Working dogs have long been important in the handling of livestock throughout the world. Today there also is an increased interest on the part of individuals who are not a part of the livestock industry but are interested in working with their dogs and helping preserve the abilities of the breeds. Competitive trials have been increasing in number and variety. Stockdogs must cooperate with the handler, yet use their own initiative and judgment. There is little that is more thrilling than watching the special partnership between a man and a dog in the field. Making the most of interspecies communication, these teams epitomize a working relationship that has fostered livestock farming for hundreds of years. Without herding dogs, there would have been no British or Australian wool industry and farmers throughout the Old World would have been hard put to get sheep and cattle to pasture and market. Livestock farming is a hard life today, but not so hard as it was a century and more ago when dog breeds developed to help husband the herds and flocks that sustained families and began an agricultural revolution by bringing meat, milk, cheese, leather, and wool to market. Herding breeds were born in the countries now known as England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, The Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Australia, and Israel. The US is home to two herding breeds, and the native people in Siberia and the western Arctic contributed two reindeer herders. As with hunting dogs, herding and driving dogs developed in each region had their own sets of skills. Some were specialists at gathering sheep in rolling terrain. Some drove livestock to market down country lanes and through village streets. Two drove and herded reindeer. Some worked cattle, some kept to sheep, and some did both. And a few breeds developed to guard as well as drive and herd.


WATCH SHEEPDOG HERDING
THE SHEEP VIDEO

They must be able to work with gentleness, yet show strength in facing up to a stubborn animal. One of the best things about training sheepdogs is witnessing that magic moment when the dog realises what it's all about. Some dogs are very hard to train, others seem to take to it naturally, but it's the moment when "the light comes on" for a difficult dog that gives me a real buzz. Start out on the right paw with your new farm dog, and begin training on the farm early.

CHECK THIS VIDEO COURSE
OF SHEEPDOG TRAINING
at WWW.HERDING-DOG-TRAINING...COM !

Training a young herding dog is an exciting and nerve-racking experience. It's hard to believe that such a clumsy, comical little pup will ever become a useful partner in your livestock operation.



But when you see that young dog transform into an intense, quivering bundle of concentration as it turns on to stock for the first time, I guarantee your heart will leap. There is absolutely nothing like the power of a herding dog's natural instinct to work. That's why it's heartbreaking when your pup doesn't turn out the way you hoped. If you don't start its training right, that dog could become a liability.


Keeping a Watchful Eye
First, keep your puppy away from dangerous or counterproductive situations. Avoid any contact between your young dog and livestock unless it's under your supervision. It's fine to get a pup used to being around your animals while you are doing chores, as long as you can keep it safe and out of trouble. It's too easy for the dog to escape and get at the stock if you are not attentive, and the result could be a disaster. Either the dog will get hurt and become fearful, or it will think it's OK to harass or injure your stock.

Dog Training Age
Begin training your dog only when it is mature enough to withstand the physical and cognitive rigors of training - usually 10 to 12 months old, though it depends on the individual dog. If you are having problems early on, don't get mad at the dog. You may need to wait a few weeks until it is more mature.

Signaling Your Dog
Before you start training on stock, have a solid recall on your dog. If you can't call it off when it's chasing your sheep through a fence toward the highway or hanging by its teeth from a calf's ear, you are in trouble. A young dog is so excited when it first starts working stock that it may not listen, but a stern command that it's been well-trained to obey will eventually get through to its crazed brain. Some people also train their dog to lie down on command - essential to stopping or calming the dog and livestock, before training begins, but asking it to lie down on the kitchen floor versus out in the pen with sheep racing by yields wildly different results.

Training Time
When introducing your young dog to the farm, use calm livestock that are used to being worked by dogs. Four to 10 yearlings that are already "dog broke" are a good choice, because an older ewe or cow might challenge a young dog and make it fearful.



