One thing I watch for with young dogs is when they start circling the sheep over and over.

It's probably the most common problem I see when teaching clinics. No matter where I am, there are always a few young dogs that get into the habit of circling instead of learning how to move the sheep with purpose.

It's a normal stage, so I don't panic when I see it. But I also don't want to let it become the dog's default.

If a young dog spends every training session circling, they're practising circling. Before long, that's what they think the job is.

What I really want is a dog that's starting to think about moving the sheep with purpose rather than around in circles.

In my latest training session with Gael, this is exactly what we're working on.

As she moves from the round pen into a larger area, she has more room to make decisions. That's often when these habits start to show themselves. It's also when I can start helping her understand that there's a better answer than simply running circles around the sheep.

One of the exercises I use is what I call the Half-Circle Method. The goal isn't to stop the dog's movement. The goal is to help them leave the circle, find a better position, and begin influencing the sheep instead of simply chasing them around.

I've found over the years that it's much easier to shape this while a dog is young than to spend months trying to undo the habit later.

Every young dog makes mistakes. That's part of learning. The important part is recognizing which behaviours they'll grow out of on their own... and which ones need a little guidance before they become habits.

Watch the Full Video

If you've ever watched your young dog go round and round the sheep and wondered, "Should I let this continue?" this video is for you.

I walk through the exercise with Gael, explain why circling happens, and show you how I begin changing the picture before it becomes an established habit.

🎥 Watch the full video here:

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