Spring really does seem to be with us now. There are lambs in the fields, young leaves on the trees, flowers in the hedgerows, and the grass is growing.
Such a huge relief after the winter but, of course, we are still worried about the lack of rain. The last few days have been damp, but not enough rain has fallen to make a real difference. If 2012 has a long hot summer, I dread to think what it will be like for farmers.
The dogs are oblivious to it all, of course. They are constantly anticipating the next exciting event – whether it’s a run in the woods and along the local bridleways, or training on sheep; as long as there’s plenty of activity, they’re happy.
This morning I spent a few moments teaching the youngsters to ‘stay-close’. This is the command I use when we are on the bridleways and I need the dogs to stay behind me. I begin by walking backwards, so that I can see any dogs or pups who are tempted to ‘break ranks’ and run ahead.
If this happens, I simply turn and go the other way. The errant dog finds itself at the back of the pack, and that isn’t what it was trying to achieve at all! The dogs soon learn that they gain no advantage by breaking the rules, and before long they do as they’re told.
Teaching dogs to ‘stay-close’ is useful training for youngsters who are soon to start sheepdog work, and even more useful if we’re walking several dogs at once. To be honest, once you have more dogs than hands to hold the leads, it’s pretty much essential!
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