Dogs have been our faithful companions throughout history, serving various purposes such as hunting, guarding, and herding. Herding has been an essential task for managing flocks of livestock, such as sheep or goats, and training a dog to herd can be a satisfying and rewarding experience. However, not every dog can learn how to herd, and it takes effort and patience to hone their skills. In this article, we provide invaluable tips on how to get your dog prepared and used to herding animals and take you through the five tips to train a dog to herd.
Tip #1: Learn Which Breeds Are Best for Herding
Some dog breeds are better suited for herding livestock than others. German Shepherds and Border Collies are two of the most well-known herding dogs, and they often show signs of herding at home, such as nipping at your heels or trying to guide children or smaller pets in your home. Another common sign is when they appear to circle around you or other animals. While nearly any dog with the stamina and intelligence to obey commands can learn to herd, it also depends on their personality. Some dogs don’t care for livestock or are too hyper to focus on the task. It’s advisable to consult your vet for more personalized advice on whether your dog is suited to herd.
Tip #2: Acclimate Your Dog to Livestock
Before you start any training, you need to acclimate your would-be herding dog to the animals they’ll be herding. This can be as simple as taking your daily walks nearby the animals you want to expose your dog to, but it gets more complex. Some dogs like to bark or act aggressively toward livestock, which can be hard to train out of them. Use lots of high-value treats to reward calm behavior. If your dog starts to bark or pull at the leash, firmly say “no” and wait for them to stop. As soon as they do, treat. Your goal is to get your dog to connect the dots between being good around livestock with being a good boy/girl.
Tip #3: Obedience Training
Basic obedience training for a herding dog should start early because it will be essential for learning herding commands later on. Commands like “come,” “stay,” “heel,” and “sit” are a good place to start. Once you’re confident in your dog’s ability to understand and obey, it’s time to ditch the leash. Herding dogs not only need to obey, but they need to obey while off the leash around animals. Herding breeds are better at sticking to where you want them to be, whether it’s out in the field, guiding livestock, or following at your side at a brisk jog.
Tip #4: Learning Essential Herding Commands
Leash your dog and get a few animals together for them to learn essential herding commands. A few chickens, sheep, or goats would work, but it depends on the animals you have to herd. Next, your dog needs to start learning herding commands. These can vary based on your preferences, but there are several common ones you can use with your dog, such as:
– Come-bye or bye: This means to circle clockwise around the herd in a C-shape.
– Away: This command instructs your dog to circle counterclockwise around the herd.
– Stand or stop: Self-explanatory command when you need to stop the herd.
– Steady: A warning for your dog to slow down their pace if animals are lagging behind.
– Get out or get back: Warning for your dog to put distance between them and the livestock.
– Look or look back: Tells your dog to look for a missing animal lagging behind the herd.
– Bark or speak: This tells your dog to bark at the animals, mostly used with slow, stubborn animals like cattle.
The commands to move in specific directions may take some time, but herding dogs usually catch on pretty fast. Use positive reinforcement methods to help your dog learn even faster and avoid punishments that will only make your dog scared or anxious.
Tip #5: Practice!
Herding dogs don’t learn overnight, and you have to ramp up the challenges they face progressively. Starting with remaining calm and guarding chickens is a good beginning point, while herding sheep or driving cattle would be later down the road. Consistency is key at this stage, and you can watch your dog’s confidence grow the more you teach them to herd. After they become confident with one job, you can start introducing more difficult tasks to dip their paws in. If your dog is still having issues at this stage, you may wish to consult with a vet or professional animal trainer with herding expertise. They’ll be able to observe your dog’s behavior and help work through the most problematic roadblocks you’re facing in training.
Conclusion
Training a dog to herd starts out with lots of socialization and obedience work, but you also have to consider a breed’s proclivity toward herding. Using positive reinforcement as your cornerstone and the tips above, we’re sure your dog can learn to herd with the best sheepdogs out there.
