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Starting a reluctant dog

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Close up photo of Maisie, the dog used in this herding sheepdog training tutorial

Most dogs are over-excited when they first encounter sheep and it's up to the trainer to do their best to protect the stock. Occasionally though the dog takes no interest in the stock at all.

In this tutorial, Maisie shows no interest in sheep at first, but once the hunting instinct kicks-in, despite being a sensitive dog, she's aggressive with them.

Our video demonstrates how to limit the pressure applied by your control measures, while at the same time encouraging the dog to work.

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Starting a Strong Dog Balance - Whats the Point? Get off the Fence!

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Training Max – the Gripper (Part 1)

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Thumbnail image for the sheep and cattle dog training tutorial: Training Max the Gripper - part one

Not for the faint-hearted, this tutorial deals with one of the most difficult aspects of sheepdog training, how to cope with a very strong-willed dog which persists in violently attacking the sheep.

In the first part of the video, you'll see Max at his worst despite his trainer being vigilant. Later on, Max's training becomes easier and far more rewarding. Watch the video to find out how it's done.

Max had no training of any kind at any time in between the lessons shown above.

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Training Max - the GRIPPER 2 Training Max - the GRIPPER 3 Eliminate the Toilet Break

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Sending the Dog the Wrong Way!

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One of the best ways to get a dog to give the sheep space when it's flanking is to use a technique we call "sending the dog the wrong way".

Once you can achieve this, you and your dog are well on the way to producing quality work - but it's not easy.

As with so many other aspects of sheepdog training, once you understand why the dog is reluctant to go "the wrong way" it becomes much easier to train it to do just that, and the dog's flanks will widen out.

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Stopping the Dog Stopping the Dog Coming Out (with a little dignity intact)

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Educating Gloria!

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This tutorial shows nine-month old Gloria, a bright, enthusiastic young dog, and her fourth training session with some well-dogged sheep.

As well as showing a typical dog in training, warts and all, the tutorial demonstrates some of the techniques that we've talked about in other tutorials, such as making use of the training ring; effective use of the training stick; reinforcing the stop, and flank commands; widening the flanks; taking the sheep out of the ring (whoops - the wrong way!) and dealing with gripping.

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Eve at the Pen Close Work 1 Close Work 2

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Backwards is the way forward

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Thumbnail image for the sheep and cattle dog training tutorial: Backwards is the Way Forward

It's boring - and it might appear pointless to the novice, but walking backwards with the dog bringing the sheep up to you is the single most important exercise you can do once your dog has basic control of the sheep.

It improves pace, working distance, the stop, sheep control, and much more.

As well as clearly demonstrating how to get a strong dog to bring the sheep up quietly - this tutorial provides a valuable tip on how to read your sheep.

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Back to Forwards! Why Your Dog Should Flank Both Ways Sending the Dog the Wrong Way!

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Starting a Strong Dog

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In part one of Starting a Young Puppy, we saw that with care, it's possible to begin a puppy's training at a very early age, but if you didn't have the luxury of well-dogged docile sheep for your puppy to learn with, then you've had to wait before you can start training - and you may find you have a tougher dog than you bargained for when it comes to training it on sheep.

Rather like Tess in this tutorial, there's a good chance your young dog will have its own ideas about how to go about tackling sheep!

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Training Max - the GRIPPER! Balance (What's the Point) Get off the Fence!

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Outrun (Part 1)

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Thumbnail image for the sheep and cattle dog training tutorial: The Outrun part one

A good outrun is absolutely essential if a sheepdog is to work efficiently.

Fortunately, it's not difficult to train a dog to do an outrun, and the training process itself improves other aspects of the dog's work, such as flanking and the stop, so we use short outruns very early in training to improve the dog's all-round performance.

The Outrun Part 1 features Jed, a large, headstrong male collie with far more enthusiasm than skill. We filmed an actual training session, warts and all, to show how to start teaching the outrun, and how to make the best of it when things go wrong (as things, inevitably, will).

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The Outrun 2 The Outrun 3 Driving 1

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The Training Stick

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Thumbnail image for the sheep and cattle dog training tutorial: The Training Stick

By far the most important tool we use for training sheepdogs is the lightweight plastic pipe.

We call it the Training Stick - and we wouldn't like to have to train dogs without one!

This tutorial describes how invaluable the training stick can be in the early stages of training, for controlling the dog's direction, it's pace, and the distance it works from the sheep or cattle.

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Learn Your Commands Starting a Young Puppy Starting a Young Puppy 2