Working Dog Topics Index

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This page contains links for information related to training and utilizing dogs in various forms of work or working trial. Most Bouvier love to have a challenging job. They especially love Herding and Tracking. Because my dogs and I have participated with some success in most of these activities, I hope our experiences and photographs can be of help and inspiration.

contents :

• Working Dogs in general
• Herding
• Tracking
• Protection
• Agility and obstacle work
• other types of work

WORKING DOGS : (training and utilization for special activities)

• Working Dogs in general

 

• Books and articles
• DOGS, A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, & Evolution
• Working Titles available to Bouviers in the USA (and to other breeds with similar capabilities)
• The Sesquipedalian Bouvier , or It Pays to Increase Your Dog's Word Power. An article I wrote in 1985, based on 5 years partnership with Chelsea, about ways to communicate with your dog.
• Dog training : are there differences between male and female dogs ? question posed by Patricial McConnell and my response to it.

 

• Working Dog Humor
• The Dirty Bouvier Song (song)
• The Dirty Bouvier at the Working Trial (song)
• When Earth's Last Dog Trial is Over (verse, inspired by Kipling)
• I am the Owner of a Bouvier (the best part of working trials is bragging about one's dog)

 
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• Herding

 

• Herding Training Articles, Books, and Clinic reports
• The Sheep's Cocktail Party , "thank God, a Bouvier !", a Bouvier version of a classic Gary Larsen cartoon.
• Introduction to the Bouvier as a Stockdog (breed origen and character with emphasis on stockdog qualities)
• The Bear is Bullish on the Stock Market (personal account of my introduction to herding with my Bouvier bitch Chelsea ; written from the viewpoint of a novice handler with a talented dog.)
• Headstart for Herding (article on preparation for handler and for dog before working on livestock)
• Herding Dogs by Vergil Holland (book review) excellent book on training
• Finding a Stockdog Trainer to be Your Herding Mentor (how to find a good teacher when you don't know much about the subject)
• Lin Daugherty herding clinic for Novice Handlers super clinic on understanding livestock and basic stockdog training
• Tony Diaz herding clinic (foundations of training for novice handlers , all breeds of dog)
• The Three Opperating Systems of Stockdog Work (interactions between dog and handler and livestock)
• Hints on Handling at Your First Herding Trial (and you will be doing well to master these by your 101st trial !)
• "Web Footed Sheep Substitutes" by Linda Rorem (using ducks as herding stock for training dogs in herding.)
• article on a clinic on Low Stress Cattle Handling, taught by Lauren Schuman.
• Herding clinic by David Rogers, extremely thought-provoking.
• Guide to Good Use of the Dog on the Flock, english translation by Pam Green of "Guide pour une Bonne Utilization du Chien sur Troupeau" (original in French) published by l'Institut de l'Elevage (Institute of Stockbreeding) , a booklet used in courses for stock-keepers in France to help them train and use herding dogs.
• The Majority (of the flock) is Always Right , short discussion of a common herding situation, that of one or a few sheep separating from the rest of the flock.
• The "Joan of Arc" Complex , short discussion of the merits of leaving the handler's post to go to help or correct the dog at herding trials.
• He Told Me This, by T Yamamoto. a poem about herding dogs and a trainer's learning of humility.

 

• Herding Photographs
• photo of young Bouvier, "Gaston", working ducks in a round pen with dog on outside of pen
• photo of a young Bouvier, "Bones", fetching ducks through a quarter inch of snow.
• photo of "Chris" working ducks in an ASCA trial
• photo of Bones penning ducks in an ASCA trial
• photo of a Young dog's first herding lesson Chris's first herding lesson.
• Bones' first herding lesson, age probably 4 or 5 months. notice how similar this photo is to that of Chris at a similar age.
• Young Bouvier herding sheep through a chute Chelsea after only a few lessons.
• photo of Bouvier herding sheep in the desert after a light snowfall . Bones with a large flock of sheep.
• Bouvier herding cattle on fence line Bones learning to drive cattle on the fence.
• photo of Bouvier turning beef cattle , Chelsea turning cattle back in an exemplary manner.
• Bouvier herding cattle in open field Bones driving cattle through a pair of panels.
• Expose Yourself to Herding, a humorous photograph.

 

• Herding Humor
• Gathering (a herding song)
• He Loves Ewes, Baa, Baa, Baa (song about herding sheep)

 
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• Tracking

 

• Tracking Training methods
• very brief intro to 2 books on Tracking
• my tracking methods : Tracking Overview : my modifications of Glen Johnson's methods plus Wentworth Brown's methods

 

• Tracking Photos
• photo of Bones tracking
• photo of Chelsea starting a track
• photo of Chelsea strongly on the track (close up)
• photo of Chelsea making a turn
• photo of Chelsea retrieving the glove
• photo of Chelsea presenting the glove
• photo of Chelsea tracking an FH track, in side view, showing excellent form.
• photo of Chelsea tracking an FH track, front view, superb form.
• photo of me holding up an article that Chelsea has found on an FH track.
• photo of Chelsea about to re-start the track after delivering an article to me on an FH track.
• Bones' TDX Victory photo
• Two TDX Bouviers and joyful handler (and verse "How to Handel a TDX"). Chelsea's TDX Victory photo.
• a great Bouvier tracking photo , my friend Carrie and one of her Bouviers

 

• Tracking diagrams
• Chelsea's TD track diagram
• Bones' TD track diagram
• Bones' TDX track diagram
• Chelsea's TDX track diagram
• Two more TDX track diagrams of tracks we almost passed.

 

• Tracking humor
• Oh What A Fine Tracking Morning !    (song about TDX Tracking tests)

 
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• Protection

 

• Protection Photos
• Bouvier (Bones) learning to do a leg bite   photo
• Bouvier (Chelsea) biting at French Ring Trial    photo
• "Muzzle it !", an article about use of muzzles in ordinary life situations and for behavior testing and behavior problem solving. Includes how to teach your dog to wear a muzzle for the "heel off-leash wearing a muzzle" exercise in Ringsport.

 

• Protection Humor
• Fifty Ways to Run a Dog Triall (song)
• Hark, the Schutzhund Bouvie's Revier ! (song)
• Super Decoy (song about the dangers and difficulties of being an agitator in French Ring Sport)
• Bite the Bad Guys, Bouvier ! (song about protection sports)
• Fass Fiercely , Bouvie ! (a fight song for Schutzhund)

 
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• Agility and obstacle work

 

• Bouvier jumping one meter high jump
• Bouvier jumping 12 foot broad jump

 
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• other types of work

 

• Bouvier with backpack hiking in wilderness
• When It Was Earthquake Time (song about Search and Rescue. WARNING : may offend some people's sensibilities)

 
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