First herding class!!

BrennasMom · 08-12-2008, 08:18 PM

I'm so excited, Brenna do SO great. She is very skittish and jumpy, especially in new situations. I thought maybe she'd show interest or at least sniff the sheep (lol) but wow she took to them like a pro! Or at least, she looked like a pro, but what do I know? The last sheep I was around was at a petting zoo as a kid.

I was pretty pleased with how she did. The trainer said she's had a lot of dogs gain confidence from herding. It's $50/session (ouch) but I may just have to go on the ramen noodles diet so she can do her thing more often. hehe I only wish I had pics/videos, but of course I was in there working with her, no time for playing around with a camera.

We used a rattler on a stick to keep her from getting too close, she caught on pretty quickly to it, the trainer even said that some dogs that show more confidence are unsure of themselves with the sheep and can't handle the rattler thing.

I guess I better get a 2nd job!

AbbyK9 · 08-13-2008, 12:23 AM

How great, BrennasMom!

I hope you can stick with it, especially if Brenna really enjoys it.

Did you go to Keepstone?

BrennasMom · 08-13-2008, 06:37 AM

Yes I did, its a bit of a hike out there but at least its a nice scenic drive.

TrackingPuppy · 08-13-2008, 09:42 AM

That is so exciting, well done you two.

It is great to see when you and your dog click. Get someone to video the lesson, you can critique where you should of done something different and where Brenna was working and understanding her job. Have fun and watch out for bowling sheep.

JenM66 · 08-13-2008, 09:44 AM

WAY TO GO! What "style" are you doing? How long is your session? How many times does she go in with the sheep? Gracie's having her 3rd lesson on Thursday. Her lessons on paper are half an hour but we're there about an hour or so, she works the sheep, comes out to rest, works again. I took video but cannot convert it to a format to put it on photo bucket.

mspiker03 · 08-13-2008, 11:39 AM

Glad the lessons went well! I know what you meant about getting a second job just so the dogs can herd....sigh....It sure gets expensive!!!!

BrennasMom · 08-13-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By: JenM66WAY TO GO! What "style" are you doing? How long is your session? How many times does she go in with the sheep? Gracie's having her 3rd lesson on Thursday. Her lessons on paper are half an hour but we're there about an hour or so, she works the sheep, comes out to rest, works again. I took video but cannot convert it to a format to put it on photo bucket.

I'm not sure, I'm admittedly clueless when it comes to herding. I need to get some reading material!

The sessions are 30 mins long, for the first lesson she went in twice. First on a long training line, and second off leash and I used a rattler thing to keep her from getting too close to them.

JenM66 · 08-13-2008, 06:46 PM

How many sheep are in the pen with you or is she working outside the penned sheep?

BrennasMom · 08-14-2008, 02:35 PM

3 sheep, she was in the pen, but it was a fairly small pen.

JenM66 · 08-14-2008, 09:03 PM

Then you're most likely doing AKC. That's great. Many people will debate which style is better for GSDs. I say whatever they are enjoying is all that matters. Gracie is doing AKC - she's progressed to the bigger pen and is moving the sheep along. It's a great sport, isn't it?!!!

08-12-2008, 08:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
BrennasMom Master Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern VA Posts: 631	First herding class!! I'm so excited, Brenna do SO great. She is very skittish and jumpy, especially in new situations. I thought maybe she'd show interest or at least sniff the sheep (lol) but wow she took to them like a pro! Or at least, she looked like a pro, but what do I know? The last sheep I was around was at a petting zoo as a kid. I was pretty pleased with how she did. The trainer said she's had a lot of dogs gain confidence from herding. It's $50/session (ouch) but I may just have to go on the ramen noodles diet so she can do her thing more often. hehe I only wish I had pics/videos, but of course I was in there working with her, no time for playing around with a camera. We used a rattler on a stick to keep her from getting too close, she caught on pretty quickly to it, the trainer even said that some dogs that show more confidence are unsure of themselves with the sheep and can't handle the rattler thing. I guess I better get a 2nd job! __________________ Brenna: GSD Born 7/16/06 Mollie: Beagle Est. 4-5 yrs

08-13-2008, 12:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
AbbyK9 Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North Country, NY Posts: 12,442	Re: First herding class!! How great, BrennasMom! I hope you can stick with it, especially if Brenna really enjoys it. Did you go to Keepstone? __________________ Malinois Ronja - fastest K-9 in VT =^^= Finn, Ratchet & Ollie Blog - Facebook - Store

08-13-2008, 06:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
BrennasMom Master Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern VA Posts: 631	Re: First herding class!! Yes I did, its a bit of a hike out there but at least its a nice scenic drive. __________________ Brenna: GSD Born 7/16/06 Mollie: Beagle Est. 4-5 yrs

08-13-2008, 09:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
TrackingPuppy Master Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 711	Re: First herding class!! That is so exciting, well done you two. It is great to see when you and your dog click. Get someone to video the lesson, you can critique where you should of done something different and where Brenna was working and understanding her job. Have fun and watch out for bowling sheep. __________________ Roxi - Wonder Dog Sena - The Gator Mariah - Scare-dy Puppy 99-10 Cookie - Social Butterfly 99-08 Liz

08-13-2008, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
JenM66 Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 7,939	Re: First herding class!! WAY TO GO! What "style" are you doing? How long is your session? How many times does she go in with the sheep? Gracie's having her 3rd lesson on Thursday. Her lessons on paper are half an hour but we're there about an hour or so, she works the sheep, comes out to rest, works again. I took video but cannot convert it to a format to put it on photo bucket. __________________ Jen, proudly owned by Gracie (1/18/06), CGC, TD, TT, PThttp://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...%202/sheep.gif

08-13-2008, 11:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
mspiker03 Knighted Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So-Cal/Nor-Cal Posts: 2,420	Re: First herding class!! Glad the lessons went well! I know what you meant about getting a second job just so the dogs can herd....sigh....It sure gets expensive!!!! __________________ Levi vom Grunenfeld, CGC, HT, PT, HSAs, AHBA titles: RLFI (Ranch Large Flock), HTDI (Herding Trial Dog), HRDI (Herding Ranch Dog) Leyna vom Grunenfeld, HT, PT, HSAs Visit us at http://www.dogster.com/?435734

08-13-2008, 06:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
JenM66 Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 7,939	Re: First herding class!! How many sheep are in the pen with you or is she working outside the penned sheep? __________________ Jen, proudly owned by Gracie (1/18/06), CGC, TD, TT, PThttp://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...%202/sheep.gif

08-14-2008, 02:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
BrennasMom Master Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern VA Posts: 631	Re: First herding class!! 3 sheep, she was in the pen, but it was a fairly small pen. __________________ Brenna: GSD Born 7/16/06 Mollie: Beagle Est. 4-5 yrs

08-14-2008, 09:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
JenM66 Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 7,939	Re: First herding class!! Then you're most likely doing AKC. That's great. Many people will debate which style is better for GSDs. I say whatever they are enjoying is all that matters. Gracie is doing AKC - she's progressed to the bigger pen and is moving the sheep along. It's a great sport, isn't it?!!! __________________ Jen, proudly owned by Gracie (1/18/06), CGC, TD, TT, PThttp://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...%202/sheep.gif

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