Harford's Apprentice

Whether in the open field or in a pen, I would repeat this right and left hand work often,
asking the dog to circle the sheep completely maybe five or six times each way in each training
session, so that the dog automatically associates the movement left or right with the Come
Bye and Away to Me voice commands.
Providing the dog has reached a stage where it can move to the head of the sheep in the
direction you have asked it to, and then stop on command directly opposite you, you can then
encourage it to bring those sheep towards you in a controlled way – i.e. Lift & Fetch the
sheep. Ask it to Get Up and Walk On towards the sheep, bringing them towards you while
you walk backwards about 5 or 6 yards in front of the sheep to help the young dog stay in
control and to keep the pace slow and steady. (If the sheep are tame you can use a bucket of
feed to encourage them towards you making the task easier for the dog right at the outset.)
Some novice dogs can be slow to stand again after they reach the head of the sheep, instead
staying clamped down on the ground. These dogs will need a tug on the long lead to
encourage them up and to tell them it is fine to now stand and walk towards the sheep (or
follow them if you are luring the sheep forward).
Other dogs will come towards the sheep too quickly. If yours does, immediately give it the
Stop command and introduce the Take Time verbal command when you encourage it to
stand back up and to walk on slowly. Do not let it move in amongst the sheep. If it rushes
on into the sheep, give the Stop command again and stop the session. Next time repeat the
full exercise, if needs be working very closely and with the long cord once again attached,
until the dog understands that it must keep its distance from the sheep and move them
towards you slowly, stopping on command.
Some people say that it can be difficult for a young dog to control sheep, even tame ones, in
the early stages, but the key thing is actually to show the sheep that you have the dog under
control. Watch the dog closely and make sure it is responding correctly to your commands.
If it is not, you have taken short-cuts in the dog’s training and taken it to the sheep too
early. The dog’s mistakes are usually our own. Think again about what you need to do at this
stage before moving on.
Once competent, this then is the foundation for learning the Outrun, Lift and Fetch.
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