 |
HINTS ON
HANDLING |
|
INTRODUCTION
This article is written for those who are inexperienced in the arts of
handling at a trial but who are no longer complete beginners at working their
dog on stock. Whether your first trial is an AKC Trial, an ASCA Trial, or a
Border Collie Trial, the same concepts of handling apply. Do not expect to
master these concepts in your first trial or even your first hundred trial runs.
The goal of all herding is to move livestock efficiently and with the least possible stress from one point to another along a designated route and to perform various livestock handling tasks efficiently and with the least possible stress. This goal should be uppermost in the Judge's mind, and thus his primary criterion should be the ability of dog and handler to accomplish the route and tasks while keeping the stock as "settled" and controlled as possible.
The key to success is to keep the stock "settled", i.e. relatively calm and only minimally intimidated by the dog. Livestock, being prey species, move away from a dog only because they perceive the dog as a potential predator who is potentially capable of killing them. Prey who perceive a predator who is just casually strolling by at a distance, not currently interested in hunting, will remain quite calm about his presence, merely keeping an eye on him and strolling away if he approaches uncomfortably close. Contrariwise, prey who perceive a predator who is actively hunting, running directly towards them in hot pursuit and with lethal intent, will become most fearful and will, if possible, race away as fast as they can; if flight is impossible (as for the mother of a newborn too young to flee with her) or if the predator seems too weak to win, the prey will stand and fight with last-ditch desperation. So one key to keeping the stock in a "settled" frame of mind is to keep the dog's demeanor and actions that of the casual not-on-the-hunt predator.
Keeping your stock "settled" is easier said than done ---rather like the ancient advice to "buy low and sell high". I offer a few maxims to help you along the way.
READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
Don't just count your sheep, "read" them ! To "read" stock is to watch their
body language in order to discern their state of mind and to anticipate their
intended movement. In all species of stock, watch the heads to see the intended
direction of movement: when the head turns, the rest of the beast soon follows.
Watch the overall head, neck, and body for signs of anxiety: a high head, raised
neck, and overall appearance of "shortened" body length denote anxiety and
impending fearful flight. In cattle, the tail too will raise. Contrariwise, a
low head and neck and "long" body denote calmness.
When your dog is just starting, you will feel
impelled to keep your eyes on your dog in order to see whether or not he is
obeying you so as to keep him under control. As your dog becomes more and more
reliably obedient, you will be able to keep your eyes on the stock. You will
then find that you can read the dog's position and movements by seeing it
reflected in the actions of the stock. The reactions of the stock will mirror
the actions of the dog. Also as, through progress in training, you are able to
slow the actions of the dog and the reactions of the stock, you will find you
have more time to read your stock and to think about what to do.
Meanwhile read stock that others are working. Try to predict the next action of
the stock. It's much easier to do when you are not in the middle of the action
and are free of the stress of performance. Carefully study the runs that precede
yours. Are the sheep "light", ie free-moving, perhaps flighty & easily spooked?
Are they "heavy", i.e. less easily moved, perhaps "sticky" and prone to
challenge the dog or even to fight? Is their "flight zone" relatively close or
relatively wide? Do they regard the handlers as predators (the natural reaction)
or as protectors (a learned reaction)? Where is/are the "pressure point(s)"
toward which the stock seek to escape? (Hint: The exit gate and holding pens are
almost always a strong pressure point.) Notice how the dog's position and
"balance point" must adjust to counteract the pressure points: rather than being
in balance at the theoretical "12 o'clock" balance point, the dog's position
will be more or less offset so as to intercept the escape route.
YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A
FIRST IMPRESSION
The first few seconds of interaction between your dog and the stock can
facilitate or destroy your chances for a successful run! If your dog terrifies,
or merely alarms, the stock in that first impression, you will not be able to
get them to "settle" within the time allotted to your run. If your dog initially
conveys just enough authority and intimidation to cause the stock to feel that
they are in no immediate danger but that they prefer to keep some distance
between themselves and the dog "just to be on the safe side", then you have made
a good beginning and the continued success of your run will depend on your
ability to maintain this somewhat delicate state of mind.
Those aspects of a dog which are likely to alarm the stock are large size, unusual appearance (relative to the stock's prior experience), predatory intensity (aggressive state of mind), and the manner of approach (speed, straightness, closeness, and bouncy/bounding gait are alarming). Now size and appearance are beyond your ability to change; but the other qualities can be altered, increased, or decreased by a well-trained and widely experienced dog in response to his own judgement and in response to your commands. The "wide" command (to increase his distance from the stock) the "walk" or "slooow" or "easy" command (to move slowly , smoothly, and ready to halt at any moment), and the "whoa" or "stand" command (preferable to a sit or down as a stop for most dogs other than Kelpies and Border Collies) are your principal tools to regulate your dog's manner of approach in the initial outrun-lift-fetch sequence and during later maneuvers.
Even for cattle, which may need a more forceful approach at times, an initially low-keyed approach by a highly confident dog often works better than a challengingly aggressive approach that often provokes self-defense and a real rodeo.
