1.2

     This week was a little more challenging with training Coco. I chose to start introducing her to smaller animals to ensure her confidence in herding. She did not respond well at all. She came with me to the barn where the animals were at, but she was so scared she wouldn't approach them. She did however stay by my side while we were inside the barn. I think I'll have to repeat this weeks plan so she can gain some confidence. I was happy that she stayed right next to the fence while the sheep were sniffing her, so that makes me feel a little better and lets me know she has potential to overcome her fear. 

    To start her training for next week, I'll start taking her down to the barn with me more in order to just get her used to all the animals. I also found an interesting product on Amazon that is supposed to help run off energy and help practice herding for dogs. It's called a herding ball which is technically meant for blue healers, but I think it will work for Coco. If she still is too afraid of the animals, I am going to use the herding ball to practice commands as she moves the ball around. 

    Really the only other technique I can think of to help her not get scared of the animals is to leave her tied up in a pen with them, but be there with her so she has some comfort from me. I am just hoping that I can get her to at least get near the animals this week so I can start her training with the herding commands.

    On the bright side, Coco has kept her commands from last week almost perfectly. We practice some, probably not as much as we should, but I always run through the commands as soon as I get home and when I am on my way to work or going to do chores. It makes me happy that she improves every time we run through our commands.