SHEEP DOG NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3251, 5 July 1916, Page 61

SHEEP DOG NOTES.

By TERaoH.

THE TRAINING OF SHEEP DOGS. One of the first essentials to success in training tho young, whether human, equine, or canine, is that tho trainer should bo thoroughly roaster of his own temper. Once lose control of himself he may do in a fewseconds that which will probably take weeks or months to undo. It is impossible to lay down any hard and fast rides in the training of sheep dogs, as tho temper and aptitude of pups, even of the same litter, vary so widely. A sharp word is to some quite as much a deterrent as a sound thrashing is to others. It is therefore necessary for the trainer to closely study the temper of his pupil before administering punishment of any kind. Here 1 may just say that I am not a believer in harsh treatment, and there is seldom any need for it if tho pup is consistently kept under control. Opinions dirfcr as lo the age to commence the training proper, that is. on sheep, but a great deal can be accomplished before the pup is old enough to begin work. To begin with get it under command, and that is much easier when very young. No matter how brilliant a worker a dog may be, except he is under perfect command, it not only rooils his chances in a public competition, but also mars his everyday usefulness. A noted iSleottish expert whvn asked what he considered the most important point in a working sheep dog, replied: "Command first, last, and every time." In order to set the pup under supreme control it is necessary, as already indicated, to commence young, say. at three months old.

it> will iii most cases at first bo found expedient to use a etout string cr light chain, as it prevents the pup from leaving yon, which by the way is one of the worst habits a dog can form. By keeping the youngster on a chain for a time, gets it into following close at heel, and while thus under close control a very few jessbns will teach it to "sit down" or "come in." When giving the command to "bit down" or "stop," J perfer using the stopping whistle. Once this is properly understood, and implicitly obeyed, the first stage of the training may be looked on as accomplished. Just exactly when the young dog should be started on his life-work depends entirely on his aj.iirude. A decided inclination to work must be shown before the trainer can do much, and the very common mistake of correcting the pup in its first attempt musl bo avoided, no matter how groat the blunder in'iy have been. Another blunder very prevalent is allowing a pup to run after an old clog. This gets it into the habit of running after the dog without paying any attention to the sheep. To go fully into details of how to train the different kinds of workers would require more time and space than I have at my disposal. T shall therefore •confine my remarks principally to the class of dogs 1 have had most experience amongst, and with which my name has been closely associate' for more ve.ars than T care to count. T refer to the Border slice]) dog. keen, with strong eye. and yet even when given a moderate chance in their handling of sheer) {hey have the "wilc.S of a woman and the will of a man." To begin at the beginning, a young dog bred right doe 1 ' not require to be taught to head or f-top sheep. Thai comes just as naturally to him as it come'; to a young duck lo swim. In the class of dogs under review there is, however, at times a tendency to

"oet" on standing sheep before making the complete head, or. in plainer terms, before they have reached tho point where man. cheep, and flop arc in a direct lino. T don't mind their going a little past that point, but nevoY allow them to stop until thoy

have reached it. This is very essential, and should there be any difficulty in shifting the dog then move the sheep, and this gets the dog again on the move. 'J lien, again, 1 have frequently found youngsters running from one hand quite freely, and refusing to start from the other. The remedy here is simply to get a few sheep against a fence, run them first to the .side the dog fancies, and then reverse the order, and invariably the keen youngster cannot resist the natural instinct to head. Before leaving this particular section of canine education, I would warn the new beginner against putting a young dog on anything like a long head until he has proved absolutely reliable at a short distance. Never on any account send a young dog to perform a task where the sheep have even a remote chance of beating him. Doing- this is exactly on a par with over-loading a high-tempered young horse. The load is beyond him and lie is stuck, with the result that the next, load ho is asked to pull he .jibs. Let a young dog be beaten once or twice, and he becomes careless, and in sporting parlance "runs stiff."

After heading comas pulling, which in my opinion is by far the most difficult section in the education of a sheep dog. indeed in aii my experience, and I have owned some hundreds of dogs, 10 per cent, have not been natural pullers, and except there is an inherent inclination in the dog to stand off, and in tho ease of jumpy or wild fhcu) to stop without command, then tho trainer has a difficult task ahead of him. One of the best pullers I have owned was "Hindhope Jed"' (a Sjdncy champion). but the champion at this particular class of work was "Borden* Boss.'

To teach the "strong-eyed dog to pull requires infinite tact and patience. Get them in a direct line with trainer and sheep, but never attempt to call them on if they are already close to the sheep, or the result will bo a rush and a split. Let him be. say, a chain from the sheep, call him on. aim stop him a few times before he gets close .on them. Then when (he sheen start to move, walk on ahead and allow the dog to pull quietly behind. Once he has done this a few times he may be trusted to do a short pull on his own, but in this, as in all other sections of his education, don't attempt to "cram." Get your pupil thoroughly versed in the alphabet before promoting him to Standard I. Following on this principle one never expects a Standard I pupil to be able to fluently lead a chapter in the Bible, and so in the canine as in tho human you must allow the grey matter called brains time fo develop. In conclusion, I may be allowed to say that during the past 20 years I have written a groat deal for publication on tho subject under review, but if I am spared for another 20 years I cannot hope to be able to say the hist word on such an absorbing topic. There is no more interesting hobby than the training of these dogs of ours —the most intelligent of God's creatures —bid the man who aspires to be a finished artist must have infinite tact and patience, and also a real genuine enthusiasm for the work.—By J. Lillieo in the Pnstnralist .Review. THE MACKENZIE COLLIE. CLUB. The annual meeting of the Mackenzie Collie Club was held on the 24th ult., when a good muster put in an appearance, evincing a refreshing interest in the business of the evening. The report, placed before the meeting showed a credit balance of some £lO, which, considering the many adverse conditions, was deemed a highly creditable position indeed, .upon which the secretary was heartily congratulated. Hearty votes of thanks were passed in acknowledgment of the marked services rendered to the club during the year by Mr Ilayter for use of ground, to Clayton Stat'on for consideration in re sheep, to Mr M. L. ET'ott for his valuable services as sole judg3 at recent- trials, and to numerous givers of special prizes, and other helping patrons of the club. 7t was decided to_ take no act'on nt present to affiliate w T ' f h the Southern Champion Associat : on. The election of officers for the ensuing year was carried through w'th the following results:—Hon. life members, Mr Hayfer and Mr J. A. Ballantvnc: patron. Mr J. W. Grant; president. Mr R. *C'owan: vioonresidents—Messrs C. MTntosh. C. A. Parker, Geo. Keeffe. C. Hammond, nnd Yv 7 . Sheppard; judge's steward. Mr S. Bryant; Entertainment Committee —Messrs ' YV. vShcppard, R. M'Pberson. and F. Amiss'. The posts of timekeeper, flag stewards, and Ground Committee were also filled. It was decided to adhere to the end of March as the most suitable date for the trials. After discussion it was resolved to adhere to last year's programme and dates. A number of special prVes were promised by these present, including a valunble -rold mrdd by Mr Slioppard. and a modal bv Mr Hoe-"- It was decided to vote £2 10s to the Sailors' Fund, and to continue the club's quarWK- contribution of £2 to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.