Many trainers use a round pen where the stock can't get wedged in a corner, or they block off the corners in a square pen with panels. Some people work in an open pasture with a mature dog on hand to bring the sheep back before the pup chases them into the next county. Wherever you decide to start, try to set up an area where you can have some control over both the dog and the stock. You may want to tie a long, thin rope to your dog's collar so you can walk it up to your stock in a controlled manner and guide it around the stock if it shows any sign of wanting to head right into the middle of them. Once you see that the dog will circle your stock, you can let it go and be able to snag the rope and catch him later if he is in trouble or about to collapse with exhaustion but doesn't want to quit.



Don't expect much from your dog in the beginning. Don't say anything - don't correct it. Use a calm, encouraging voice. Make it fun! You want to keep those early lessons stress-free and reinforce the pup's desire to work. Each dog matures and handles pressure at a different rate, so wait a few weeks to resume lessons if it shows fear or a lack of interest, is easily distracted, or chases the stock indiscriminately. If the young dog is eating sheep poop or taking a bathroom break, it probably means it's nervous. A dog that is ready for training should have enough instinct to circle the stock and respond to your body language. If you step in front of the dog as it circles clockwise, it should change direction and circle in the opposite direction. Using the dog's natural instinct to circle and react to the movement of both you and the stock is what all the early lessons are based on. It should be fun but productive. Dogs have a great way of signaling whether they are serious or not - if their tails are up, they are playing. If their tails are down, they are thinking. Once you see that tail go down, you will know the pup recognizes that it has a purpose for interacting with your livestock.



The pressures of training quickly exhaust a young dog. End your session if the dog shows signs of stress, fatigue or inattention. That's when it misbehaves and learns bad habits. Short, sweet lessons are the best for the dog's early training. Above all, be patient. Work on a single skill at a time, and have it solid before progressing to the next. If the dog isn't progressing the way you'd like, it's usually the fault of the trainer - not the dog!

Advanced Sheepdog Training
It takes time and commitment to train a good stock dog. If you plan to train the dog yourself, be aware that it's easy to make major mistakes with a young dog. It could turn the dog off of herding forever. Do your research and educate yourself. If you are new to working with young dogs, get help from a respected trainer. You want to do the best for your dog. The joy of working in partnership with a good working stock dog and the invaluable assistance they will give you in managing livestock is well worth it.


STARTING A DOG
Preparing Your Pup for Training
(by Patrick Shannahan)

First Exposure to Sheep
(by Robin French)

Mental Attitude
in Early Training
(by Beverly Lambert)

Class Action
(by Candy Kennedy): thoughts on lessons and starting a young dog

Getting Together
with a New Trained Dog
(by Carol Campion)

Denise Wall's YouTube series on starting a pup:May at eight months, ten months, eleven months, fourteen months, eighteen months, and twenty-two months.



THE BASICS
Warning Label: Coming When Called
(by Candy Kennedy)

Stage Fright: Different Stages of Dog Training (by Candy Kennedy)

Outrun Questions
(by Beverly Lambert)

Widening a Dog
(by Carol Campion)

Starting Flank Commands
(by Kent Kuykendall)

Lift Off
(by Candy Kennedy): teaching a proper lift

Lift Questions
by Beverly Lambert)

What Is Balance?
(by Candy Kennedy)

Tone of Voice:
It's Not What You Say,
It's How You Say It
(by Kathy Knox)

Pace: An Interview with Warren Mick
(by Fiona Robertson)



ADVANCED WORK
Whistle Theory
(mp3 download from Kent Kuykendall's whistle CD)

Finely Ground: Relaxing a Dog on Flanks (by Candy Kennedy)

Teaching Redirects (by Angie Coker)

Teaching a Shed (by Carol Campion)

The International Shed (by Beverly Lambert)



PROBLEM SOLVING
To Grip or Not to Grip (by Patrick Shannahan): dealing with a dog who grips

Gripping (by Carol Campion)




OTHER SHEEPDOG

TRAINING RESOURCES




BOOKS

Books can be ordered through bookstores, directly from the publisher, or from suppliers specializing in sheepdog items who advertise in herding magazines. In addition, herding books often are available at book booths at dog shows and herding trials. If titles are not in a local library, they can be borrowed through inter-library loan. Use a search engine to find sources for these and other titles.

