Team Draft Backing

[Prdmary]

Anybody got any tips on getting your team draft dogs to back STRAIGHT after harnessing?

I've worked and worked them in a shute, but when out, they still tend to let their rear ends part until they end up facing each other. Argh!!

 

[Cascadians]

Has anybody ever tried using a yoke strap between 2 breeching straps so 2 dogs get the feel of tandem backing in the open? Neckline front, plus buttline back?

Wonder if one made 2 walls out in the open, then kept lowering the walls, stall training, if that would help.

Have you tried standing behind them, gently holding a tail in each hand, and saying "Back Slow" and guiding their rear ends?

Curious how it's done.

 

[Jeannie]

When I was training my team I found if I switched sides they didn't tend to split when they backed.

 

[janices]

It's not easy. My owner has been working on it. If you shift off even slightly the newfs will shift. They have to be straight when start. I teach follow hands for directions so off even little dogs will shift to your body and hands.

 

[Angela]

Must admit have never done a team, but is it possible to put a leash or strap over both of them to keep them together while you teach them in the open, ie. not in a shute?

I train backup alongside the dog, not in front, don't know if that would be any help with 2??

 

[pecanpiepatti]

in high narrows so it confines them?

 

[janices]

In single newfs tend to orient to our bodies when working in front. Once put together in team they tend to try the same which throws them off in the back. My owner was having problems with it. I tend to have them orient to hands on the back, bring them really straight forward, then back. And also what Jeannie is talking about switching sides. Orientation on the head, control how head goes, then body will stay straighter.

 

[Prdmary]

I am working them between a variety of different things......primarily two pieces of wood on the ground that is about 4 inches tall. It really doesn't take much....even PCP pipe works. I did strap their rears together initially.....and just doesn't seem to have much carry over.

With the dogs seperately I have taught both back from front and side.....but together it doesn't seem to matter.

Part of the problems is speed.....Journey goes at everything with Draft pretty quickly....and gets too excited......whereas Turner is more "normal speed" Ha! I try to just do one step back and stop.....not do it all at once, but it is still tough.

And, getting them straight at the start can be frustrating also. I get one where I want them and then go to direct the other.....and the one I wanted to stay stationary does whatever I'm asking the other to do as well!

 

[janices]

Try directing both at same time and don't try separately. Have a call name command that means both, and bring them together just like any brace working together. Also, see if switching newf positions works better, one or the other. Who is lead newf - Journey or Turner? You'll usually have one who's a leader and one who's more of a follower.

Brooke is working with Raven with Raven's owner handling. The hardest thing for her was getting used to treating them as a brace and not try to direct them separately. Brooke is placed next to handler and seems to work best in that position.