Buying a sheepdog pup is an exciting event for the whole family. Even before it leaves its mum, a well-bred heading pup will be starting to "show eye" - that inherent trait in the dog which is the creep before the kill.
Working dog breeders have developed this trait which is the basis of the dog's ability to "hold" stock to prevent escape. Many people buy a pup with great hopes, but fail to get the animal to develop its full potential. This is because they got some of the very basics of training wrong, before the pup actu-ally started working on stock - or they let the pup work too early.
Now help is at hand, especially for small block farmers who want a working pup to be both worker and companion. Michael Oliver who farms at Whitehall near Cambridge has written some excellent notes on how to train a pup - with special emphasis on its early life. Before farming, Mr Oliver spent many years shep-herding and has won many dog trials representing New Zealand in trans-Tasman dog trial tests. He now runs training schools for up and coming dog handlers.
Mr Oliver's notes apply to huntaway as well as heading dog pups, and would also be valuable for anyone with Border Col-lies that they were training for obedience work.
For further information, contact Dr Clive Dalton (07) 847-9367 or
email clive.dalton@lifestyleblock.co.nz
website www.lifestyleblock.co.nz
An excerpt from Mr Oliver's training notes:
Introduction to Working Commands
It is best to start when the pup is displaying an interest in work. You will need a small mob of about 5-10 quiet sheep in a rea-sonably confined area. While keeping the sheep against a fence line, call your pup to your side and encourage it to go out from there to gather the sheep for you.
Place yourself strategically to help the sheep move off the pup. Then back off and allow it to drive them to you. If the pup is too aggressive, step in and steady the sheep against the fence. You may have to hold up your hands and move towards the pup to enforce your authority.
If all is well, step back and allow the sheep to move between you and the fence. Now your pup must come around cleanly behind you to catch them from the other side.
Move out and perhaps hold your stick out to encourage a clean wide cast. Use spoken and whistled commands for: Go left; Go right; Stop; Walk Up; Steady. If pressure builds up, teach "That'll Do" to move the pup back off the mob. This command will be used later when asking your dog to leave the stock it is working to recast for some other animals.
The pup may dive in to grab a sheep. Don't allow this. Move in quickly between it and the sheep, growl a warning and hold your stick out to deter a further attempt at closing in. Remain calm. If the pup becomes excited, steady the situation down by blocking the sheep yourself. Remember that it is easier to steady a strong pup than to encourage an uncertain one.
Observe your pup during early attempts at stock work and help it to make a success of these efforts. Be patient and persistent while you establish the basic commands. By coming around behind you to head the sheep, the pup learns to be clean and wide in its cast. This is important and you should see that the pup gives the sheep plenty of room. To further establish the "Right" and "Left" commands, teach it to come part way round from the fence and then back again. Now drive the mob along the fenceline while teaching your pup to "Walk Up", "Stand" and walk up from beside you and then even go ahead of you.
After about half a dozen lessons, the pup will be experienced enough to cope with stock away from the fence line. Take the sheep out into a clear area, and after they have been headed, call the pup off balance to come round behind you and swing out fast to catch the balance beyond the sheep.
Just a few of these lessons will suffice, as dogs prefer to learn during general stock work. Take care not to interfere with the pup's work more than you must.
