Chat
07-17-2016, 09:07 PM
We took the boys for a drive this afternoon. They got a whole week off from driving after the parade because we'd worked them almost every day for the week leading up to it and they did very well and earned a break. We took them driving a few days ago to a new place where we encountered two large, aggressive dogs in a yard with an invisible electric fence. The dogs were emboldened by the safety of their invisible barrier while the goats felt totally exposed by the lack of a visible fence. Phil was driving and I led the boys past the spot without too much trouble, but the goats were very frightened and eager to leave that place.
Today we decided to take the route with the dogs again so we could work on it. I took the reins this time. The boys seemed a bit bolder today since they hadn't been injured or chased the time before, so I told Phil to stay behind and I'd see if I could encourage the boys to walk past on their own. They got along ok until Sputnik suddenly had one of his panic attacks (a once-common occurrence that rarely happens any more). I pushed him a little too hard when he tried to balk and he blew sideways into Finn and bolted back the way we came. Finn went with him of course and the boys were able to run a short way before I was able to pull them up.
Phil went to their heads and helped me straighten them out and get them turned back around. This time I had Phil stay by Sputnik's head and take the outside rein as we went back toward the dogs. Phil got us started and then I was able to take control again, but he walked by their heads and kept himself between the goats and the barking dogs to reassure them. The cool thing is that the house is the only one on the end of a large cul de sac, so the road makes a circle right where the barking dogs are. It's great for training because we can keep going round and round the circle past the dogs and there is no traffic and no other distractions. It's an absolutely perfect place to work on this super-scary scenario in a safe, controlled environment. It's awesome that the dogs look as if they're loose to the goats, and yet they can't actually get at us.
We went around the circle three times, each with more calm and better control. Phil continued to stay near them most of the time to give them confidence (they were pretty shaken up after Sputnik bolted), but we had no more spooks or stops. I think if we work on it a few more times they'll begin to ignore those noisy dogs, and hopefully the lesson will transfer to other situations.
The rest of the drive went incredibly well. Phil and I took turns driving and neither of us had to lead the goats past anything but those dogs at the beginning. I am starting to work on fine tuning our rein signals. I look for "markers" on the road to lay out a driving plan. For example, I'll steer the goats onto the narrow strip between a manhole cover and the edge of the road and try not to get a tire onto either one. Then I'll veer left around a patch in the asphalt. Next I'll try to put the wheels exactly on either side of a leaf in the road. Then we'll make a left-hand circle at a mailbox, pick up a trot at the real estate sign, walk at the fire hydrant, and stop when we reach the lilac bush. It's fun making up little patterns like this and it keeps us from getting in a rut where the goats get bored and inattentive. I want them to be sharp to the commands and obedient to a light touch. I don't want them getting the idea that the only thing they have to do is stay six inches from the right-hand curb. Eventually I want them to be able to successfully negotiate an arena obstacle course like the driving competition ponies do.
Oh, and Sputnik is accepting the bit now. He doesn't like it of course, but he no longer makes a rodeo scene when I bring the bridle to his head. He sulks and won't take cookies from me after I bridle him, but today he took several cookies from Phil with the bridle on, so I know he can chew with the bit. He's just not ready to admit it to me, so he rejects my offers of treats and tries to convince me that he is suffering (meanwhile he's reaching behind my back to take cookies from Phil when he thinks I can't see!).
Today we decided to take the route with the dogs again so we could work on it. I took the reins this time. The boys seemed a bit bolder today since they hadn't been injured or chased the time before, so I told Phil to stay behind and I'd see if I could encourage the boys to walk past on their own. They got along ok until Sputnik suddenly had one of his panic attacks (a once-common occurrence that rarely happens any more). I pushed him a little too hard when he tried to balk and he blew sideways into Finn and bolted back the way we came. Finn went with him of course and the boys were able to run a short way before I was able to pull them up.
Phil went to their heads and helped me straighten them out and get them turned back around. This time I had Phil stay by Sputnik's head and take the outside rein as we went back toward the dogs. Phil got us started and then I was able to take control again, but he walked by their heads and kept himself between the goats and the barking dogs to reassure them. The cool thing is that the house is the only one on the end of a large cul de sac, so the road makes a circle right where the barking dogs are. It's great for training because we can keep going round and round the circle past the dogs and there is no traffic and no other distractions. It's an absolutely perfect place to work on this super-scary scenario in a safe, controlled environment. It's awesome that the dogs look as if they're loose to the goats, and yet they can't actually get at us.
We went around the circle three times, each with more calm and better control. Phil continued to stay near them most of the time to give them confidence (they were pretty shaken up after Sputnik bolted), but we had no more spooks or stops. I think if we work on it a few more times they'll begin to ignore those noisy dogs, and hopefully the lesson will transfer to other situations.
The rest of the drive went incredibly well. Phil and I took turns driving and neither of us had to lead the goats past anything but those dogs at the beginning. I am starting to work on fine tuning our rein signals. I look for "markers" on the road to lay out a driving plan. For example, I'll steer the goats onto the narrow strip between a manhole cover and the edge of the road and try not to get a tire onto either one. Then I'll veer left around a patch in the asphalt. Next I'll try to put the wheels exactly on either side of a leaf in the road. Then we'll make a left-hand circle at a mailbox, pick up a trot at the real estate sign, walk at the fire hydrant, and stop when we reach the lilac bush. It's fun making up little patterns like this and it keeps us from getting in a rut where the goats get bored and inattentive. I want them to be sharp to the commands and obedient to a light touch. I don't want them getting the idea that the only thing they have to do is stay six inches from the right-hand curb. Eventually I want them to be able to successfully negotiate an arena obstacle course like the driving competition ponies do.
Oh, and Sputnik is accepting the bit now. He doesn't like it of course, but he no longer makes a rodeo scene when I bring the bridle to his head. He sulks and won't take cookies from me after I bridle him, but today he took several cookies from Phil with the bridle on, so I know he can chew with the bit. He's just not ready to admit it to me, so he rejects my offers of treats and tries to convince me that he is suffering (meanwhile he's reaching behind my back to take cookies from Phil when he thinks I can't see!).