Dog triallist Chris Shaw and Miley, the 10-month-old Huntaway pup he's bred and is training to be a working dog. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life
When it comes to training dogs, there's no point rushing the process. With almost 20 years of experience under his belt, award-winning Wairarapa dog triallist Chris Shaw knows that all too well.
That's the approach he's applying with Miley, the 10-month-old Huntaway pup he's bred and is now training up to become part of his team of working dogs.
"A lot of things that happen with training dogs, it's not actually the dog's fault, it's the owner failing to read the animal," he told Country Life. "The dog will let you know that it's ready."
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At 10 months old Miley (left) still has some growing to before she'll be the same size as her big sister Duchess (right) or even heading dog Ghost. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life
Miley has graduated to a "big girl collar" and almost doubled in size since we first met her and Shaw in July - but judging by her yet-to-fill-out paws, and older sister Duchess, she's got a bit more growing to go yet.
Like people, pups go through different development stages. Miley's at the intermediate stage.
"They like to test the boundaries and can get a bit unruly, a bit naughty.
"She went from being quite a calm-natured animal to now being ... quite full on and toey. She's still user friendly but at the moment the ears aren't really that well painted on."
It's nothing he can't correct with training though and Shaw said it doesn't matter if you sometimes take backwards steps. Her training has been a matter of "slow and steady".
Miley's training sessions have increased has her confidence has grown and today she's in a paddock with a new mob of sheep. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life
During the winter months, it's been hard to find time for training with daylight hours scarce and Shaw busy on farm with calving and lambing. It's been a good chance for him to improve his bond with Miley though - the foundation to training any dog.
Joining Shaw on farm, Miley has learned how to jump on and off the farm bike and learned she will sometimes be tied up on the fence with the other dogs.
Her more formal training sessions, practicing her 'face up' and working with stock in the yards, has increased in duration from a few short minutes to longer 15 to 20 minute sessions. It's a process that Shaw is mindful not to rush though.
"The excited part of me wants to crack into her but then the 'been there done that' side of me knows she's not quite mentally capable of the pressure I'm about to put on her."
He said a little bit of reassurance can go a long way.
Being a working dog breed, Shaw uses Miley's genetic traits and inherent desire to work with sheep to his advantage.
"When I'm working my dogs, if they're misbehaving rather than getting a bit unruly and giving them a fair twack around the ears, I just call them back and someone else does their job. That to me hurts them more than physical punishment."
It's also important to identify when a bad habit has been formed.
A little bit of reassurance goes a long way when it comes to dog training. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life
Miley seems to get a bit confused when Shaw tries to move from side to side while working on her 'face up' - getting Miley to look away from him towards the stock. It means he'll have to go back to square one for a bit.
Her 'noise' is also not quite where he wants it to be. Huntaways don't like stock getting away and their bark tends to be strongest the closer they are to the stock. It can get "squeakier" as they move further away.
That being said, Miley's bark has improved and has a lot "more depth and weight to it" compared to a few months ago.
He expects she'll make even more progress over the coming summer months.
"The next three months will probably be the months where you notice the most difference."
Chris expects Miley to make a lot of progress over the next few months. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life
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