The Initial Steps

The Initial Steps

• Make a friend of your pup.
• Encourage your family and other people to pet and handle it.
• Teach it good manners and to stand, sit down and come when called.
• Also it must learn to walk quietly beside or behind you on a stock lead.
• A short lead will be needed during these early lessons.
• It will pay to have this with you during the next few months with your pup.
• In the event that it refuses to obey when called to you, put a lasso loop around the pup’s neck and give a small tug while repeating the call-in command.
• Never be violent or unfair.
• Don’t throw stones - a handful of dirt or gravel landed near the dog will do, along with a growl.
• Be consistent, firm, even-tempered and persistent.
• The pup should be accustomed to being stroked or checked by a stick, but not afraid of it.
• Limit these basic lessons to ten minutes or less.
• Encourage your pup to learn to climb through fences while it is still small, as this may save a future stifle joint injury.
• Take the pup around with you wherever possible but watch that it does not get into mischief (eg with fowls, domestic animals or vehicles).
• It should already be familiar among quiet stock around its home environment, and learning to be trustworthy while it is loose.
• Discourage the pup from becoming excited around motorbikes and other machinery.
• Establish that barking at or on vehicles , and around kennels, won’t be tolerated.
• Observe bad habits as they appear, and show your displeasure smartly.
• Remember to balance this by giving praise when your pup pleases you.
• I don’t isolate a pup from other dogs or distractions during training.
• My view is that it should learn to recognise its name and my instructions to it despite other activities going on round about.
• Teach the command “NO”! This is an excellent guide to the pup.
• Abuse of any kind creates anxiety and will lead to confusion and further mistakes.
• I use warning growls or on the other hand praise to help achieve the desired results.
• Give your commands with authority and expect to be obeyed.
• Establish yourself in your pup’s mind as pack leader.
• You will notice that it is responding mostly to the tone of your voice or whistle.
• Modulate these so they are clear and distinct.
• Variations of pitch and sharpness will denote the degree of urgency required.
• If a young dog takes off during stock work, let it go for a while and observe how it is working and how much command will be required to control it.
• See that the dog returns when you call. Put it on a lead and give it a sharp tug if you are ignored.
• Don’t be angry with it when it does come back.
• It has been bred to work stock and a warm pat will lead to a more confident and obedient young dog.