Steps in training a shepherd dog to herd sheep

(1) Live along roads, fences, ditches and edges of crop fields

This stage of training must include ability training such as following and coming. Start when finished. When the herd passes between crop fields and vegetable gardens, or goes to gardens, countryside and other places, the dog and pig give the "lean" command, asking the dog to follow the owner on the left side. And use a leash to walk the dog on the road, point out the direction of the road to the dog with your hands, and do short distances and sprints along the roadside. At the same time, the "forward" command is given in an excited tone. If the dog stops, you should repeat the "forward" command. If the dog attempts to go out of the road, pull the leash urgently to guide the dog to move forward in a straight line. When the dog can understand the command to move forward, it can take off its leash, and the owner will drive one or two sheep on the road, give the command "go forward", and follow the dog along the flank of the dog. However, care must be taken not to allow dogs to attack these sheep. For the dog's correct actions, the "good" command should be used to reward it in time, and the "forward" command should be continuously issued to follow the dog.

(2) Gathering sheep

The dog's ability to gather sheep in a certain area of ​​​​the pasture should start with a circuit around a fixed object (such as a building). The dog owner takes the dog around the building and issues the password "circle", gradually releasing the leash to follow the dog. If the dog attempts to leave the building, he should repeat the "circle" command and use mechanical stimulation appropriately. As the dog's ability improves, the distance between the owner and the dog should gradually widen, and finally stand still and command. Then, in order to prevent the dog from developing bad habits due to the fixed perimeter of the building, the starting point of the training must be changed. Particularly suitable for training are areas separated by high fences where the owner can watch the dog in action. After this exercise, the dog owner should begin to train the herd; initially, using a small group of animals, the dog owner and the off-leash dog walk a certain distance around the herd and issue the "circle" code. times; for dog misbehavior, dog owners should start training in a small livestock group. OG must use the high profile code "circle" to deter poaching; the "no" code must be used to deter attempts to bite grazing animals (especially ferocious dogs must wear masks).

After completing this exercise, you should continue to practice on a pasture with shrubs or forests. In order to monitor the dog's movements, the owner should watch it from a distance, correct its mistakes, appreciate its correct maneuvers around the herd, but be sure to meet the dog from the opposite side. During this training process, the dog may turn back halfway. At this time, the dog owner will use a threatening tone to issue the "forward" command and go around the area with the dog.After walking with the herd, the dog owner should further train the dog while the herd is walking on the pasture. When the dog can keep walking around the flock of sheep according to the command "circle", the ability is fully learned.

(3) Driving the sheep

The purpose of this training is to develop dogs to drive lagging or stray sheep into the flock, speed up the movement of the sheep to the pasture, or on the way back. The ability to direct the sheep to turn when they turn.

Training method: The dog owner selects a sheep from the herd that is afraid of people (avoids people) but does not resist the dog, makes the sheep lag behind, attacks it violently, whips it, and drives it back to the cow group. When chasing this sheep, the dog owner should lead it and give the "lead" command to let it pay attention to the fleeing sheep. When a dog sees its owner attacking a lagging sheep, it will usually bite the sheep and chase it, so the dog will be rewarded.

If the sheep has entered the flock, the dog's pursuit of it should stop immediately. At this time, the dog owner uses the command "come" to call the dog forward to stop it, and praise the dog when it arrives.

(4) Searching the Flock

Theme training should be conducted after the range search theme training is completed. Also use the password "Search". The training area shall not exceed 100 meters x 400 meters. It is advisable to choose flat land with jungle, followed by mountains and forest areas. When a dog develops a range search, it should use sheep instead of titles. Training assistants will take repair work to designated locations in advance. The dog owner uses the code "Search" to command the dog to the training area and help him. Dogs must be rewarded for finding livestock; when a dog is bred to search within the confines of a search title, an export order "Training a Dog to Bark at Found Cattle" is issued. To further improve a dog's search ability, dog owners should bark at some sheep when the dog approaches. When the dog is able to "search" according to the code and finds a sheep barking at it within a range of 100 meters x 400 meters, the ability is considered complete.

Notes on training sheepdogs

1. If the livestock shows any resistance to the dogs, the trainer should intervene immediately and whip the sheep to help the dogs. This can train the sheep to obey the dog and leave the dog to go among the sheep, because the dog will not hurt them or disturb them in the sheep group.

2. Pay attention to the dog not to run ahead when chasing sheep into the flock, nor to catch them head-on. That means not driving livestock astray.

3. Dogs are prohibited from biting livestock (sheep’s noses, heads and necks, and legs). If the dog bites badly, it should wear a mask and use the code "non" to prohibit it from trying to bite the sheep.

4. The sheep that the dog is taught to chase has alreadyWalk among the sheep. Then the stern command "no" should be issued, and at the same time, the traction belt should be tightened hard. Then call the dog to come, and when the dog comes, give the command "OK".

Tips: At the beginning of training, vicious dogs (dogs that like to bite livestock) must wear masks when released. In the future, the masks should be removed and tied to a spike collar and a long collar when released. On the traction belt, the dog owner should then zoom in freely and use the command "no" to stop the dog's incorrect movements. During the training process, the distance behind the flock of straggler livestock must be increased, and the command "take" must be used to train the dog to pounce on the sheep's right hind leg or left hind leg from behind, and attack the sheep's ribs when attacking the sheep. . When a dog attempts to bite the sheep's tail, the owner must give the command "no" and tighten the leash to stop it. Note: Sheep are not allowed to defeat dogs at any time, and sheep are not allowed to use their horns to detach dogs.