It’s important that your dog will flank both ways For day-to-day farming tasks you might be able to work around your dog’s shortcomings, but when the unexpected happens (as it surely will) you, your dog, or more likely your sheep, will run into trouble if the dog is reluctant to flank freely in both directions.… Continue reading Featured tutorial – Why Your Dog Should Flank Both Ways
Category: Training Tips & Advice
Featured Tutorial: Starting a Non-Starter!
Can anything be done if your collie doesn’t want to work? The short answer is “Yes!” and understanding the possible reasons why the dog won’t work is a huge help to finding the cure. It’s very disappointing to find that your collie doesn’t want to work sheep or cattle, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you… Continue reading Featured Tutorial: Starting a Non-Starter!
Featured tutorial – Get off the Fence!
When confronted with a dog, one of the few ways sheep have to defend themselves is to crowd together onto a fence, or in a corner. From this position they can turn to face the dog, and even just a few sheep can look very intimidating from the dog’s point of view! As a result,… Continue reading Featured tutorial – Get off the Fence!
FAQ – Dog attacking cattle
QUESTION: My dog works cattle quite well, but dives in and grips their legs for no apparent reason. How can I calm him down and stop him gripping cattle when they’re moving OK? ANSWER: The first thing is to try giving just enough well-timed correction so that the dog doesn’t go in too hard –… Continue reading FAQ – Dog attacking cattle
FAQ – Walking the dog around sheep
QUESTION: Is it OK to walk my dog around the sheep every day? He’s not ready to work them yet but I want him to get used to being near them. ANSWER: Familiarising the dog with sheep or cattle would seem like a good idea. After all, we want the dog to be relaxed when… Continue reading FAQ – Walking the dog around sheep
Featured tutorial – The Outrun
Sheepdog training tutorials focusing on the dog’s outrun
FAQ – Dog goes out too wide
QUESTION: My dog is generally working well but when I send her on an outrun to gather the sheep, she goes out too far. How can I stop my dog going too wide? ANSWER: Going too wide is certainly one of the better faults a dog can have. Often getting the dog to give the… Continue reading FAQ – Dog goes out too wide
Featured tutorial – Sometimes Nice is Not Enough
(Or, “Give your dog a bit more Grrr!” Building your dog’s self confidence.) Self confidence is essential in a working dog. Sheep are natural runners when they’re being hunted, but some situations, such as when held in a pen, or protecting their lambs, can make a sheep turn, challenge, and fight back. While sheep and… Continue reading Featured tutorial – Sometimes Nice is Not Enough