Sheepdog commands explained

Today me and echo talk through and and demonstrate the commands used in herding to give everyone some more insight or help others to understand herding a little more as you watch

[@emlynn1004]

The best part about watching this fascinating video is how much Echo loves his job. He's really into it and you can tell he likes being an important part of the work.

[@AdventuresOfSpeckles]

no one loves their job as much as a border collie!

[@dorian4534]

Prefacing this with I'm autistic, I always say that Border Collies are, themselves, autistic, and their special interest is herding.

[@Bruunch]

I love Echo rolling on the grass in the background at 1:30

[@ChefMimsy]

And the dog seems SO HAPPY to follow the commands! That's some fine training... and a wonderful dog.

[@elsie900]

Oh boy! I get to run in the OTHER direction now!

[@michelleagnew2864]

It always amazes me how these dogs are like an extension of the shepherds hands and arms. They’re so efficient. And they love working.

[@Onthefritz777]

So fascinating to watch!

[@Onthefritz777]

That’s why they tell you not to get one of these beautiful, super intelligent dogs as your lapdogs in an apartment! They need to work!

[@avae5343]

Literally the world’s most intelligent dog.

[@Christina-ge3xr]

I’m amazed by Echo’s speed! He just flies 🪽🪽🪽

[@donnacbrown83]

Thank you Sean for the lesson on commands. Merry Christmas to you and your family including your precious dogs.

[@JDignum]

And Happy New Year now too.

[@sherryseeton6749]

Beautifully responsive dog.❤ I'm so envious of handlers who use that infernal little whistle. It looks so easy, but I wore out my mouth trying to master it and finally admitted defeat. I felt like I was embarrassing my dog with my spluttering and spitting.☹️

[@quackslikeaduck]

😂

[@amystarke3317]

Watching Echo rolling in the grass says he's not just a working dog, he's a playing dog too!

[@alexandra2jerry]

Absolutely brilliant dog handling and let’s not forget the sheep. I could just hear them “ Oh here we go again Bessie, run to your right, now your left, I wish he’d make his mind up” 💕😂💕 Thank you as always, Alex in Florida

[@kimdahan9417]

I love that I stumbled onto your channel. I have Border Collies and herd with them " part time." I started almost 20 years ago. It is the most difficult thing I have ever done. I love the connection and partnership with my dogs. They have taught me so much. I am still blown away, and left speechless just being constantly amazed and humbled by them. My Kate turns 13 on January 2. The younger one, Cora is almost 4 yo. Thank you for your great videos. People need to see what these amaxing dogs were bred for. And yes, as you say, they love and live for their work.

[@lynfawcett221]

Shear poetry in motion. It is fantastic to see a dog who thoroughly enjoys what it's doing ❤ and is so well trained.

[@BBlair-if8tj]

Good pun! 😉

[@penelope8356]

My favourite command Sean is “that’ll do” 😂

[@katschs3965]

Thanks, Sean! I wish all dog owners would understand the importance of being able to stop and recall your dog. Too many people either never train their dogs properly or wait too late to start that training. My friend lost a beautiful black lab who would not come when called and was hit by a car. Proper training is a life essential for your dogs. Head scratches to all the pups and a happy Christmas to you and Stacey.

[@AEW0416]

This is so fascinating. Why do I half expect the sheep to lay down on command. 😂

[@6kat103]

I have 2 Australian Shepherd dogs. One is calm, the other is dying to herd anything and just loves any instructions, any job, any way to please ♥️ So inspiring to see Echo at work. Hope to learn bits from you to keep her from driving the neighbor horses nuts.

[@brutalfashion]

“That’ll do it.”…is THAT why the farmer says that in the movie Babe? HOLY COW. I connected the dots after 20+ years. Never knew that was a command! Wow. Mind blown.

[@dorothearussell304]

Exactly my first thought. I've been scrolling through the comment section far too long before finding someone mentioning 'That'll do, pig!' 😂😂

[@ashleystearns2486]

I always wondered if the commands were common to all herders. Thanks! I hope you, Stacey and the pups and sheep have a very happy Christmas. 🎄

[@vald4688]

These dogs are happy and so obedient. I could watch this all day.... amazing teamwork...

[@loriw2661]

The joy Echo has while doing what he loves is so cool!🐾❤️

[@DaveLife1]

I love the wind noise. It adds to the ambiance of the clouds and green fields.

[@JB-nk4qh]

Thanks for the descriptions -- fun video!

