WICKED WORKING DOGS

 
This topic is one that all of us have dealt with at one point or other. It is when Herding starts to become a chore, or you get frustrated with what you are doing. Or your communication with the dog isn't going well. That word FRUSTRATION creeps in. Then the next step is anger. It creeps up slowly and then you live in a world where all you are is frustrated. It isn't easy to combat. You have to recognize it first. Once you recognize it, you really do need to have help and plans of action.

It's really been hard for me, because the first couple of my years herding with Didgeridoo, was really all about being angry and aggressive with him. Being confrontational and harassing. Was it any wonder that it was exactly what he turned out like? Lots of yelling and screaming, running at him and throwing canes. Was it any wonder that he got worse.

Didgeridoo returned all that energy I was directing at him and sent it back to me. He returned the favor by non-stop barking, racing past me, around me and being just as aggressive to me, as I was to him. Except that he mostly took his frustrations out on the livestock. But, it was "normal" in that, all the students I saw behaved in the same manner. So, I didn't think it wasn't normal, at first. From my first herding instructor I was sent to another. Wow, this really must be normal, because the next place I went to didn't seem all that different from the first place. My criteria for normal herding training was changing. I still thought that there must be a different way for me. So, after awhile, say over a year at the second place, I thought that there must be a different way. I struck out in search of the answer to my question...which led me to Mr. Cappy Pruett.

To this day, it's still hard to not go back to what I learned the first two years of herding. It's gotten much better. I didn't have the tools or knowledge to help me stay focused and read the dog. I still slip into being frustrated with myself and the dog. I now know it doesn't have to overwhelm me. I recognized it and can take immediate steps to halt its progress. I have put in place some really good checklists of things to do when frustration happens. I have evolved to a new level. I just DON'T GO THERE anymore! There are ways to work through it. I have to live up to being worthy of my dogs. That is what makes me strive to be a better partner.

Number one is to have a PLAN to work by.
Have a picture, in your mind, of how you want to behave like (seeing an actually person work is easiest) Who do you want to emulate, a role model.

Have a series of actions that will transfer the anger/frustration and dissipate it. No, not beating the ground until your cane breaks. You need to halt further action. Say your dog takes an Away instead of Come By. Instead of running at your dog yelling, try something else. Like turning away until you are calmer. Then see what happened, maybe it was pressure the dog read and it really should have gone on an Away.

Realize that most of the problems you see, are really created by the handler, and the dog usually only reacts from what you tell it to do, inadvertently or not.

Your main objective is to create a confident dog. You need to realize that and work to helping the dog, not hindering the relationship. When you get emotional, frustrated and angry, the dominant/confident dog gains power and confidence in themselves. They controlled the situation, so they(the dog) is still doing what it wants. They will orchestrate that to happen over and over again. You are helping them achieve it. The unconfident dog will LOSE much more when you get angry or frustrated. Both situations deteriorates the relationship.

Now, don't get confused with standing firm, being assertive and giving the dog a consequence for his behavior. Just not one in frustration or anger. And not when he's not confident.

Here are some examples and a good plan to go by.... If the dog breaks for the sheep before you send him.... say "ut oh...you must want to do this again, let's work on waiting until told" Or you must want to practice sitting/downing etc. ...if the dog swings on an away, instead of go bye, ut oh...let's do that over. Again...probably your body language telling the dog to actually go to the away, even though you thought you signaled go bye.

If the dog takes off like he's got a rocket pack on and shoots into the sheep and hangs on... well that calls for "what the heck happened there" REMEMBER to smile when you say that. It isn't in anger.
Try to figure it out what is going on, instead of reacting and blaming the dog for wanting a snack. They usually don't just do stuff. Dogs react to pressure. Basically it's all caused by us handler's- the dopes at the end of the rope/stock cane. Even though you may feel the need to go screaming at your dog, fling your cane at him or just want to thrash his ass, as he does a fly by and flips a sheep - don't get angry, figure out the problem and set it up again. Figure out why it happened. Think of it as an opportunity to practice it again, go over it, until you understand it.

Dogs are habitual creatures. Like us. It's comforting. They will be pretty predictable about things, so it'll be easy to set it up. They will do something the same way, at the same time over and over again. Pick up on the habit, then you'll start to see it happen sooner and sooner. Until finally, just the way the dog looks is a signal to you, of what will happen 5 minutes later.

If you go after a dog that isn't in a confident frame of mind, you just weaken the dog's confidence - in you, in the environment, in the stock, weakens your training relationship.. because now the dog doesn't trust you - because you didn't help him when he's feeling all this anxiety or being scared. Who can he trust or turn to when he's feeling some misgivings about what you want him to do? Especially after he's just been harassed or gotten yelled from you - his partner. They will have as much trust in you as the cat does when he has to walk by a pack of coyotes.

So, put in your mind to use UT OH, YOU MUST WANT TO DO THAT OVER AGAIN! and use WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED HERE! (smile, smile) When things get really out of control.  The next things you need to work on is..what to do when you still can't keep things under control. The situation is just sliding downwards fast and you see no way out. Just stop what you are doing, go sit on a bucket with your dog and hold him and pet him. OR just leave the ring and go sit down awhile, until you are functioning in away to help your dog. Or put you dog up in a crate while you go by yourself and ponder just what happened.

The next thing to do is TALK to someone about it. You usually get frustrated because you can not get something to happen successfully.

Ask the right person, though. Get advice from someone that has been there, done that. Don't go asking for advice from someone that has the same problem, but has no clue on how to get past it either. All that does is create rationalizing. Oh, it must be the dog's problem or the sheep, or the field or the fencing - on and on and on. If they are having the same problem, and neither of you see a way out - oh then it must be something other than us.

Ask someone with more understanding and experience, someone who has successfully gotten past that. You want to ask a person who is successful, that can give you the tools needed to accomplish the task you need worked on. By asking someone with more knowledge and experience, you can accomplish it without getting angry or frustrated.

Jean and the Wicked Gang