HASTE MAKES WASTE
Once underway, don't be in a hurry and, if possible, don't panic! The time
allotted for your run is bountifully adequate to take settled stock calmly and
directly around the course, but it is woefully inadequate to chase and harass
panic-stricken or self-defensive stock here, there, everywhere, and only by luck
through the designated course obstacles. The latter style of execution won't get
you much of a score anyway!
Whenever you read that your stock are about to unsettle, ie are a bit anxious, take the time to "re-settle" them. Re-settling consists of positioning your dog so that the line of escape to the pressure point is blocked, then halting for a moment or for quite a few moments to let the stock relax and think about their situation. Don't try to assertively move them towards your goal, but simply prevent them from fleeing elsewhere.
Never be afraid to "waste time" by giving the
sheep a short "breather" and chance to re-settle. These pauses also give the dog
a chance to "settle" as well.
This is especially important at gateways, chutes, and pens. If you try to force
them to enter, they will decide it is a dangerous trap, to be avoided at all
costs. However if you allow them to relax and to think, without excess pressure,
they will probably perceive the opening as a welcome and comfortable escape way
from the mildly uncomfortable nearness of the dog and may go through without any
added action by you or the dog. If added action is needed, wait for the stock to
relax, then make your moves low keyed and slow. Often a little "nudge" is all
that's needed: one step may do it, but two steps may undo it.
The calmer you can keep the stock, the less the incentive for your dog to go crazy and ignore commands. The more controlled and calm the dog, the less the stimulus for the sheep to panic and run. The calmer the stock and the dog, the less the stimulus for you to panic or get angry, to shriek and display body language which will arouse disobedience and excitement in the dog and panic in the stock.
LEAD OR FOLLOW, BUT GET OUT OF THE WAY
Your own position and actions can influence the movement and settledness of the
stock quite significantly! Human beings are by nature predators, with ducks,
sheep, and cattle definitely among our natural prey. They know it, even if we
have forgotten. The placement of our eyes, close-set on the front of our heads,
keeps them reminded: nature's law is "Eyes to the front will kill in the hunt;
eyes on the side will flee or will hide."
Thus the most natural reaction of the stock to the handler is to perceive the handler as a threat and to move away from too close an approach. Again, as with the dog, an excited, angry, screaming, shrieking, arm-waving or fast-moving handler will appear to be actively hunting and will thus be much more alarming to the stock than will a very calm, low-voiced, and casually slow-moving handler. So keep yourself as low-keyed and "non-hunting" as possible most of the time. Think of yourself as a second dog and be aware of your influence on the stock so that it assists, rather than interferes with, that of the primary dog.
You are doubtless already aware that some stock, chiefly sheep which have been used a great deal for training novice dogs, will have acquired the unnatural, learned reaction to the handler of regarding the handler as a protector and a safety zone. If every time the stock move away from the dog and towards the handler, the handler halts the dog for a moment (relieving the threat to the stock) and if while the stock are near the handler the handler uses the long pole to keep the dog at a bit of a distance (relieving the threat), the stock will learn to seek the handler as a refuge from the dog. Such sheep are called "dead dog-broke" or "kneecap kissers" or "pup-trainers" or "spoiled" (as they are useless for training more advanced dogs).
You have probably used "kneecap" sheep for most of your early training of your dog; but except for Instinct Tests, such as the AKC Preliminary and Principal Tests, and possibly the AKC Pretrial Test, you should not encounter such sheep at a Trial. If you have not done much training and practice with normally reacting, handler-avoiding, sheep prior to your first trial, you and your dog will find yourselves totally unprepared for the considerably different tactics required. All you can do is to think of yourself as a second dog, stay low-keyed, and do the best you can -- which won't be wonderfully well.
Whatever the type of stock, whether handler-avoiding or handler-attracted, when you come to the gateways, chutes, pens, etc, remember not to block the opening! If you are blocking the hole, the stock will have difficulty perceiving it as an escape route. If while you are blocking the hole, the dog gets impatient and adds pressure, the stock may run through you or over you -- and Barbados sheep will leap right through you, with very painful consequences. If you are leading handler-attracted sheep through an opening, get yourself well enough ahead that they have a clear view and the widest possible opening. If you are repelling handler-avoiding stock, make sure that neither your body nor your threatening influence gets in the way of the opening. If you are adequately skilled at reading your stock, you can use your repelling influence to assist the dog in funneling the stock into the opening by using your influence deliberately to inhibit the stock's potential escape towards your side. Sometimes a very minor movement, a crouch, or a hard-eyed stare from the handler can turn the head of the critical individual into the opening. Some tapping of your shepherd's crook against the ground behind the stock or to one side can inhibit escape in that direction; however you won't be able to make full advantage of this until your dog is advanced enough that you no longer use the cane as a signal to the dog for flanking moves.
LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
At your first trial (and, indeed, for many thereafter), be realistic in your
hopes and in your goals! For a relatively inexperienced dog to perform half as
well at a trial as he has been performing recently in training would be
wonderful and should be accounted a thrilling success. Compare his trial run to
his training runs of 6 months ago for a realistic appraisal.
