(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
Category: Training Tips & Advice
FAQ – Will my puppy work stock?
QUESTION: I have a young Border Collie puppy which I want to use for herding our sheep. How can I tell if he’s interested in working? ANSWER: If one or more of your pup’s parents works sheep or other livestock, there’s a very good chance your pup will too. Probably the first sign you’ll have… Continue reading FAQ – Will my puppy work stock?
FAQ – Calling the dog away from stock
QUESTION: How can I call my dog away when he’s working in the ring or in a yard? ANSWER: It’s natural for the trainee dog to want to keep working. Being confined in a training ring or yard creates a lot of stress for the dog but, of course, it must come away when you… Continue reading FAQ – Calling the dog away from stock
Featured tutorial – Educating Gloria
Educating Gloria – encouraging the good, and making the best of the rest! Handlers who are new to sheepdog training can find it difficult to recognise what their dog’s doing, and take the appropriate action at the right time – timing is everything! Your timing will improve with practice, and watching a training session (such… Continue reading Featured tutorial – Educating Gloria
Featured tutorial – Sticky Dogs! with “too much” eye
It’s time to get moving if your dog has “too much” eye. To a greater or lesser degree, border collies use “eye” (a particularly intense and assertive stare) to move stock. In some dogs the look is very exaggerated (often said to have “too much eye”), while other dogs work with their heads up and… Continue reading Featured tutorial – Sticky Dogs! with “too much” eye
FAQ – Training Huntaway Blue Heeler ‘driving’ dogs
QUESTION: I’m getting a Huntaway to work my sheep and cattle but I can’t find any Huntaway or Blue Heeler specific training on the internet. Are they the same as Border Collies? ANSWER: The basics such as general dog behaviour and discipline around stock are exactly the same, but as I understand it, Huntaways and… Continue reading FAQ – Training Huntaway Blue Heeler ‘driving’ dogs
FAQ – Training an older dog
QUESTION: We have an eight year old border collie and now live on a smallholding where we will soon get our first flock of sheep. Will it be possible to train the dog to work sheep? ANSWER: In theory, you can train any dog which has the necessary instinct for herding – but there are… Continue reading FAQ – Training an older dog
Featured tutorial – Inside Flanks (Circling the Sheep on Command)
Teaching inside flanks (circling on command) Once your dog’s driving competently, teaching inside flanks (circling on command) is the next step. Make no mistake, good inside flanks can be the difference between having an average dog, and a great dog! In the two-part tutorial, Inside Flanks (Circle on Command), we see Wyn learning to overcome… Continue reading Featured tutorial – Inside Flanks (Circling the Sheep on Command)