The course is designed to teach you the beginnings of how to handle your dog safely out in the countryside and more importantly around livestock. After a registration period (between 9.00 – 9.30am) where you have the opportunity to ask questions and exercise your dog, the course begins with some basic training out on the hill before the dogs are brought into close proximity with the sheep. This is done as a group activity under close supervision. Each participant also receives individual tuition in stopping their dog from going near the sheep.
All dogs are trained on the lead throughout the morning. You will be responsible for your own dog. This session is not included in the cost of the eight week course.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Where is it held?At a farm near Flotterstone, in the Pentland Hills,
Is there much walking? It involves quite a lot of walking and the terrain is steep in places.
What should I wear? Comfortable
clothes and flat shoes or boots. Bring a coat in case of rain!
Do we get a coffee break? Yes – tea, coffee and
biscuits are provided. There is a toilet facility.
Can my child come? For safety reasons
we ask that children do not actively participate. They can watch from
the bottom of the field.
Can my friends attend with their dog? The course is run
primarily for members of my training club. Other applicants may attend
depending upon their previous training and their dog’s temperament.
Can we park at the farm? Yes – all participants set off together by car from the meeting point and reconvene at the farm.
Will this course guarantee that upon completion of the morning, my dog will always leave livestock alone? Unfortunately, no. As dogs are living creatures, not machines, and are liable to be unpredictable, we cannot offer such a guarantee. However, the course enables you to learn how to train your dog to leave livestock alone and provides owners with the confidence and foundations to continue this training unaided. This knowledge and experience could be invaluable should you be faced with a confrontational or dangerous situation between your dog and livestock. It is advised to always exercise great care whenever your dog is in the presence of livestock and to walk dogs on a lead whenever livestock are nearby.
We hope you will take the opportunity to try this unique training. Peter Gregory Dog Training was the first training club in Scotland
to offer this course.
Comments from previous participants:
“Archie and I enjoyed immensely the training day with all the others at the sheep farm. God knows what would have happened had we encountered any livestock before this lesson!” – Charles Porteous (Edinburgh)
“Peter includes innovative events such as the ‘sheep training’ at a local farm. I’d recommend his classes.” - Ian Pattison – (Midlothian)
***MANY CLUB MEMBERS BOOK A PLACE ON THIS COURSE TIME AND AGAIN AS A WORTHWHILE, FUN AND BENEFICIAL ASPECT OF TRAINING THEIR DOG. THE OVERALL TRAINING COVERED OFTEN HELPS TO IMPROVE THE GENERAL PROGRESS OF MANY PARTICIPATING DOGS. ***
