Young dog

[1982]

Whats best way of introducing a young dog to sheep?getting a small bunch in a small field and let him go or putting some sheep in a pen?tia

 

[yellowbelly]

I'm no expert but I prefer a round pen with the sheep on the inside and the dog on the outside at first.

Then with the sheep and the dog inside the pen (sorry no video of that) and then the sheep and the dog outside the pen...

 

[sean m]

Whats best way of introducing a young dog to sheep?getting a small bunch in a small field and let him go or putting some sheep in a pen?tia

start all my pups in a round ring,few minutes a day till they are balancing and have got a stop then out into a small paddock don't like to much round ring work,important to have steady sheep and not nasty old ewes that want to hammer the dog

 

[1982]

Took him out last night and spent most of my time against a fence so used my old dog to get them into the field.will give the pen a go!!

 

[Spartacus]

Aa @sean m says, round pens can be useful but not long term, I have used them in the past but generally just have an old dog or two holding the sheep off the fence until the young one (and the sheep) learn a bit and stay steady in the middle of the field. Steady sheep is the main thing you want for a young dog until it has learnt a bit.

 

[cwmhyfryd]

Whats best way of introducing a young dog to sheep?getting a small bunch in a small field and let him go or putting some sheep in a pen?tia

When i have dogs in for training i like to first have them on the outside of the pen, you can assess them then with minimal stress to sheep, dog and handler!

 

[1982]

Got a half a dozen hill hoggs so nothing steady about them.ewes all have lambs so hoggs will have to do!!

 

[Spartacus]

Got a half a dozen hill hoggs so nothing steady about them.ewes all have lambs so hoggs will have to do!!

Use the older dog on it's own for a week or so to steady them up, helps them be a bit calmer when starting a young dog.

 

[Treecreeper]

Don't overdo it with a young dog some days they will be more responsive than others and never finish a lesson on a bad note. Let them have a 5min run wild, away from the job in hand before you start. Dogs like people mature at different stages, if they have have got it you can correct if slower don't try to push the point.

 

[1982]

The round pen is a lot less stress than starting to train straight away in the paddock.thanks for the posts.