Training a sheepdog pup

DJ98

Have a 5 month old pup here and am just wondering what I should be expecting from him at this stage, also how long does it take a dog to learn its name. Pup completely ignores me and does his own thing. Thanks

Ard_MC

DJ98 wrote: »

Have a 5 month old pup here and am just wondering what I should be expecting from him at this stage, also how long does it take a dog to learn its name. Pup completely ignores me and does his own thing. Thanks

Should know his name at this stage if you have him a few months. Has he any interest in sheep yet?

DJ98

Ard_MC wrote: »

Should know his name at this stage if you have him a few months. Has he any interest in sheep yet?

Mad about sheep, not that it doesn't know its name just doesn't listen

charolais0153

DJ98 wrote: »

Mad about sheep, not that it doesn't know its name just doesn't listen

Rub him and say good dog pup. U need to have a. Bond with him. Dont let him near a sheep until he'll lie down and come back.

Ard_MC

DJ98 wrote: »

Mad about sheep, not that it doesn't know its name just doesn't listen

Have you a long rope on him? When he doesnt listen its handy to let him know he needs to.

stantheman1979

charolais0153 wrote: »

Rub him and say good dog pup. U need to have a. Bond with him. Dont let him near a sheep until he'll lie down and come back.

Would agree 100% don’t let him near sheep until he knows his name and will come back and lie down. Be firm but don’t shout at him. Tie him on the back of the bike and talk to him as your going around and give him a few rubs to build a bond. As the saying goes you rear your pup the way you want your dog.

DJ98

How would you make him lie down when all he wants to do is chase the sheep? First time training a dog.

wexie

DJ98 wrote: »

How would you make him lie down when all he wants to do is chase the sheep? First time training a dog.

You don't train dogs to do anything, they already know how to do all the things you need them to do.

You just need to 1) label the behaviours and 2) create such a bond they will want to show the behaviours for you when you want.

So when it's training time, when it lies down say : down (or whatever you want to use) every time it does it and give it a little reward.

Sooner or later it will realize that the word and action go together and will lead to a good outcome (treat or pat on the head or whatever).

Some goes for all the other things you want to teach it, it already knows how to sit, go left, right, stay, go etc. etc. etc.

(that's very briefly, of course it's more complicated)

EDIT : and while I'm not a sheep man I'd suggest keeping the actual training time away from the sheep until he starts listening a bit. no harm in socialising him bit while training he should be completely focused on you.

wrangler

DJ98 wrote: »

How would you make him lie down when all he wants to do is chase the sheep? First time training a dog.

Get some treats and tell him to sit, at the the same time pushing down his tail.
If you get him to sit give him a treat, tell him he's a good dog and rub him..... it takes patience.
Just keep pushing down the tail, he'll eventually get it and sit to get the treat/praise.
Next trick is to try and make him stay sitting while you walk away
No point bringing him near the sheep until he learns obedience.
20 ft rope out of the collar is a good idea to slow him down after the sheep and for you to stand on when he gets out of control and you want to catch him.
We always use a long rope to train the dogs here but the last dog used to settle down great when the rope would go on but would act the brat if she didn't have the rope so you'd often wonder who's training who.

charolais0153

DJ98 wrote: »

How would you make him lie down when all he wants to do is chase the sheep? First time training a dog.

If hes not near a sheep when training him to lie he wont chase them.
Collies are extremelt smart and easy to train compated to terriers in my opionion. When he lies down say"lie down" give him a treat and a rub. If you call him and he comes to you,give him a treat and a rub. Soon enough he will do all that without treats and just with rubs .

Dont let him near a sheep without a long rope so you have some control over him. He has to know your in cahrge

DJ98

Anyone any ideas how youd get a dog to stay behind the sheep with me, when gathering the dog will lie in front of the sheep and will not move, if i go in front hell just lie there and not drive the sheep.

wrangler

DJ98 wrote: »

Anyone any ideas how youd get a dog to stay behind the sheep with me, when gathering the dog will lie in front of the sheep and will not move, if i go in front hell just lie there and not drive the sheep.

That dog has ''too much eye'', he'll break you heart, I have one too like that. mine used to bring them if you walked ahead, I learnt that one day when I lost the head and said f.... you and walked off, I must have been 200yds away when she started to bring the sheep, I've got another dog( jess )and the ''sticky'' dog will trot along with jess but let jess do all the work
I can't get her working right on her own

148multi

DJ98 wrote: »

Anyone any ideas how youd get a dog to stay behind the sheep with me, when gathering the dog will lie in front of the sheep and will not move, if i go in front hell just lie there and not drive the sheep.

Wrangler is right, a dog can control the sheep with good eye, the only way is to move the sheep to break the trance. Wouldn't panic about bringing it behind yet, it's not a natural position for some dogs, get it to drive diagonally first.