by Lane Campbell on Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:10 pm
I mostly work cattle, especially purchased calves that are not "dog-broke" so I have need for a controlled bite. Over the years
my started pups have needed pulling back as they want to bite all the time. But, with this said, my older dogs get to a point
they would rather face-up and wait out the cattle. I don't usually have that much patience so I start asking for a bite.
I begin pressing my walk-up command (walk-up, WALK-UP, HIT!) this usually will get my trained dogs excited and they will
sometimes go ahead and bite. I continue to do this and after a while most dogs figure it out and will bite on command.
I would suggest that I don't ever want a dog to bite unless he is walking straight into a cow and you have given the cow a
chance to move away. To me a dog that runs by and bites at a cow doesn't have much power, and I never want a body biter.
My exception would be when driving sticky cattle I do want a heel bite, but it should be low, and just in and out.
Just be careful what you wish for as these dogs will put their life on the line if you ask them. Remember a dog like a good
horse only has a limited number of trips in them and they all seem to wear out pretty darn quick. It seems like once a dog gets
about "fool proof" they are too old to be as much help. With this in mind I have changed my training ideas and start dogs
later and don't drill as much. They learn pretty darn well on the job. Just a few ideas from a limited mind.