In most cases it isn’t a dog problem, it is a person problem and it will be one of two scenarios: the trainer is doing something he/she shouldn’t be doing; the trainer isn’t doing what he/she should be doing.
Young dogs are similar to children in many ways. Some start doing things earlier than others. It doesn’t mean there is something wrong with the late starters; they just need a little more time. Or maybe all they need is a different approach to learning.
There is the occasional dog that will start going to work with you, instinctively know what to do, and when, and never put a foot wrong.
Stop taking it to work, wrap it in cotton wool and breed heaps of pups from it, because it is the exception.
I mentioned last month that some dogs are overwhelmed by work situations; and that I start all my pups quietly in the sheep-yards, one on one, and with no pressure. But if you do this and your pup still isn’t showing interest what can you try before sending it to a change of scenery and someone else?
Firstly, do not even start worrying before the pup is seven months old – it is only a baby.
Tie the young dog up safely (ie so it doesn’t hang or injure itself) in a relatively small yard with a few very quiet sheep and leave it there for a couple of hours. Make sure the pup is neither too hot nor too cold. The yard needs to be small enough that the sheep are only 3-4 metres away, but not so small that they are too close as this will scare and intimidate your dog rather than acclimatise it.
In the area that the pup is normally let out for exercise, build a small pen and put 3-4 quiet sheep in it. When the pup discovers them it can show an interest without the sheep or pup coming to any harm. You can leave it loose for a while, to run round the pen barking or eyeing the sheep but do keep an eye on things from afar. (Important – the pup is not in the pen with the sheep).
Try playing around in a big yard with a few sheep in a non work situation, using an older dog to demonstrate to the pup. Use a dog of the same breed – Huntaway with Huntaway pup, Heading with Heading pup. Initially keep the pup close to you on a long rope, just watching for a while, then drop the rope and see if it joins in.
Take another pup, one that has already started, into the yard with the sheep, and let both pups go. Have long ropes on each of them, so that you can gain control easily. This is like children joining in on a game and often works.
Don’t try everything all at once, and don’t try every day - you will just get frustrated. Always have a long thin rope trailing behind your pup so that you can easily gain control when it does decide to start. Lastly, be prepared to wait; it will start when it is ready. If you can’t wait, please give the pup to a patient knowledgeable person to try – it may end up being worth its weight in gold.
• Anna Holland is teaching people dog training. For more information www.annaholland.co.nz or Ph (06) 388 1318 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
