Promise Pastures Herding and Training facility

08/13/2024

Spartan working sheep, moving to top field

08/05/2024

Kuawarri Rhea working at 9 months old

07/16/2024

05/27/2024

Sometimes handlers mistakenly think that once they’ve spent time training, their dog should instinctively be good at that task, rather than assessing their own effectiveness as a teacher.

If your dog is somehow unenthusiastic in his work such as, slow or stops on the outrun, reluctant to cover, hold the pressure, too slow flanking, turns away from the sheep, doesn’t want to shed or turnback blind, etc., he’s telling you that you’re spoiling his enjoyment. It’s important to then evaluate your training method and your mindset.

In looking at mindset, Is it possible that you are inadvertently putting pressure on your dog based on your own expectations? training too much too soon? does your dog understand what you’re trying to teach? Are you going about it in a way that considers the training from his perspective and encourages enthusiasm?

In reflecting on method, dogs can be trained with many different styles and techniques.
There is a big difference though between a dog that has been trained only through drilling and a dog that has been trained intuitively.
Communicating clearly, in a way that makes sense and is enjoyable to your dog, is key.
It fosters your partnership, your dog becomes mentally invested and you get his heart.

02/22/2024

New sign.. Vanes-n-Things made it for me.

02/20/2024

It may be you discovered what you believe to be a short cut in your training but it’s important to be mindful that a perceived faster way to train can sometimes force your dog beyond his understanding or capabilities, creating a bigger problem than if you’d been patient in your training.
Some handlers think meaningful training doesn't begin until their dog is further forward yet, it’s the foundation work that can make all the difference.

There is a connection between how we start our young dogs and how we teach the most complex aspects.
The building blocks of our fundamentals make learning the more difficult facets of training easier, because the method is recognizable, intuitive and enjoyable.

You empower confidence and trust in your dog by setting him up to succeed.
If your dog has plateaued or is struggling, it may help to revisit the fundamentals, finding the balance between having a solid foundation and becoming complacent.
It’s important to both be certain you’ve prepared your dog for what you ask of him and also, to continue to increase your expectations of both him and you.

Setting your dog up for succeed doesn’t mean he should never encounter adversity;
it means that you’ve taught the foundation well enough that he can call upon it, and be resilient in the face of difficulty.
macraeway.com

01/23/2024

Everyone wants success with their dog but sometimes handlers make the mistake of focusing on the results they want, instead of the effort it takes to produce them.

Many want quick fixes; they don’t want to hear that it takes years of study and dedication to be successful.
Todays society is fast, we have instant access to so many things (including posts on social media)
But dogs don’t care about technology, culture, agendas, ego or your expectations; if you’re not humble, your dog will likely do that for you.

Receiving good information is a must, a coach can be invaluable, but you have to do the work and make a lot of mistakes before success.
There are no great results without effort and training at times can be hard. It can test your patience, intention, commitment, discipline and self awareness.
But the amazing thing is, no matter how much you ultimately accomplish, putting great effort into developing your partnership with your dog can result in immeasurable reward, including one of the most profound bonds in your life.
macraeway.com

01/08/2024

Very good advice on training.

Trainers that make lots of corrections with young dogs, including not letting them be tight, fast, etc. often believe their dogs should “push through” even when their body language isn’t keen for the work, usually in an effort to accelerate the training.
The problem with this is, you cannot recreate initial enthusiasm. For some young dogs, the resentment for the phase of work that was forced upon them, stays with them and could have been avoided if the handler had changed their approach.

If you try to shape or push your young dog and he gets reluctant, sniffs, goes unusually wide, is master conscious, turns tail or comes back to you for reassurance, he’s telling you that you’re spoiling his enjoyment.
It’s his way of letting you know he’s not ready for the pressure you're applying or doesn’t understand your way of communicating—It’s not ever normal or acceptable that a dog should quit working.
Sometimes handlers mistakenly interpret this and blame their dog, rather than recognizing something about their training approach has a bullying mindset rather than a teaching mindset.

Watch your dogs body language and demeanor. If he’s not enjoying what he’s doing, he’s probably not ready for the next step and/or he needs you to revise your approach.
Once he is enthusiastic and confident, try the next step and make adjustments based on his response.

Take the time it takes, to be certain your dog fully understands and enjoys a new training concept before you set expectations or make the task difficult.
Patience is one of the best gifts you can give your young dog to empower his confidence and development.
macraeway.com

12/23/2023

This is Lola, Shetland Sheepdog puppy bred by me, at app 14 weeks old. Second time on sheep. I get away from sheep to let her fetch to me, her natural instinct.. I build up instinct for the first year before any pressure.

12/23/2023

Merry Christmas and happy new year!🎆

One of my favorites. ♥️🎀🐑🎄⛄

11/15/2023

✨🐾💪

09/30/2023

09/12/2023

Spartan driving, gotta walk…..

08/30/2023

Twins born this morning and Mable is just over a week old.

08/07/2023

Spartan, my sheltie, putting lambs across to other side of driveway (which isn’t fenced) one lamb had trouble keeping up. I had just worked them. This heat is hard on livestock.thankful for a good stock dog, 🥰

07/19/2023

Spartan working lambs and a few adults this morning. They weren’t wanting to move..

07/12/2023

Dry Creek Rip on outrun with only flank command and fetching to me because he knows to do that.. then he stands because I have sheep. Good boy!

06/14/2023

My 2.5 year old sheltie, Spartan, learning to “go look”, so I don’t have to walk far 😇

05/30/2023

Rams need greener pastures. DM please. The dad is white dorper, moms mix hair sheep.

05/14/2023

Spartan helping move lambs and ewes to grass for awhile.

05/05/2023

Grazing and resting

05/04/2023

Spartan driving sheep. He saw cows across the road and wondered “do I need to come over there?”

04/09/2023

Lambs learn quickly about the creep feeder, food just for them.
Patriot patiently convinced mom to go into pasture from yard.. my best girl! ❤️🤍💙

04/02/2023

Patriot gets the job done no matter what.. she can move stock 🥰

03/31/2023

Spartan just chilling with lambs while I tend to a ewe.

03/16/2023

Two day old triplets…

03/08/2023

I had a little training fun with Patriot today while putting up these two.. 😊 skills….

03/07/2023

Hoping for a new crop of lambs to raise and use for working dogs.. full moon tonight so hopefully soon.

02/16/2023

This is Dry Creek Rip driving.. he is a 1 year old Australian working kelpie. He works cattle, sheep and goats. Working on outruns, staying wider and driving. I really am enjoying working with him..

02/15/2023

A couple of pictures of Dry Creek Rip working.
Taken by Chelsea Crawford