Freedom To Be

 "Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished." 

-Dean Koontz

 

 

Maud is my dad's sheep dog.  Sometimes, we call her "Naughdy Maudy"... for obvious reasons. 

My dad took her to a workshop, last spring, to have an expert trainer, from Missouri, teach them both how to improve their herding skills.
  

We tagged along and I learned much.
 

 

 

#1    If a handler is too excitable, raising their arms or moving their body around as they give commands, their dog will be confused because he doesn't know if he should listen to your words or your actions. 

#2    If a handler is too controlling, their dog will be nervous and not able to perform his best because the constant scrutiny will make him unsure of himself. 

 

#3    If a handler gets mad at their dog for every little thing he won't understand when he truly errors. 

In essence give your dog freedom. 

As they show they are capable of the freedom, give them more space and more freedom. 
Only correct when a major mistake happens. 
Stand back and let them do what they were born to do. 

It was amazing how the dogs changed immediately in this environment. 

As they made correct choices, the trainer gave them more freedom.
As they had more freedom, they did a better job of making choices.
And when they made good choices, they were doing exactly what they were placed here to do.  

 

  

Important stuff

This Freedom To Be

 

For All of God's Creations.