LGD partnership training

Today marked the start of sheperd partnership training with our LGDs. As if you probably already have read (Holiday fun!), having an roaming LGD can be part of their duty but in today's modern world for sheperding and guarding livestock, the work of an LGD only typically needs to expand its environment to their known perimeter.

When I original got the puppies I had started training but only kept up for a couple months then fell out of practice. Therefore of course so did our puppies, who are now 100+lbs and only a bit over the age of 1 year old and still need great care, attention and partnership in the working relationship.

Introducing the Watch me command was our first step back into practice. Why this command?

• Simple because it helps distracts them from doing something unwanted
• Keeps their eyes focused directly on us for their next working task
• Establishes a trust and respectful connection to deeping our bond

Having Great Pyrenees, they are pretty much in the mind set of work. So getting their attention when needed is highly important for us around where we live. So every command that we build on top of this, will eventually come back to working safely while having fun.

Today's practice session in the morning and later afternoon was a success. Both LGDs worked with us singly and together which together usually is a distraction in itself. Separetely they have different rewarding systems and they generally span/overlap between belly or head rubs to bits of fresh raw cheddar cheese.

Its undetermine how long it will take for them to really be proficient with these commands and truth be told, for me its not about how long it will take, its about discipline with continuous practice and bonding. I believe this will lead to a better more joyful sheperd and LGD relationship. I will do my best to make updates on this topic and hopefully not as long of a post :)