Side #2

This week we start to train on the “other” side, the “Away to Me”. It's interesting when we started the training this week, Wage, would automatically go to the Go Bye. Now I would like to think that he has that command down pat but I suspect that it has become instinct.

In order to counter act that "Go Bye" command I have had to adapt to it and change my approach. I get behind the sheep and get them moving along the fence line and give the "Away to Me" command.  When he moves up towards the head I call him back and go through it again. The heading instinct in this breed is so strong that it does present some challenges. Of course this is counteracted by the easy by which these dogs can be trained. To finish off the training session I do a couple of “Go Byes”.

You can imagine the added complexity of training if we started on cattle. It probably would be harder on fences and the trainer.

And the training goes on.

And the training continues

Training is moving right along with the sides being the key. I move the sheep, in the mornings, to the training paddock. It is 130ft by 60, ideal for teaching sides. Not to big so that the trainer is not run off his feet.

With straight sides and corners, I can teach 1 side at a time. The dogs have the stop command ("there") down pat as well as the "stay" command. When I get the sheep positioned and the dog in the stay position I can get the sheep moving along the side. I then send the dog with the appropriate command and he/she heads the sheep and we then work on the walk up command and bring them back to where we can do it all again. A week of doing this then I will start working on the other side.

On the walk up

Wage, the young dog, comes with me to the field each evening to round up the sheep. It seems that I have to go less distance each night and he is out there looking for them. He is now rounding them up and moving them back to the barn, mostly on his own. I don't think he realizes that he is being trained!!!!

The first day of the rest of there lives

The first batch of sheep arrived to day, I custom graze sheep and cattle. With the arrival of the sheep the start of custom training for Kate and her son Wage begins. Kate has been rough trained and is very effective with cattle. Wage has been exposed to sheep starting at 4 months of age and showed a remarkable talent for heading. Formal training is now underway.

Today the training is all about control. The dogs must learn, at this stage, that they will only work when told to do so. It's like boot camp where they learn the other side of themselves. First command is the "with me" command. This is some what like a heel command. Incorporated with this command is the “There” command. This is the stop command.

Today's training incorporating the above commands, was primarily shepherding. In other words we got to watch the sheep eat grass. It's a great self control exercise for the dogs and will be very useful in the future when checking cattle and sheep. This training will likely go on for about a week. All things being equal, we should begin to start on some directional commands: the "way to" and "go by" commands. Until the next time enjoy ....

No Sheep on the Range

In our part of the country, ranchers have the ability to turn there cattle out on Crown land (Government controlled land) often called "range" each summer. This is similar, but yet not, to community pastures found in most ranching communities in North America.

In BC I am not aware of any range that includes sheep. Apparently the ranching community, namely the Cattleman's Association will not allow it even though it is controlled by the Ministry of Forest (in name only). I wonder who is in charge. Now any arguments in support of not allowing sheep on range has no basis in common sense, science or logic. Regardless of the efforts of sheep people, they have not even been allowed to make a presentation in support of allowing sheep on the range.

There is a number of very good reasons to allow sheep with cattle on the range. Among some of these are:
1. Sheep usually will eat what cattle won't,
2. Predator control: Sheep will have a human and usually sheep dogs with them which naturally will control predators.
3. Range management. Despite what MoF people say, they are not managing the range. It is left up to ranchers to do it and if you have ever been out there you can see that the job is not being done very well. This is a general statement as there are some ranchers who do an excellent job and others who have no idea where there cattle are the whole summer. There are a number of good common sense arguments for including sheep on the range. Just take a look at the rest of the world.

We are all in this for a common purpose, to provide food to our population. Let's get our act together .... shake your head.

Mean while back to training.