What a difference between the two dogs! The shepherd was real calm and a bit uninterested. Cooper was far from calm and VERY interested! He was supposed to sit outside the gate until we had the gate open, then he was to sit inside while we shut the gate. He couldn't sit for more than a second or two and was straining on the leash trying to get to those sheep. They were very wary of the wild one. I would be too. We did a couple of "walk-ups" where we walk up to the sheep slowly and when we reach the "bubble" (the invisible line where the sheep notice that the dog is there, but he isn't close enough to make them move), and then Cooper was supposed to sit for a while, calmly. Then I say "that'll do", and we turn and walk away. It is supposed to help the dog learn control and teach him to not rush in.
Cooper evidently doesn't remember that he ever knew how to sit, lie down, or even stop on command. He didn't seem to remember how to walk on a leash either. All he knew was that there were big things that needed chasing. I am not saying that he was constant about rounding them up, but he did seem to want them to be together.
We were out there for an hour and fifteen minutes. During that time Cooper became more consistent in going the direction she wanted him to go, but still had trouble stopping at a distance. By the time we finished, he was exhausted. Normally he dozes in the car. This time we was completely out. He barely noticed when I stopped at the stop sign. Normally his head would have popped up to see what was going on. I don't think I have seen him this tired before. Ever.
