What to Do With a Fast and Noisy LGD

Fast dogs! Barking! And a very small goat. Not a problem at all. NOTE: This fencing is NOT electrified - it is a visual and physical barrier only.

For many owners of livestock guardian dogs, watching them race irreverently through a flock of sheep is disconcerting, if not downright scary. After all, this will never work, right? You had in mind a gentle dog, slow and sweet; instead, you are faced with a dog doing something you really really want them to STOP doing! I get it, but here’s the thing:

If you stop a behavior without also building a skill,

you are going the wrong direction.

When I look at a dog doing something I know isn’t in his best interests or mine, this is the training process I follow:

FIRST

I try to figure out what the animal is trying to gain or avoid; why the behavior is happening.

SECOND

I take a good, honest look at the behavior and visualize what I would like the dog to do instead.

THIRD

I try to find a way to meet the need the dog has in a way that is less detrimental to us both; I teach the dog a skill.

Pretty straightforward, right? Not too complicated?

Few things in life are truly black and white; most answers are not obvious. What to do....just pick today, right now, and get started. The dog is your expert.

As I make educated guesses about why the behavior is happening and what to do about it, I change something (usually an element in the environment) and watch the dog. If my decision is a good one, the dog will show me that; if I am wrong, the dog may show me stress or a neutral response. Good to know! And I try again and keep going.

For me, training success is a confident and curious dog!

When describing how to train a dog, the process can seem complicated and daunting, but watching a video of training as it is happening can feel much more approachable. I have created a video walk-through of two behaviors typical of young LGDs, highlighting the wins rather than the problems, and explaining why this is important.

What To Do with a Fast and Noisy LGD:

SUMMARY

I hope what I have presented makes more sense, having seen the training play out in front of you. Obviously, this is a very condensed version! Learning how to become a talented trainer (if you have a dog, you are the trainer) requires a solid behavioral science education, and repetitions of behavior – yours.

Training a dog starts with educating the owner. This is a big subject! Lots to talk about and consider!

However, when you walk outside and are with your dog, the rest of the world should fall away. Gone are your doubts and fears. Simplify. Look at one small piece of what your dog is doing, and follow the steps above. Keep your training session only as long as you have the dog’s interest. Leave the dog feeling good about himself, having helped him meet his need, in a safe environment, and then take the time to reflect on what happened. Video journals are a super good idea, reaching out to me is always appreciated by me, and go looking for ways to increase your own education. And smile, take a calming breath. Love is action. Training, done kindly done well, is love in action.