This is Dot, the herding dog that changed my life!
Dot features in our Sheepdog Training Article (written in 2003). We had a lot of fun with Dot. In the early stages of her training I very nearly returned Dot to her breeder because I didn’t understand her. She wasn’t doing the things I’d expected trainee dogs to do; the things that happened in the books I’d read and videos I’d watched.
Dot appeared to be running amok, scattering sheep everywhere. When she managed to catch one she’d hang on to it as it ran around the field.
She’ll have to go!
In despair and frustration I explained what Dot was doing; the breeder immediately offered me more money than I’d paid him for her! He thought she had the makings of a great sheepdog. Turned out he was right.
Dot stays!
So I didn’t return her to her breeder, I decided to bring Dot under control and making a working dog of her. I made mistakes along the way (who doesn’t?) but she went on to become a first class farm dog with both cattle and sheep.
I’ve trained a good many dogs to herd stock since then. As my confidence grew I realised that what was needed was a sheepdog training DVD that shows what can go wrong when you train a sheepdog. It should also show, of course, how to put them right.
The idea for our first herding sheepdog training DVD First Steps in Border Collie Sheepdog Training (no longer available) was born, and we’ve never looked back – thanks Dot!
WE CAN HELP YOU TRAIN YOUR DOG TO WORK SHEEP, CATTLE OR OTHER LIVESTOCK
If you’re interested in training a dog to work sheep, cattle, or other livestock, we can help you – whether you’re a complete beginner, or just wanting to improve.
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For a very small monthly (or annual) subscription, watch many hours of expertly presented sheepdog training lessons. Not just theory – we show you what should happen, and what to do when things go wrong. Signup now. It’s easy to cancel payments at any time and you can continue to watch for the period you paid for.
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