Raising a dog around livestock

In short

• 8–16 weeks is the most important age: this is when the pup gets to know stock, people, noises and handling.
• Adolescence (6–18 months) brings play and chasing. Supervise and correct in the moment, not afterwards.
• Reward the good, interrupt in the moment for the bad. No beating: the dog learns to fear you, not to stop chasing.
• Every dog on the holding knows: its name, come, no, wait, the lead and the muzzle.
• Poultry is the hardest test. First meetings always on a lead and supervised.
• A dog that bites a person or kills an animal: trainer and vet at once, don't wait.

What's inside

Chapters

1. How a dog learns
2. Stages of growing up
3. The pup's arrival
4. Basic commands
5. Getting used to stock
6. Boundaries and electric wire
7. Handling, the muzzle and the vet
8. Yard dog: people and barking
9. Herding dog: in brief
10. Problems and how to fix them
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Training dates
• Training diary
• Weekly command check
• Training time calculator
• Behaviour problem plan
• First-year training calendar