At a trial, the stock are different in character from those you've trained with, the stock have never seen your dog before (and maybe never one of your dog's breed either) and vice versa, the stock are spooky and screwball because they are in a strange place, and --- worst of all --- you, the handler, are incredibly nervous and have left your brain outside the arena gate.
So concentrate on keeping your dog under control and on terrorizing the stock as little as possible. Concentrate on keeping yourself under control and keeping the panic out of your voice and demeanor. While a calm voice doesn't guarantee a good run, a shrieking voice does guarantee a rodeo.
If things are getting too wild and crazy,
remember that you have the right to quit. If you can see that things are going
from bad to worse, be smart and dismiss yourself. Grab hold of your dog in any
way you can and put the leash on him (it should be on your person, not hanging
on the arena gate); then turn to the Judge and tell him that you are dismissing
yourself. By quitting before the Judge does it for you, you will minimize the
damage to your dog's training, you will avoid incurring vet bills or market
value payment for an injured or killed head of stock (don't think it can't
happen to you), and you will gain the respect of all knowledgeable observers.
If the Judge says "watch your dog", that means things are getting too wild and
that if you can't regain control of the situation you will soon be dismissed. If
the Judge says "thank you" or "that will do", it means that you have been
dismissed. If the Judge says "time", either you have been dismissed or else you
have used up the allotted time. Catch your dog, leash him, and leave the arena
with as much pretense of calmness as you are capable of faking.
AFTER THE TRIAL IS OVER
Try not to feel devastated by a bad run. Everyone has had wrecks while learning
and still has them occasionally. Even the best handlers and best dogs sometimes
have disastrous runs.
It is never possible to be fail-proofed prepared for a herding trial, nor to be as well prepared for a herding trial as for other working dog sports. The stock in a herding trial are always a "wild card" and they are the single most important factor in the difficulty of a run. The range of potential behavior of stock is enormous and unpredictable. A very seasoned dog-handler team, with several years of widely varied experience, may cope well with most trial stock; but as a beginner, all you can really be sure of is that the stock will probably expose all your faults and weaknesses.
Be prepared to do some "repair work"! Some
wise trainers say that every trial sets your training program backwards at least
somewhat. If your run got truly wild and crazy and your dog ran amok, then it
may well have set your training back quite a bit! Be prepared to temporarily
return to an earlier stage of training to review, reconfirm, and repair the
basics. Whatever fell apart at the trial must now be re-built. Wise trainers
frequently review the basics anyway; a lesson may consist of 3/4 review and 1/4
advancement. Create a firm foundation of basics and be prepared to inspect and
repair it frequently. You might even want to think of a trial as being an
"inspection" rather than a "competition".
If your dog repeatedly "goes crazy" at trials, then you are almost certainly
trialing too soon (without a firm foundation) and too often. It's also very
possible that you yourself have not yet achieved enough emotional self-control
and calmness. If so, you are not alone -- nor even in a minority! (This has been
my own biggest problem in all forms of competition, and never more so than in
herding). It's better to prevent running amok at trials from becoming an
expectation on your part and a habit on your dog's part.
Unfortunately there are very few "matches" or
"play day" trials in herding to serve as an intermediate between training
sessions and real Trials. We all need them. Once your dog has a good enough
foundation and is under good control during training session, begin to seek
opportunities to work strange stock and to work in strange places. If you have
your own stock, trailer them to a strange place; they will behave far more
spookily than at home. Keep alert for opportunities to work other peoples' stock
--- and be prepared to pay well for the privilege.
The level of sportsmanship at most herding trials is quite high, and most of the
really good experienced handlers are sincere in the desire to help and encourage
beginners. So if you are offered advice by anyone whose own dog reflects good
training and handling, listen well and takes notes, so you can discuss these
ideas with your teacher. Thank your advisor graciously and be alert to any sign
that he might be willing to have you visit his place for a lesson on his stock.
If you can arrange to videotape your run, do so. If you can arrange to (sound) tape-record your run do so. Watch videotapes of good and bad runs. By watching in slow motion several times, you may be able to spot those critical moments, just before things obviously came unglued, when dog or handler just might have been able to salvage the situation. Very tiny errors of timing or positioning, which you missed recognizing during the "live performance", may become quite clear on replay. Also try merely listening to the handler's voice with your eyes shut: key your ears to catch that "problem pitch" until finally you can catch your own voice while you are actually working your dog.
SUMMARY
All these bits of advice work together. As your dog becomes better trained and
more reliable, you will be able to read your stock better and keep them more
settled. As you read them better, you will better perceive the critical moments.
As the stock remain more settled , the critical moments will be less acutely
emergency in nature and you will better think of the right resolution. As your
dog becomes calmer, more attentive, and more experienced, he will be better able
to respond with just the right subtle adjustment, either on your command or on
his own judgment.
But no matter how sophisticated the dog and handler, the stock will still remain a "wild card" and you and your dog will still make those micro-second and milli-inch mistakes that blow an otherwise lovely run. If you can accept this uncertainty and ever-present potential for debacle as being part of the challenge of herding, you will find trialing very rewarding. Certainly you should never find it boring.
IT'S EASY TO BE HUMBLED WHEN YOU TRIAL A HERDING DOG!
Page Updated 10/22/2007