Fig. 31: The Border Collie uses a direct stare at sheep, known as "the eye", to intimidate while herding
Herding Dogs Genna Owen Applied Sciences Missouri State University
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
DICLAIMER
3
INTRODUCTION
4
BREEDS
5-20
WHICH PUP TO PICK?
21-27
NUTRITION
28-29
TRAINING DOGS TO HERD
30-31
REFERENCES
32-34
Disclaimer While there are various breeds of herding dogs, this technical report will focus on Border Collies as they are a commonly known herding breed and have various herding abilities. The livestock that will be focused on is cattle, because cattle and sheep shepherds frequently use Border Collies. While I did research each topic thoroughly, this information should not be a replacement for professional advice from breeders, veterinarians, nutritionists, dog trainers, etc.
Introduction Herding dogs were bred out of necessity to help farmers with livestock, mainly sheep and cattle. They are usually high energy, protective, and family oriented, Herding dogs are hard wired to herd, so if they are not working and well trained, they may be unruly. Having them compete in dog sports is a great way for them to have a job, expel energy, and become a well rounded dog (Herding Dogs). The herding dog program for the American Kennel Club (AKC) began June 13, 1989 and competitions include herding breeds, Rottweilers, and Samoyeds (History of Herding).
Breeds
Australian Cattle Dog Fig. 1: Australian Cattle Dog in field
Alert, intelligent, and courageous, the Australian Cattle dog is a hard worker who is loyal, protective of its owners, herd, and property. With a compact, symmetrical, muscular, and medium sized body, this high energy dog is great at herding cattle in open or confined areas. It has great agility, strength, and endurance (Herding Group).
Australian Shepherd Fig. 2: Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is a high energy, medium dog that has a loud personality, smarts, and great work ethic. With a solid but agile body, this breed is great at herding most types of livestock (Herding Group).
Bearded Collie Fig. 3: Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie is known for it’s long, flowing , shaggy coat and friendly, intelligent demeanor. This breed loves the outdoors, working, people, and herding most livestock (Herding Group).
Beauceron Fig. 4: Beeauceron
The Beauceron is a highly active and useful breed, but requires a job and training. They are a larger herding dog, but is still graceful (Herding Group).
Belgian Malinois Fig. 5: A Male Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a large, high energy herding dog. They are commonly used in military and the police force due to their loyalty, intelligence, and work ethic (Herding Group).
Belgian BelgianSheepdog Sheepdog Fig. 6: Belgian Sheepdog
The Belgian Sheepdog is a medium, high energy breed that is intelligent, serious, and a great watch dog. They are proportional, muscular, and agile breed (Herding Group).
Belgian Tervuren Fig. 7 : Belgian Tervuren
The Belgian Tervuren is a medium sized, high energy herding dog. They are watchful, smart, and not afraid of a fight. They are protective of their herd (Herding Group).
Bergamasco Fig. 8: Bergamasco
The Bergamasco is a larger, medium energy breed that is independent, but still loves people, and intelligent. Their coats contain three types of hair: weaved, matted, and long. Tis protects the dog from the environment and predators (Herding Group).
Berger Picard Fig. 9 : Berger Picard
The Berger Picard is a well mannered, loyal, and watchful breed. They are of medium size and energy and were made an official HERDING GROUP registed breed in 2016 (Herding Group).
Border Collie Fig. 10: Border Collie
The Border Collie is used for various livestock due to it’s agility, impressive intelligence, loving nature, high energy, and great work ethic. They are known as one of the top herding breeds (Herding Group).
Bouvier Des Flandres Fig. 11: Bouvier Des Flandres
The Bouvier Des Flandres is a larger, high energy, friendly herding breed. They are good with children and family, but wary f strangers. They are stubborn, so need a strong willed owner (Herding Group).
Briard Fig. 12: Briard
Briards are an intelligent, medium energy and sized breed. They are lively, confident, agile, and strong (Herding Group).
Canaan Dog Fig. 13: Canaan Dog
The Canaan Dog is a medium sized, medium energy dog that is alert, confident, and vigilant. They are protective over their territory, wary of strangers, but loving to their family (Herding Group).
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Fig. 14: A blue merle窶田olored Cardigan
Cardigan Welsh Corgis are intelligent, loving, and loyal. They are of medium energy and size. Cardigan Welsh Corgis are also great with children since they are even-tempered and outgoing (Herding Group).
Collie Fig. 15: Dog, Rough Collie
The beloved canine movie star Lassie, was a Collie. This breed is a large, medium energy dog that is family oriented, graceful, and proud (Herding Group).
Entlebucher Mountain Dog Fig. 16: Entlebucher Sennenhund
The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a happy, loyal, and intelligent breed. They are high energy and medium size. While gentle, they could be mistaken as aggressive due to their high confidence levels (Herding Group).
