Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

Hey Show Heifer - had a couple of other thoughts as I was dragging my sorry butt thru the cold and snow!

Norm may not be able to distinguish when you want him to "work" and when he can play - garybobs ideas about tying him to ya when you are doing chores is a good one; it might also be useful to crate him when you can't supervise him (outside so he can watch) - dogs don't do grey well - they like black and white - clear distinctions.

I also use the (weird sound) eech eech  - I don't say no, I start with a low eech and if they don't respond it gets louder - they respond really well to this

I also teach a "settle" command - which basically means stop whatever you are doing and lay down/relax; like deep I teach a "leave it" but very gently with a soft dog - Norm sounds a little soft and probably very responsive to the tone of your voice

and the piece de resistance - the dragon lady version of Karen Pryors Don't Shoot the Dog...she was one of the original positive reinforcement clicker training kind of people - trained dolphins (may be harder to force a dolphin to do something than a cow?) ...any how I don't use a clicker (you have to have one and you have to be coordinated) but a word - and the word becomes the reward - ie you train the dog to understand that the word means good things (I can get into more depth later - or maybe actually find you  a real resource!)

OK so say you want Norm to sit - when he sits accidentally you give him a treat and say the word - pretty soon he gets the idea that if he sits (and you then introduce the word sit) he gets a goodie. That is the pure way of doing it. Most dog trainers don't wait for the behavior they "encourage it and regard.

You can use any word you want but you don't want it to be a common word like OK - everytiime you accidentally say OK the dog thinks you are talking to him!   In obedience some people use the word "ready" because the first thing the judge says to you is "Are you ready" and you say "Ready " as you look at the dog

Anyhow - this so called clicker training is really fun, the dogs enjoy it, and you can see the little lightbulb go off when they finally get the concept, Sometimes they go thru their whole repertoire of tricks and things because they so want to please you - my Terv will spin, whirl, back, crawl, sit, down , thru, up, around in a wild variety of sequences until she gets it right - it helps to have a good sense of humor!

It also works for horses (there is actually a clicker book for horses that is pretty interesting) and cows - I haven't tried it on the barn cats, but I am not optimistic! Have fun, DL

Any one with proven breeding programs for mousing abilities and the intelligence to stay out of warm enginges on cold days? Every good barn cat we've ever had met an early demise when I started the truck when chores were over.  Currently have one with only half a tail.

Here's an update on what "Trained" Cowdogs are worth at the Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic:

The 16th Annual Nebraska Cattlemen�s Classic kicked off the week with a Working Dogs Sale.  The standing-room-only crowd removed their hats for a moment of silence to honor the late auctioneer, Stanley Stout.  The auctioneer, Seth Weichaar, then began the sale with the Supreme Champion Working Dog, consigned by Gerald Henzler.  The Supreme Champion Dog sold for $2,800 to Mick Jameson of Minden, NE. 

Reserve Champion Working Dog, consigned by Ruby Starke sold for $1,800 to Mark Gall of Clarkson, NE.  4th Place Working Dog and Overall High-Selling Dog, consigned by Tim Gifford, sold for $3,100 to Barton Wherritt of Custer City, OK.  5th Place Working Dog, consigned by Owen Seamann sold for $1,750 to Neal Hansen of Denver, CO.  6th Place Working Dog, consigned by Reich Ranch, sold for $1,700 to Darren Stevenson of Cairo, NE.  7th Place Working Dog, consigned by Preston Neugebauer, sold for $2,000 to Tangy Bates. 

i remembered this thread when i saw this relating not to work and play, but to working 3 sheep vs. the yard.  there are a few good videos on stock dogs with geese, sheep and cattle.  i know it's on the west coast, but there is an awesome stock dog trial at the red bluff bull sale every year as well as a sale.  a guy that does good every year is Roger  Urricelqui
 who has kelpies, my favorite dog.


http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?s=4f00ce9be0d903869cf2f478fc859707&showtopic=61717&st=30&p=977567&#entry977567

here's Roger's
 website
http://www.kelpiesinc.com/urricelqui/urricelqui1.htm