Whoa

[clayfoot-sandyman]

I have 2 calves both about a month old. I'm taking them out about 3 times per week for 20 - 30 mins at a time. I hope to increase this as the days get longer and the calves get more used to the idea. At present I just walk them individually around the farm, taking a different route each time and working on "get up" and "whoa". "Get up" is already quite good but I'm having some troubles / questions about "whoa" in relation to calves pulling forward too much and trying to run when being lead.

So when leading them on the halter they both try to pull strongly forward and I'm often repeatedly pulling them back. I have the lead very short, so they can't pull too far forward. At first I thought that each time they try to pull beyond the pace I should "whoa" them with voice command and goad, however this means at times endless stops / taps on the nose.

Is this right or should I just be holding them back to my pace as we walk? Should I endlessly stop and start them until they get the idea or should I be lightly tapping them on the nose to keep them back whilst walking?? Do I need to be using the stick a bit more firmly to show them it's not OK to pull forward or is this going to put them off?? Need some advice as no good advice on this question in the books, DVD's etc I use so it's out to you guys! Any help MUCH appreciated - Ed

[dominiquer60]

I am new to this too. I had success with being firm with the goad and simultaneous voice. Once they had this down I introduced the command "easy" to down shift them to a slower gear when needed. I also found that even just 5 or ten minutes each day brought them along at a good pace. I would lead them to pasture everyday or a tie-out along a tree line, so it was just part of their routine. I also started them at 6 months just because that is when they became available for me to fiddle with, so I don't have any experience with younger calves.
Erika

[mother katherine]

If you've seen the video "Training Oxen" with Drew Conroy and Tim Huppe, Drew has an older pair that ran with their mothers for 6 - 9 months. The wisdom is, start and stop multitudinous times. If they don't respond to gentle taps, step it up a notch. Don't "beat' them, but get their attention. Pulling on halters and lead ropes becomes a bad habit that they begin to rely on as a cue. When they get a little more size, that lead rope means nothing in the tug of war.
The most important thing is, to establish that you are the dominant steer in the trio. An easy way to cue them that you are dominant is to not let them eat OR DRINK unless you give it to them directly. That means no standing water tank always full, no loose hay around. Feed and water them twice a day or so; make sure they've had what they want at that time, then take it away.
Their society in bovine terms works this way. It won't take them too long to respect you and follow your lead. I had a problem adult team and this was more effective than anything else I could do to get them to understand I was BOSS and IN CHARGE. No hollering, no beating, just a nonverbal exchange in their own societal terms.
oxnun

[Ixy]

I applied the same principle as I apply to training dogs to walk nicely on a lead - if he's rushing (was/is often to get back to his friends) I stop, or delay him further by turning him across me and leading him in a circle - he only gets to get anywhere when he's behaving.

I use a different command to mean 'slow down' than to 'stop' as you don't really want them to stop do you? You want them to change down a gear. I say 'Stand' when I want them to stop and stand still, and 'steadyyyy' in a warning sort of way when I just want them to slow down.