Dogs like my dogs – Labs, Border Collies, Rottweiler/Shepherd – know how to do many things, but they don’t know how to do one of the most important things – nothing. Working breeds (and other breeds) have enormous prey drive and we often crank them up tossing things at them, wrestling with them, taking them to arousing and chaotic play groups. The first thing I teach my dogs is a series of calming and obedience exercises. To show them how to calm down, to accept my authority, to allow me to control them when I need to.
It took Red about five tries to grasp this, and we are almost there. One thing I do every morning when it is time to eat is let the dog in the back run, which is fenced. Then I prepare their food, which they hear. When I open the gate, I tell them to stay and I make them wait while I walk down the stone stairs, open the kitchen door. If one of them bolts ahead, I make him or her go back to the same spot, sit and wait longer. I do these kinds of exercises often – when we take a walk, at the street, in the house. There is never any playing in my house and very few todys. In their fenced run, they can wreak havoc. In the house, there is no need for play and arousal.
I don’t permit my dogs to be “push” dogs to plow ahead of through a gate or doorway. I go first, and they wait until I release them. After awhile, of course, they love it, are excited and pleased to do this and then get fed. Works out for all of us.
Red has been with us for 24 hours as I write this, and I wanted to share what I have done and what is left to do. It was an intense day, and I brought to bear all of my experience, my research, my theories and ideas on a dog that seemed very much worth the effort. For me, training a dog is a spiritual, even religious experience. It is not about simple obedience, but about my entering the language and consciousness of an alien creature and communicating with it in such a way as it can live well and safely in a human world. It is hard to train a dog well, and the process never stops. I want my dogs to feel like Sweepstake winners every day. Failure is a habit I wish to avoid, for them or for me.
First, acclimation. I had Frieda and Lenore inside a separate fence when Red arrived. They got to smell and see one another for an hour, so there were no sudden confrontations. We walked Frieda and Red on a leash side by side and Freida accepted Red a dozen yards down the path. Red is very savvy about dealing with animals and he did not challenge or disturb Frieda. He read her very well. By this morning, the two of the were lying by the fence together, checking out the sunshine. Lenore is not a problem.
Second, safety, ritual. Dogs are creatures of habit, and I knew Red would be very anxious about leaving Karen and coming to a new place. He wasn’t sure who to pay attention to, what to do. This was a dog who lived in the crate inside his house when he wasn’t working. He clearly didn’t know what to do inside. I established rituals. Frequent walks, and into the crate. Gave him some kibble to get him comfortable. Walked him alone, gave him some treats. Talked to him, softly. After a few hours, he seemed less anxious, he stopped panting.
And respect. Dogs are not people, and I don’t expect them to understand my language. Nor are they children. I don’t know if Red was abused or not, and I don’t much care. He has to know the rules and follow them and I respect his animal nature. We are not alike.
Then, bonding. I took Red out to sheep five times in the last 24 hours, and my feet hurt. This not only focused his attention away from his confusion, it bonded him to me, and calmed him down. It focused me on him, also. We already know one another, as herding does that. The world makes sense to border collies only when they have work and when they do, it makes complete sense. Today I took him to the vet, to Gardenworks, for two rides in the car, on walks and visits to the pasture. I fed him and gave him herding commands. I talked to him softly and clearly. I said his name a lot as I fed him and walked him. By this afternoon, he was following me, staying by me, listening to me. He has also spent time along with Maria, and no animal has trouble bonding with her.
Housebreaking. I kept Red in the crate when he was in the house, fed him there, took him outside frequently where the other dogs eliminate and so did he. I praised him for it, and I believe he got it. He’s been with me much of the evening, and no marking or accidents. I’ll keep him on a leash or in a crate when he is in the house for a few days to make sure. We started working on street training and by evening, he was pausing at the road with the other dogs. Dogs teach one another a lot, and I want to expose him to Lenore and Frieda so he can learn from them.
