Tag: Working Distance
Back to forwards
Improve control of your working sheepdog once you and the dog have mastered “Backwards is the Way Forward”. A matter of trust 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 we know. It’s a particularly useful…
Tess in the open field
Teaching a young dog outruns and flanks in the open field for the first time Teaching a young dog outruns and flanks 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 better understanding of the dog’s…
Sending the dog the wrong way!
No, it’s not a mistake! Sending the dog the wrong way will improve its flanks. Make flanking fun for the dog One of the best ways to get a dog to give the sheep space when it’s flanking (or casting) is to use a technique we call “sending the dog the wrong way”. Once you…
Educating Gloria! A typical sheepdog training session
Watch a typical sheepdog training session, full of valuable lessons. It also shows the wrong way to take sheep out of the training ring, into the open field! Educating Gloria 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…
Backwards is the way forward
Our best sheepdog training exercise, once you have control of your farm dog, and the dog has basic control of the sheep or cattle. Our best sheepdog training exercise It’s boring – and it might appear pointless to the novice, but walking backwards with the dog bringing the sheep up to you, is our best…
Sticky dogs (too much eye)
If your sheepdog stares at the sheep and won’t move you may be told it’s got ‘too much eye’. The dog simply lacks confidence. ‘Too much eye’ is not a term we like to use “That dog’s got too much eye!” You’ll sometimes hear this when a sheepdog, invariably a Border collie, appears mesmerised by…
The outrun (1 of 3)
The ability to outrun and gather sheep is essential if a sheepdog is to work efficiently. Teach your dog to outrun and gather sheep To do an outrun, the dog will leave the handler’s side and run out wide enough to gather the sheep, without disturbing or upsetting them. The dog then calmly approaches the…
Give the sheep some space
Teach your sheepdog to keep away from the sheep when it’s working. The dog must not crowd the stock If your dog’s going to work sheep or cattle properly, it must learn to give them plenty of room and not crowd them. Of course there are times when the dog needs to be close and…