Finnish Lapphund Fig. 17: Finnish Lapphund
The Finnish Lapphund is a medium energy and sized herding breed. They are agile ,alert, and while wary of strangers, loving to their family. They are a more submissive breed (Herding Group).
German Shepherd Dog
Fig. 18: German Shepherd Dog
As common police dog, the German Shepherd Dog is confident, intelligent, and courageous. They are of large size and medium energy and the second most popular dog breed owned in America, behind Labradors (Herding Group).
Icelandic Sheepdog Fig. 19: Our Icelandic Sheepdog
The medium energy and medium sized Icelandic Sheepdog is playful, curious, and friendly (Herding Group).
Miniature American Shepherd
Fig. 20: Blue Merle Miniature American Shepherd in Grass
Having only been officially registered in 2016, the Miniature American Shepherd is a relatively new breed. It is high energy and of medium build. They are devoted to family and work, pleasant, and intelligent (Herding Group).
Norwegian Buhund Fig. 21: Norwegian Buhund
The Norwegian Buhund is a medium energy, medium sized herding breed who is confident, insightful, loving, and smart (Herding Group).
Old English Sheepdog Fig. 22: Old English Sheepdog Ch Bobbyclown's Dare for More, known as Pepsi. Topwinning oes in Norway 2006
The Old English Sheepdog a large, medium energy breed that is gentle, intelligent, an adaptable (Herding Group).
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Fig. 23: Welsh Corgi Pembroke
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a medium energy, medium sized breed with a loving but bold nature and intelligence (Herding Group).
Polish Lowland Sheepdog Fig. 24: A 3–months old male puppy
Medium in stature and energy, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is clever, independent, and loyal (Herding Group).
Puli Fig. 25: Puli "Ch Banhegyi Ancsa with Mornebrake" (Ancsa) owned by Mr and Mrs Fulton, at the City of Birmingham Championship Dog Show, 30th August 2003
Puli’s have a distinct dreadlocked coat. They are medium sized with medium energy, loyal, and smart, but they need a strong willed owner as they are stubborn (Herding Group).
Pyrenean Shepherd Fig. 26: A Pyrenean Shepherd in the Snow
The Pyrenean Shepherd is of medium stature and medium energy. They are trouble makers, happy, wary of strangers, and loving to family (Herding Group).
Shetland Sheepdog Fig. 27: Shetland Sheepdog - Pacarane Political Party owned by Mrs Laversuch.
The Shetland Sheepdog is medium sized with medium energy. They are intelligent, playful, and love people (Herding Group).
Spanish Water Dog Fig. 28: Spanish Water Dog in Tallinn duo CACIB, 17-18 Aug 2013
The Spanish Water Dog is a spunky, work oriented, friendly breed. They are of medium energy and size (Herding Group).
Swedish Vallhund Fig. 29: Swedish Vallhund
This high energy, medium sized breed loves people, intelligent, and watchful (Herding Group).
Which Pup to Pick?
Figure 30: L'élevage de Grimmauprès se situe en Belgique
The only way to know if a dog has what you are looking for is to buy an adult, pre-trained dog. But if you prefer adopting or buying a dog as a puppy to train as you wish, picking the right puppy from the litter can be difficult. Do you pick the one trying to jump on your shoulder? Or the one hiding in the corner? To make this decision easier, you must know what kind of dog you are looking for and how do determine which puppy has those qualities. A great way to find these pre-determined qualities is by referring to a puppy temperament test using the Volhard Technique (Sukovaty), These are usually done at around when the puppy turns six to eight weeks old since by that age, their temperament starts to become apparent (Sukovaty). The location, tester, and scorer should be unfamiliar to the puppy. Only one puppy should be tested at a time in a 10 foot square area. The puppies should be tested before they are fed, not tired, healthy, and not the day of or after a vaccination. The following charts are from Dr. Lacy Sukovaty’s Companion Animal Management 1 Canine Breeding Stock Selection Power point.
