Is my vertical jump good for my age?

Good age to teach kelpie pup to jump on the back of a ute?

• I have a kelpie pup, and he's my first working dog, he's very clever. He's nearly five months and knows all the basic commands, soon we will be working with cattle, I'm hoping! He's been on the back of a ute in a dog cage twice, he was absolutely fine. I wanna teach him to jump up the back of my ute. Is five months too young/little? Should I use a hay bale or somethig as a stepping tool while he's little? Thanks! :)

• Answer:

  Hi Mikayla - Great question! Kelpies have to be a bit protected from themselves as I am sure your pup is more than eager to do EVERYTHING and then some. Your gut instinct here is good - give a bit of a boost for now. And cage him in the back (cage well tied down). By about 10-11 months his long bone growth will end and hopping in and out of your truck should be no issue at all. Of course, this is theory. He may well start sailing up, into and over everything well before that. Doing what kelpies do and do so well! Hope this is helpful for you - Sarah Wilson