E collars , again x

[kateincornwall]

After months of work , I have almost managed to stop Reuben from charging off after deer , using tennis balls when he shows an inclination , plus loads of praise and look at me , fishy treats too . He ignores the cattle which are sometimes in the river at Golitha , so I`m pretty pleased .
Recently , I have been taking him onto the moors , just for a change and up until the end of July , dogs had to be on lead due to ewes and their lambs , but now being August , they can be free . However , I dont feel comfortable at the thought of letting him off lead as there are loads of sheep , lots of cattle and wild ponies , so he stays on his long lead . Occasionally he has given the sheep a sideways glance , then gets much reward for looking back at me . My sister in law, who lives nearby, says that I should trust my dog , suggesting that I maybe find a trainer who specialises in livestock training , so I had a cast around on the internet , thinking that it might be good to find someone who could help , that it would be good to have him off lead everywhere . I found this woman , not too far away on Dartmoor who guarantees results , having her own little flock of sheep in an enclosed paddock , saying that she uses humane methods , so I made an enquiry . Well , sorry lady but I dont call shock collars humane , I am appalled and disappointed to come across yet another trainer using these instruments of torture , neither do I consider anyone using them to be a trainer .
So , Reuben will stay on lead on the moors , he has much freedom in livestock free places , it fills me with horror to think of the damage done to dogs by these horrible pieces of kit , one reviewer on Google reviews actually said Dont leave your dog with this woman . Our Government stated intention to ban e collars back in 2018 but as yet, the bill has not been passed , please get a move on with it x

 

[edzbird]

For me, the lead will ALWAYS be the only option around livestock. It's not worth the risk no matter how small you think it is.

This e-collar ban is really dragging. It's really upsetting.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

For me, the lead will ALWAYS be the only option around livestock. It's not worth the risk no matter how small you think it is.

That's my philosophy too. Even with Brogan and Duncan, who were super calm around livestock, I didn't leave them off.

I like Carbon's 'handle' on his harness for when we absolutely have to walk somewhat near cows. I unclip his lead in case I need to let him run away (as recommended on signage where we walk in Cornwall) but then walk holding his strap handle until we get by the cows.

Only had to do this a couple times when I couldn't figure out how else to get by the cows.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Oh and that woman - won't call her a trainer - should have to wear one of those collars herself if she's so keen on them.

 

[Cupcase]

As I'm always telling anywhere will listen how wonderful Cupars recall is, I would never, ever let him off lead around sheep, or any animal. Sheep get easily spooked and i need to guarantee my dogs don't spook them.
As for the e collars and so called humane trainers, the sooner they retire the better.

So don't feel bad about keeping Rueben on a lead, it's called responsible dog owner.

 

[Foxy Lady]

Dogs Matter - based in Exeter do a "positive control around sheep" course - their August one is fully booked but they will probably run it again. I haven't done this course but do regularly train with them and they are v good

 

[kateincornwall]

Dogs Matter - based in Exeter do a "positive control around sheep" course - their August one is fully booked but they will probably run it again. I haven't done this course but do regularly train with them and they are v good

Thanks for this @Foxy Lady x

 

[kateincornwall]

Just had a look at the course and note that this is for on lead control around sheep , which is a great thing to teach . Ironically I have just returned from a Bodmin Moor on lead walk in swirling mist with the lad , he was so good , he looked at the sheep , I said Leave , he looked straight at me and had a fishy treat and we walked on . I`m going to keep taking him up there, its a beautiful place to go and hopefully we can both enjoy it for a long time to come, but he will not be going off lead ,its not worth it xx

 

[Stacia]

I have been on a 'sheep safe' course here and Rourke would retrieve through a flock of sheep, the sheep in a barn. However, even though every time we pass the field with sheep in, he runs back to me for the ball, I would never walk in the same field as sheep or on the hills, with him off lead. However well trained I would never trust the best dog off lead.