Hi John
I don't know if you remember giving me some advice about my Springer Heidi, the problem was she was nervous around livestock of any description and traffic, following your advice, she is now bombproof with traffic, but any time there are cows or horses in view, even in the far distance, she becomes very submissive and the closer we get to them, the more reluctant she is to go any further untill close up she is absolutely terrified. Shes never had a bad experiance with any of them, and when they're not in sight she's quite happy to eat there poo. I've tried gradually decreasing the distance between us and the problem walking around the edge of the field away from the cows, but I don't seem to make any progress with her. If she's off the lead, it can be quite funny watching her making a very long detour at what she presumes is a safe distance, to meet us on the other side of the field, except of course at that distance I have no real control over her. I did try introducing to her calves hoping that she wouldn't find there size so intimidating (with the farmers permision of course) but even those scared her witless,

Best regards

Robert

Any news on the book yet:)

Hi Robert. Yes, of course I remember you :) Glad to hear that Heidi’s nerves are improving. It’s amazing how an improvement in one aspect of nerves can help in another area.

I find it’s important to bring a dog on slowly in a controlled environment. Anna was introduced to horses at a gymkhana at 12 weeks old from the safety of my arms. Then came the viewing of cattle, on the lead whilst walking along the road beside a field, no fuss, no bother, I just treat the cattle as if they are not there. And so we progressed from there. At one time last season I was standing in the middle of a solid circle of about 30 sheep all stamping their feet at her. I think that because she’s yellow they thought she was a lamb.

So, what to do in Heidi’s case? First off, you must treat it as totally blasé. Totally unimportant! How is her sit stay? As you have the permission of the farmer I would leave her in the sit whilst you walk a little closer to the calves and then back to her. Without words of encouragement or anything I would call her up to heel and continue walking away. That’s enough for one day! Gradually over a period of time you go closer to the cattle. This means that you will be leaving her for longer periods of time. Each time you walk back to her you call her up to heel as you pass her and continue away.

The next stage from there would be that on returning to her you would call her up to heel just BEFORE you get to her and if you have done the previous stage enough times and she has seen that nothing has happened to you then she should not be too concerned about coming the odd couple of foot closer. Again, gradually over a period of time call her earlier and earlier but don’t attempt to call her right up to the cattle, it’s just not necessary! If she was working then the excitement of the occasion would take her closer if needed.

If you can get her reasonably happy around one kind of livestock you will no doubt find others are easier. We have cattle early in the season changing over to sheep around Christmas time and although Anna is use to most things she is always under orders around all livestock. She is either, walking at heel, sitting at heel or retrieving. Never EVER running free.

As to the book, I think it is on hold at the moment until Lucy’s baby arrives. After all, gundog training books come a poor second to baby Johnquil

Best wishes, John

Thanks for that John.
I've given it a go, its going to be a slow job this I think. Normally her heel is pretty good, but while the cows are in sight, she will do a stay, but she is constantly looking around as if she's keeping her escape routes in view, when I give her heel she does a detour to meet up with me well away from the cows. So I've been putting her in a stay and pretending to be busy round the cows, I was thinking if I do this long enough she may get used to having them in view.
Another strange thing she's started doing, not related to livestock, when I give her a single pip on the whistle she stops as she should do, sits down but then won't except any other commands, so I have to walk over to her and release her, other wise she just sits and watchs me walk off in to the distance.

Thanks again John for your help, it really is very appreciated

Robert

Have you been returning to her to praise her? if so then that's your answer, she's waiting for your return. Try stopping her when she's reasonably close to you, Give her your release command and then lots of the verbal praise as you walk AWAY from her.

There is always a "Working Distance" beyond which a dog ceases to comply or becomes uncertain. Get inside this distance and it all works, outside and it fails.

Regards, John