Early this sping a cure was in order. I took "Mr Adventurous" with me on a trout fishing expedition to the nearby South Branch of the Root River. He was outfitted with his training collar. I had the remote in my pocket. All was well until the stream entered a cow pasture. We both noticed a large herd of dairy cattle about the same time. I kept fishing. He went to investigate. He cautiously approached the herd. Remote in hand I watched. Several of the cows turned to faced him. The rest seemed oblivious.
Now German Shepherds love to chase and herd. It's there thing. Baron got within about 5 ft. of the herd and started to bark. Time for Lesson #1 in the "don't spook and chase" large animals curriculum. It's from the Chapter titled "Tough Love." Ouch
He came running back to me and spent the rest of the afternoon close by, below the bank of the creek, alongside me. He kept peeking over the bank to try and determine which one of those big black and white "deer" had bit him. He hasn't chased any deer since. Thats the "rest of the story."
Baron's adventures are always a tender lesson. I had Cash, a shepherd- that dog loved me to no end. Your big baby seems to love his master too. Except when it comes to biting "deer" I bet he is as loyal as a good dog should be. Good luck in the training...(though I find babytalk is what my canine's long to hear and respond to accordingly. I can just about babytalk them out of any situation...embaressingly enough, it works.) Take care-
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and photo!!
Take care and enjoy the week!!
I always love posts about Baron. He must be a very smart dog to have learned his lesson so quickly. Of course, he may not realize that will apply in a different area with different animals. It may take a while before he learns he cannot run after ANY animal.
ReplyDeleteSometimes just have to use tough love. Sounds like he didn't have to be 'told' twice.
ReplyDeleteI have started a 2nd blog, hope you will choose to follow it while continuing to follow the 1st one. The new one is the one I will post daily, but I will continue to use the 1st one.
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If your shepherd does the wrong thing, it's because you didn't teach him the right thing. Guilty as charged. :)
ReplyDeleteSome lessons must be learned. I have heavy equipment and wild animals all over the farm. A dog that doesn't come instantly could be a dead dog. I know a lot of 'dog lovers' don't care for training colors. IMHO, their biggest benefit is, as you said, they don't know who to associate you with the correction. As far as Barron knows, a cow stung him from 50-feet away. Good lesson.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Thanks for the encouraging lesson on effective use of a training collar. I've seen a few dogs ruined by injudicious use. But as I like to tell fellow dog-owners, you've got to know more than the dog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the guidelines to using the collar. Baron is a beauty. Still have his photograph up on my website for visitors to the page. Also loved your visit to Paris, such a contrast to ice storm nine days of the struggle without power.
ReplyDeleteLOL, that picture says it all. Love it.
ReplyDeleteAnother believe in the training collar here - better that my dog experience a momentary unpleasantness and learn to stay on our property than either have him run off and get squished on the highway, OR be stuck tied to a rope or leash all his life and never be able to run free. Your dog is just beautiful, and GSDs are such a smart breed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he has given up chasing deer and deer-like creatures. Around here, dogs are more likely to be shot for chasing livestock than for running deer.
ReplyDeleteAh, don't you love those high drive GSDs? When I choose a training collar (I use either a prong or an ecollar) to use on my GSD, I choose it as it provides the clearest communication with my dog. While I live in an urban jungle, my GSD obsessed on dogs chasing balls...not the balls, mind you...he wanted to chase and nip at the dogs. He would lock and load and I lost all control.
ReplyDeleteThus, for this situation I used an e collar. He learned in one day and now ignores dogs chasing balls. In fact, he happily chases his own ball around other dogs now...something he never did before. I just have to say his name and he turns on a dime. Of course, he gets tons of praise for making the right choice! These are hardy,tough working breeds and sometimes an ecollar is the best choice in helping the dog learn...after all, he wants to learn it is just up to us to communicate our needs to him...but when his high drive is in conflict with his safety (or that of another dog), I have found the ecollar like a punch on the shoulder, "Hey! Knock it off!"
If your dog is still alert and happy and in tune to you, you know you are using this tool correctly. Where I live, so many think I am cruel for using one but I simply laugh...my dog is happily running off leash and he comes every time I call...it's interesting that most of those who criticize the ecollar have no idea of its proper use and usually have poor recall with their own dogs.
LOL!! LOL!! Love this TB!! Poor Baron!!
ReplyDeleteAwwww... poor Baron. Just wanting to have a little fun, wasn't he? :c) Good thing he now has a healthy fear of cattle.
ReplyDeleteI'm still grinning at your account of Baron's adventure with the cows. He's probably mystified about their unseen powers to "zap" him.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a beautiful dog. I loved your post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.