Update on car chasing

[Smudge]

He is actually really good at herding kangaroos. In the horse paddocks he moves them away from near the road. He moves around them and circles them and creeps along slowly, its lovely to watch and he does it completely naturally. People say kangaroos cannot be farmed because they can't be herded but that's because they try to use dogs like kelpies and cattle dogs. What they need to do is use a dog that is so small and gentle it doesnt frighten them - a sheltie! Tully on the other hand just runs after them and barks until they start hopping - she just loves the chase. Must get a pic of them sometime - a 7ft roo being herded by a 16inch sheltie is a real sight.

Wow! I noticed a while back that you lived in Australia, but I didn't know that kangaroos were hopping all over the place there. Maybe that's like deers here. There's a crazy amount of deers. I live out by the road so none ever come in our yard, but my grandmother has had people ask if they could hunt around her house before. It's not odd for me to go to work and have to bring my truck to a complete stop while a family of deer walks/jumps/runs across the road. It's not just around hunting season either. It's all year long.

Also gotta watch out for the cows in the road. A guy at the store I work at who brings in the potato chips said he was coming into our town and had to swerve off the road because he didn't see the HUGE cow standing there! Of course cows don't run around as they please, but somebody had left their gate open. I thought most people have a guard rail, but I don't guess these people did.

 

[ruckusluvr]

I bought books, and went to a trainer. Ruckus finished both basic and advance obedience. but he still would chases cars no matter what. He honestly just turned 3, and grew out of it.

now lynn does it

 

[Ariel]

Must get a pic of them sometime - a 7ft roo being herded by a 16inch sheltie is a real sight.

This is fascinating - I'd LOVE to see a video of this!

Deska does sound really wound up. Since you've tried everything else, let me toss out a few strange sounding ideas and I don't know if it would even work with dogs.

I have one somewhat aggressive bird, although it is mostly seasonal. During these times, in order to handle him I've got to use stick perches and watch his body language very closely. Birds can deliver extremely nasty bites and over the years I've come to realize the most important factor in maintaining a good relationship is avoidance of the undesirable behavior, and you've already mentioned this in your post.

I also employ the use of a couple of recommended remedies. One is chamomile tea. Everyday I give him a bowl of chamomile tea. He also loves to eat dried chamomile flowers but I don't suppose Deska would feel the same about those. Chamomile is a natural relaxant and it works well. I know some people with the same species of bird that actually put a few drops of St. Johns Wort in their bird's water, but I haven't found that necessary with mine. Perhaps one of these herbal remedies would calm Deska a bit. Maintaining such a high level of activity day in and day out sounds like quite a challenge.

Seasonally, I also limit my birds daylight hours to reduce stimulation or turn off the full spectrum lighting over his room. Light, or the absence of same actually, can affect energy levels.

It's not easy to do, but through a lot of practice I've learned to physically reduce my energy level to the point where I can calm him down enough to redirect his behavior and avoid a bite. I can lower my heart rate into the low 60's.

The one book I've read that was of the most help to me in working with my birds is "Understanding Applied Behavior Analysis" by Albert J. Kearney. It is actually directed towards children, but the principles are essentially the same for working with animals and it is a widely used methodology.

One interesting extract I found in the book says, "Actually, if a behavior is punished and suppressed in one situation, it may even increase in other situations where it is not punished." This is called behavioral contrast. That whole section would be interesting for you to read as it applies to Deska.

It's not an expensive book. I got it at Amazon and if you buy it through a link on the Sheltie Nation page, they get some credit.

I hope you can work this out with Deska before he gets himself hurt, or worse.

 

[Katherine]

I too thought channeling his herding would be the better option but apparently not. She said she would only suggest redirecting the herding behaviour to a very experienced trainer as there is a very fine line. But for the moment she thinks the behaviour is just so bad and so dangerous that avoidance is the best option. At some point, perhaps in summer when there are more daylight hours, I will go back and get some instruction on redirecting his herding. It breaks my heart to deter him from herding because it is just so strong in him.

I should point out he tried to bite me on Monday when I was holding him back from chasing a car (then he lay down and acted like I was killing him!). Unfortunately that is how much of an adrenalin rush he is getting from it.

We do flyball and agility and it really hasnt made a difference. The behaviourist said I need to do something challenging with him every day for the moment. She did suggest tracking - does anyone do this, I dont know how it works. I will also put together a dance routine so we can practice tricks. Can I do lure coursing myself - or will I need a club? Any other ideas for mentally stimulating activities are much appreciated.

Yes, Deska sounds very worked up at the moment. I was told that adrenaline stays in the system for "days" --- It sounds as though a break from the herding and chasing would be very useful right now. When I was just starting with agility Snap got extremely excited / frustrated. One evening he did not understand my “sends” to the tunnel and on the third attempt he was lunging and biting my arm.

I think that your thought regarding tricks / dancing routine is a great one for mental stimulation. Others here have done the 101 box games. And GeeRome is working on tracking with her shelties.

I have not done or observed lure coursing, but I've thought that it might be a good activity for a fast dog that loves to run / chase. My understanding is that it does involve a track / wire system. You might want to see whether there are some greyhound / whippet enthusiasts in your area that are involved in it.

Hopefully, you can use this time to do some other things that are mentally stimulating, fun, and relationship building; and get back to the herding in the not too distant future.