Teaching inside flanks (circling on command)
Once your dog’s driving competently, teaching inside flanks (circling on command) is the next step. Make no mistake, good inside flanks can be the difference between having an average dog, and a great dog!
In the two-part tutorial, Inside Flanks (Circle on Command), we see Wyn learning to overcome her inhibitions to flank between Andy and the sheep.
It sounds simple enough, but having been taught NOT to come between us and the sheep in the early stages of training, many dogs are reluctant to circle the sheep.

Once your dog’s driving fairly fluently you’ll want to be able to steer it at a distance, and this is where a dog with good inside flanks comes into its own.
If the dog will circle the sheep in either direction you can put the dog anywhere you want, and drive the sheep to anywhere you need.
Circling on command (inside flanks) is a vital skill for trialling, where precision is important, but it’s also very useful for farm and practical applications (and it’s quite good fun too).
Part one shows training in the open field, but if this doesn’t work with your particular dog and sheep combination, don’t despair! Part two shows techniques to try while working inside the training ring.
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