Herding...Agility

equinelvr1992 · 06-05-2007, 11:28 AM

hi everyone..
I currently have a 9 month old blue heeler female named Mattie. She is a total doll. She was hit by a car in late April, and broke her back left leg and injured her right hip while she cracked her pelvis..

She has almost fully recovered. She wobbles a little bit, but the vet said that would go away in the end of june..She had to have 8 different vets work on her and the total cost of everything was $3,800-$4,000!!!! YIKES!! Well, anyway..I had started training her for agility and she would jump when told and would shoot through a tunnel with all her heart. Now, I have to train her all over again..I am also wondering where some people bought their agility sets.I was going to a friends' home to use theirs for Mattie, but they got out of agility and sold it all

So, I would like to go out and get some. She also has champion herding dogs in her bloodlines.. I am wanting to start taking her to another friends' home. He has over 60+ acres of land, and he ropes/cuts/ect... He always has calves, that he uses his blue heeler on.. I was wondering how anyone who has trained their dog to herd, has introduced them to the cattle, and or taught them the commands. I'm thinking that we should start out with something smaller, like maybe sheep...But our friend just takes his pup out at 10 months old, shows them the cattle and lets them go..

I really don't want to do that because I really don't want my Mattie girl to get hurt again.. But our friend uses those electric shock collars for his blue heeler..I don't want to use that on Mattie either..Any suggestions would really help!!!
thanks

**gbarmranch** · 06-05-2007, 11:33 AM

We trained one blue heeler to herd, but somehow whe could never make the distinction between cattle and horses - so we had to rehome her. Out newest heeler/aussie mix, Sparky, we have discourged from herding, and at 18 months, seems to have little or no interest in the horses. Cats, however, are fair game

equinelvr1992 · 06-05-2007, 11:39 AM

Same with Mattie, cats are fair game. She doesn't bother our horses at all. She's the queen of the barn, at least thats what she thinks. Maggie has other ideas. She has seen some cattle when we have drove by some fields and she wants to get at them...

**gbarmranch** · 06-05-2007, 11:41 AM

Nature taking over.. But if you focus her on agility like you have been, it sure take care of the cattle issue

draftrider227 · 06-05-2007, 11:50 AM

Hi,

If I were you... I'd take it VERY VERY slow. Given the extent of her injuries, she needs a long time healing and slow physical therapy to get her back up to speed. If possible daily swimming is the best therapy possible. If you have lakes or ponds nearby, I'd take her there and work on obedience, fetching a toy on land and water and really work at getting her physically strong before you add in jumping, twisting, turning, etc.. It might well take a year of physical training on a gradual scale to get her ready to do more vigorus activity. If at any point during her conditioning she seems painful or comes up lame, stop and have her seen by your vet. I have a freind that has 2 yrs and over 10,000 dollars into rehab of her Cattle dog after she ruptured her ACL . After bringing her back from the injury, she still wasn't the same and ended up doing a career change. Now she is a therapy dog and loves it!

As far as agility equipment goes, I made mine out of PVC and ordered a tunnel off Ebay. There are a number of sites with free plans for equipment and supplies can be bought at Home Depot.

After having a dog with an injury there is no way I would put a novice dog in with cattle! I have started all sorts of breeds on ducks with out any issues. It is A LOT easier to control a dog with small livestock rather than large. I'd suggest you find a trainer with livestock that could work with you and get your dog started. There are people that work with shock collars, but if you want to compete you may have a problem. Frequently, dogs trained with collars know when they are on and when they aren't...

and use it to their advantage. There are many other methods out there. If you tell me your area, I'd be happy to try and find someone to recommend you to. Before all that though, I'd deal with her health issues first. Maybe take her to obedience class first and see how she comes along.

All the best,
Sheila

starry lane · 06-05-2007, 12:03 PM

I agree with Draftrider. Agility can be very stressful on the joints of a healthy dog, let alone one that has had as severe injuries as your dog. I would start back very slowly and see how she handles it. She may very well not be able to compete in Agility.
Runner Ducks would be great to start her out on. We use them to train our puppies. They never challenge the dogs like an onery ewe might do, and give our puppies, as they mature, the confidence they need to move on to other livestock.
It is far less expensive to make your own Agility equipment, but for those people who just don't like to bother, J and J Dog Supplies carries all of the equipment for Agility, Rally-O, Tracking. Flyball and Obedience.

Linda

farmergal · 06-05-2007, 02:02 PM

You are ever so lucky to have your dog still.

I lost mine. She broke her back and was paralyzed. She was an Aussie. We were just starting to introduce her to our goats at the age of 10 months. I had her on a long lead so I had some control. The idea is you want the dog to herd not attack it's pray be it a cow or a duck or whatever.
Benny my other Aussie took down a goat when he was young. Grabbed it by the throat and pulled it to the ground. I put him on his back in a submissive mode and made the goat stand over him until he submitted to the goat. He hasn't tried to kill another one since. Now if I can only catch the cat he chased.

