FishingBanter - View Single Post

rw · April 22nd, 2008, 07:30 PM posted to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly

wrote:
On Apr 20, 8:09 am, rw wrote:

Training collars are not for every dog. My Border Collie, for example,
would probably totally freak out. She's so eager to please that it's not
necessary in any case.

True enough. Our pound-adopted border collie was herding the chickens
a bit too harsh and I tried the collar on him. He did exactly that. He
was (and is) good with the chickens when we're there, but we were
hoping to reach the point where we could leave them together while
we're at work all day (we did this with all our other dogs). No go --
he'd keep them herded up all day, and when they tried to escape he'd
nip their tails, and pull tail feathers out. Now the chickens have
their own day pen, and Barney can't wait until he gets to round them
up and pen them in the morning before we leave.

I recommend setups.

Have your wife drive away in the car, ideally at a time when you would
both be leaving, while you stay hidden quietly inside, watching the dog
through a window. When he gets after the chickens explode out of the
house and read him the riot act. Make it a BIG DEAL.

The idea is to put doubt in his mind about whether he's being watched.
It works like a charm. It's very important to correct a dog promptly. If
you wait until you get home to scold him about mangled chickens he'll
probably never get it.

Your Border Collie may be smart enough to learn to keep track of who's
home. (Mine is.) You'll just have to get sneakier -- maybe recruit
someone else to help.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.