The simplest and most honest answer is I don’t know. Since Red died, Fate has shown more interest in moving the sheep and less interest in chasing them in circles.
The fault is mine, the worst thing you can do to a border collie in training is let them run willy-nilly around the sheep, it becomes all about running and not about working or herding.
I did this because she showed no interest in herding them, and I didn’t want to pressure her. I don’t know if it’s too late or not. She did show measurable progress today she walked up to the sheep and stayed still. I walked up with her and she pushed the sheep out of the barn.
That’s two days in a row that she did that – push the sheep out, get very close. I want her to have the opportunity to come to a different place on her own.
What I don’t see in Fate is any eye, the border collie start that actually persuades the sheep to move. I’ve never seen that in her.
But this is a time for me to be patient, to support her and see if she is more open to working the sheep. I just don’t know what will come next and I want to give it some time. Fate has tremendous instinct, she missing the forcefulness of the working dog.
We’ll see, we’re doing all positive training, mostly on a leash, some time off. She took to the therapy work instantly, I have to stand back and praise her and give her a lot more time.
Well she certainly seems to have their attention.
I know it’s usually (actually, it’s mostly) silly to attribute human emotions and logic to animals, but is it possible that Fate never showed any interest in sheep work because Red was so accomplished and didn’t need any help? Now that Red is gone, is it possible that Fate is thinking “OK, now it’s MY turn”? Am I nutty, Jon?
Big brother syndrome, it is possible Daryl, but I think the truth is I messed up her training, just didn’t do it right. Maybe I can fix it.
Each time I look at the expression each one of these animals faces I laugh. The donkey looks skeptical, a couple sheep disinterested, and a few more willing to listen to the new regime. Wonderful shot.
I suspect Fate was simply deferring to Red in days gone by..now she has to take responsibility..she does not have him to fall back on..she just might come into her own now..