Anybody Can Do It by Pope Robertson

Australian Sheepdogs - Training and Handling by Rod Cavanaugh

Australian Shepherds of the Mountain West by Kris Toft

The Farmer's Dog by John Holmes

Herding Dogs: Progressive Training by Vergil Holland

Herding Dogs of the World: 107 Breeds from Around the Globe by Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor

Lessons from a Stock Dog by Bruce Fogt

A Lifetime With the Working Collie, Their History and Training by Arthur Allen

The Natural Way by Julie Simpson

There Is Another "Way" (Other Breeds Can Herd) by Jackie Goulder

The Perfect Stockdog by Ben Means

RDT's Puppy Book

Selecting and Training a Stockdog by L. R. Alexander

Sheepdogs at Work and One Man and His Dogs by Tony Iley

Sheepdog Training, an All-Breed Approach by Mari Taggart

Stockdog Savvy by Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor and Ty Taylor

Talking Sheepdogs by Derek Scrimgeour

Training and Working Dogs for Quiet, Confident Control of Stock by Scott Lithgow

A Way of Life: Sheepdog Training, Handling and Trialling H. Glyn Jones talks to Barbara C. Collins

Working Sheepdogs by John Templeton

Working Sheep Dogs by Tully Williams

Working With a Stockdog by Anna Guthrie

The Shepherd's Dog Bookstore - Old, antique, rare, and out-of-print books, selected new and contemporary books The Border Collie Museum's annotated and illustrated Sheepdog Bibliography

Alpine Publications: Publisher of breed books (including Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Bouvier de Flanders, Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, and more)

The Book of Geese, by Dave Holdderead - Holderread Waterfowl Farm & Preservation Center

The Sheep Book - A Handbook for the Modern Shepherd, by Ron Parker. Ohio University Press; available online in PDF format

Storey Books - Publisher of books for country living, with a series on raising farm animals, including: Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, by David Holderread (title of earlier edition: Raising the Home Duck Flock) and Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep, by Paula Simmons (title of earlier edition: Raising Sheep the Modern Way) (note: in the new edition, unfortunately, the short segment in the herding dog chapter regarding the breeds other than Border Collies is erroneous - herding breeds are not divided into "style" categories of "gathering", "tending", "driving," and in the listing given, breeds are even categorized contrary to their natural tendencies.)


MAGAZINES

National Stockdog Magazine, 3184 CR75, Butler, IN 46721

Stockdog Journal, 10123 150th Street, Alden, IA 50006, tel. 641-373-6159, (641) 373-6159, email: stockdogjournal@yahoo.com

Sheep! Magazine, 145 Industrial Drive, Medford WI 54451, tel. 715-785-7979


DVD/VIDEO

An Introduction to All Breed Herding; All Breed Herding - The Next Steps; Getting Your Driver's License, Lynn Leach, available from Downriver Farm

Starting Your Border Collie on Cattle, Sheep or Ducks, available from Rural Route Videos

The Common Sense Approach to Herding, series by Jerry Rowe with an all-breed orientation, available from Twin Creek Farm.

Come Bye! and Away! Early Stages of Sheepdog Training; Take Time! That will Do! Widening the Sheepdog's Experience, with H. Glyn Jones, available from Old Pond Publishing (UK) (set of all three), and other sources

Border Collies in Action has a selection of DVDs including training videos by Patrick Shannahan and Derek Scrimgeour

Herding I (an overview), Herding II (young dog work), Herding III (advanced penning and shedding), Jeanne Joy Hartnagle, Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds)

The Perfect Stockdog, by Ben Means

Stockdog Training Fundamentals Part I and II, by Mike Hubbard, plus other training videos by different trainers

