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From their experience as contract livestock handlers,
Sean and Evonne were able to see many different
types of livestock. Soon they realised that livestock handled well
as weaners made it a breeze to handle later in life, and this, they
believed, would be of enormous benefit to the industry.
Financially, dollars can be gained as well as the improved
relationship of handler and animal.
In 1996 they attended a Neil McDonald Working Dog
and Stockhandling school and with the help of Neil and others such
as Darren McAinch they began to develop the Black Dog Livestock
Education.
By nature cattle and sheep are reactive
animals as it is a means to their survival. The Black Dog Livestock
Education transforms these animals to become passive by activating
the “think mechanism” in the brain. How? Using many techniques,
but for the main, pressure, relief, reward and most importantly,
self control.
The Black Dog
Livestock Education employs a system in which purebred herding dogs,
rigorously trained from birth to perform at a high standard with
yard and paddock work. They are used as a tool to assist greatly in
the training procedure. This high standard performance produces
consistent results for the grazier. In some cases where a “feral
animal baiting program” has been used, Sean and Evonne have employed
staff to achieve similar results to the dogs, however in a bid to
keep costs at a minimum for the client, the dogs are best. After
receiving this training, livestock behave in a far more relaxed and
thoughtful manner in any given situation i.e. feedlot, cell graze or
sale-yard.
 Due
to family commitments, Evonne has now reduced her workload to local
contracts as time permits. To continue to produce high quality
results in this field Sean is now working co-operatively with Anita
Martin of Treadstone Training.
< Anita Martin educating cattle for Baz Luhrmann's film 'Australia'
These are the types of livestock education that forward thinking
producers in the industry have requested. Consider which of these
suits your enterprise.
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