CHAMPION dog triallist Murray Child told the group stock work should be a pleasure, not a chore.
FARMERS who gathered in Aria recently were left with the resounding message that stock work should be a pleasure not a chore. The words of wisdom were imparted by champion dog triallist Murray Child, who was in town to lead a dog training session. A couple dozen shepherds braved the rain to attend the event and left with advice on where to go next with their working dogs. GOOD HABITS Many of the dogs were young, which Murray said was good for getting them into good habits early. “This is about teaching them and learning things. And this is the place to teach them.” In his role as a Purina Pro Plan ambassador, Murray travels around the North Island leading about 11 training days each year. He said it all started when he was in Taupō watching two guys attempt to shepherd some Hereford bulls. One was on a motorbike and the other was in a truck. “They were just going around and around and it took them about 20 minutes to get the bulls out the gate. “I was thinking, how can that be a pleasure?” Murray told the group the day was about them, their dogs and their questions, not him and his dogs. One after another participants would walk their dogs into the covered yard to demonstrate where they were at herding sheep. TACKLING ISSUES Together, Murray and the dog owners tackled issues including learning lefts and rights, giving the sheep space and learning ‘stop.’ He said the instinct for a lot of dog owners was to pat their dogs regardless of how they performed, but there was a difference between bonding and training, and consistency was key. “It’s about discouraging the bad habits and encouraging the good. “It’s a lot like children.” Dogs are quick learners you can make a difference with quickly, Murray said, but a lot of the work that happened on training days was with the humans rather than the canines. “You can’t pat them for doing something wrong and then give them a hiding the next day. “It’s about respect, repetition and being consistent.” The respect he talked of was dog respecting owner, teaching the animal who was in charge. Growing Future Farmers students Katja Etherington and Samantha Oldfield were both present with their heading pups. Katja has had her dog since February while Samantha has had hers for about six months. As relative newbies to shepherding, they said they wanted to see how others break in their dogs and get some tips from the professionals. Samantha grew up on her poppa’s sheep and beef farm in Northland, which drove her passion for shepherding. GOOD START She decided Growing Future Farmers would be a good start to the industry, while also gaining qualifications. Katja lived rurally in Tauranga with farms all around her. There was a mixture of property types but most were sheep and beef. “I’ve wanted to be a shepherd since I was little.” Both girls got their dogs into the pen with Murray for tips they said they would take home to continue their training. Katja said her main focus was getting her dog to listen and the herding exercise was helpful for that. She knew it was important to stay consistent with the training. “If you don’t put the effort in your dog won’t work hard.”
DOGS had their existing skills expanded on last month at a dog training day in Aria.
