She Looks Ready… But She’s Not — Why Patience Builds Better Stock Dogs
At just eight months old, my Border Collie, Kayta, looks every bit the part of a young herding dog — alert, quick reflexes, and strong focus on the sheep. But during her first introduction to livestock, I quickly realized something: eagerness doesn’t equal readiness.
This session was an important reminder that in stock dog training, patience isn’t optional — it’s essential.
What Immaturity Looks Like in a Young Stock Dog
When we talk about “readiness,” it’s not just about drive or instinct. It’s about emotional control and mental maturity.
Here’s what I noticed in Kayta during her first training session:
Tail held high (sign of excitement and tension)
Tight, tense posture
“Crazy eyes” — locked-on, overstimulated focus
Flying straight in at the stock instead of thinking through her approach
These are all signs of a dog that’s over-aroused — not yet mentally ready to process what the sheep are doing, or how her own movement affects them.
Why Starting Too Early Can Backfire
Many handlers are tempted to start a keen young dog early because that drive looks promising. But the truth is, starting too soon can create lasting bad habits that are hard to fix later.
Puppies that learn to chase instead of think, or to push instead of read stock, often grow into tense, reactive workers.
That’s why it’s so important to wait — to let the dog mature both physically and mentally.
As hard as it is, patience now leads to calm, confident, and thoughtful work later.
Watch: Kayta’s First Herding Session
In this video, you’ll see Kayta’s first experience around sheep and the lessons that came out of it.
If you’re raising or training a young herding dog, this video will help you recognize when your dog isn’t ready yet — and what to do instead.
Follow Kayta’s Journey
Kayta’s just getting started, and every step teaches something new.
If you’d like to follow her journey from eager puppy to calm, confident stock dog, subscribe to my YouTube channel and join our growing community of trainers and working dog enthusiasts.
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