Working Dogs
Welcome to the Working Dogs courses page.
These courses have been designed to give you a solid understanding of the role of working dogs on farms and help you gain skills in selecting and effectively working your dog and handling and managing the health of these remarkable animals.
DOGS301 Introduction to Working Dogs
This course will provide you with a foundational understanding of training, handling, and caring for working dogs, helping you to build a strong and effective partnership with your canine team.
This course provides an in-depth look at the role of sheepdogs in New Zealand’s agricultural landscape. These highly skilled dogs, brought to New Zealand many years ago, have been selectively bred to develop distinctive breeds that are integral to shepherding and livestock management. In this course, you will explore the history, development, and practical use of working dogs in the farming industry.
Participants will gain an understanding of the various breeds of sheepdogs, including their origins, unique characteristics, and how they are used in day-to-day shepherding tasks. From herding and driving livestock to specialised tasks in different terrains, working dogs are a vital part of farming operations, and this course will shed light on their incredible contributions to farm efficiency and livestock handling.
DOGS302 Caring for Your Working Dogs
This course covers essential practices for maintaining the health, well-being, and performance of your working dogs, ensuring they remain fit and effective partners on the farm.
The Caring for Your Working Dogs course focuses on the essential aspects of caring for working dogs, ensuring their physical, mental, and behavioural well-being. From proper nutrition and exercise to initial training and veterinary care, this course provides you with the knowledge and skills to keep your working dogs healthy, happy, and ready for the demanding tasks of farm life.
Participants will explore the specific needs of working dogs at various life stages; from puppies through adulthood and into their senior years. You will learn how to adapt your care practices as your dog grows and changes, addressing key elements such as their diet, work-related requirements, and general health maintenance. The course will also cover behavioural issues and how to manage them, ensuring your working dogs are well-balanced and effective in their roles.
DOGS303 Training Working Dogs
This course focuses on the skills and techniques needed to effectively train working dogs, ensuring they are prepared and responsive to the demands of farm work.
This course is designed to teach the essential skills of dogmanship and stockmanship, focusing on the handling and training of working dogs, such as heading and huntaway dogs.
This course provides a balanced approach to training, covering both basic foundational commands for pups or dogs and advanced working commands used in real-world shepherding tasks.
You will learn how to handle your dog effectively, mastering foundational commands and working techniques that ensure your dog responds promptly and confidently. The course will cover commands specific to both heading dogs and huntaway dogs, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their different roles in managing livestock.
The course highlights the importance of understanding livestock behaviour and the relationship between the handler, the dog, and the livestock.
Farm Skills
Learn Your Own Way
New Zealand
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