Farmers cross country for training tips from ABC Muster Dogs expert

Ann-Estelle Zimmerman never expected a trip to Australia would spark a profound passion for dogs and change the course of her life.The German national moved to the country seven years ago without a lick of English, but when she started working with cattle and dogs, a deep love of the land blossomed within her."It's a weird feeling of freedom," she said."The ability to teach your dog right and to then see the dog working cattle or any livestock correctly, just makes you proud.Ann-Estelle Zimmerman says she loves getting up in the quiet mornings surrounded by cattle and her dogs. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)"I have a very close bond [with the dogs] and I find it really important they love me and stay with me, and I love them and give them everything I can," she said.Muster Dogs trainer comes to townWhen Ms Zimmerman heard one of the head trainers from the ABC's Muster Dogs TV series, Neil McDonald, was running a livestock school at Condobolin in Central West NSW, she was always going to be there."Muster Dogs is obviously a huge thing," she said.Neil McDonald (left) using a pool noodle to direct the dogs around the sheep. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)"When you see [him] on Muster Dogs you feel like it's a person you won't reach and you'll never meet [because] it's like a celebrity."And then you meet here at 7 o'clock in the morning and everyone, we are all the same, we all started somewhere."Dozens of dogs, from puppies to seniors, were brought along for the week of training. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)Waitlist for dog knowledgeCondobolin and Districts Landcare coordinator, Tasha Hurley, said the school of 25 booked out so quickly a waitlist of more than 10 others formed.Livestock handlers from across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland travelled to Condobolin for Neil McDonald's school. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)She received inquiries from as far afield as Phillip Island in Victoria, rural South Australia and northern Queensland.Ms Hurley said it was satisfying to watch landholders grow in their confidence and understanding of managing their livestock and themselves."It's a bit of a little life school secretly hidden under a dog school," she said."It's very fun to see even the tough blokes that think they know everything. Even they have a crack and have a laugh with Neil, and can admit what they were doing might not be the most efficient way."Tasha Hurley says the waitlist for the dog school included handlers from as far away as Phillip Island in Victoria. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)Expert's tips for successNeil McDonald said one of the key lessons he taught livestock handlers was to go back to the basics."[People] go out like an echidna that's touched an electric fence," he said."It's nerves and panic and anxiety and all the stuff that they don't need to be exhibiting.Neil McDonald says slapping the ground with a pool noodle can help "spook" the dog back into putting its attention on the owner rather than being fixated on the sheep. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)"If the dog's chasing sheep into a fence and everything's looking a bit wild and wonderful, just get the person to slow down, drop their shoulders, walk nice and calmly, then all of a sudden the whole situation changes."Mr McDonald said mastering a dog's recall was a key to success, along with teaching them to walk on a lead correctly."Even today, there were some very accomplished dogs that won't come when they're called," he said.The Blue spray-painted glasses show which sheep is the leader of the flock that will direct where the rest of the mob goes. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)"You watch people in the city … they're not walking their dog, the dog's walking them."Mr McDonald said people needed to act when their dog was walking ahead of them on a tight lead."What you've got to do is flick or do a sudden jerk on the lead rope so the dog looks at you," he said."The minute it looks at you, you've got to take the pressure off the rope so that the dog feels pressure when it's not paying attention and relief when it does."The livestock handlers took turns applying what they had learnt in the sheep pen. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)Mr McDonald said owners needed to reward their dog for focusing on them in other ways too."Pat a dog nicely on the head if it's looking at you, if it stops looking at you, you stop patting it," he said."Patting a dog when it's not looking at [you] is rewarding it for not paying attention."Lessons learntCondobolin property manager Jarrod Roberts said he would return to the basics with his dog Millie.Jarrod Roberts says he will work on his relationship with Millie (brown face) by going back to the basics. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)"Walking [her] on a lead, listening, general behaviour things," he said."Her ears aren't really turned on."Meanwhile Ms Zimmerman said some of her lessons were more personal."I always doubt myself and then I give up instead of just keeping on going," she said."Be patient and give the dog the time and have the bonding."The majority of the dogs the handlers brought along to the school were kelpies. (ABC News: Lani Oataway)