Dawg Unleashed # 6

Dawg on cue-s (again)

Dawg back again: Lately Barb has been busy with buttoning things up on the farm for winter and recovering from her webinar. Who knew that sitting at a computer could be so exhausting? I don't see it but she swears she is working when she sits and stares at that darn computer screen.

Dawg on cues, no not those cues – off-balance flanks!

(Don’t say I didn’t warn you that this blog was comin’.) This week I want to go over a huge complaint that I often hear from my dog friends – off-balance flank cues. It isn’t the cues that are the problem but how they are taught. Namely by “naming the flanks” as we dogs are doing them. Now, this is not a bad way to train flanks, as long as you realize what you are actually teaching.

This problem is found primarily in traditionally trained flank cues so you probably are not guilty of this particular faux pas. But I digress.

Naming the flanks is usually started at the beginning of herding training. At this point, the dog is flanking to balance. All is right in the world. As time goes on the handler needs their dog to flank off-balance. In the handler’s mind, a flank means go clockwise or counter-clockwise, but in dogs’ minds, a flank means to circle the stock and go to balance. (You can see where this is going, no?)

So we now have two animals with two totally different definitions of what a flank cue means. (This is not going to end well.) Now when the dog is flanking and gets almost to balance, the handler (not Shandler) repeats the flank cue to encourage their dog to go past balance and start an off-balance flank. Not happening!

There are now TWO things working against the outcome that the handler is hoping for:

1.  Dogs have been taught that a flank means to go to balance!
2.  Dogs hate to go past balance and lose control of their stock!!!

Although the handler understands the second problem, they usually have no clue about the first one. Duh! Come on folks, get with it.

After some more “training”, which usually involves some supportive cues (like here to encourage the dog to come toward the handler), the handler often becomes frustrated. Their dog “knows” flank cues so their dog must be “blowing them off”. The session usually goes downhill from there. Sigh.

I know you would never make this blunder but a lot of trainers do. If you know one who does, gently explain their error. (To be on the safe side, don’t stand too close while explaining. Just sayin’.)

As usual, I implore you to buy Barb's book and keep her (and me :) happy.

Get the book here!

Until next time, tell your mates about this blog and...

Grow the pack!

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