Tell Me Thursday -- with questions I can answer!
1. Stopping your dog - what do you prefer? On their feet? On their belly? Some combination?
Rory and I are discussing this as we have different preferences. Of course, she'd rather just skip the stop period. For MY control of HER at this stage (both green, rank beginners although she has more instinct for this than I do), I would like a down. For HER control of her STOCK, she would prefer a standing or moving stop. Our first few times in with stock she had an awesome down because despite her instincts, she was still more concerned about my opinion of her than she was about control of the stock. Or because I roared the Down to help keep Aussie teeth off goat butts. Now we're negotiating. The goats are not helping. If they wanted to help they would stop moving when I ask Rory to Down. Instead when we fight about the Down, the goats move which makes Rory right about not downing because now she really is out of position to down. Sigh.
2. At what point do you start teaching this?
I start the off-stock down pretty early in a dog's life with me. If the dog is a puppy, it quickly learns that a cute down can turn away much human wrath.
3. Do you have a favorite dog? I won't tell.
Much as I loved Lucy, Kyah was always the Best Girl in their time together. I adore Kyah, but Rory.... Rory is a fantastic dog. It's not completely fair since I can do more fun stuff with Rory than I can with Kyah at this time in their lives. But I suspect Rory will be my favorite once I fully admit it.
4. What is the #1 thing a dog can do to push your buttons?
Right now? Threaten Kyah's health or well-being in anyway. Rory was almost killed the other day when she knocked Kyah down 3 steps. That. Is. Not. Acceptable. No. Matter. How. Excited. Rory. Is.
5. Brrrrr... it's winter. What is your favorite soup recipe?
I would like to learn how to make Tom Yum Gai or Tom Ka Gai.