Rehabbing an Aggressive Australian Shepherd

Monday morning the girls, Decker and I went again on a 2 mile power pack walk. Decker was great and gave me no problems during the walk. Later, my Dad, who was present when I initially took possession of Decker, came over for a visit. He brought his dog Stewy with him. Stewy is a senior Aussie, who gets along with everyone and every dog.Decker had never really met Stewy the time that I brought Decker over to my dad's house, as he stayed in the truck. Decker met my dad at the car and my dad …

The girls and I had been invited to help with the sheep at a local rodeo. Mutton busting has been around for over 20 years, and is a kick in the pants to watch. Little kids climb onto the backs of sheep, grip on for dear life, and then the sheep are released into the arena. The event is much like bull riding, in that the kid who holds on the longest, wins.The rodeo in the past had been using people to try to hold sheep into a group in the arena. Every time a sheep and child are released, tha …

Saturday I was getting a sheepdog herding lesson at my trainer Shelley's Place in the Carissa Plains. The Carissa Plains are a flat semi-arid area of Central California which border the central coast of California on the west, and the Temblor Range on the east. Temperatures can exceed 115 degrees f. in the summer, and can get quite cold in the winter, with temperatures often falling below 20 degrees f. I live 25 or so miles west of the Carissa Plains in a quite different climate.California is …

I have decided to add pumpkin to Decker's food. He is loosing weight very slowly, so in order to speed up the process I am replacing pumpkin for some of his food. He didn't give it a second thought and ate his dinner right up.I have also been giving him Missing Link, a dog food supplement made from whole foods. This dog food supplement, which I carry in my sheep dog herding supply online store, is an all-in-one Omega 3 Superfood supplement for dogs. I feel that since Decker is on regular kib …

Yesterday Decker was an angel, today, not so much!Yesterday, Thursday, was a day that I give sheepdog herding lessons. My student came and Decker greeted nicely, but he was tied to the fence, awaiting his turn to for sheepdog herding. I have started treating him like a normal dog, giving him the benefit of the doubt, as far as greeting people and coming up to them, but in the back of mind, ready to jump in and correct him if needed. He had a great time working sheep in the round pen and then a …