5 Best Herding Dog Training Dvds For Backyard Flocks

That new Border Collie pup running frantic, joyful circles around your small flock of chickens isn’t helping, is he? You bought a herding dog to bring order to your little homestead, not to terrorize the livestock. A good training DVD is one of the best investments you can make to channel that incredible instinct into useful, controlled work. It’s about choosing a method that fits your dog, your flock, and your property.

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Stockdog Savvy: A Comprehensive Training Method

This type of DVD presents a highly structured, step-by-step program. The core philosophy is building a rock-solid foundation of obedience and control before the dog ever sets foot in a pen with livestock. Think of it as teaching a language of pressure and release on a leash, long before the excitement of moving animals is introduced.

This approach is perfect for handlers who appreciate a clear, linear progression. It’s especially valuable for high-drive dogs that could easily become overwhelmed or pushy without a strong "off switch." The system is designed to put the handler in the driver’s seat, ensuring the dog looks to you for direction instead of making its own chaotic decisions.

The main tradeoff is patience. You might spend weeks doing "dry work" in a field without a sheep in sight, which can feel slow when you’re eager to get started. But this discipline is what creates a safe, reliable partner later. It prevents the formation of bad habits—like chasing or gripping—that are incredibly difficult to untrain.

The Natural Way: Instinct-Based Techniques

In contrast, an instinct-based DVD focuses on shaping the dog’s natural talent from the very beginning. The training starts with livestock, teaching the handler how to read the dog and the stock simultaneously. The goal is to become a facilitator, guiding the dog’s innate drive rather than imposing a rigid set of commands from the outset.

This method is a fantastic fit for dogs with a lot of natural "feel" for stock and for handlers who are intuitive and observant. It fosters a fluid partnership where the dog learns to make subtle adjustments on its own. The training feels more like a dance than a drill session, which many people find more rewarding.

The risk, however, is significant for a novice. Without a firm understanding of how to apply and release pressure, a handler can inadvertently reward the wrong behaviors. A dog that is allowed to chase or split the flock, even once, can learn a bad habit for life. This method requires the handler to be a dedicated student of animal behavior, learning just as much as the dog.

Herding 101: Bob Vest’s Foundation Skills

Bob Vest’s training DVDs are legendary for a reason: they are clear, practical, and relentlessly focused on the fundamentals. His system emphasizes teaching the core components of a successful gather: the outrun (circling out to get behind the stock), the lift (approaching the stock calmly to get them moving), and the fetch (bringing them to the handler).

These skills are not just for big-pasture trial dogs. For a backyard flock, this foundation is gold. It’s the difference between your dog scattering your ducks all over the yard versus calmly gathering them and walking them into their nightly coop. It’s about teaching the dog to move animals from point A to point B with minimal stress.

Much of the initial training is done in a round pen. This controlled environment is a key feature, as it limits the variables and helps the dog focus on the handler and the stock. For a hobby farmer with a small, potentially flighty flock and limited space, the safety and control offered by the round pen method is a massive advantage.

A Pup’s First Flock: Gentle Introduction DVD

This category of DVD is less about formal training and more about creating positive first impressions. The entire focus is on introducing a young dog to livestock in a way that builds confidence and curiosity, not fear or aggression. It’s about setting the stage for a lifetime of good work.

You won’t see complex flanking commands here. Instead, the lessons cover how to properly use a long line for control, how to encourage the pup to "read" the stock from a distance, and how to spot the earliest signs of stress. It teaches the handler to be a calm, confident leader during these critical first encounters.

The most important lesson from these DVDs is patience. Rushing a young dog or putting it in a situation it can’t handle can create deep-seated issues like fear-biting or a complete lack of interest in working. This DVD is a crucial investment in preventing problems, not just fixing them. A good foundation is always built on positive, controlled interactions.

Urban Herding: Small Space Stockdog Training

Not everyone has 40 acres, and this training philosophy acknowledges that reality. These DVDs adapt classical herding principles for the tight quarters of a typical hobby farm. The focus shifts from long-distance outruns to precise, close-quarters work.

The techniques taught are immediately applicable to daily chores. You’ll learn how to teach your dog to hold a few sheep against a fence while you administer medication, or to gently push a small group of geese through a narrow gate. It’s about control, finesse, and making the dog a useful partner in a small space.

This approach proves that a herding dog can be an invaluable asset even on a single acre. It’s not about the size of your pasture, but the quality of the partnership you build with your dog. These DVDs empower small-scale farmers to use their dog’s talents for practical, everyday tasks.

Key Qualities in an Effective Herding DVD

The single most important quality is clarity. The instructor must break down complex actions into simple, repeatable steps. Look for high-quality video where you can clearly see the handler’s body language, the dog’s position, and the stock’s reaction all in one shot.

An effective DVD should include more than just successful runs. Look for these key elements:

• Problem-solving sections: What do you do when the dog refuses to "lie down" or keeps cutting in too close?
• Logical progression: The lessons should build on each other, moving from basic leash work to more complex tasks.
• A focus on stockmanship: The best trainers teach you how to read your animals’ behavior, not just how to command your dog.
• Multiple dog examples: Seeing the techniques applied to dogs with different temperaments and levels of training is incredibly insightful.

Don’t be mesmerized by championship trial runs. The most valuable content is often the slow, repetitive foundation work. The quality of a training DVD is measured by how well it teaches the boring stuff, because that’s where a reliable working dog is truly built.

Essential Commands Taught in Top Training DVDs

Herding commands are a specialized language for directing a dog at a distance. They are less about obedience and more about giving navigational cues. Understanding the core vocabulary is the first step.

The fundamental commands form the basis of all herding work. While trainers may use slightly different words, the functions are universal:

• "Come-bye" / "Away to me": These are your steering wheel, telling the dog to circle the flock clockwise or counter-clockwise.
• "Walk up" / "Walk on": This is your accelerator, asking the dog to move straight in toward the stock to create forward motion.
• "Lie down" / "Stand": This is your brake. A solid, instantaneous "lie down" is the most critical safety command you have.
• "That’ll do": This is the "off" switch, telling the dog the job is done and to come back to you.

Of all these, the "lie down" is non-negotiable. A dog that will stop on a dime, no matter how excited, is a safe dog. It gives you, the handler, time to think and gives the livestock a moment to calm down. It is the difference between controlled work and utter chaos.

Applying DVD Lessons to Your Backyard Flock

The first thing to accept is that your flock is not the calm, "dog-broke" flock on the DVD. Your skittish chickens, stubborn goats, or flighty sheep will provide a much more chaotic and unpredictable training environment. This is normal.

Start small and short. Use a small, securely fenced area where the animals can’t bolt. Your first sessions might only last three to five minutes before the dog or the stock gets stressed. Your goal is to end every session on a positive note, making small bits of progress over time.

Use the DVD as a blueprint, not a bible. The real skill of stockmanship is learning to adapt the principles on the screen to the living, breathing animals in front of you. Pay more attention to your dog and your stock than to the video. The DVD gives you the tools; it’s your job to learn how and when to use them in your own unique situation.

A training DVD is an invaluable map for channeling your dog’s herding instinct into a productive partnership. But remember, it’s just a map. True success comes from combining that knowledge with patience, keen observation, and a deep understanding of your own animals.