BABY LAMBS:
My Secret Weapon for Starting a Young Dog

by Dana MacKenzie

I don't usually respond to training questions (ed.note: about how to train for relaxed take pens), but this one hit my "secret weapon" and also perhaps it is that I am housebound by our unusual Texas weather. Baby lambs are the secret weapon. About a month old is great. I usually start when they are about two weeks of age. It is a rare Aussie that will hurt a baby, but you must be careful because some will. A lamb is a baby to a dog as long as it has "milk manure". Once it begins eating other stuff than milk it is an adult and has a different set of rules.

I always start a "young in training" dog on a line, say 15 feet, in the pens. He learns to relax, learns that he doesn't have to plunge into stock — which is normal when working in the dog's flight zone — learns to be gentle with the lambs, but it transfers to all stock eventually, and not to attack when something is staring at him. He starts to learn commands; because we aren't smart enough to learn dog, he must learn English. All this is done calmly in a non-confrontational manner with the handler.

With this method there is no running around, hollering etc. No fancy footwork, just patience. Since the dog is on a line, usually short, to begin with, he has to do what you want. Fifteen minutes is a long training session. Pups are like kids; they have a short attention span.

I put about 15-20 ewes and lambs in a square or round pen, say 40 to 60 feet in diameter. Remove any fighting ewes and their lambs. The dog is between the fence and my legs. I walk around and around the perimeter (both ways). Occasionally there is a dog that won't settle and calm down; then you have to go to a different method, but most will eventually. The stock will calm down too and probably end up somewhere around the center of the pen.

No harsh discipline. Calmly speak the words to match the dog's action, like 'way to me', 'come by' and a stop command. Commands start when the dog calms down a bit. Later on you can be insistent on the commands but not in the beginning.

Next step: watch the stock, when they face toward your dog, stop (use your stop command), then turn and walk directly toward the heads. Command is 'walk up'. When the stock turns and moves away, stop the dog (stop command) and let him see them move away. He will know he caused it, and that he won the encounter without having to bite. It is best not to use stock that is trained to follow you around. Be sure to do this where the stock has room to move away from your dog, not against a fence for example.

Follow this with an 'out' command and take the dog back to the fence, between your knee and the fence, then a directional command and do it again. If this exercise is working for you, you should be calm and your dog progressively calmer and starting to listen to you a bit.

Eventually you are going to have to turn him loose. Any successful trainer can help you with that part. But back to the ewes and lambs. I start following the ewes and lambs around and around the pen. Your dog is still on lead, at your side in the beginning. Start on the perimeter then move closer to the stock (More toward the center of the pen rather than the fence) until you are following the ewes and lambs around and around calmly. By this time the ewes trust your dog to remain calm and aren't as protective of the lambs. The babies will start to get tired and drop to the back of the group. I let the dog get closer and closer until his nose can touch a lamb posterior. With Aussies this usually brings on a washing and a recognition that here is something different. Watch your dog, this is a critical spot, we don't want a rush or a bite, but you have the lead, you control the entire thing. NO HARSH DISCIPLINE not even for a bite. He doesn't know what you want him to do! A growl or 'uhn uhn' to show your displeasure is plenty.

Continue this exercise until the dog is calm, not aggressive, then the rope can be extended a bit more each time. Gives the dog a bit more freedom. Remember to continue all the exercises. Do each no more than 5 minutes. And a session no more than 15 or 20.

Now for the "hold your breath part". You must remain upright and calm no matter what happens. Very important. If you get excited, your dog will get excited, then it may become a pack thing and bad things can happen. Your dog is dragging a rope. You can step on it and catch him if you need to. By this time you have let him have say 8 feet of the rope as you follow the ewes and babies around. He is responsible (not tugging on the lead), sniffing but not trying to hurt or run over the babies.

Now follow along but closer to the outside of the circle. Your dog understands the perimeter, you have practiced it and it is his natural instinct. Let the rope slide through your hand but continue walking with him as you have been doing when following the ewes and lambs. It is better not to distract him with talk at this time. He usually will continue on around the flock.

Walk around the flock if he needs encouraging. If he goes to balance, keep moving around the flock so that he doesn't stall up. A straight at the stock balance exercise might be too much for him at this time. Catch him as easily as you can and love on him big time. Tell him what a great dog he is. He needs to know you are happy with him. He has just passed a milestone.

This exercise will give you balance work, easy take pens and a bunch of other good stuff. This is just the beginning. He still has to learn fetching, working at a distance away from his stock, square flanks, driving and all kinds of stuff but it helps you get started in an easy non-stressful (to dog and handler) manner. If this helps, use it with pleasure. If it doesn't stop and try something else.