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FULL LIST OF OUR SHEEPDOG TRAINING TUTORIALS
For a better understanding of sheepdogs and their training, watch the videos in the order they appear on this page.
English subtitles are available on all our tutorial videos.
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 ... 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 ... Watch now
Sheepdog Selection and Preparation
Chapters 1 & 2 from the DVD set First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training A tutorial packed with essential information to help you to understand, and look after your dog. For a long time ... Watch now
Sheep – Essential Facts For Trainers
Chapter three from the DVD set First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training: "Sheep". People think sheep are stupid, but in some ways they can be very clever. When you start training your first sheepdog, ... Watch now
The Training Area
Chapter four from the DVD set First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training The Training Area tutorial shows you how to get the most out of the field, paddock or yard you train your dog ... Watch now
What Shall I Do Next?
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, ... 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 ... Watch now
The Training Stick
A 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
The Sheepdog Handler
Chapter five from the First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training DVD set We look at some of the qualities required in a sheepdog handler (or trainer) and how to make improvements. Topics covered include ... Watch now
Stopping the Dog (Parts 1-3)
Teach your dog to stop well on command (three part tutorial). The three completely revised tutorials delve into the thorny issue of getting your dog to stop, in much more detail than the earlier versions ... Watch now
Starting a Strong Dog
Is your dog hard to control around sheep? In part one of "," 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 ... Watch now
How Can I Slow The Dog Down?
Things you can do to make your dog work more steadily Probably the most common question we get asked about sheepdog training is how to slow the dog down. Of course, there's no "quick fix" ... Watch now
How Often (to Train) and How Long For?
Regular training is excellent, but don't overdo it One of the questions we are most frequently asked is about the frequency and duration of sheepdog training sessions.There are no hard and fast rules, but it's ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 1)
Follow the progress of two litter sisters - Bronwen and Scylla - as they learn to become sheepdogs. They might have the same parents, but their temperaments are very different and the same goes for ... Watch now
Balance – What’s the Point?
Sheepdog trainers often refer to The Point of Balance but what exactly is it, and where can we find one? In this short tutorial, we discover that the point of balance is not always to ... Watch now
The Training Ring (Parts 1 & 2)
A training ring makes training your dog a lot easier A two-part tutorial. One of the most useful assets that help us to train a sheepdog is the sheepdog training ring. It's very much more ... Watch now
Get (the sheep) off the fence!
How to get sheep or cattle away from a fence or hedge. Getting stubborn sheep away from a fence or hedge during the early stages of training can be very frustrating unless you know the ... Watch now
Moving Out – Into the Open Field
Bring sheep out of a pen without drama! Getting your trainee sheepdog to bring the sheep out of the training ring without crisis can be a tricky affair. The sheep will usually grasp the slightest ... Watch now
The Outrun (Part 1)
A good outrun is 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 ... Watch now
The Outrun (Part 2)
Correct positioning of the dog and handler, in relation to that of the sheep The outrun marks the difference between a dog in training and a dog in work. When you no longer need to ... Watch now
The Outrun (Part 3) Slingshot
Using a 'Slingshot' technique to widen the dog's outrun Part three in our series of Outrun tutorials demonstrates how we use a simple technique we call "The Slingshot", to make the dog go out much ... Watch now
An Insight into Pack Behaviour
A tutorial to help you get a better understand your dog This tutorial's a little different from usual as we're looking at dog behaviour, rather than training. "An Insight into Pack Behaviour" was originally a ... Watch now
Give the Sheep Some Space
Teach your dog to keep well away from the sheep when flanking If your dog's going to work sheep or cattle properly, it must learn to give them plenty of room. If the dog keeps ... Watch now
Starting a non starter (Parts 1 and 2)
If your dog won't work, we can help you to change its mind! It's very disappointing to find that your dog doesn't seem to want to work sheep or cattle, but it doesn't necessarily mean ... Watch now
Calm but Firm
It's so important to appear calm, even when you're not A dog which is aggressive with the sheep, but runs away as soon as the trainer attempts to correct it, is among the most difficult ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 2)
Scylla's turn now - she's not so nice! In part one we saw how good Bronwen's sheep control can be, and we caught a glimpse of Scylla's antics too. In this tutorial, we find out ... Watch now
Backwards is the way forward
Our most useful exercise once you have control of the dog It's boring - and it might appear pointless to the novice, but walking backwards with the dog bringing the sheep up to you is ... Watch now
Back to Forwards
The essential sequel to "" Walking backwards with the dog steadily bringing the sheep up to you at the pace you choose to move back at, is one of the best exercises you can practice ... Watch now
Sticky Dogs (too much eye)
"Too much eye" is nothing more than a confidence problem "That dog's got too much eye!" You'll sometimes hear this when a sheepdog, invariably a Border collie, appears mesmerised by the sheep, and reluctant to ... Watch now
Training Max – the Gripper (Parts 1-3)
Part 1 - A compulsive gripper can be a big problem to train Not for the faint-hearted, this tutorial deals with one of the most difficult aspects of sheepdog training, how to cope with a ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 3)
Bronwen gets the sheep in, but Scylla's still horrible The third tutorial in our Bronwen and Scylla series sees Bronwen struggle to get the sheep into the ring. Once the sheep are in, we watch ... Watch now
Starting a reluctant dog
Help boost your dog's confidence to start working sheep 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 ... Watch now
Close work (Parts 1 and 2)
Moving sheep in and out of yards and fields can be tricky Teaching a dog to bring the sheep to you in the open field is all very well, but your dog's capable of doing ... Watch now
Sending the Dog the Wrong Way!
