Catherine de la Cruz

Reprinted with permission from GPCA Bulletin: Sept/Oct 1990 ©1988

Shortly after the pup arrives, fit her with an adjustable buckle or quick snap collar and a six foot leash. Spend whatever time is necessary in the first week to leash-break the pup. Do this in the training pen. Once she will walk happily on a leash, begin the pup's introduction to the rest of the ranch.

Once a day, take the pup, on leash, to an area where the livestock are and which she will alter be expected to guard. Walk the perimeter of that area, allowing plenty of time for the pup to sniff and explore her surroundings. If she wants to approach a ewe or doe out of curiosity, allow her to do so on leash. Unless the livestock are particularly hand-gentle, they probably won't allow the approach; If they run, do not follow, as you don't want the pup to get the idea that it is OK to chase. If the livestock allow the approach, let the pup and sheep or goats sniff each other and get acquainted. Most likely, the pup will get butted. If this happens, reassure the pup and continue your walk. Do not let her bark or act aggressively toward the butting animal at this time.

These boundary walks are necessary for the pup to learn that there will soon be a larger world for her than the training corral. Use these walk time to also teach simple obedience commands. When you go through any gate, make the pup sit, tell her "Wait" and go through the gate yourself first. If you want her with you, tug on the leash and say "come". If you want her to remain inside the gate, unsnap her leash from her collar after you have passed through the gate, close it and release her with an "OK!".

In this way, the dog learns both a painless "come" and to stay inside a gate unless permission is given otherwise. Many a dog has been lost under the wheels of a car when it bolted an open gate. A reliable livestock guardian is trained not to go through a gate unless it is verbally given permission to do so. Some dogs take the command to "wait" seriously enough that they have prevented their sheep from going through an accidentally opened gate. Attention to this one command can literally be worth a lot of money--as well as life-saving.