STUDENTS at a college near York are taking part in a new course to learn the traditional skill of sheepdog training.

The weekly sessions at Askham Bryan College are believed to be the first in the region, and are run with the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) to give students chance to develop their skills in what some see as an old fashioned pastime.

Students already taking part have come from both farming and non-farming backgrounds, on courses ranging from animal management, gamekeeping and agriculture, and further sessions are planned for later in the year.

Catherine Dixon, the college’s chief executive said: “As well as being fun, it teaches important transferable skills such as good communication, the ability to assess a situation quickly and react effectively, which will stand them in good stead wherever their future careers lie.”

Among the eight students who have already taken part in the course is 19-year-old Tom Harrison of Easingwold, who is studying gamekeeping.

He said: “A well trained dog makes such a difference to what you can achieve when you’re moving stock around. I’m currently working on a sheep farm and have my own dog, Meg. Our working relationship has come on tremendously; she really enjoys learning and I’ve learnt such a lot too, it’s really inspired me. So much so that ultimately I’d love to train gundogs and sheep dogs myself.”

Trainer and ISDS member Jack Goulder, from Pickering, said: "Technology is certainly important on farms but using sheepdogs to manage stock is just as effective and relevant as it was a hundred years ago. A well trained dog makes everything so much easier. It’s all about communication, anticipating how a situation is going to develop, managing it effectively, being focused on the task in hand, and developing that all-important relationship with your right hand ‘colleague’ - in this case, your dog.”