06-05-2007, 11:28 AM
equinelvr1992 Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 11	Herding...Agility hi everyone.. I currently have a 9 month old blue heeler female named Mattie. She is a total doll. She was hit by a car in late April, and broke her back left leg and injured her right hip while she cracked her pelvis.. She has almost fully recovered. She wobbles a little bit, but the vet said that would go away in the end of june..She had to have 8 different vets work on her and the total cost of everything was $3,800-$4,000!!!! YIKES!! Well, anyway..I had started training her for agility and she would jump when told and would shoot through a tunnel with all her heart. Now, I have to train her all over again..I am also wondering where some people bought their agility sets.I was going to a friends' home to use theirs for Mattie, but they got out of agility and sold it all So, I would like to go out and get some. She also has champion herding dogs in her bloodlines.. I am wanting to start taking her to another friends' home. He has over 60+ acres of land, and he ropes/cuts/ect... He always has calves, that he uses his blue heeler on.. I was wondering how anyone who has trained their dog to herd, has introduced them to the cattle, and or taught them the commands. I'm thinking that we should start out with something smaller, like maybe sheep...But our friend just takes his pup out at 10 months old, shows them the cattle and lets them go.. I really don't want to do that because I really don't want my Mattie girl to get hurt again.. But our friend uses those electric shock collars for his blue heeler..I don't want to use that on Mattie either..Any suggestions would really help!!! thanks

06-05-2007, 11:33 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,584	We trained one blue heeler to herd, but somehow whe could never make the distinction between cattle and horses - so we had to rehome her. Out newest heeler/aussie mix, Sparky, we have discourged from herding, and at 18 months, seems to have little or no interest in the horses. Cats, however, are fair game __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

06-05-2007, 11:39 AM
equinelvr1992 Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 11	Same with Mattie, cats are fair game. She doesn't bother our horses at all. She's the queen of the barn, at least thats what she thinks. Maggie has other ideas. She has seen some cattle when we have drove by some fields and she wants to get at them...

06-05-2007, 11:41 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,584	Nature taking over.. But if you focus her on agility like you have been, it sure take care of the cattle issue __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

06-05-2007, 11:50 AM
draftrider227 Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 210	Hi, If I were you... I'd take it VERY VERY slow. Given the extent of her injuries, she needs a long time healing and slow physical therapy to get her back up to speed. If possible daily swimming is the best therapy possible. If you have lakes or ponds nearby, I'd take her there and work on obedience, fetching a toy on land and water and really work at getting her physically strong before you add in jumping, twisting, turning, etc.. It might well take a year of physical training on a gradual scale to get her ready to do more vigorus activity. If at any point during her conditioning she seems painful or comes up lame, stop and have her seen by your vet. I have a freind that has 2 yrs and over 10,000 dollars into rehab of her Cattle dog after she ruptured her ACL . After bringing her back from the injury, she still wasn't the same and ended up doing a career change. Now she is a therapy dog and loves it! As far as agility equipment goes, I made mine out of PVC and ordered a tunnel off Ebay. There are a number of sites with free plans for equipment and supplies can be bought at Home Depot. After having a dog with an injury there is no way I would put a novice dog in with cattle! I have started all sorts of breeds on ducks with out any issues. It is A LOT easier to control a dog with small livestock rather than large. I'd suggest you find a trainer with livestock that could work with you and get your dog started. There are people that work with shock collars, but if you want to compete you may have a problem. Frequently, dogs trained with collars know when they are on and when they aren't... and use it to their advantage. There are many other methods out there. If you tell me your area, I'd be happy to try and find someone to recommend you to. Before all that though, I'd deal with her health issues first. Maybe take her to obedience class first and see how she comes along. All the best, Sheila

06-05-2007, 12:03 PM
starry lane Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 176	Herding...Agility I agree with Draftrider. Agility can be very stressful on the joints of a healthy dog, let alone one that has had as severe injuries as your dog. I would start back very slowly and see how she handles it. She may very well not be able to compete in Agility. Runner Ducks would be great to start her out on. We use them to train our puppies. They never challenge the dogs like an onery ewe might do, and give our puppies, as they mature, the confidence they need to move on to other livestock. It is far less expensive to make your own Agility equipment, but for those people who just don't like to bother, J and J Dog Supplies carries all of the equipment for Agility, Rally-O, Tracking. Flyball and Obedience. Linda

06-05-2007, 02:02 PM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,926	You are ever so lucky to have your dog still. I lost mine. She broke her back and was paralyzed. She was an Aussie. We were just starting to introduce her to our goats at the age of 10 months. I had her on a long lead so I had some control. The idea is you want the dog to herd not attack it's pray be it a cow or a duck or whatever. Benny my other Aussie took down a goat when he was young. Grabbed it by the throat and pulled it to the ground. I put him on his back in a submissive mode and made the goat stand over him until he submitted to the goat. He hasn't tried to kill another one since. Now if I can only catch the cat he chased. __________________