Need a training tip.

[Rod]

The background: Have a 9 month old single steer calf which I picked up 2 weeks ago. I work him each day once or twice 15 minutes or so each time. He stays in his own stall by himself and is tied in a stanchion over night. Has had some training before I got him.

The progress to date: Stops, gee and haw on voice command or goad, stands well (60 seconds so far). Has learned to easy (walk at my pace) and a little backing up although I haven’t worked on that much yet. I have a neck yoke ready to go but am waiting until I have breeching to hold it up as it tends to rotate on his neck. I have trained him not to pull back toward the barn or try to turn into it when we pass the door which he used to do quite persistently.

The problem: When walking away from the barn stops, turns back, bucks, drags back and in short is giving me all the body language he can come up with to tell me he wants to go back to his pen. I have tried some good smacks and whip shots on his rear, repetition walking up to the barn and back away. The best I have accomplished so far is him walking real slowly at the end of the rope following me from way back and occasionally stopping till I give him a lash or tap for some more reluctant distance. I tried giving him a treat when we got away a distance hoping he would walk out for that but it didn’t work very well.

Any suggestions, he learns real quick.

[sanhestar]

from my point of view two weeks isn’t enought time for a good bond to develop between the two of you.

I would wait, work in familiar surroundings and build trust and getting to know each other.

I think he will let you know when he’s ready to work with you.

[CharlyBonifaz]

When walking away from the barn stops, turns back, bucks, drags back and in short is giving me all the body language he can come up with to tell me he wants to go back to his pen. I have tried some good smacks and whip shots on his rear, repetition walking up to the barn and back away. The best I have accomplished so far is him walking real slowly at the end of the rope following me from way back and occasionally stopping till I give him a lash or tap for some more reluctant distance. I tried giving him a treat when we got away a distance hoping he would walk out for that but it didn’t work very well.

sounds very familiar 🙁 especially when we pass the entrance and he figured this is it, and I plan to do more work 😉
I never gave him a chance to get through with his suggestion, on the contrary, I made him do more passes…..
he has been improving but still not quite forgets to tell me about his notion….
have been wondering if a partner for him would make things easier……

he learns real quick.

they sure do 😀

[Author]

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