Sheepdog Training 15 – Started sheepdog or puppy?
Should you buy a puppy or a partly trained dog? It’s a very long road from buying a puppy to taking part in your first trial. This can be daunting for a novice handler but, on the other hand, if you buy a puppy you can be sure it hasn’t developed any bad habits. If […]
Sheepdog Training 16 – ISDS registered or farm dog
“Pedigree” or farm dog – which is best? Don’t believe for a moment that a dog must be ISDS registered to be any use as a sheepdog. This is complete nonsense and anyone who says it should be ashamed of themselves. There are fantastically good non-registered sheepdogs – some of which would be perfectly capable […]
Sheepdog Training 17 – Choosing a part-trained dog?
Choosing between a started or partly trained sheepdog. Buying a partly trained dog’s a very popular way of shortcutting the long process of getting from puppy to working stage. The most difficult stage of training is getting control initially, so when you buy a started dog, the worst has already been done. Many people don’t […]
Sheepdog Training 18 – Car chasing and other vices
Car chasing is a common cause of sheepdog and cattle dog deaths. It could be argued that car chasing is even more serious than sheep worrying, because it’s natural to try to avoid a dog which is chasing your car, so the chances of a collision with another vehicle or pedestrian are greatly increased. It’s […]
Sheepdog Training 19 – Suitable housing for your dog
Give your dog somewhere decent to live. In a shed outside or on your bed? Sheepdogs are amazingly tough creatures, many dogs have virtually no shelter at all – having to find a dry corner somewhere on the farm or maybe having an old steel drum as a shelter from the elements. As long as […]
Sheepdog Training 20 – The correct food for your dog
Take a little care over feeding your dog (and take care not to over-feed it). Your sheepdog will be your friend and your pride and joy – so rather than feed it on the cheapest food you can find, take care to find a suitable diet. Equally, don’t take it for granted that the most […]
Sheepdog Training 21 – Spend time with your dog
The more quality time you devote to your dog, the stronger the bond between you will be. We strongly advise owners to spend as much time as possible with their dogs. The more the dog knows and trusts you, the more it will bond, and the better it’ll work for you – for instance if […]
Sheepdog Training 22 – Traditional sheepdog commands
Visit our Sheepdog Terminology page for a fuller list of traditional sheepdog commands and language used by shepherds, sheep farmers and sheepdog trials competitors. To avoid confusing the trainee dog, keep your early commands to a minimum. You can introduce more, once the dog’s skill improves. The basic commands generally used in sheepdog training are […]
Sheepdog Training 23 – What happens when you start?
What happens when you start sheepdog training? When you first take your sheepdog pup to sheep, it’s unlikely to behave as it does at home. It might of course, but even if it does, it will gain confidence and turn into a quite different creature altogether. Remember that once the dog’s most basic instinct is […]
Sheepdog Training 24 – The dog’s first encounter with sheep
Taking your dog to sheep for the first time. When you take your young dog to sheep for the first time, remember he may have a very short attention span – sometimes just a few seconds but more usually a few minutes. The younger the dog, the shorter the attention span will probably be. If […]
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