Training Tutorial Videos – Alphabetical list

BACK TO FORWARDS! The next stage in your dog’s training, once you’ve perfected ‘Backwards is the way forward’. When the dog can bring the sheep up steadily to you as you walk back, it’s time to turn around and go “Back to forwards”!

BACKWARDS IS THE WAY FORWARD! Probably our most important sheepdog training video once your dog can maintain control of the sheep. Improves the dog’s pace, working distance, and general control.

BALANCE? WHAT’S THE POINT?? To know how to work a sheepdog, you must understand the ‘point of balance’. It’s not always on the opposite side of the stock from the handler.

BRONWEN AND SCYLLA (9 parts). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED videos comparing the temperament of two dogs. Bronwen works well from the start, while her litter sister Scylla, constantly attacks the sheep.

CALLING THE DOG AWAY (2 parts) – It’s important to be able to call the dog away from sheep or cattle when you work it. But the dog has good reason to continue ‘working’. Find out how to catch the dog, and call it away from stock .

CALM BUT FIRM. It takes self-control and patience from the trainer! If you can be calm yet firm with your dog, it will soon become far easier to train. A great way to begin is by trying to be as quiet as possible while training the dog.

CLOSE WORK (2 parts). Getting stock through gateways and into pens can be tricky, but we can help you. As with all training, you should start off with easy tasks. Gradually move on to more difficult work as the dog’s confidence grows.

CONFIDENCE – (Revised June 2024) – The dog’s confidence can make the difference between a task being completed successfully, or failing. Find out why confidence is so important when a farm dog works stock, and how to improve it.

DRIVING (3 parts). Driving is useful for a working sheepdog. There are times when you need the dog to take the stock away from you, rather than bring them closer. Driving’s not hard to teach, once you know why some dogs find it difficult at first.

EDUCATING GLORIA. A complete sheepdog training session with a strong young dog. Complete sessions such as this one will teach you a lot more than basic training clips. They give a more complete picture of what a training session is like.

ELIMINATE THE TOILET BREAK. A dog relieving itself while it’s working, is likely to lose control of its sheep or cattle. It’s easy to teach your dog to toilet on command (before working) so it doesn’t interrupt its work.

EVE AT THE PEN. A chance to watch a complete sheepdog training session teaching young Eve to get sheep into, and out of, a pen. Watching full training sessions give you a broader picture of sheepdog training in real time.

FLANK BOTH WAYS. (Why your dog should). Some farmers and shepherds think it’s not necessary for the dog to go both ways around sheep when commanded. They’re wrong. It’s important that dogs to work equally well in either direction.

FLOCK WORK. The move from training ground, to flock work can be a huge and intimidating step for a trainee dog. They are often overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of sheep. Unfortunately handlers rarely understand why.

GET OFF THE FENCE! When stubborn sheep seem to be glued to the fence, it can be difficult to move them unless you know how. Learn how to teach your dog to prise those stubborn sheep away from a fence or hedge.

GETTING THE SHEEP INTO THE RING! You might think it will be difficult to get sheep into the training ring if you haven’t already got a trained dog. Once you know how though, it’s easy. It’s also excellent experience for both you and your dog.

GIVE THE SHEEP SPACE! Sheep are more relaxed and will move more easily for a dog that doesn’t crowd them. Find out how you can teach your dog to go out wider and also stay back, to avoid stressing the sheep.

GOLDEN RULE OF SHEEPDOG TRAINING. There are plenty of essential rules for training any dog, and you’ll see several of them demonstrated in this video, but which is most important sheepdog training rule of them all?.

HOW CAN I SLOW THE DOG DOWN?. Even if it’s obeying your commands, a dog which is working too fast will stress the stock or cattle in its charge. This video describes several ways to teach your dog to work at a steady pace.

HOW OFTEN, AND FOR HOW LONG? Our recommended frequency and duration for training sheepdogs. We take a look at how long sheep dog training sessions should be, and how often we should take the trainee farm dog to work.

INSIDE FLANKS – Circle on Command (2 parts). Teach your dog to completely circle stock on command, in both directions. It will move the dog’s skill to a new level. Part one is in the open field, while part two shows how a training ring can be helpful.

LEARN YOUR COMMANDS. Giving wrong commands will confuse your dog and damage its confidence. This video shows how to remember the most common commands, as well as how to get them right every time you work your sheepdog.

LOOK BACK! Teach your dog to go back and collect sheep which are behind it or in a different location. The Look Back command is excellent for teaching the dog to keep the sheep together. It’s also used in Double Gather sheep dog trials.

MOVING OUT INTO THE OPEN FIELD. How to bring sheep out of a pen or training ring, calmly and cleanly. After training your dog in a training ring, it can be difficult to take the sheep out into the field. This video shows how to do it calmly.

MY DOG’S NO GOOD. Don’t believe it – and don’t give up on it. The dog just needs training. It’s easy to think your dog is not suitable for training to work livestock, but once you understand the dog’s working instinct, it becomes easier.

NO EXCUSES PLEASE! Don’t kid yourself your dog’s working better than it really is! Make a more accurate assessment of your dog’s work standard with our reality check for sheepdog trainers.