A useful technique to widen your dog out from the sheep 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 ... Watch now
Whistle (Parts 1 & 2)
Part 1 - Are you finding your whistle difficult to blow?If you work sheep at a distance, in bad weather or under noisy conditions, you need to use a shepherd's whistle, because the sound of ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 4)
Bronwen's no angel, but Scylla's improving slowly In tutorial number four, Bronwen proves she's by no means perfect, but she continues to be a long way ahead of Scylla in terms of her reliability and ... Watch now
Sometimes Nice is Not Enough
Does your dog have difficulty moving stubborn sheep or other livestock? It's all very well training your dog to keep back from the sheep and not upset them, but what can you do if the ... Watch now
Tess in the Open Field
A complete training session, packed with lessons As well as learning specific sheepdog training topics, we like to show you complete training sessions. This helps keep the topics in context and gives the viewer a ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 5)
Scylla's still pretty awful - Bronwen's erratic Scylla takes an almighty charge, and scatters the sheep in all directions. Four of the sheep leave the ring but, once under control, Scylla was impressive at times ... Watch now
Why Your Dog Should Flank Both Ways
The importance of teaching your dog to go both ways round the stock Just as most humans are left or right-handed, the majority of herding dogs favour working in one direction over another. Often, sheep ... Watch now
My Dog’s No Good
The dog's not 'no good', it just needs training If someone tells you your dog's no good, don't believe them.As long as your dog has the herding instinct, the will to work for its handler, ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 6)
Is Scylla ready to work outside the ring? Part six of our series comparing the training of litter sisters, Bronwen and Scylla, sees Scylla continuing to make slow progress in the ring. Andy's hoping to ... Watch now
Driving (Parts 1 – 3)
THREE TUTORIALS to help you teach your dog to drive PART 1. Some sheepdog trainers dread teaching their dog to drive and it's understandable, because when we ask a dog to take the sheep or ... Watch now
Inside Flanks (Circle on Command 1 & 2)
A valuable exercise for increasing control of your dog Dramatically improve your sheepdog or cattle dog's work with this important two-part tutorial. Even if the dog's already competent at driving, teaching inside flanks or circling ... Watch now
Woolly Jumpers
Once sheep learn to jump out, they can be a problem Sheep which jump out don't just disrupt the training session. They can injure themselves and even damage fencing and hurdles into the bargain. If ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 7) – Going too Wide
Bronwen's flanking far too wide In part seven, of our Bronwen and Scylla comparison, we focus entirely on Bronwen. Although she's far more advanced and reliable than her sister, Scylla, she's developed the all-too common ... Watch now
Use a reward to get training on board
Odo was returned to us because he wouldn't get in the car! Working dogs have a huge capacity for learning, but in order to learn things that we want them to do, there must be ... Watch now
Eliminate the Toilet Break
Discourage your dog from taking a toilet break while it's working. Not only is it not professional, but dog which has stopped to relieve itself can easily lose control of its sheep because it's focused ... Watch now
No Excuses Please!
Take a realistic look at your dog's performance It's very easy to fall into the trap of thinking your dog's work is better than it really is. Novice trainers are often eager to move our ... Watch now
Eve at the Pen
A complete training session, teaching the dog good pen manners. Getting sheep into a tight spot, and then getting them out again, needs confidence and control. In this tutorial we see Eve, a keen young ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Part 8)
Scylla makes good progress When a dog's proving slow to train, it's particularly important to be able to recognise the areas where progress is being made, and to communicate approval and encouragement to the dog ... Watch now
Shedding (or Separating) The Sheep
Extremely useful on the farm, and essential for sheepdog trials. You'll need to 'shed' the sheep! Shedding is one of those operations that contradicts the basic rules we've taught the dog so far. Previously, we've ... Watch now
Educating Gloria!
Watch a complete training session, full of valuable lessons! 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 ... Watch now
Sheepdog Trials – Getting Started (Part 2)
Further information for would-be sheepdog trials competitors Competing in your first sheepdog trial can be a daunting experience. It's not just a question of training your dog well. There are many things the competitor is ... Watch now
Sheepdog Trials – Getting Started (Part 1)
Information for would-be sheepdog trials competitors Preparing your dog and yourself for your first sheepdog trial is not a simple task. There are so many things to remember. Where do you go when you arrive ... Watch now
Sheepdogs Time Out!
Get to know our sheepdogs Following on from the very popular video - and while we put the finishing touches to our latest sheepdog training tutorial, we thought we'd give you a New Year treat! ... Watch now
English subtitles are available on all our tutorial videos.
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