Skye Goes for the Ducks!

By Ron Pemberton
First published in the November/December 1995 issue of Kerry Klips.

"Skye" (Lefebvre Farm's Top Hand) was whelped on July 14, 1995 in Lake Oswego, Oregon and had his introduction to stock (ducks) at the ripe old age of 10 weeks and 2 days.

When introducing any dog or puppy to stock for the very first time, you need to arouse the dog's interest in the stock. We began by "tantalizing" the pup with a duck. We teased Skye with the tail feathers and then pushed the duck away to see if he would pursue. Sure enough! Off he went! This pursuit is called the "prey drive" and the dog is actually chasing the ducks. However, as we continue to train Skye, this pursuit will become controlled and the dog will no longer be chasing, but herding.

During the initial training, we look for the following attributes: (1) is the dog interested, (2) will he tend to keep the stock together, (3) will the dog go between the stock and the fence (a "lift"), and (4) is the dog enjoying it. Skye demonstrated all of these attributes.

During the second week of training, Skye continued to show these attributes, but with greater tenacity (he's a terrier, after all!), so we decided to introduce the "crook"-a pole made of PVC. Our crook is made of 3/4" thin-wall PVC, which is very light and, being white, is easily seen by the dog. The crook is pointed at the dog's shoulder and is used to guide as well as block the dog's movement around the stock. The goal is to position the dog so that the dog has the stock between him and the handler. The back-and-forth movement of the dog around the stock to keep them together is called wearing.

The time spent on a typical training session depends on the dog. Many dogs new to herding may spend only 5 to 10 minutes, as they may not be in shape for all the running required. The sessions with Skye were about 10 minutes. The most important aspect of training is that the dog must enjoy the sessions. All effort is made to assure that it is a win-win situation for the dog.