When starting a dog on livestock you should understand that there are five types of dogs, and your dog will fit into one or more of these categories:
(1) This type of dog goes out, circles the stock and attempts to bring the stock towards you.
(2) This type of dog goes diving into the stock grabbing, ripping and tearing.
(3) This type of dog goes straight towards the livestock, covering them and driving them up to a fence and holding them there.
(4) This type of dog claps down (crouches) and glares at the stock not wanting to get up and move them.
(5) This type of dog does not look at or pay any attention to the livestock.
Each of these different type of dogs need positive handling and a different type of teaching to get them started working livestock properly.
Number One: This one is usually light, not usually a very powerful dog, he needs a lot of encouragement. Do not wait too long to teach him to drive stock. When teaching this type to drive they will usually take longer and need a lot of assurance. This type often has a good natural out run, and if they also possess the power to be a natural driver, they can be a terrific dog.
Number Two: This dog needs to be kept under strict control to keep him well off his livestock. Keep stopping him. Whatever he is doing he should be thinking stop. If this dog has enough stock instinct to take the backing off and still keep his attention on the stock he can quite easily become an excellent dog. However in many cases the only instinct these types have is the killer instinct and when you do not let them grab they will quit you.
Number Three: This dog needs to get some respect for the handler, so be very consistent and make him work the stock to you. Get him to balance to you. This means for the dog to be at twelve o’clock, the stock in the middle and the handler at the six o’clock position. (Twelve o’clock is always the opposite side of the stock to the handler, we assume the handler to be at six o’clock at all times unless he is in amongst his stock.) To accomplish this the handler must get to the opposite side of the stock from the dog and force the dog to work opposite him. This type is usually excellent to work with and with proper training can go on to be a top quality dog.
Number Four: This dog is tough to train. You must keep him on his feet as much as possible. Keep him moving and taking commands as quickly as possible.
Number Five: This dog is often not quite ready to work, or has been working on his own and getting into trouble for it. Quite often this type of dog has been running loose without proper supervision. The dog may simply be too young to start working livestock, as his instinct is not fully developed. I like to work livestock with another dog and just have this dog with me and let him do whatever he pleases. If he shows any instinct, style, looking at stock, or chasing stock I will praise him for it.
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