When my dad’s dog had puppies, I was interested in getting one because both parents are great sheepdogs. We brought home our puppy with his huge bat ears and went for the basics: potty training instead of chewing on things. I talked to my vet and a dog trainer to see if they had any ideas. Below are some tips on how to train a herding dog and turn your dog into a social media star by training it with the best dog harness.
Show Your Dog What to Do
It may sound crazy, but your furry friend is watching what you do and can mimic you as children do. It may not be fun to lead goats so that your pup sees what you want him to do, but it’s for the best. I got lucky after training our puppy because my son loved to chase goats at night. Our puppy, a Piper, listened. She is one of the mechanical herding dog breeds. We worked with their instincts and got them in shape.
Patience
With our new puppy, I quickly learned that raising my voice and getting angry only made her angry. She responded better to the gentle repetition of a skill. If you’re mad, chances are your puppy is too, so it’s time to take a break and get back to the skill you’re working on later.
Commands
It is essential to use commands consistently with each skill. For example, I whistle when I want Piper to throw the goats into her pen, and I make a high-pitched EHH noise when I want her to stop what she’s doing; I tell her “Quiet” when she gets too rough with the goats. You can use any control you want, as long as you use it often. I suggest starting with activating two controls. Others can be added as the animal develops, but these are the best to start herding.
Traditionally, most herding dogs meet their parents through an older, experienced herding dog. As the animal gets older, it gets a new puppy, and the puppy learns by watching another puppy. I opted for a non-traditional plan and taught him to graze without the help of an experienced dog.