I’m working daily to train Bud to be around the donkeys and sheep in the pasture. Maria took this video of the training this morning. I wanted to walk you through my process.

First, I’m training Bud to ease off on eating manure and sheep droppings. It isn’t by itself harmful, but it is usually the sign of an aroused dog, and he needs to learn to be calm in the pasture.

I’m also teaching  him to respond to me. Out in a farm field with real animals, control is everything. When a border collie or other dog is too aroused, they don’t hear human commands or  respond to them. That is dangerous.

An aroused dog can also hurt a sheep or even a donkey, or provoke a dangerous counterattack. Anybody can get hurt when animals panic.

So I need to acclimate Bud to the pasture, show him what his work is out there, and make sure that if I call him, he will come.

If I need to use my foot or a sharp voice to get his attention I will do it. He must listen to me out there. So much dog  training depends on the mindset of the trainer. If I give a command, it must be responded to. My dignity and control everybody’s safety depends on it.

I believe I must be the pack leader for Bud, and he is a dominant dog. That means we will clash from time to time, and I must win if we are to have the live together that I want and he will love.

Dogs are  very quick to pick up on multiple choice humans, those who bark commands but don’t insist that they be followed. That costs many more dog lives than abuse. It also sets the tone for a contentious and frustrating relationship.  It’s not fair but Bud must do what I tell him to do, and quickly.

Here, in the video, I have brought treats so that I can reward Gus for coming to me, and I always make eye contact before I hand over the treat. I also almost always ask for something in return – sit, stay, etc. In dog training, nothing is free.

This training session went very well. Bud, who has a lot of prey drive, was highly aroused at first. I put him on a leash, moved slowly and deliberately, called him to me repeatedly, rewarded him each time, asked him to sit before each treat. More and more, he is.

That was the positive reinforcement part.

The other part was when he started gobbling up chunks of donkey manure despite my repeated commands to “leave it.” When he blew me off for the fourth or fifth time, I had to regain control: I shot my foot out and tapped him in the side, which startled him but also got him to pay attention to me again.

I also offered the treats as an alternative food, and I believe I saw him start to prefer the treats to the manure.

Bud remained calm after that, and stopped scarfing up gobs of donkey manure. All in all, a very fine training session. I was patient, clear and vigilant. He did everything I wanted him to do.

This kind of training will take patience and clarity, it will challenge me to focus and think. I’ll keep you posted. It will take a couple of months and there will be ups and downs, mistakes on my part and lapses on his. We’ll get there if I am serious about it.

He is a great dog to work with, full of energy, instinct and intelligence.