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Sheepdog Training Tutorials (Full List)
For best results watch the videos in the order they appear here.
English subtitles are available on all our tutorials.
Top tips for easier training
Valuable advice for sheep and cattle dog trainers. Nobody would claim that training a dog to work sheep or other livestock is an easy matter. But by understanding what is going on and why, and by paying attention to just ... Watch now
The Golden Rule of Sheepdog Training
The most important rule when you train a dog on sheep or cattle. There are a number important rules that you would do well to keep in mind when you train a dog to work cattle or sheep. After all, ... Watch now
Sheepdog Selection and Preparation
Chapters 1 & 2 from the DVD set 'First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training'. This is a very important tutorial! It's packed with essential information to help you to understand, and look after your dog. It includes choice of ... Watch now
Sheep – Essential Facts For Trainers
Chapter three from the DVD set 'First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training'. People think sheep are stupid, but in some ways they can be very clever, as well as determined. When you start training your first sheepdog, it's easy ... Watch now
The Training Area
Chapter four from the DVD set 'First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training'. The size, shape and nature of the training area can make a massive difference to your training experience. The Training Area tutorial shows you how to get ... Watch now
Getting the sheep into the ring!
How to get sheep into a training ring - if you don't have a trained sheepdog! For English Subtitles click CC on player. OK! You've built yourself a training ring - but now you need to get the sheep into ... Watch now
What Shall I Do Next?
Follow our suggested order for training your sheepdog. When you start to train a sheepdog there are so many issues that need attention, it can be quite daunting. You can't possibly address them all at once, and while there's no ... Watch now
Puppy Training Essentials
Important points to remember when bringing up a puppy. Tempting though it may be to try your puppy with stock at a very early age, you should beware. Unless you can be absolutely certain you're in a position to protect ... Watch now
The Training Stick
Correct use of training stick can drastically reduce the time it takes to train your dog. By far the most important tool we use for training sheepdogs is the lightweight plastic pipe. We call it the Training Stick - and ... Watch now
The Dog’s Confidence
The dog's confidence is vitally important. Understanding the factors which affect the dog's work is extremely important for a successful sheep or cattle dog trainer. Of those factors, the dog's confidence is probably the most underestimated. Confidence is of vital ... Watch now
Learn Your Commands
Confusing your commands is very bad practice. Attempting to train a sheep or cattle dog when you're not fully conversant with the commands can cause serious problems. It's completely unfair on the dog because you'll be blaming it for going ... Watch now
The Sheepdog Handler
Don't just train your dog! Make yourself, a better trainer! It's all very well learning about the dog, the sheep, and the training area, but it's just as important to think about some of the qualities required in a sheepdog ... Watch now
English subtitles are available on all our tutorials
Thank you for the fast answer, now all it’s ok. Your tutorials are very nice, and easier with subtitles =p
kind regards,
Claire
Hello Andy,
I’ve just a little problem, I’ve made an inscription yesterday with an Annual Membership.
But when I login on the sheepdog blog I can’t watch your tutorials, It’s like I’m not a full member, can you help me please ?
Thank you for your answer.
Claire.
Hello Claire,
Thanks for becoming a member – I’m sorry you experienced difficulty with logging in.
I have upgraded your account manually, so now you will be able to watch the tutorials. I hope you find them really useful – we’ll be adding more very soon.
Best wishes,
Andy
Jenna,
I can’t remember how old Jock is, but he sounds like an adolescent who’s just beginning to realise he can get the better of you.
You need to be very firm with him on both counts, because it’s his stop that’s the problem. I suggest you go back to basics with Jock – get him flanking around a few sheep, and stop him, then send him off again, but stop him immediately again – and so on.
It’s boring for both of you, but he must learn to stop when you want him to, so your attitude should be ‘until your stop improves, this classroom stuff is all you’re going to get, Buster’.
Once the stop improves, the other problems will resolve themselves, because you know when he’s going to run after (or too close to) the sheep, so be ready for it, and stop him BEFORE he goes!
Best wishes, Andy
Hi Andy,
Jock just turned 14 months old and has changed slightly. He’s started cocking his leg, showing an interest in our old dog and is a lot more agitated when a car pulls up in the driveway. These are all VERY new for him.
He’ll be working again tomorrow morning, so I’ll do what you’ve suggested. Maybe I should go and have a look at your tutorial on giving sheep space, just so it sticks in my head so I can get it through his head!
Thanks again, Jenna
Thanks for taking the time to reply Andy.
I have another question.
How do I get Jock to work off-balance? It’s becoming annoying if I always have to stand exactly where I want him to put the sheep, especially if it’s through a gateway. He tends to being them through, then when I let them past me, he gives me that “Don’t just stand there! Do something!” look and tries to run around them to bring them back to me again. If I’m quick, I can stop him before he does this, however a few times I haven’t been quick enough and he’s put the sheep straight back into the paddock where they came from.
Also, he doing well moving the sheep but I have to start making him back off. He’s starting to get way too close (up their behinds) and if I give the stop command, he just shoots around the side of them, still really close. I can not get him to stop and stay so the sheep get room, but if I do manage this, as soon as I let him go again (usually commanding ‘steady’) he works his way straight up their behinds again. Any tips?
Jenna
Hi Andy, how are you? I’m having some trouble with Jock as far as gathering up the sheep. We have the sheep spread out over two paddocks. I can send him out to gather one group to me, but can’t get him to leave them to gather the other group. His outruns are beautiful, and he doesn’t run at a million miles an hour any more, however once he’s got all of the sheep (visible ones) mobbed up, he wont leave them to get the rest.
Any tips?
Take care, and thanks in advance.
Jenna
Hello Jenna, Good to hear that Jock’s maturing now.
If you can get him to come away from the sheep (I presume you can) then you can get him to “look-back” for a second bunch of sheep.
When he brings the first bunch to you, walk through the first bunch, towards the second bunch, and call him to you. Keep walking towards the second bunch and calling him off the first, encouraging him to pay attention to the second bunch (using look-back commands?) until the penny drops and he realises what you want.
As soon as he’s noticed the second bunch, give him a command (any one will do for now) to go and get them.
If he won’t come away from the first bunch, you need to work on that. There will be a tutorial on this soon.
Once Jock understands what you want, try to send him back for the second bunch sooner (before he brings the first bunch right to you). Depending on your ground etc, you should be able to get him to collect them all together first, and then bring them to you. Andy
Hi Andy,
Yesterday was supposed to be a day off for Jock and I, however our lambs decided to go on an adventure.
I had been working on him to get him to come away from the first lot of sheep and to go for the second lot. This was needed yesterday.
All 11 lambs got out, 2 were going to be out of sight fairly quickly so I sent Jock out to get them. When he had them within about 50 feet of me, I sent him to round up the lambs that had bolted up the hill. By the time he got to them, they were about 300 metres away and up a hill, so it was a big run (and a big test) for Jock.
He worked hard, but he got around them and forced them down the hill (the only time I’ve heard Jock bark at the sheep actually).
He did a wonderful job, and if I hadn’t been working on him regarding looking back for the second mob, he wouldn’t have done it. As it turned out, I was able to stay on my property while he brought all of the lambs back. The poor boy was exhausted but very pleased with himself.
(Just a note, had we not got them back straight away, the property owner would have come out guns blazing).
So thank you for your advice, it saved the day yesterday.
It seems my lambs found the only break in the electric fence…………….little ratbags!
Jenna