Training

Here at Bootleather Border Collies, I strive to bring out the most in each and every dog that I train. I use sound training methods that have been proven over years of experience. I USE ABSOLUTELY NO SHOCK COLLARS.  Ask the trainer you chose if they use a shock collar,if the answer is yes I'd recommend finding another trainer. Anyone that can't solve a problem with a dog without resorting to the use of a shock collar does not have a good understanding of the thinking and nature of dogs. I am not against the shock or the treatment of the dog,I am against the stupidity of the trainer.

I work with the natural ability of the dogs and try and bring out that natural ability to its fullest.  A dog working through its natural instinct is easier to handle and easier to control thus making it a more effective working dog that puts less stress on the livestock and makes handling the livestock easier. 

                                                                                                           I take dogs in for training for 30 & 60 day programs. All dogs stay for 30 days at first. After 30 days they are evaluated to see if they are worth the owners money and my time to continue with training. Some dogs will leave after being here 30 days, this is not to say that they won't make useful dogs but rather they have some fault with them that doesn't make it worth the effort to continue training. Most dogs that only stay for 30 days have some major problem that training won't over come. This is usually a temperment problem of some kind, dogs can't stand the pressures of training( like a spoiled child, if I can't do it my way I'll pick up my toys and go home) they may not be able to work in a partnership with a person,or some other sort of problem.

Dogs after 30 days will know all of their commands (flanks,stop,recall etc.) Dogs will be able to run out and bring livestock to you from a distance of 100 yds or more,the dog will be capable of running out properly and fetching in a nice controlled manner.You will have complete control over the dog at that distance, you will be able to flank,stop and call the dog off. If the dog will except the training I will start them on the beginning of drive training, at this stage I do not push training a dog to drive away from me, but I do like to start them on it.

Dogs that stay 60 days will learn 3 times as much as they did in the first 30 days.

After 60 days you will be able to send and control the dog at a distance of 250-300 yards. The dog will be able to bring livestock to you at that distance in a very controlled and natural way. The dog will also be able to turn around and drive the livestock back to the point that it ran out to gather them.  The dog will have all of the training it needs to make a good useful dog, all the dog is lacking at this point is experience.

All dogs are trained to fit what the owner needs a dog to do.  Whether you need a dog to work sheep, goats or cow/calf pairs.

If a sheep/goat dog is what you need I will train the dog to whatever level of training you need. I run about 300 ewes and run a couple thousand lambs in the fall and know what it takes to have a dependable sheepdog.

If you're in need of a good cattle dog I run 60 cows and keep some calves around year round to work dogs on. In the fall I have several hundred wheat pasture cattle to work dogs on.

Working areas are varied. I start all dogs in a round pen on sheep or goats. If your dog is to be used on cattle it will also be started on sheep/goats for the first week or 10 days and then progressed onto cattle.

After dogs have had a week or so in the round pen I steadily progress to more open spaces until the dog is working in the pasture. As the dog progresses the number of livestock it works will also increase. Your dog will work 3/5 head of livestock all the way up to 100 head.

Training fee is $400/month with the first months training fee to be paid when the dog arrives. If the dog stays 2 months the last month training fee will be paid when the dog is picked up. Training fee is all inclusive,I feed a good quality dog feed that meets the needs of working dogs. All dogs need to be current on vaccinations and parasite free.

My kennels were blown away in a tornado and I am looking to relocate. The kennels I use are safe and cleaned daily.

I train Border Collies only