Category: Sheepdog training tips and advice
Teach your dog to herd stock with help from our sheepdog training tips and advice category
Read our collection of entertaining and useful blog posts. They will give you a better insight into herding and cattle dog training. For example, if you’re wondering whether to work on flanks, stopping your dog, or the dog’s working distance from sheep or cattle, we think an exercise we call “Backwards is the Way Forwards” will be a great help! It teaches them all at once! To do it properly though, you must have basic control of the dog around stock.
Our sheepdog training tips and advice blogs will inspire the creative sheepdog trainer that’s within you. Teach your dog to herd stock!
FREE Assessment of your dog’s work!
You can get a FREE assessment of your dog’s work. Send us a video of your dog working, so that we can give you a sheepdog training appraisal! Page updated 27th June 2024. Our advice is based on our interpretation of the information you provide, and intended to help you improve your dog’s work. We cannot be held responsible for any unforeseen or unintended consequences… Read more.
What’s Wrong With White Sheepdogs?
Answer – NOTHING! (Well, almost nothing). So why are there so few white sheepdogs? A recent question from one of our members reminded us that white working sheepdog pups are not as popular as black and white, tricolour, red or other colours. You very rarely see white sheepdogs working on farms or in sheepdog trials. There’s no justice for white sheepdogs! That’s a pity –… Read more.
How old is your dog?
There’s a new way to calculate your dog’s age! How old is your dog? We were brought up to believe that a year of a dog’s life was the equivalent to seven human years, but it didn’t always ring true when we watched the development of puppies, young dogs and adults. With Border collies we expect adolescence to kick in at any time after 6… Read more.
The essentials of sheepdog puppy training
Spring time is sheepdog puppy training time! The promise of longer daylight hours and milder weather makes sheepdog puppy training more appealing than during the cold of winter. Additionally, it’s a time of year when there are more puppies to choose between. We have our own puppies in the spring, and are eagerly awaiting our (Ezra and Meg) litter in early April. When you’ve bought a… Read more.
How to train a sheepdog to slow down
A dog working too fast and close, disrupts and stresses both sheep and their shepherd. Find out how to slow your sheepdog down when it’s working. Calm dogs learn more quickly During training, a dog which is calm, is likely to learn much quicker than a dog which is excitedly racing around. It’s essential that the dog learns to work stock steadily. If sheep or… Read more.
Sometimes I Really Miss Carew!
Since Carew left here, Kay’s hearing has deteriorated badly, and occasionally we’re stuck for a skilled dog It’s hard to believe that it’s nearly two years since Carew left here and to be honest, there have been a few occasions when I’ve wished she was still here. One such occasion was only a week or so ago. Our landlord John needed to move some very… Read more.
Scary Place 2 (The Sequel)
Kay shows her daughter Jet how to get sheep out of a Spooky Black Hole! Watch the VIDEO We often hear “my sheepdog won’t/can’t bring sheep out of a shed” so we had a strong response after we posted a picture of Jet looking anxious. Luckily Kay was on hand to demonstrate the right way to deal with a tight situation. Jet was contemplating the… Read more.
Is it OK to buy more than one puppy?
In short, it’s usually a bad idea to buy two or more puppies. Read about what can happen if you buy more than one puppy. The importance of bonding with a new puppy When you buy a puppy or even a trained sheepdog, it’s important that the new dog ‘bonds‘ with you, as quickly as possible. Bonding doesn’t mean the youngster wags its tail when… Read more.
Jet Joins the Dean Farm Set!
Jet’s right on the ball with her first gather at Dean Farm With her mother Kay being out of action because she’s “in season” at the moment (Kay’s one of those females who’s work is sometimes affected by her seasons) it seemed like a good time to let young Jet try her paw at some ‘proper’ sheep gathering today. We thought it would be a… Read more.