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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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
Getting the sheep into the ring!
How to get sheep into a training ring - if you don't have a trained sheepdog! OK! You've built yourself a training ring - but now ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
Stopping the Dog (Parts 1-3)
Teach your dog to stop well on command, without damaging its confidence. The three completely revised tutorials delve into the thorny issue of getting your dog ... Watch now
Starting a Young Puppy (Parts 1 & 2)
We take two eleven week old puppies to sheep for the first time. Part 1. The usual age for starting a pup on sheep is between ... Watch now
Starting a Strong Dog
Is your dog difficult to control around sheep? In part one of the 'Starting a Young Puppy' tutorials, we saw that with care, it's possible to ... Watch now
How Can I Slow The Dog Down?
Things you can do to make your dog calm down and work more steadily. Probably the most common question we get asked about sheepdog training is ... 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 ... Watch now
Bronwen and Scylla (Parts 1-8)
Follow the progress of two litter sisters - Bronwen and Scylla - as they learn to become sheepdogs. They might have the same parents, but their ... 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 ... Watch now
The Training Ring (Parts 1 & 2)
A simple training ring of the correct size, will make training your dog a lot easier. A two-part tutorial. One of the most useful assets that ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
The Outrun (Parts 1-3)
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 ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
Starting a non starter (Parts 1 & 2)
If your dog doesn't want to work, we can help you to change its mind! It can be very disappointing to find that your dog doesn't ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
Back to Forwards
The next step, once you and your dog have mastered "". Walking backwards with the dog steadily bringing the sheep up to you at the pace ... 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 ... Watch now
Training Max – the Gripper (Parts 1-3)
A dog which attacks livestock must be quickly brought under control. Part 1 - A compulsive gripper can be a big problem to train Not for ... Watch now
Starting a reluctant dog
How to boost your dog's confidence and help it to start working sheep. Most dogs are over-excited when they first encounter sheep and it's up to ... Watch now
Close work (Parts 1 & 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 ... Watch now
Sending the Dog the Wrong Way!
A very useful technique to widen your dog's flanks. One of the best ways to get a dog to give the sheep space when it's flanking ... Watch now
Whistle (Parts 1 & 2)
How to blow a sheepdog whistle - and work your dog on whistle commands. Part 1 - If you're finding your sheepdog whistle difficult to blow, ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
Woolly Jumpers
Once sheep learn to jump out, they can be a problem! Sheep which jump out of the training area, don't just disrupt the training session. They ... Watch now
Use a reward to get training on board
Odo was returned to us because he wouldn't get in the car! Poor Odo went to a sheep farm, but his new owner brought him back ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... Watch now
Sheepdog Trials – Getting Started (Parts 1 & 2)
Information for would-be sheepdog trials competitors. Two-part tutorial for those people who hope to take part in sheepdog trials.Preparing your dog and yourself for your first ... Watch now
Sheepdogs Time Out!
A great opportunity to get to know our sheepdogs - at work and play! Following on from the very popular video - and while we put ... 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