OUTRUN (3 parts). A good sheepdog must have a good outrun. It’s vital for a successful working sheepdog. These three sheepdog training videos will help you to get your dog’s outrun right.

PACK BEHAVIOUR. (An Insight into). Learn about the dog’s working instinct and how dogs of a working breed work and interact with each other. You’ll love this highly recommended video.

PUPPY TRAINING ESSENTIALS. You can start a pup on sheep at a very early age, but caution is required. If your sheep are placid and you are certain they won’t frighten or harm the young dog, it’s well worth starting it early.

SENDING THE DOG “THE WRONG WAY”! Teaching your trainee farm dog to work off-balance will widen its flanks and outrun. It’s vital when it’s time to teach the dog to drive and also benefits the dog’s precision work.

SHEDDING (separating groups of sheep). It’s useful to be able to divide bunches of sheep when there isn’t a sorting race available. Additionally, shedding sheep is a required skill if you want to compete in sheepdog trials.

SHEEP. (ex-First Steps DVD) The more you know about sheep and their behaviour, the easier training your dog will be. Learn some essential facts about sheep and how different types of sheep can affect sheepdog training.

SHEEPDOG HANDLER. (ex-First Steps DVD) Find out what you can do to prepare yourself for training a sheepdog. This tutorial takes a close look at what is required of a sheepdog handler and provides tips for improvement.

SHEEPDOG SELECTION AND PREPARATION. (ex-First Steps DVD). Essential information to help you get the best from your dog. This video is packed with information about choosing a dog and preparing it for training.

SHEEPDOG TRIALS (2 parts). Two great tutorials show how to prepare your dog and yourself for competing in sheepdog trials. We also talk you through your first sheepdog trial, from entry, to what to do with the sheep at the end of your run.

SHEEPDOGS TIME OUT. A fun video also featuring Border Collie training lessons with “Super Sheepdog” Kay. It includes four chapters from the DVD “Border Collie Sheepdogs & Friends – Still Off Duty!”.

SOMETIMES NICE IS NOT ENOUGH. If your dog’s struggling to move stubborn stock, teach it to get tougher. Once you know what to do, it’s quite easy to build the dog’s confidence with stubborn sheep.

STARTING A NON-STARTER (2 parts). Two sheepdog training videos which explain why a dog may not want to work, as well as ways to trigger the hunting instinct so the dog to starts working stock.

STARTING A RELUCTANT DOG. A dog which is sensitive and reluctant to work can be frustrating to get started on stock, but with patient encouragement, trainee herding dog Maisie soon gets the idea.

STARTING A STRONG DOG! Tess is over-excited, over-enthusiastic, and aggressive with the sheep at times, but she has great potential, and responds well to her training. See how Andy insists on Tess going around the sheep, and not AT them.

STARTING A YOUNG PUPPY (2 parts). Two video tutorials in which we take two eleven-week old puppies to sheep for the first time. This should only be done if you have calm sheep, and are confident you can protect the pup.

STICKY DOGS! (Eye). What is meant by the term “eye”, and can you overcome it? Yes you can! Train your dog to work more freely. In this video you’ll see how to get a ‘sticky dog’ working efficiently.

STOPPING THE DOG (3 parts) Revised! Three videos taking a close look at how to get your trainee sheepdog to stop on command, without damaging its confidence. The first rule is not to be in too much of a hurry though.

TESS IN THE OPEN FIELD. Can Tess (from the Starting a Strong Dog and Close Work tutorials) be trusted to work out in the field? This is an extremely useful video showing how a difficult dog can be controlled around sheep in the open field.

TOP TIPS FOR EASIER TRAINING!. Many ways to make training as easy as possible for yourself and the dog. The more you know of the dog’s ways and the instinct of sheep, the easier training your dog will be.

TRAINING AREA. (ex-First Steps DVD). Spending a little time putting a some thought (and work) into making simple improvements to the training area will pay you well when you train your sheepdog.

TRAINING MAX – THE GRIPPER! (3 parts). Three videos on how to train a strong-willed dog who violently attacks sheep. Max is horrible at first, but in just three lessons, begins to control the sheep properly. (Your dog might take longer).

TRAINING RING (2 parts). A training ring makes starting a dog much easier. It keeps the action close to the handler, and there are no corners for sheep to huddle in to avoid the dog. It’s also more versatile than you might think.

TRAINING STICK. It’s important to use the training stick for guidance, not punishment. Correctly used, the Training Stick can HALVE the time it takes to train your dog. Find out how to do it in this short video.

USE A REWARD TO GET TRAINING ON BOARD. Careful use of the right kind of reward can make training your dog much easier. Odo refuses to travel in vehicles, but it takes 20 minutes to change his mind!.

WHAT SHALL I DO NEXT? There are so many things which need attention when you start training a dog, that it can be difficult to know which to address first. This is our suggested routine for training sheepdogs.

WHISTLE (2 parts). Two videos. The first giving in-depth instruction on how to blow the notorious shepherd’s whistle. It also demonstrates the whistle commands we use. In the second video we introduce the dog to working on whistle commands.

WOOLLY JUMPERS. How to prevent your sheep from jumping out of the training area – and how to cope if they do! If sheep jump out of the training area, it can be disruptive.