Resources

Herding / Stockdogs

Herding dogs have existed among people since the domestication of livestock. It appears that dogs made the transition from hunting to herding about the same time in history. It is not hard to imagine how two species, both needing to hunt cooperatively in groups, could have come into contact in such a way that they found one another useful allies. Both humans and canines have unique abilities that may easily have benefited one another, such as the human's ability to plan and think ahead combined with the canine's ability to run and outmaneuver prey.

A well-trained herding dog is among the most disciplined of all working dogs. An Australian Cattle Dog driving steers across the wide-open plains, a Kelpie jumping over the backs of tightly packed sheep in a chute to get them moving again, or a Border Collie rounding up a flock of ducks at a show are impressive sights, graceful, single-minded, and in complete control.

Herding dogs need jobs to do or they will become anxious and unhappy. When acquired as companions, herding dogs require skilled owners who understand how to draw out their best traits and satisfy their herding instincts. When acquired as true stockdogs for the farm or ranch or as competitive trial dogs, they require careful and consistent training.

Put a working dog in charge of a flock of sheep set out to pasture, have him drive a herd of cattle into pens, or let him excel at competitive events. Herding I, II and III provides tips for selecting a puppy, and delves deeply into the training necessary to prepare a dog for trial competitions or herding in the real world.

In addition, working with stockdogs can be useful and extremely satisfying. However without proper training they can be frustrating. The dog needs to be able to outmaneuver and rate livestock. In order to teach these skills the trainer needs stock savvy to have an understanding of the animals - sheep, cattle, ducks, geese, goats, reindeer or turkeys - the way they think and move. It is important to keep in mind, no two dogs are alike. Each trainer must be flexible and willing to adapt or modify the teaching process to the individual dog's unique ability in order to develop him to his highest potential. The techniques described in Herding I, Herding II and Herding III as well as Stockdog Savvy, the companion book are based on a lifetime of practical experiences. It was written to educate and equip owners with the knowledge and skills necessary to maximize their dog's natural talent on different types of stock. The book outlines a methodology - teaching herding skills through play training to working ranch dogs in the real world - for working successfully with all breeds of herding dogs.

Herding breeds from around the world: