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[RC] blue heelers on trail - heidi sowardsI missed a few of the original posts but have a couple of comments. I ride with my collie and started when he was about 1 year old. He has a tendancy to crouch and "hide" when he feels the horses are getting too close. Did this once while we were cantering up the trail, went right over him and he did get clipped with a non-shod hoof. I yelled "WATCH OUT" and from then on, that's all I have to say to let him know we are coming up on him. In fact, at home if he gets in my way, I can say "watch out" and he veers off out of my way. You have to say the same words in the same tone, people have ridden with me and they sometimes say things like, "get out of the way" "move" etc. and he won't respond. He has never chased the horses or snapped at them, he runs alongside most times, when walking he explores ahead and trails behind on the way home. He's done an 18 mile loop before and absolutely LOVES to go with me. Knows the difference between my boots and reg. shoes and starts whining when the riding clothes and boots go on. It's his favorite thing to do. heidi --- Deanna German <finishis2win@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I wouldn't worry too much about your dog getting hurt -- he's a heeler and bred to work with livestock. He knows where those hooves are. Most dogs with the remotest sense of self-preservation also learn to speak "horse" pretty well. I disagree with Jean's advise for hand signals. (Aren't your hands supposed to be on the reins? And what happens when the dog either can't see you or, just as likely to happen, chooses not to look?) I suggest an obedience or an agility class. Either would give you some tools and methods to train a command to move your dog out and away from you, yet still under your control. (Both of my dogs know the "git" command. Not very sophisticated, but it's effective.) Since he's a herding dog, he should take to agility like a duck to water and that might actually be more useful to you than obedience -- although I think basic obedience is the foundation for everything and that every dog should be obedience trained. If you want to talk at length, look me up at Sheltowee this weekend. I won't have my dogs with me, so I'll need a dog fix. Or email me directly at finishis2win(at sign)columbus.rr.com I'm quite involved in dog training and love to talk about it. I might even be able to help you find dog training help in your area or refer you to some dog training books. Look on the bright side, at least you don't seem to have to worry about being able to call him back! Deanna (Ohio) -------------------------------------------- Been taking my blue heeler out to the National Forest when I condition with a very tolerant friend and her horse (thanks Janice!)? My problem is the dog stays 'bracketed' between my horse's ears at a trot-she is tooo close to my horse's feet. Or if I'm behind she stays right on the horse ahead? heels.? At a gallop down forest roads she wants to stay in 'heel' position close beside the horse's left front leg and acts like she'd like to cut in front of the horse.? Don't want my friend or her horse hurt or my special little fur friend either.? How do youall handle this???? ? Cordially, ? Mary Lynn =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ===== Heidi-aerc#M20935 /\_/\~ http://www.synjinarts.com ~~/~~ \\~~~~ (Wildlife/Western & Equine / O> ) \~~~~~ Art) / __/ \~~~~~~ (_@_/ | \~~~~ | \~~~~~~ | \~~~~ __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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