Norm and Vickie Close are long-time Border Collie trainers and handling instructors from Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, who have competed in trials extensively and successfully. Norm is a respected and sought-after clinician and judge. Vickie owns Farm-Diggity, (FarmDiggity.com,) an online store “with unique and high-quality products for rural folks.”
Here’s what Norm and Vickie have to say about training sheepdogs.
Here is what we do: If our pup doesn’t come to us, we go to them. If our dog won’t lie down, we go forward through the sheep and insist. If our dog is tight, we march toward them. Rarely does this get us the desired result.
What we should do is back up. When I help people with their young dogs, I spend a great amount of time dragging them backward by their shirt. It’s one of the most common mistakes I see. We all want to go forward to help or fix a situation when we really need to be moving backward to take the pressure off of the dog.
Instead, if you moved into a position to help the dog, and instantly backed up when they gave to the pressure, the dog would not only realize that they were right to widen out but would also have time to do so, easily getting to balance and holding his side, confident that you also have yours. If you are always walking forward or worse, through the sheep, to correct the dog that won’t stop, you are actually making it harder for the dog to stop.
From the dog’s perspective, you are saying stop while begging his instinct to do what comes naturally and go to balance! If instead, you continue to move backward, holding your side and using your voice, instead of your body, (given he knows the command,) your dog will be in a position to want to actually want to stop.
Lastly, when a dog won’t come to you, yes, you need to get their attention, but then immediately move back to release the pressure. Taking off the pressure lets the dog know what was wrong, and more importantly, what was right. Often times it is the helpful, kind-hearted people that will unknowingly lean on their dogs with forward body language, resulting in constant pressure.
Similarly, a horse that has been ridden in the same manner can become tough-mouthed and sour from the constant pressure, even if the pressure is from a mere child. Likewise, putting a constant amount of pressure with no release, can make a dog confused, steal their joy and make them harder to handle than they naturally would be. So remember, in order to go forward, it is imperative that you back up!