Fergus County argus., 1890-03-27
Training Of Sheep Dogs.

Writing on this subject to the Turf,
Field and Farm, Mr.. :. NJ. Cleaver
says: 1t is u matter Of much more
difficulty and importance to learn
how to train sheep dog than TO dis
cover what he should he taught The
collie and bobt;,il are controlled not
only by instinct, but by higher IN
ligence, which, when properly det.
often enabled them To me,- e.I..
cies tor which mere iu.' .... t...
entirely inadeq i..
The first step L. TO .n...
and affection of the pupi -. ."a.
will be anxious to anticipnt, li- .-
ter's demands and do his hid.ila-.
Kindness and imperturbable pa fienre
are virtues the teacher must exercise.
He should persist in his efforts until
! the pupil understands thoroughly
what Is required of him. and he ought
never to be punished to compel him to
learn, or failing to do what he does
not understand, but only for refusing
to do what he already knows. Only
one thing should he taught at time,
tered should another be undertaken.
The puppy should he shown i'm the
simplest way, what his master wants
him to do, and the thing to be done
should be associated in his mind with
a single word.
When the pupil is about three months
old he should he taken among the
stock, accustomed to it, and induced
n Il.. nd fu l-., inf "a, 4
should first be taught to lie down.
Give the command down" or "lie
down" in firm but gentle tone. and
at the same time show him what it
means by pushing him, never, how
ever, roughly, down to the ground,
repeating the same thing until he
understands what is meant by what is
said. lie will soon learn to lie down
by the motion OF the hand, or by the
word alone.
When the lesson is thoroughly ac-
qulred he should then he taught to lie
IN one place while his trainer goes some
distance from him. After havingcom-
PEELED him to lie down, the trainer
should go away a few steps, returning
on the slightest sign on the part OF the
dog OF II disposition to yet up to fol
low. repeating this, each time going IL
little further, until the dog will remain
IN the same place while the trainer
goes any distance. This having been
accomplished, the dog can easily he
taught to follow considerably in the
rear 10y motion OF the hand and the
command black" lie should then be
taken to the field in which the sheep
are and directed to lie down. while the
trainer passes around the flock. so as
to get IT between him .and the dog.
The trainer then starts forward coax
ing he sheep after him with IL pan of
salt and calling the dog to follow.
which the dog, having thoroughly
learned from IA former lesson will do,
remaining at II proper distance in the
rear. Soon he will begin To see the
reason oi the proceeding and to take
an interest in 1t. and will often of his
own accord, keep the flock together
by preventing stragalers from leaving
the main body. Finally lac should he
taught to 90 around the flock eli her
to the right or left. The dog being
still at "a distance. the trainer should,
by "a motion OF the hand Indicate the
in which he wants him 10 90.
ana at the same time show him Nl l..t
Is desired by walking IN that dire.
himself. and repeating the mo-
the hand. With this much in.'
the duties of the trainer .r
cally ut an end. +.
ence adds to IL. ..... .....
increases his e....i. t...