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Getting the sheep into the ring!

How to get sheep into a training ring – if you don’t have a trained sheepdog!

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Subtitles: French*, Spanish* or English, click CC on viewer (*translation errors).
Videos play best on CHROME, SAFARI, and EDGE (all devices) also FIREFOX and OPERA (mobile phone).

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How to get sheep into a pen or training ring without a trained sheepdog

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Begin training on sheep in a training ring.
A trained dog can be a big help when training your dog.
Don’t leave training to the trained dog!
I prefer to train the dog without assistance.
Have you tried gathering sheep yourself (without a dog)?
Let’s try that with a dog on a long lead.
ANIMATION: Showing the combined effects of man, and dog, on sheep.
Getting fresh sheep in, with a young dog.
It doesn’t go so well the next day..!
Watch Liddy get the sheep in!

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Can an untrained dog do a trained dog’s job?

OK! You’ve built yourself a training ring – but now you need to get the sheep into it. If you don’t have access to a trained sheepdog, that can be a very difficult task – but don’t despair!

In this twenty minute tutorial, you’ll find out how to get some sheep into the training ring without the use of a trained sheepdog, and you’ll learn some other training information you may not have thought about before.

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What Shall I Do Next?

Comments

5 responses to “Getting the sheep into the ring!”

  1. Cecile van Berkum avatar
    Cecile van Berkum

    I really enjoy the videos. I hope to start more training within a couple of weeks when I will get my training pen set up. The video tutorials really help me to understand more about sheep herding.

    I have herded our flock for 4 years now without a dog and take them in and out of their shed to and from the field every day. This way I have learned some about pressure and reading the sheep’s behaviour ;).

    I do agree on how impressive the impact is to even just bring the dog on a leash. I use that sometimes with my young working line australian shepherd. But I also noticed it works even better if I also bring my herding stick so I have quite a broad range covered. Is there a reason you didn’t use one for this job?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Andy avatar
      Andy

      It’s great to know you enjoy the videos and find them useful, Cecile. Thank you for the feedback!
      Your idea of using the training stick to help control the dog when it’s on a long lead, is a good one. I must admit, I had not thought about it at the time we made the video!
      I think it might involve a bit of ‘juggling’ when you change the rope (and stick) to a different hand, but it’s definitely worth trying. Hopefully, you will have the dog working nicely off the lead soon, so none of this will be necessary.
      I hope you will let us know how training goes when you have your training ring established.

      Reply
      1. Cecile avatar
        Cecile

        Thank you. Well to be honest I have the habit of bring my herding staff fir lack of dog up until now. Works good for me. My dog is actually progressing very well and of the lead now. Waiting for the pen!

        Reply
  2. isabel beasley avatar
    isabel beasley

    Hi Andy,
    I noticed in this tutorial that you use the dogs name alot as you are trying to get the sheep into the pen.

    Are there times during training a new pup that using their name should be avoided when giving commands? .. and why are you saying her name such alot when putting the sheep into the pen? Thanks

    Reply
    1. Andy avatar
      Andy

      Using the dog’s name repeatedly is a way of exciting the dog. I’m trying to build the dog’s confidence.
      I can’t see any reason for not using the dog’s name, but if the dog is already over-confident or perhaps too excited, rapidly repeated commands (or repeated use of the dog’s name) will make it more excited. It’s not the name, it’s the excitement in your voice which tends to excite the dog.

      Reply

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