[@seanthesheepman5845]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@billiespencer9670]

Merry Christmas Sean and Stacey. It's educational and entertaining watching the dogs work. It's also fun to watch the family gatherings and rest time at home.

[@kitc1031]

You need to give your hair a command, "Lie down." I do feel a little lost with the whistle commands, but you did say the dogs like them. So I'm happy for that. It is so much fun watching your dogs act to your commands. I love it! Also, I was laughing at the sheep. Sometimes it looked like they were also following your command. Merry Christmas Sean, Stacy, all the animals and the subscribers.

[@seanthesheepman5845]

Thank you you too

[@sroberts605]

I was laughing too, imagining all the sheep lying down

[@clarissakirk1180]

@@sroberts605😂

[@6kat103]

I love your hair. Just saying.

[@KittenBowl1]

So nice to see a dog who is bred to do this just loving it! Amazing to see a working dog in action. He’s shining and loving what he does best!

[@cynthiabishop3836]

I had noticed that you sometimes say “that’ll do” when the dog isn’t finished working. I was confused by that, so I’m glad you explained it.

[@dawnfoster6530]

Echo is such a good boy. Sean's a good boy, too 😂

[@sharonammirati2042]

I have shown your videos to so many friends, they end up loving them as much as I do. Best Holiday wishes for you, Stacy, and awesome dogs❤ from California

[@donnabrowne2214]

I’m new to your channel, but I’ve trained dogs before, and I am amazed at your dogs’ abilities and the intensity with which they work. Thank you for the explanation of the commands. Merry Christmas to you and your family. ❤

[@christinae30]

I can hear the sheep thinking (if they could😄🤗): "we were here just some minutes ago, when will they decide where we shall be?" Lovely dog🤩

[@paulclaassen926]

Oh my gosh, your Echo has matured magnificently! He is so locked into your voice and has such enthusiasm for his work. I love watching your dogs work just like my Pa loved watching his Brittany Spaniels work hunting quail. Thanks for the great video, Sean. G-d's blessings on you and yours.

[@user-ek3sb8gu9p]

woohoo! New upload of the sheepman, and my favorite working pups on the internet.

[@christineplaton3048]

It's the brogue. That Ginger hair, a sweet wife and adorable dogs.

[@tjotts6802]

I was a police K9 handler and trainer in my younger days, and let me just say you are an amazing handler with amazing dogs!!

[@bonniedeibel1546]

Smartest dogs ever! Commands are always interesting! Amazing in every aspect! You can tell Eco loves his job.

[@christineramsey5572]

This is so interesting! It's not as complicated as is looks once you know what the commands mean. And the whistles being the same as the verbal commands was surprising. What a great trainer you must be!

[@sadhumannell2769]

Consistency is the key to training.🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@lynfawcett221]

I'm living in Australia now, and I would agree. You do sound Australian when you give the lie down command. Your demonstration of the basic commands is brilliant. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. ❤

[@JulieWallis1963]

I _think_ you'll find he sounds Scottish. As he is Scottish. Australians speak English. I am not trying to be goady or aggressive. Just bring honest. I do understand the truth does hurt sometimes.

[@brendawhite3958]

Thank you so much for this information. I appreciate you taking time to explain them to us “ newbies”! Love your channel and the dogs are awesome!👏 ❤

[@eleanorcurrie5969]

Great video Sean. Thanks for covering all the basic commands. It's just so interesting. Those sheep are gorgeous. Quite feisty wee souls too.

[@meganhubbell2215]

Thanks for explaining the whistle calls, too!

[@lauraansara5066]

Love, love, love all your videos! Thank you❤❤❤Michigan USA...blasted wind!!😅😅😅

[@belfast479]

Sean, Absolutely the best description of commands and whistles I have seen. Cape Cod owner of 2 BC's. All my best.

[@JJskiddy]

Give that beauty dog a huge hug and pat on head...he is so well behaved....Merry Christmas to all you and the doggies.....🎅🤶🐶🐶🐶🐶🌲

[@Infrawgnito]

It's such a thrill to watch the dogs work so well with your commands. They are incredible dog and I love watching your talent with call-outs. Keep up the amazing channel.

[@glowilk5377]

Merry Christmas and prosperous new year to you, to your family.

[@lisacepluch1152]

If only more people were as hard working as these dogs! Love your videos!

[@nancymcgee4776]

Have a wonderful Christmas Sean and Stacy and you beautiful fur babies! 🥂

[@iamtheheadcat]

Those sheep thinking "oh no, not this again" 😑

[@caseyslove]

Great explanation of commands and training. I enjoy your videos to witness how well your dogs respond and how talented a trainer you are. 🇨🇦

[@gabrielruizaraujo2714]

May the Shepherd of Shepherds bless you and your family, Sean!

