014 trial I don’t know if it would have helped. Like I said before don’t only blame the sheep.

I enjoyed some of the coverage and would like to say thank you for streaming the trial. As it can be watched world wide I suspect that it could be another valuable tool in your advertising marketing plan and “cleaning up the presentation”, well who knows where it could lead.

I hope that you will find some of this useful and if you wish to continue the conversation about these topics or about the running of the trial, I would be more then pleased to discuss them further and at your convenience.

 

Related Post: 15. World Stock Dog trial Calgary Stampede

26. Commands – Part 1

There are two levels of commands, obedience commands, (sit, stay, recall) and control commands, (such as a left, and right command, a driving or retrieving command) and variations of these commands.

The commands I’m going to talk about in this post are control commands. You should not have to use these commands to train your dog to herd if the dog has natural herding abilities and a strong instinct. For those who have dogs that are not particularly strong in this area then you will have to use these commands eventually to train your dog to herd properly.

Why do we need commands? If you’re sending your dog to find and retrieve stock such as cattle, or sheep, then you will have to have some form of directional commands. If they find the stock then you will need to control the dog to give instructions in the way you want the dog to deal with the stock such as bringing them back to you. Dogs that have a very strong instinct will, in most cases, start to bring the stock back to you, but if they are strong heading dog once the stock start moving than the dog will want to head them and stop them from moving. Therefore we need a command to tell the dog to bring them to us.

In North America the general commands that are used are a left and right command, a walk up command, and a stop command. This is usually refered to a started dog. It does not matter what word you use in giving these command but what is important is that they are consistent. With four commands most handlers can control the movement of stock in a direction that they want.

The commands:
away to me – is the command given to move the dog in a counter clockwise direction.

 

 

 

come by (go by) – is the command that is used to move the dog in a clockwise direction.
walk up – is the command that is used to direct the dog to push the stock to you or in a direction that you want the stock to move.

lie down (stand, there) – is the command used to stop the dog.

These commands can be used individually or can be combined, or variations of these commands, to achieve the same purpose. For example, you could send your dog out in a counter clockwise movement have the dog go part way and then give the command to walk up and effectively start to turn the stock to move in a different direction and then give the stop command when the stock start to turn. ie. The command would be given; away to me then followed by walk up when the stock start to turn, then give a stop command.

 

 

 

A number of years ago I was putting on a herding demonstration with a good friend at a fall fair. We asked the crowd if anybody had a dog and would like to bring the dog out and just show us how their dog works. A gentleman came with his dog, I believe he was a Kiwi, and he sent his dog by using the command “get around”. Now the dog normally goes in a counterclockwise motion, preferred direction, but he wanted his dog to go in the clockwise position. He hollered at as dog “no dummy the other way” which the dog obediently changed the direction of travel and picked up the sheep and brought them to him. The dog did it in a very efficient and effective manner which just goes to show it does not matter the commands you use as long as the dog knows what you want.

I will explore these commands in more detail in a future post and recommend some additional commands which can make your hearding life a little easier for both you and the dog.