In my blog 48 How many dogs are to many ( https://theworkingstockdog.wordpress.com/2017/07/13/48-how-many-dogs-are-to-many/), perhaps it should have been titled “How many dogs are enough”. My rule states 3 dogs: 1. Main working dog, 2. dog in training, 3. pup (dog ready to start or started). This of course all depends on the size of the operation.
The following photo is a practical example of this process:
Here are 3 dogs working a group of heifers. My former main dog (Jim), the one in the middle, keeps even pressure from the back. The dog to his right, Wage (now my number 1 dog) looks after the open flank. The young dog to the left, Smoke, looks at the closed flank (fence line).
It was very easy training the dogs to cover there responsibility. The only commands given in this case was a stop (preventing the dogs going to far up the flank), and the recall to get them back to the back of the herd. For the most part the dogs now operate on auto pilot. The only time they get commands is when I’m turning the herd.
Feel free to ask questions or make comments.
theworkingstockdog 