The Working Border Collie Magazine had an article, not too long ago, about corrections. It was a good starting point to think about such things in my training of my dogs. I've worked very hard to make my correction volume level fit the crime....and have learned to say "hey" in about as many different tones and ways as say...Kathy Knox. Who is the queen of saying "hey"...in my book! A correction, to me, is just saying to the dog....you are not doing what the sheep need, change it. Where as punishment is something very different from a correction, and a possible topic of discussion for later. I personally think corrections are good and I want my dogs to be able to take them without getting sulky, shutting down, or blowing me off and taking measures into their own paws.
Use of a name can be a correction. I've noticed when I say Bella's name it really draws her in. So the other day, I sent her on a big outrun...and she seemed a little thoughtless as she was heading to the top....and I gently said her name.....and pulled her right into a terrible lift! SHAME ON ME!!!!! Not only do I need to learn to give different "levels" of correction....I am learning to look at my corrections.....assess the impact it has on my dog...and then use it appropriately...in the appropriate manner! Gosh, there is so much to think about.
As I mentioned....last weekend I got to work dogs with a fellow handler. We had a long discussion about corrections. The idea was to have specific corrections mean specific things....for example, if the dog is driving and not holding a line....a correction of "no" could be used in this situation. Then "no" would only be used when the dog is not holding a line. In contrast, "hey" could be used when the dog is pushing too hard on a drive (or fetch) and then "hey" is used to correct pace in the pressure point. Name pulls the dog in....so if a dog starts going to wide....or is hesitant on something like penning or shedding.....then the name could be a good tool to pull a dog in on sheep. These are just ideas I have floating around my head. I don't do this...I have never thought of doing something like this.....and it would take MUCH discipline on my part to remember what my corrections mean....especially as I stand at the post in a trial.
So, those ponderings and questions about corrections are top of the list on Bella's page of questions for my Mr. Shannahan lesson coming up! Gosh, if he reads my blog...well, never mind!
I also continue my mental program.......one quote I heard the other day was "other people's opinions of me are none of my business". WOW. That one speaks so much in so few of words. Great thought to think about as I.....
Seize the day!
I will walk you through my verbals for comparing. First is ahah, which means the dog is not balancing to me properly. This usually disappears entirely as the dog gains experience and pace. I sometimes use this in trails when a dog wants to hold one side to hard to the point where he is holding the sheep off the draw and sacrificing the balance to me. I have also mastered the hey in several tones and inlecftions, which I generally use to mean you are doing something you really aught not to and you most likely know better. This is a catch all correction trying to induce the dog to think a little about what he is doing instead of just blindly pushing on. Finally there's What are you doing? this is generally means I am coming to kill you, you have gone beyond naughty to just bad and you are about to have your sheep taken away. I find I use no pretty minimally and I am not sure why, maybe to me the connotations are too negative.
ReplyDeleteI don't use a dog's name ever in a harsh way, like to correct his pace if it is to fast. I feel like he knows who I'm talking to out there. I use it occasionally to get them to walk in on a lift or pen especially if I feel like his eye has hung him up. I use "in here" if I want them to come in after getting to wide or we are working on shedding stuff.
I shoot for minimal as I get confused easily. Basically in trial mode, hey is about all I use, if I have to use what are you doing more than once then I am probably sunk and need to call my run.
Ahh well thanks for giving me something to ponder for the day today.