I've learned a lot about pig herding over the last six months, and can say that I've made big strides in my sensitivity to their flight zone while in various states of excitement. The Large Blacks are a lot less responsive to pressure than Ruby Mae is, and a lot less bothered by pokes with a stick as well! I've discovered after lots of running around, poking, and butt smacking that the most effective method of pig herding is quite simply dragging along their food trough full of their favorite snack just barely in front of them. You have to let them get a tiny taste every few feet or they get frustrated and break off to find some food on their own (and a foraging pig is a very destructive force on a farm!). Never let them get a whole mouthful and never spill more than a morsal or they'll stop just long enough to realize you're tricking them out of some sweet sweet freedom. Ideally, I keep it so they can have their tongue in the trough all the way to the new pasture to keep them entirely focused on their happy taste buds. Somehow the trough works infinitely better than a bucket of feed. Perhaps the strong association of satisfying meals eaten in the trough are more powerful than the smell and taste of food alone. It's completely silly looking, but low stress and entirely positive for the pigs.

Wilbur is showing himself to be of the "gathering" variety of stock dogs, rather than the "driving" type, which is not a surprise for a Border Collie. He likes to run out in front of the pigs, and gets extra exuberant when a member of the herd darts off in a new direction. He's definitely due for some formal herding training as this isn't entirely helpful, and we're getting closer to a point where stock dog training is a possibility. You can't start them on herding until their obedience is solid. It'd be like skipping counting and going straight to multiplication. Hopefully he has more talent for herding than I do for multiplication!

His recall has gotten a lot better in the past few weeks - something just seemed to click one day while we were practicing, and he was suddenly really excited to show me his come. His stay is finally progressing now that I've added a long stay to his meal time routine. He's much more committed to obedience when there's a whole dinner on the line! One thing we need to figure out is the "stand" command which should freeze him mid-run. Wilbur does not excel at stillness! Perhaps I need to carry around his dinner bowl while we practice :) Wilbur is young and goofy and has quite a rookie for a trainer, but he's got a very solid brain and the sweetest disposition imaginable. How did I get so lucky with the world's best cats and dogs?!