Rodeo Tales & Gypsy Trails: Starting and Training Cowdogs with Rodney Hopwood Clinic

This past weekend, I had the privilege to attend the “Starting and Training Ranch Dog Clinic with Rodney Hopwood” at the Martiny Ranch. What a great weekend with family and friends! I tried to soak up as much knowledge as my little brain could hold. Today, I’m going to share a glimpse of my notes, and a few of tips I picked up throughout the day. THANK YOU so much to Rodney for sharing his knowledge and patience with any question.

"Woodrow going to the head"
Photo Courtesy of Tracy Krekeler

I will be very honest with you…..until my dog (Woodrow) stepped into the “Work Pen” I wasn’t listening like I should have been. Well, the second we entered the “Small Pen”, and I realized that I needed most of the training to stay out my dog's way….my hearing improved immensely.

Here are a few pictures of Woodrow in action bring some calves back to me.
That's right...I have a cute lil' Head Dog!

Photo Courtesy of Tracy Krekeler
One on One with Woodrow (applicable to STARTING most Cow Dogs)
* Set up situation like the small pen. Small area, gentle cattle, tight fence. ~ Get SMOOTH

*Work on stopping or downing Woodrow. Maybe can use the palm of your hand held out as a cue to STOP (Woodrow is a Corgi so we will probably just Stop instead of Down)
* Commands: Keep individual commands. Don’t use the same command for multiple meanings

Stop or Down
Left/Right
Bite
That will do (completion command)

*Work to the outside of the fence
*Stay to the perimeter of the fence initially. Build confidence and get them comfortable close to the fence.

Every win builds confidence. Let your dog win. When you give them a job, don’t take it away.

*Owner needs most of the training to get out of Woodrows way ;)

Now that my ears had been opened, I started taking much better notes and asking questions!

Class watching work in the "small pen"

Here are some Key Points to Remember:
* Keep your dog locked up: Tie up or kennel your dog unless you are working them.
When you let them out, your dog should be dragging you to that work pen. They will be thinking about working and listening better when they haven’t been running loose with no control.

* Good Manners: Having a basic handle on your dog such as not jumping up on people and being broke to lead with basic handle.

* Down or Stop: It is key to have some "Whoa" on your dog. Whether you use a “Down” or a “Stop” command you need to be able to control your dogs actions.
*Don’t “cheap shot”. Don’t allow your dog to cheap shot bite your cattle. It gives mixed signals to your cattle. When cattle are moving, don’t let your dog nip at them down the alley way. When they are moving you should give relief and that rewards & trains your livestock for good behavior.
Also, when you curb the cheap shots your dog should bite harder and more deliberate when they do bite.

* Commands: Keep individual commands. Don’t use the same command for multiple meanings. Here are some command examples:
Stop or Down
Left/Right
Bite
"That will do" ~ Rodney also uses a completion command when he is done working his dog for the day.
* Balance: Move to one side or the other to cue your dog where you want them to go.
You are striving to achieve BALANCE. Get on the other side of the stock to stop the movement of the cattle. Work until you find your balance. It will vary for each dog.

* Give your Dog a JOB:

Give your dog a job and let him do it. Give him a job for the day that will benefit what you are trying to do.

Put him on the back and give him a job. Whatever job you give him, let him do it and don't take it away.

Sorting in the Small pen
with Tracy Krekeler

Start in a Small Pen: ( Tools~ sorting stick, about a 15ft rope on your dog, about 300 lb dairy calves)
Set up situation like the small pen. Small area, gentle cattle, tight fence. ~ Get SMOOTH
Small pens allows for you to put pressure on your dog and they can figure out where to move. The snow fence or whatever you use to make your pen solid allows you to apply pressure without your dog running out of the pen and developing bad habits of aborting the task.

Small pen should be closed in so a dog can’t get out. Work to the outside of the pen. Work keeping your dog in between you and fence. Teaching to go into corners. Not letting them go out of the alley, bad habit or weakening.

Rodney helping Tracy Krekeler work her dog in the small pen.

Big Pen Work: (Tools: Sorting stick and about a 25ft rope on your dog)
Move to one side or the other to cue your dog where you want them to go.
You are striving to achieve BALANCE. Get on the other side of the stock to stop the movement of the cattle.

Rodney works one of his young dogs and explains BALANCE in the Big Pen.

Student working in the Big Pen

Practicing working the perimeter and finding balance in the big pen

"Every win builds confidence. Let your dog win. "
Rodney Hopwood

Outside or real large pen:
Showing how you would work outside or trailing cows. Implementing all the tools learned in the smaller pens. Seasoned dogs will learn where to be and not waste steps. For example, Once calf committed to come back to the herd the dog pulled up and gave relief.

5 Key Points to Remember:
* Keep your dog locked up

* Good Manners:

* Down or Stop:
* Balance
* Give your Dog a JOB

Overall, it was an amazing experience at the Hopwood Dog Clinic! If you would like to learn more by attending or are interested in hosting your own Cowdog Starting and Training Clinic here is contact information below.

If would like to BUY a Hopwood Border Collie Rodney has two pups available right now for sale.

HOPWOOD BORDER COLLIES
Rodney and Carol Hopwood
Website:http://www.cowdogcentral.com/hopwood.border.collies/hopwood_border_collies.htm
Email: hopwoodfam@yahoo.com
Phone: 208-421-2098
Fan Mail:
2971 N 3600 E
Kimberly, Idaho

LR ALEXANDER TRAINING BOOK and DVD available from Hopwood Border Collies.

Ben Means ~ The Perfect Stock Dog Book and Training Dvd

Email: hopwoodfam@yahoo.com
Phone: 208-421-2098
Hopwood Border Collies
2971 N 3600 E
Kimberly, Idaho

Thank you so much to the Hopwood Border Collies and the Martiny Ranch for a great Cowdog Training Clinic! The hospitality was 2nd to none. Thank you for traveling the gypsy trail with me today! Hope you enjoyed our travels together. ~ Mindy