All articles on this page are © of Simon Leaning, Western Australia.
Selecting the right working dog.
A well trained working dog is within most farmers grasps,
but it takes a little time and it takes a little patience. Selecting
well bred dogs from well bred parents is the number one consideration.
It is amazing how many farmers will study the pedigree of the stock they
keep but won’t take the time to do the same for the dog that will be
working that stock. Selecting the right pup is crucial if you want the right result.
Research is the key. Too often the farm dog is a hand me down or a throw
away pup from an unplanned litter. And too often it turns out no good. It
costs the same to keep a mongrel as it does to keep a good dog. I know where I
would prefer my money spent.
A good place to start when chasing a dog is with the local agricultural show.
Sheepdog trials are an excellent source of well bred sheepdogs. Most shows have
sheepdog yard trials or arena 3 sheep trials.
Sheepdogs always bring a crowd. There is a certain magic in how the dog
handlers communicate with their dogs. It is fascinating and appears
well beyond the average bloke. The high standard the trialers achieve
may well be, but to have a handy dog assisting around the farm is far
from it. Watching the dogs allows you to make a fair assessment. Some
dogs you won’t like at all, others will be great. Watch the handlers
too, to see how they speak to the dogs. No point in spending all day
arguing with a dog or yelling at it. The dogs I like is a very personal
choice and it needs to be for you.
(read complete article)
Starting a pup for stock work
Having done the research and selected the pup that suits your requirements, the time will come
when you will want to find out if it has the instinct to work sheep. I am seeking a trial dog but
the training is the same regardless of your requirements. I would point out though, that this is
just my way of doing things and it is not the only way. I have attended training schools from a
variety of handlers and have found what suits me and my dogs. I am also constantly learning. I
would encourage you to do the same.
Firstly, don’t be in a hurry. Allow the dog to grow a little and give it a name. Teach it to
come reliably when called. Have the pup know its name and establish a good relationship with
the dog as it grows. I like to introduce a pup to sheep from about three to four months but
there is no hard and fast rule. A pup needs to be well grown before serious training begins
however. A pup with a good relationship with the handler will start better. But be careful not
to have too much obedience type control on a pup as it may be reluctant to leave your side.
When introducing a pup to sheep, set the stage well. The ideal is to have a round dog and
sheep proof pen of about 30m circumference. I use dog wire of about 900 high as a pup is
unable to escape and it is high enough to keep sheep in. Many trainers have a higher fence
up to 1.8m for training older dogs who can jump. A round pen eliminates corners for the sheep
to get stuck in and creates a training venue for a pup to learn about pressure and get use to
it. A pen such as this is easy to build using star pickets or permanent posts and is well
worth the efforts.
(read complete article)