Stock Dog Training, by Steve Winn., RT 2 Box 66; Hico TX 76457 (254) 785-2047, email: slashv@htcomp.net

Working Sheepdog Website, video tutorials with Andy Nickless

Training Video for Cowdogs, Hank Pritchard, Manton, CA 96059, (916)474-3355

Audio CD: Gaining the Winning Edge with Whistles, Kent Kuykendall - also a number of training DVDs, All About Border Collies

Kelpie The Legend, documentary about the Kelpie's history, working skills and contribution to the Australian livestock industry

Natural Ability - the Instincts of the High-Calibre Working Dog, and A Few Good Dogs - Australian Sheep Dogs in Action - Tully Williams


INTERNET

Stockdog Server - a wide range of information about working stockdogs

Midwest Herding - a resource for herding information covering Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and nearby areas

Herders-L - email discussion list for all-breed herding

SHEEPDOG-L - e-mail list discussion for herding with Border Collies.

Cow Dog Central


ON-LINE TRAINING

INFORMATION

Articles:
Stockdog Library at the Working Aussie Source - good articles with a practical focus, including reprints from the Stock Dog Trainer magazine

Bud Williams Stockmanship - Teaching low stress livestock handling methods

Training articles by Patrick Shannahan

American Border Collie Network articles by Candy Kennedy - Training different types of dogs, coming when called, stages of training, preparing for trialing, pressure, and more

Little Hats website - Beginner's FAQ, clinics, resources, clubs, training articles covering early introduction, the basics, more advanced training, problem solving, trialing, and more

The Working Sheepdog - Basic techniques and information for training Border Collie sheepdogs


Video:
On-Line Sheepdog Training Courses - with Alasdair Macrae

Working Sheep Dog Training Video Series - with Tully Williams


SUPPLIERS

Shepherd's crooks, whistles, sheepdog- and sheep-related crafts, gifts and other items can be obtained from suppliers advertising in herding magazines or sometimes through local feed and tack stores

Border Collies in Action - a catalog which features, in addition to Border Collie gifts and items, herding supplies such as whistles and crooks, as well as books and videos Operation Sheepdog Herding - sheepdog supplies

Colliewobbles - "Gifts for Border Collie and Dog Lovers"

Hoganleather.com - fine custom leather leashes, collars, and training equipment for all dog sports

agriseek.com - a marketplace for livestock, horses, equipment, and more


TRAINING FACILITIES

TRAINERS / HERDERS'

HOME PAGES

A list of trainers and facilities is available on the AHBA website

Sheepdog Junction - Richard Seaman, Middleboro, MA

Drummond Ranch - Vincent, C

Northlight - Linda Rorem, Pacifica, CA

Jan Wesen's Home Page - Jan Wesen, Bow, WA

Flyaway Field Stockdog Training - Chris Davies, Oxford, PA

Twin Creek Herding - Jerry and Sharon Rowe, Osborn, KS

Downriver Farm - Lynn Leach - Hope, British Columbia, Canada

Tee Creek Dog Training - Kathy Warner Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada

Astra Sheepdog Centre - in eastern Scotland, training and breeding center for working Border Collies

All-Breed Training in the U.K. - in Yorkshire, England


CHECK THE
STOCKDOGS MAGAZINE
TO GET MORE TRAINING
SHEEPDOG TIPS
at
WWW.COWDOG
CENTRAL.COM


LEARN LOW STRESS
LIVESTOCK HANDLING
METHODS
at
WWW.STOCKMAN
SHIP.COM


BORDER COLLIE
TRAINING ARTICLES
by
WWW.ABCOLLIE.COM


LIVESTOCK HERDING DOG
TRAINING ARTICLES & RESOURCES
at WWW.LITTLEHATS.COM


CHECK THE
BORDER COLLIE
TRAINING MATERIALS
at
WWW.KATYCROPPER
CO.UK

CHECK THE
HERDING DOGS
TRAINING GUIDE by
WWW.CANIS
MAJOR.COM