Test
Response
Score
SOCIAL ATTRACTION
Came readily, tail 1 up, jumped, bit at hands Came readily, tail 2 up, pawed, licked at hands Came readily, tail 3 up Came readily, tail 4 down Came hesitantly, tail down
5
Didn’t come at all 6 FOLLOWING
Followed readily, 1 tail up, got underfoot, bit at feet Followed readily, 2 tail up, got underfoot Followed readily, tail up
3
Followed readily, tail down
4
Followed hesitant- 5 ly, tail down Did not follow or went away
6
Test
Response
Score
RESTRAINT
Struggled fiercely, 1 flailed, bit Struggled fiercely, 2 flailed Settled, struggled, 3 settled with some eye contact
SOCIAL DOMINANCE
Struggled, then settled
4
No struggle
5
No struggle, strained to avoid eye contact
6
Jumped, pawed, bit, growled
1
Jumped, pawed
2
Cuddled up to 3 tester and tried to lick face Squirmed, licked at hands
4
Rolled over, licked 5 at hands Went away and stayed away
6
Test
Response
ELEVATION DOMINANCE
Struggled fiercely, 1 tried to bite Struggled fiercely
Score
2
Struggled, settled, 3 struggles, settled No struggle, relaxed
4
No struggle, body 5 stiff
RETREIVING
No struggle, frozen
6
Chased object, picked it up and ran away
1
Chased object, stood over it and did not return
2
Chased object, picked it up and returned with it to tester
3
Chased object and returned without it to tester
4
Started to chase object, lost interest
5
Does not chase object
6
Test
Response
Score
SOUND SENSITIVITY Listened, located 1 sound and ran toward it barking
SIGHT SENSITIVITY
Listened, located sound and walked slowly toward it
2
Listened, located sound and showed curiosity
3
Listened and located sound
4
Cringed, backed off and hid behind tester 5
5
Ignored sound and showed no curiosity
6
Looked, attacked 1 and bit object Looked and put 2 feet on object and put mouth on it Looked with curi- 3 osity and attempted to investigate, tail up Looked with curiosity, tail down
4
Ran away or hid behind tester
5
Hid behind tester
6
Test
Response
Score
STABILITY
Looked and ran 1 to the umbrella, mouthing or biting it Looked and 2 walked to the umbrella, smelling it cautiously Looked and went 3 to investigate Sat and looked, but did not move toward the umbrella
4
Showed little or no 5 interest
Ran away from the umbrella
6
For a herding dog, choosing the puppy with a score of mainly 2-4 in each category. Scores of one to two mean the puppy is dominant, bad with children, and hard to train. Scores of three to four are what family dogs range since they should be good with children, train well, and are energetic. Scores of five mean the puppy is shy and fearful. They would be poor herding dogs. A score of six means the puppy is independent, hard to train, hard to bond with, but would be great guard dogs (Sukovaty).
Nutrition
Each individual dog has a different dietary requirement. An older or obese dog requires a different diet than, say, a growing puppy. Border Collies are high energy and a herding breed. This means they require a high caloric diet containing high quality protein and fat (Healthy Diet for a Border Collie).
To maintain their weight, the activity level, age, weight, and health issues into consideration. Make sure the food is balanced, whether it is home or commercially made. The first few ingredients should be high quality, meat protein (Healthy Diet for a Border Collie).
If you choose to feed your dog a raw diet, consult a veterinarian and make sure the diet is nutritionally balanced and only use fresh ingredients. There is a high risk of contamination and malnutrition when using a raw diet.
For a working dog or one with high energy, a high calorie diet is needed. It must contain high quality protein and fat. A diet with 25% protein and 15% fat is suitable for a working Border Collie (Healthy Diet for a Border Collie).
If the Border Collie has health or weight issues, the diet may need to be tailored specifically to meet those needs. Weight loss formulas are high in fiber and therapeutic diets have added vitamins and minerals.
Some examples of working Border Collie commercial food diets are Taste of the Wild and Purina.
Training Dogs to Herd
After picking a suitable dog with “the gaze,” as in a strong and steady stare, the training begins (How to Train). With a puppy, start out by training them basic commands such as “come, down, and stay (How to Train).” After that, train them to go right and right on command (How to Train) Once they have a handle on those commands, start the dog with smaller livestock that cannot outrun them, challenge them, or ignore them, such as ducks or geese. If they are started off with livestock that is too challenging, it could scare the puppy and be counterproductive to the training exercises (Border Collie).
After a suitable amount of time, the livestock used should be more challenging to the dog so they can hone their herding skills (Border Collie).
Fig. 32: Border Collie
Once the dog is ready to meet cattle, round up a few cattle in a small pen. Once they are used to the cattle, lead the dog around the pen and reinforce the commands taught previously (How to Train). If the dog moves a certain way, reinforce that by telling them the command they did and praising them (How to Train). After enough time, this will become second nature and the dog will be able to work next to the handler on ranges.
Fig. 33: Border Collie (Vickie)
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References Т. (2013, August 17). Spanish Water Dog in Tallinn duo CACIB, 17-18 Aug 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2016, f rom https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spanish_Water_Dog_in_Tallinn_3.JPG (Originally pho tographed 2013, August 17) Ufleadh. Berger Picard Stacked. 4 Nov. 2011. Web. 5 May 2016. Urnes, H. (2007, January 28). Old English Sheepdog Ch Bobbyclown's Dare for More, known as Pepsi. Top winning oes in Norway 2006. Retrieved May 13, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Old_English_Sheepdog#/media/File:Old_english_sheepdog_Ch_Bobbyclown's_Dare_for_More.jpg Verlest- Loest, Cornelia. Bearded Collie Live. 8 Dec. 2009. Web. 5 May 2016. Vetulani, F. (2012, August 5). A 3- months old male puppy. Retrieved May 13, 2016, from https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Lowland_Sheepdog#/media/ File:Polish_Lowland_Sheepdog_puppy_Bruno_by_Vetulani.JPG