Working. Red and I are in sync herding wise, amazing for one day. Have most of our commands down. He comes in too close, doesn’t have a strong lie-down for me yet. Perhaps some testing. Red has a wonderful outrun, great energy and command, very biddable. A great working dog. He has a few lessons to learn in manners – jumping up, breaking a stay. There is plenty of time to get to those, and I don’t want to put much pressure on him now. When he loves me and Maria and the farm and his life, and trusts it all, then I’ll ask a little more of him. For now, I want him to connect with me and our rituals, feel safe. Feel loved. Know the few and simple rules, learn them one by one. No hectoring. He is eating with the other dogs, and everybody is good with it. He rode well in the car.
It’s a lot for the first day, but the first day is important. It was positive, loving, successful. I want to make a strong and good impression on him, get him focused on me, paying attention to me so I can teach him how to live here. I am clear, upbeat, cheerful. I see he is very afraid of sticks of any kind and shivers and trembles when he sees them. So no walking sticks, not yet.
I believe the challenge of training is to permit the dog to be successful in everything he does, while depriving him of the opportunity to fail or to build unwanted traditions. This will go on forever with Red, but I was pleased about how today went.
I knew that Red was a great working dog, but I did not grasp that he was also a Love Dog, a shameless flirt who chases skirts and puts his head against the beating hearts of women and melts their hearts. Dr. Suzanne Fariello of the Cambridge Valley Veterinary Hospital, our vet, has seen a lot of dogs and loves many, but she said she was not prepared for Red. “I was expecting something different,” she said, “an intense dog I might have to scrape off of the ceiling.” She was not expecting Red.
Red has been here for 24 hours, and he does a great job herding the sheep, but I have to say, he is a heart stealer, and everybody who has come near him is crazy about him. Men love him too. He is a pretty tough working dog. Even Darryl Kuehne, the tough-skinned farmer from Vermont who was here this morning said Red had him thinking about getting a border collie. They are not all like Red, for sure. Red is more like Lenore than any other dog I know. He seems to accept everything and everybody, and he has a gift for connecting with people. When I left the vet, Dr. Fariello and the techs urged me to drop by often with Red and let him hang around. (I don’t remember them inviting Frieda :). Frieda has become more loving in her own way, and it is wonderful to have three such generous canine spirits here. I’ll write more tonight about my training with Red, how it is working out.
Another note on Karen Thompson. Dr. Fariello said Red is in amazing health, great weight, heart, coat and muscle tone. She is an amazing breeder, dog lover and border collie advocate. I only brought him in to drop off the papers Karen sent, but great to hear that. He was neutered last week and he has healed beautifully. “You’re a shameless little hussy,” I told him when we got into the car.
I’ve never had a dog enter my life as easily or deeply as Red. Not in one day, for sure. He loves to walk on the path with me. A lifetime dog, for sure.
This weekend’s Art Show is supported by some great dogs – Red, Lenore (scratching and belching) and Frieda, the newly (relatively) mellow dog. We all spent the morning helping Maria get ready for “Anointing The Goddess,” to be held on June 23-24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Six compelling artists and their work. A farewell to Bedlam Farm. Collage, streaming pillows, potholders, paintings, notecards, photographs. Red and Lenore and Frieda will be hanging around. Red might be ready to herd some sheep in the meadow.
Simon and Lulu and Fanny will be happy to great their many admirers. Mary Muncil will be here, so will Mary Kellogg, who will be reading a poem. Connie Brooks of Battenkill Books will be at the farm selling copies of my books for me to sign on the spot. Last chance to visit Bedlam Farm,and a great chance to see a wonderful art show organized by the Goddess Of Bedlam Farm, the wondrous Maria. No dogs please. Gardenworks will offer food and rest facilities right down the hill. Details here.
Red has jumped into the mainstream of life here. He herded sheep three times. He sat in Maria’s lap. He went on two walks. He is lying next to me as I write. He helped clean out the pig barn. He went with me to Gardenworks. He’s going to meet the vet at 4, then we’ll work with sheep again if there’s time. It’s Yoga Night.
Somebody wrote that Red reminded them both of Izzy and Rose. I have to think about that but there is something to it.
