Chasing

[Murphyab]

My boy just turned two last week. We live on an acreage with horses, cats, etc. He has grown up with them since he was 8 weeks old. We have had him on the trails with the horses and have always been complimented on what a well behaved boy he is. We have converted a number of people to rottie lovers. I have done formal obedience training and socialize the snot out of him. Until recently, he has always obeyed his commands. He has now decided that it is fun to chase our horses in the pasture when we go out for our daily walks. He does not initiate the chase but once the horses start running, the chase is on. He will not recall as he is so focused on the chase. Once I have given him the recall command I have had to go get him as he totally ignores me. I am concerned for his safety and the safety of the horses. He tail chases, something he has never done before. We begin our trail riding in a few short weeks and I need to be sure that he is not going to chase someone's horse if they go into anything other than a walk. I am thinking that I should put him on a long lead when we are on our daily pasture walks and go into "obedience boot training". We integrate obedience in every day routine with him, every opportunity available. I am wondering if this is normal behavior for a two year old or if I need to be doing anything else to stop this behavior. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. As I have said he has been a great ambasador for the breed out in the campgrounds, the city and the trails. Thanks in advance.

[hokisteph5]

I think your instincts are good - a long lead is a great idea. Work on keeping his attention with the "watch me" or "look at me" command.

[Ayoka]

I wonder about herding classes...it may provide an outlet for the chasing while teaching him some self control. I don't know a lot about herding but watching some stock dog trials has really impressed on me just how much self-control those dogs have when they stop on a dime when they hear the signal to stop and watch their sheep/copws move away.

A longline is always good too.

[SABELLESMOM]

Herding would be a great idea, because he will be taught to obey your signals/commands...which include STOP! and WATCH! He will learn it's OK to "herd" when called upon, but it's NOT OK to simply chase anything that runs.

Long line boot camp is a great idea, as well. I would consider doing both. The long line will give you the needed "let's nip this behavior in the bud" for now. The herding classes will give him an appropriate outlet. He can actualize, APPROPRIATELY, what was bred into them many years ago. They were intellegent, strong, versatile, and had many uses...one as a drover dog.

My friend has had each of her dogs in herding classes. She thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread. Haven't done it myself, yet. I've watched!

[Murphyab]

I want to thank you all for your advise. I am doing the long lead and boot camp. It's funny that some of you mentioned herding. I am currently on a waiting list for herding class. Prior to this problem I had thought that the herding would be a fun way to continue to work on obedience. When he started chasing and not responding to the recall I thought herding might make it worse. My girlfriend, who has a yellow lab, attended her first herding class last Friday. She said her dog loved it, but she was afraid (my girlfriend, not the dog) of the ram and sheep coming right at her! She spoke with the instructor on my behalf and he feels that the herding would be an appropriate outlet for my boy as well. I will definitely let you know how the herding goes. Thanks again.

[Terri Lambert]

I do herding with my girls and actually it will teach him self control. My younger girl has a very strong prey drive and herding has actually taught her self control, as if she wants to run wild and not obey she is taken off the sheep right away. She has earned one leg so far on her HT hopefully she will get her second at the CRC speciality in a couple of weeks. My older girl is very devoted to her sheep and already has her HT she is working on her PT at the speciality. So I would get him in some classes as soon as you can. Also I was surprised that your friends yellow lab enjoyed herding as they weren't breed to do that.

[Ayoka]

The great thing about herding is that you create a situation in that in order to do what HE wants(chase), the dog first has to do what YOU want (recall/down)...I'm sure that there's more to herding than letting a dog loose to run amok and terrorize sheep. From what I've seen clinics are in small pens with dog-wise sheep/ducks and the inital training can be done on a longline with an over enthusiastic dog.

I don't think it would make it worse at all.

[OnyxGold1]

I had the exact same problem with Cajen a year or so ago.....she would obey well until she felt she was "out of range" of having to listen.....and when my horses would thunder past she would be in hot pursuit.

The day came when I saw her narrowly miss getting connected by a hoof......so I went out and bought an electronic collar. Of course I bought the expensive one with a 1/2 mile range on it so that she couldn't POSSIBLY chase the horses out of range.

She's so much better now......I trained in conjunction to voice command.....I would give her two verbal commands and then shock if she wasn't listening.....then she got smart and continued chasing until just after the first verbal command.....now she knows that going under the horses fence alone will get her a shock. So she doesn't even bother now.

Hope this helps!!!

Heather Peters

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Murphyab

Prior to this problem I had thought that the herding would be a fun way to continue to work on obedience. When he started chasing and not responding to the recall I thought herding might make it worse.

Part of learning to herd is responding to direction and learning when not to herd, so I think it's a great idea. Of course, this may not help in the beginning, so your plan of beefing up the obedience and using a long line seems appropriate until your dog understands better.