Gripping the sheep isn’t a sign of a confident working sheepdog.The dog biting the sheep is also counter-productive because it frightens and upsets the sheep, causing extra stress.
Training a dog that grips can feel like a thankless task; it might seem that you take three steps forward in your training session only to start the next session two steps further back! It’s important to have faith in your dog and yourself, and concentrate on the small improvements you make.
Is gripping normal?
We wouldn’t want to describe gripping the sheep as normal for a trainee dog, but many dogs will bite sheep when they first start training. Often it’s simply a lack of confidence that causes it, and sometimes it’s because you’ve worked the dog for too long and it’s mentally tired and feeling desperate. Young dogs can become mentally tired long before they appear physically tired, and it can affect the dog’s work in different ways. One of them is gripping the sheep.
The dog we used for these tutorials was a determined gripper because he lacked confidence – even if it didn’t look that way! If your dog is biting the sheep like Max, watch our three Training Max the Gripper tutorials.
Part One demonstrates the two essentials of working with a dog like Max. Identify the pattern, and slow down the action – a simple solution but it really works!
Part Two looks at making progress and building trust with the dog.
Part Three shows Max being given more responsibility as he (and we) became more relaxed.
Don’t be taken in by the bravado, even the hardest dogs LOVE to be rewarded. Keep calm, and be ready to give praise – the opportunity might be brief!
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