Herding for Beginners - NAWBA Journal - Winter 2007

by Karen Trimble

Starting your Bouvier puppy on livestock can be fun and exciting. It takes a firm yet gentle hand. To start any dog, no matter what their age, it is best to walk into the pen with the dog on leash, preferably a cotton lead that will not burn your hands if your puppy tries to pull and get away, about 15 to 25 feet in length. Always keep yourself between you and the livestock. A round pen works best for this, about 65 to 75 feet in diameter is ideal. I walk the dog on the outside of me (up against the fence) and me between the pup and livestock which are in the center. I walk all the way around in both directions several times, making sure to turn back and forth several times while going around (always keeping the dog on the outside by the fence). The pup will probably be paying more attention to the stock rather than you and when you switch directions and so will end up getting pulled or flipped to get back with you. Do not let the pup walk out in front of you; it should be beside you or slightly behind. Each dog is different and the time it takes to master this varies.

Once the pup settles and stops fighting the line I release the line, letting it drag, and send the pup using my stock stick to block the way I do not want the pup to go (there are no commands given when you are first starting any dog) while I move in more to the center to get closer to the stock, so I can protect them and block the pup from running up on them too fast. You can use your stock stick to send the pup in both directions by holding it in your hand and placing it out on the side you do not wish the dog to go, like an extension of your arm, pushing the dog forward toward the sheep. You will have to use your stock stick to block both sides while you try to stop your pup; or, if you can, lay it down and step on the line and pick up the line to go to the pup, or to bring the pup to you should the pup get up to go toward the sheep again.

It helps to have a down on your pup before you put them on livestock, though the pup will probably have a mental brain fart and forget what the word means. You are still putting the foundation in the pup, and thus may have to step on the line and make the pup down. It also helps to work the pup outside the pen to teach it to yield to your stock stick (I use a fiberglass one). To change the direction the pup is going you place the stick across the path the pup is going to reverse its direction and use it as an extension of your arm to push the pup to go the other direction. I also use the stick to block both directions when I want my pup to down or just stop. When you send the dog in a direction, use the flank command for that direction as this will start your pup in learning flanks as well. “Come by” is the flank to send the dog clockwise and “away to me” is when you send the dog counter clockwise, or away from time.

I only train in short sessions, 5 to 10 minutes tops. I like to go in the pen, work on something, get it right,and get out. Then I put the pup up so that it can think about what just happened and learn from it. With my older bitch, I have learned last thing in, first thing out, so I always end on a good note, doing something she can be successful at. Do not be hard on your pup; anything it exhibits is just showing interest. You must teach it what is proper and acceptable behavior andwhat is not.

Training a Bouvier is not like training any other breed:it takes time, commitment and perseverance. It is a partnership, teamwork, and over time the two of you get to know and understand one another. And then one day you suddenly realize you are doing things right and communicating with your pup in ways you never thought possible.

Here’s to happy herding for you and your pup.

Karen Trimble lives in Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, near San

Antonio.