Help on training cow dog

[Trueblue]

I know that this is a hound forum but i also know that many of you are in the livestock business and own cow dogs as well.I've never trained a cow dog before and I am looking for some helpful training aids such as books or videos.Can anyone out there give some advice on what materials would be best for a newby ?

[StrawberryMt]

google Gary Ericcson Hanging Tree and get his video for starting cowdogs helped me learn ALOT!

[pegleg]

I've got some pretty decent books on the various forms of training. They're still packed up but I'd try to find them to get you the titles if you need. I forgot to check where your from so not sure on what style is most common in your area. I've got a lot of respect for a good catch/bay dog that I didn't have before but still say a good portion of their work is instinctive even more so then the other types. A good head dog is still used in some work but the heelers tend to be more usefull in cattle work most places. Then your type of dog needs to be accounted. This is one reason I really like purebreds or line bred dogs you know in advance what traits your dog is going to bring and when they generally develop where with some of the crossed dogs you might not get a finished dog with out more work. I prefer the Kelpies and Australian heelers but they are higher drive and some difference in harshness is common. Tell us what your working most and kinda dog maybe then we can point you in the best direction. I checked your location. Your probably finding more collie and shepherd varieties in use up their. If you have access to stock training can start with the basics then directional movement then stop+ down + get out. Once that's done you start the holding of stock and finally controlled moving. That's the briefest training info your ever going to get. Its been a few years since I worked a cow dog.

[super white hunter]

what kind of dog? what kind of work?

[Unreal_tk]

Begin with sheep 3-4 for a confidence builder. When you get to cattle find someone who has good cattle dogs and use them with them. Alot of confidence building is needed in my opinion of stock dogs.

[Trueblue]

Thank you all for the replies.I recently got a purebred Border Collie female ( almost 2 yrs old) who has had minimal training on livestock but has an intense desire to work cows.Previous owner said she prefers to work the head and has plenty of bite.At this point I don't really know if that is good or bad.Like I said,I have never owned stock dogs before.My son got a job on a cattle ranch this past summer and his boss told him he needs a dog.Most of the time the dog will be used in mountianous country(National Forest) where the cattle rancher keeps his cows all summer.My boy keeps an eye on about 300 head all summer long and makes sure they stay where they are supposed to.The cows are driven about 35 miles twice a year between summer and winter pasture.

Thanks for your help.

[pegleg]

That sounds like a decent match a strong dog normally works better in rough country and at distance if her commands are understood well and she's just aggressive work her in a pen and teach the down and back commands most trainers don't go the whole nine yards and this might be why she's bitey but its better then not for you can't put it in them but can temper it. Sounds like any decent herding book will be useful to run her through the process again and get him familiar with her and the commands. Often a new trained dog works differently just because of the change in owners body language. Once he's truly at ease with her and the commands and she is still pushing to hard you Might try a E collar. HOWEVER border collies like some other breeds are REALLY sensitive to this form of correction and if not done very gently and correctly it will ruin most. Also they figure the whole collar thing out super quick unless they wear it from day one everytime they are worked and Long before its used. He will also most likely have to go through a few exercises from horse back to reinforce he's still in control up there. Good luck hope he's enjoying the work

[allnight]

I would also recommend Gary aricsons video it will give you alot of insight. I would never take away the dogs bite just need to get it controlled that way you'll always have a loaded gun.If your just going to be cowboying with the dog I would work on 3 basic comands come-bringem-or sickem- and most important down you can get alot done just by laying the dog down at the right time.. Goodluck hope that helps!!

[Intherain]

Hello, I'm not a dog expert but I can tell you what we've done with our dogs. I have two heelers, and a black and tan. And we just found a home for a border collie. If your son or you are into team ropeing etc. or even have cattle in a shoot, take her out there with you and let her try to work the cattle in the shoot. In collies and heelers it kind of comes nautural. if you dont trust her yet chain/ leash her up right beside we're you are working and let her , sniff, bark and watch. That helps. At home for the beganing use small treats to get her to learn commands like come, sit, and stay. Those are very important commands for cattle dogs! And take her everywhere, that helps with trust and attachment with owner. We get on the 4 wheeler and take our cow dogs for runs, they follow right behind. And if they don't we whistle and they come. And don't be scared to take her off the leash and let her run, if you've got land. That shows trust to the dog and she will start to listen. The last thing is border collies are very sweet but very Territorial, exspecially females ( feed sepereate) from other dogs if any. It might have just be mine but she was fine one day and snapping the next. Everyone has different ways. You just have to find what works for you! This is what we do with ours, I hope it helps.