advice on how to start a rotti working?

[mommy of 3]

I have a 2 yr old rotti that came to me extreamly overweight, she has now lost alot of that weight through proper diet and excersise. But we still have about 20 lbs to go. With this weight loss has come a new found energy for her, her joints are recovering and she doesnt limp anymore. I was told a good way to release some of this energy is to start her working. Doing some of the things rottis were bred to do, and get her to use her instincts. I am not looking to compete just excersise. Does anyone have any advice as to what the best way to do this is? Or does anyone know if there are trainers in the central alberta area that i could take her too? I was thinking herding maybe, my mother has a flock of sheep at her property so it would be easy to practice, but i dont want to just throw her in and say "have fun" lol. Thank you
Melissa

[AngelBunny]

The foundation of anything you do with your dog--be it herding, tracking, drafting, or other activities--is based on your dog understanding how to work with you as a team, how to mind you, how to listen to you, how to take direction from you.

My recommendation is to start taking your dog to obed class. Obed training provides the foundation for most activities you do with your dog. If your dog hasn't been trained to listen to you it is difficult to do much of anything well.

[mommy of 3]

Kilo listens very well, both on and off leash i have never had a problem with obediance, both my grandfather and my mother were trainers. My mother and I have been working with her alot with obediance, she is a very quick learner and does very well. Obediance is not the issue, I just want to extend that training into somthing for her to release some energy. I dont have a fenced yard so the only excersise she gets is our walks and our runs arouind the field but now that the snow has started our runs around the field have to stop and i dont think just walking her will be enough.

[sweetlee]

Call around and see if anyone has herding classes? Or go to some trials in your area and watch the dogs, and speak to the handlers.
You have the perfect opportunity with a flock of sheep available to you.
Lots of places charge big bucks to let the dog herd for a half hour.
If nothing else, take your dog to the fence on leash near the sheep and watch her reaction, make sure there is no aggression towards the animals, and then maybe walk her amongst them on leash and see what she does or tries to do. If you aren't wanting to compete, maybe you could just let her "herd" for her own pleasure and excersise. I have seen a couple of shows where people who have sheep charge city people to bring their dogs out and let them herd.
Maybe this would be a way to start? The herd owners do know enough to "read" the dogs reactions and certainly would not let an aggressive dog near their herds.
If your dog is already able to pass an advanced obedience class, most trainers go onto flyball, rally obedience, or agility. Start calling trainers and tell them your situation, ask if you can go and watch a class. Work with what your dog likes to do. For instance, my dog LOVES balls. This spring I am going to look into new classes for him, and one I will definately take a look at is flyball.

Sharon

[Ayoka]

How's this for close to home!!!

Mikatura Australian Shepherds - Herding @ Mikatura

These people seem to live eat and sleep herding - albiet with aussies they could probably get you started and you probably know who they are...if small town Alberta is anything like small town New Brunswick!

[Skip]

Originally Posted by mommy of 3

I have a 2 yr old rotti that came to me extreamly overweight, she has now lost alot of that weight through proper diet and excersise. But we still have about 20 lbs to go. With this weight loss has come a new found energy for her, her joints are recovering and she doesnt limp anymore. I was told a good way to release some of this energy is to start her working. Doing some of the things rottis were bred to do, and get her to use her instincts. I am not looking to compete just excersise. Does anyone have any advice as to what the best way to do this is? Or does anyone know if there are trainers in the central alberta area that i could take her too? I was thinking herding maybe, my mother has a flock of sheep at her property so it would be easy to practice, but i dont want to just throw her in and say "have fun" lol. Thank you
Melissa

Just my 2 cents, but I would still do some activity (along with cutting back food) that is not stressful on the joints until her weight is where it should be. Since you said her "joints are recovering and she doesn't limp anymore", I would still be real careful. Herding puts a lot of stress on the joints because of the quick sideways movements, and I wouldn't attempt it if the dog was already having joint issues. Maybe check and see if there is one of those therapy pools somewhere that let dogs swim for exercise.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by Skip

Just my 2 cents, but I would still do some activity (along with cutting back food) that is not stressful on the joints until her weight is where it should be. Since you said her "joints are recovering and she doesn't limp anymore", I would still be real careful. Herding puts a lot of stress on the joints because of the quick sideways movements, and I wouldn't attempt it if the dog was already having joint issues. Maybe check and see if there is one of those therapy pools somewhere that let dogs swim for exercise.

Good point Skip...

Mommy of 3, what about having your dog's hips evaluated? Always a good idea if you plan on working your dog in any venue.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

Mommy of 3, what about having your dog's hips evaluated?...

Elbows, too, while you're at it.

[mommy of 3]

Originally Posted by Skip

Maybe check and see if there is one of those therapy pools somewhere that let dogs swim for exercise.

She hates to swim. lol she will get her feet wet to fetch a stick but if the water is any deeper then her chest she wont go in. We have been working on this before she wouldnt even get her feet wet! We have been taking her on runs around my mothers 45 acres (she follows behind the golf cart) and she does well. She wont chase a ball though, only a stick, dont know why but she has no intrest in the ball. I will go have her joints checked out though before i try her with anything, Thank you again, Melissa