Buying a going dog

Article by Lauren Vest

Moulding a working dog from an untrained pup into a fully trained and useful worker takes a lot of time and a lot of skill. Even with those things in place, not every promising pup will have what it takes to make it as a worker or to suit a particular job. Buying a dog that is already started or trained means you can see what you are getting, whether it will suit you and your job, and often take it straight to work.

However, buying a started or trained dog is very much buyer beware. The onus is on you to thoroughly vet the dog and whether it will suit what you are looking for. The wrong dog can cause a myriad of issues, from raised stress levels in stock and handler, through to stock injuries or escapes, as well as a lot of wasted time and money. It is well worth the time taken to do your due diligence to make sure you end up with the right dog for your needs.

Be honest about your own abilities

A good working dog does not just work on its own – It can only work as well as it is handled. Certain dogs suit certain handlers and vice versa. If you are a loud, assertive and quick-tempered handler, make sure you look for a dog who is very solid in temperament and can handle higher pressure situations without shutting down or getting stressed. If you do not have the skills or time to finish off a dogs training, look at dogs that are fully trained and experienced – you will still need to spend time bonding and ensuring obedience, but the rest of the hard work is done. If you are a gentler handler, look for a softer dog who is biddable and obedient. Often people say a dog will work better for a man or a woman, but it is usually about how the handler approaches training and bonding, versus the actual gender of the handler. If you are new to using working dogs, your best chance for success will be to buy an older, fully trained dog who can teach you as you go. It takes a lot of time to train a working dog, and those that have been trained properly are usually not cheap – so be clear on your budget and what you can expect for it.

Be clear about what you need the dog to do

Everybody’s work situation is different, and the right dog will make your job easier instead of harder. The broad considerations are things like sheep vs. cattle vs. goats, hill country vs. flat country, paddock work vs. yard work, hot climate vs. cold climate. There are a few elite dogs that can be excellent in nearly all situations, but they are not often sold, and if they are it is for a lot of money! Most dogs are more suited to one thing or another and may be passable in the rest. Other considerations come down to personal preference on work style. Do you want a dog who barks, or is silent? Do you want the dog to mostly bring sheep to you, or would you rather both be droving stock from behind? Do you have large numbers of stock that need a bit more force to move, or are you working flightier stock that need to be worked with finesse? Do you want a dog who is obedient and easy to work with, or a dog who is more independent and able to work under its own initiative? Do you want a dog who knows a stop and a go command, or fully educated with side commands and other commands? Do you need a big casting dog to muster large

areas? Do you need a short coated dog so it doesn’t attract burrs? Do you need a dog who can back sheep in the yards? Do you need a dog who will bite cattle or a dog who never bites? Do you have any ambitions to trial?

Those who only have one dog will often need a better quality allrounder to be useful in most situations. Many people have a team of dogs with different strengths, so they are covered in all their varying jobs. Injury can easily sideline a dog and leave you short, and busy times will often necessitate rotating dogs to manage fatigue or heat stress.

Make your own judgement on the dog

Do not ever take anybody’s word on a dog’s abilities. Most people are not trying to scam anyone, but everyone has a vastly different idea of what makes a good dog. One person’s champion is the next person’s cull. If you want to make sure you end up with a dog that will suit you, it is particularly important to see the dog working for yourself. In person is best, video a poor second. If you are clear about what you want the dog to do, you can ask to see the dog working in situations as similar as possible. If you want a dog for cattle, see it on cattle, and vice versa for other jobs. If you value obedience, make sure to see how it responds to commands. If you value particular attributes like cover, walk up strength or bite, make sure you check that the dog has these. If you are restricted to video, try and get unedited video of the dog doing a real job – a myriad of faults can be hidden or managed by using quiet sheep and editing video! Ask as many questions as you can think of. Make sure you judge the dog in front of you and do not rely too much on its breeding. Bloodlines give some idea of potential in a younger dog before it has been tested, but plenty of dogs are champions on paper and fall short when tested at real work.

Thoroughly check the health of the dog

If you want a dog to have a long working life, they need to be healthy. Make sure the dog is bright and energetic with no visible signs of pain or illness, paying particular attention to their gait. Body condition should be neither overweight nor too thin. They are athletes and should be muscled and built like one. Check their teeth and look over their feet. Check the vaccination, worming and flea/tick prevention history with the owner. Things you cannot see but should definitely check are genetic diseases. There are several diseases common in Australian working dogs – thankfully the most common ones can be tested for. In Border Collies ask if they have been tested for CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly), TNS (Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome) and CA (Cerebellar Abiotrophy) as a minimum. In Kelpies, ask if they have been tested for CA. These are all diseases that can impact a dogs working life if they are present. There are other diseases to test for if you plan to breed. Not all dogs have been tested – if that is the case, you can test the dog yourself or take the risk. Other health issues like hip dysplasia, heart murmurs, hearing issues and vision issues are all things to keep an eye out for. A vet check before or soon after purchase is never a bad idea.

Auction vs. Private Sale

You also need to think about how you want to buy. A dog auction can be a great way to look at several dogs in one place and have contingencies in place if your first choice goes over budget. Generally, prices will be higher at an auction compared to private sale. Many auction vendors are happy to show you the dog before the auction if you get in touch, though of course you run the risk of being outbid on the day! Private sale dogs are generally more affordable but require much more time and travel if you want to view multiple dogs. There is no pressure of an auction and you have much more time to view and consider the dog.

Once you get the dog home

Once you have found your new dog and brought it home, don’t expect to take it straight to work. Some dogs will take a significant amount of time to bond with their new owner. Be wary of letting it loose before it has bonded – many dogs have been lost looking for their old owner. Keep in mind that the dog will not work for you the same as it did for its previous owner – your commands, body language and personality will all be quite different. It can take time for you to both get used to each other – even more so if you want to change the commands used. Make sure you have safe and secure housing for the dog and check what it was used to at its old home. If you run into any issues, the first port of call should be the previous owner. Buying a working dog can be risky, but if you are honest with yourself and the seller and do your homework, you should end up with a dog who will make your life easier for years to come.