[@user-og2dk8pu9d]

Все собаки хороши, в том числе беспородные, но бордер-колли - истинный бриллиант. Настоящие интеллектуалы :). Счастья и благополучия в новом году вам и вашим мохнатым друзьям.

[@pKbasten]

Thank you for teaching ME what is happening with your comma is relative to what you want the dog to do in relation to whee the sheep are/are going. I'll watch this a couple of times to put it in my brain!

[@user-ec1ks2nu2m]

Love love love your channel ! Echo just waiting for the next command while you are explaining to us common folks! Brings tears to my eyes. BTW, you have great hair 🙂

[@jennifersherman8838]

This is my 3rd video and it answered questions I had about communication and the whistle commands. I've wondered about the whistle commands for years. Thank you for the video and information. Jennifer San Francisco Bay area USA

[@paulatristan8189]

Watching you give Echo commands with your voice and certain tones plus using the whistle is amazing how intelligent your collies are !! This is wonderful I'm loving it 😃👍🏽🎉. I like watching all of your video's

[@archies5841]

Merry Christmas 🎅 to Sean, Stacey. Kate, storm and Echo. ❤ Enjoy your videos.

[@timothyjohnson1943]

What gets me is how the sheep seem to know where the dog is without ever looking back.

[@lisahenderson8823]

Thank you so much for teaching about these commands. The different whistle. Écho loves his job. All of them do. Thank you!

[@maggieekane7845]

Echo did a great job of following your commands, Sean. He has learned well. I love Echo. Such a great BC. 🥰👍❤️

[@krissieben1947]

Sean, you provide fascinating information about yourself and the dogs' job. I love watching your videos in San Diego!

[@elizabethnisotis334]

Love watching you with your pups❣️🐾❣️ Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄

[@seanthesheepman5845]

Thank you! You too!

[@jmvmike]

Thank you for taking the time to produce this. We had a beautiful border collie named Roxie. She was one of the smartest dogs I have ever known. We had to be cautious with her around our granddaughters. She thought they were sheep and would try to nip and herd the kids.

[@beckyworthen7136]

I love Sean's accent... Gorgeous sheep and beautiful dogs... Love them.

[@Joy-TX]

You brought back one of my favorites. Merry Christmas to everyone 🎄

[@cjp592]

I love your dogs. The best dogs on KZbin, for me. Many more of clips of your excellent dogs. Live long and prosper guys. 🖖🖖🖖🖖💕 Fan from 🇺🇸

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

I had a dog who I trained for one hour every single day for four months straight when I first got her. She loved learning new things. There came a time when once in a while I would think of the next command and she would execute it as I was still thinking it. I trained her to verbal as well as visual commands and I think she cued into my body language as well.

[@DinFL]

Hi Sean and Stacy! Happy holidays! Your tutorials are always so interesting. I love how this one ram nods his head down like he’s saying “good afternoon sir” 5:58. So cute.

[@jeanneharrison8120]

I love the sheep. Seems they liked performing, too!

[@christinewatson8550]

I just love watching the dogs work! I have a Chinook, but no sleds to pull in California. Hope to get to ancestral home Scotland, some day . Keep the videos comin'! Thanks

[@beatricepeter995]

😮Wow ans wow again😮Astunned is little said : what ancient knowledge and today's practice can do 😅😊Once upon a time someone told me the most suitable dog for me would be a BC as compatible with my character .I had three GSDS fully content as I was , they adapted well for long walks and returning to a small apartment house. Also rescued and placed many of their kind in time.Now watching your comprehensive basic teachings makes me dream of an open space where despite of the strong wind I would RECALL them , the most intelligent treasure B.C❤❤❤

[@dcptiv]

I saw your stuff in shorts. For 18yrs my best friend was Muttley a Kelpie X Dingo the colour of sand dunes in sunset. The energy he had & excitement for burning energy could never run out...even a day before his death from massive liver cancer he still wanted to go out. I had just finished security dog training the yr before I got him so I trained him in verbal & non verbal commands. He was my 1st dog & we went everywhere together & were only apart for 5 days in 18yrs. I would like to get another dog but I just can't.

[@margotskadberg1792]

Loved this Sean! It looked Echo was vibrating while he waited for you to begin 😂. This was so interesting. Do the sheep ever get so used to a dog that they ignore him?

[@marsh443]

👍 Gr8 job, beautiful animals & those pupster are lil workhorse' 👏

[@SamCyanide]

3:30 that was so awesome seeing how you work with your dog, really an awesome team, I can tell you guys get stuff done

[@evoxpop2088]

I think your black sheep herd knows your commands, too. 😊😂 love your happy and hard-working doggies🎉❤

[@letstalkcrypto532]

These dogs are so cool……they love it, I love watching this stuff.

[@lisacockrell4606]

❤ Thanks for the great explanation of the commands you use! 😊

[@seanthesheepman5845]

Glad it was helpful!

[@agfillion1]

God love him, Echo is a good boy and he loves to work. ❤ He’s a special pup😊

[@grabbagcrafting6004]

Thank you for showing a little about the training. It's so interesting and beautiful.

[@aj1654]

Thanks Sean… Merry Christmas to you and Stacey and lots of love to Kate, Monty, Storm, and Echo and all of your creatures ❤❤

[@brigittewengert-rothmaier6856]

Hi Sean, this is the best video about basic commands I found on KZbin! Thanks a lot and greetings from Germany!

[@shelleygreer915]

Wow, does it ever help a lot to think in terms of clockwise and counterclockwise instead of simply left and right -- what a difference that makes in my understanding! I feel like this information is automatically sinking into my psyche. This is amazing. Thank you.

[@bentelindstad5759]

Thanks for sharing I love to watch your beautiful dogs working with you:):)

[@joeabad5908]

I like your channel because of you and your dogs… love the team work

[@suehamblin9652]

Just amazing! Thanks for doing this video. I have trouble understanding the commands when I’m watching. Now I’ll know. I also noticed of course, that when your dog is herding the sheep toward you, his right and left are the opposite of what yours are, so your commands need to be for his position and not yours. Just brilliant! What an asset a dog like this is to a sheep farmer, not to mention a good friend and companion.

[@sherryseeton6749]

It helps to think of the space in front of the shepherd as a clock face, with the sheep in the center, and the shepherd at 6 o'clock. (Forget the left-right concept.) "Come by" command means 'circle the sheep in a clockwise direction'. "Away" command tells the dog to circle the sheep in a 'counter-clockwise' direction. That's where you start your herding education. That way, no matter where the dog and the shepherd are positioned, the directions don't change. Clockwise/counter-clockwise are always the same. Of course once you're comfortable with that, there's a whole lot more commands for you and the dog to master, for the various ways you want to maneuver your sheep. It's quite addictive and rewarding to work as a team with your dogs to control the sheep. Mind you, it can also go WRONG in an endless variety of ways, which is not rewarding in any sense. Patience is invaluable.

[@suehamblin9652]

Thanks for the reply. I’ll keep the clock in mind when I’m watching herding videos now.

[@hg-hn4bn]

these dogs got some benevolent life and family .

[@lyndabenner1634]

Just amazing, thanks. Merry Christmas to you and Stacey. Love and pets to the beautiful pups❤ Loved this

[@lisahess339]

Thank you for this. I've watched your past videos and never knew what the commands meant, now I do! Just subscribed.

[@marthaspence4167]

What beautiful dogs (who have a great life, it appears) and what a beautiful place you live in!! (I watch your videos once in a while on facebook.)

[@Profesorapenguin]

So beautiful! I love seeing your dogs work. ❤

[@fludrbywest3886]

Your dog and you are so amazing 🤩❣️❤ absolutely enjoy you working your sheep with your dog❣️You make it look so easy, and if of course it comes with experiance and training 😮😅❤

[@Hullj]

Amazing for as recent as the breed was developed. Thanks, Old Hemp!

[@carolmirci1233]

Thank you that was very informative love watching you work with the dogs

[@lindaj5492]

Windy hair! I wouldn’t be surprised if you find a few woolly hats arriving for you 😂

[@tree4408]

So sweet how the dogs just live for work to do!

[@teresawhoeatsoutalot9349]

Thank you for sharing your experience, your dogs & your family. Happy Holidays!

[@anaouzounian1557]

I love watching your dogs work. Thanks and Happy Christmas, Sean.

[@shannondimler4091]

Echo is doing so well! He is so strong as he runs! Thank you for your time showing us your amazing dogs! Merry Christmas!

[@maryjanen4871]

Love these amazing dogs ! Your partners and friends 😊❤

[@sarahlaslett3279]

Very intelligent and articulate young man

[@angelareimann6433]

That was terrific, thanks! Good to get the commands confirmed. Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy year ahead. Love the dogs 😊

[@karene.whalen8172]

Absolutely love all your videos! All the dogs are wonderful!