Training A Working Dog 1

Many of you have called or emailed with questions about training a working dog. I made a project out of teaching these 2 young males by pairing them with Cinnamon, an experienced working dog, for a lesson & have made some notes I hope you will find helpful in your training. Email fifteenacrefarms@aol.com for more information or call 918-706-1931. Remember, when training a dog, the dog must work WITH you before they can work FOR you. See pages 2 & 3 for more pictures & information.

Presley, left, & Willie, right, approaching the cattle. Hmmmm. What now?

Cinnamon showing the boys to approach the cattle & drive them toward the barn.

Presley steps up. Again, watch his body language. He is learning that lowering his head easily drives the cows.

Willie approaching on the left asking the cows to pick up their pace a little. Notice the cows looking slightly left & responding to what Willie is asking them to do.

Cinnamon comes in directly behind the middle cow to push them in a straight line. Presley taking note & staying the same distance behind the far left cow.

Cinnamon takes control of the situation by circling to gather the cows. My command is "gather". I say this after Cinnamon automatically does this on her own. I say a command based on what she already knows & instictively does on her own.

Cinnamon brings Willie in closer to the cattle. Willie is quiet & responds nicely, head down, pushing the cattle. He already knows his body language is asking the cattle to move. My command is "drive 'em". Note: In the early stages of training, the dogs are working WITH me not FOR me.

Cinnamon pushing Presley closer to take the lead. The cows are picking up their pace some & turning slightly right.

Presley learning to heel non-aggressively. Willie & Cinnamon positioned perfect in the driving position.