slowing down the outrun

[JenM66]

Gracie is back into herding after taking off 9 months to heal her back. Last week was her first time back and she was great. Her trainer worked her in the HT/PT pen she has to remind Gracie what to do. Today we were in the big field. Gracie is doing really well. Come by, away, walk up, stop/down are all pretty good. She's walking the sheep through the fences (or whatever it's called ops. Her biggest problem is her start - she is SOOOOOOOOOO excited to see the sheep that she races at 100 MPH to start and then gets all tired out. Any ideas of how to slow her down? Get that initial excitement out? Her trainer said everything else is moving so well she'd hate to see her fail due to her start - once she gets that energy out, she settles in and does well.

Looking for suggestions.

[mspiker03]

We have to constantly have our dogs stop and sit, then walk up, then stop and sit, then walk up. It slows them down.

[mspiker03]

too late to edit - but that you should (obviously) use whatever Gracie's stop is (I know some who train a standing stop); we usually do sit and some do a down.

[JenM66]

That's what her trainer is doing - constant stops to get it through her thick head

[mspiker03]

and then the judges tell you that you are micro managing your dog too much

[JenM66]

Well, hopefully this will get the point across to her and by trial time she'll have slowed down!! She just loves those sheepie sheepies!!! (at least she didn't try to bite at all this week!)

[Timberlinek9]

Hi Jenn, glad to see your back into herding. Is your trainer do full outruns or shortened outruns. You need to start your outruns aroundthe B cone and gradually work your way back to the C cone.She need to work on slowing her down stopping/slowing her by voice and stick. You don't want to shut down her drive by downing her all the time. Working in small areas also helps. It all takes time.

[JenM66]

Thanks Michael. We're glad to be back too. Unfortunately Burlington has canceled it's fall trial in Shamong this year I thought we might be ready by then but we'll wait until spring.

[sleachy]

I agree with Michael...I would not continually ask her to lie down. That would eventually make my dog explode out of frustration! LOL

The trainer I worked with brought the sheep out into a large fenced pen (either by another experienced dog or someone with corn). The handler and dog are at the other end of the pen. The handler sends the dog and if the dog barrels at the sheep, obviously the sheep are going to run. Someone opens the gate and the sheep run back into the holding area. Now, you need someone who is QUICK with the gate who will NOT let the dog in.

By the end of the session, the dogs have figured out that going slower and paying attention to their handler gets them closer to the sheep. I have seen this method work on several dogs.

[JenM66]

We kept her on her leash a little longer and that helped this week. Next week we may try using a long line. She's doing so well in all aspects....even penned the sheep with no trouble this week. Remember at her PT Michael, how long it took for her to pen them because she wouldn't hold the stay? Penned them and walked away this week Now just the outrun!!!!!