HERDING101Presentati on

HERDING 101: 

HERDING 101 Presented by: Mary Dowski, Carol Lundquist, DVM, Nancy Melone, Ph.D. & Claire Coppola

Purpose of Herding: 

Purpose of Herding Moving livestock from farm to pasture, pasture to meadows, etc. Assist the farmer with keeping livestock “grouped” for vaccinations, worming, trimming, loading to trailer, etc. “…to move stock efficiently, calmly and quietly from one point to another…” (Taggart, M. Sheepdog Training: An All-Breed Approach. USA.1986. p1.)

Kinds of Livestock : 

Kinds of Livestock Cattle Sheep Ducks Goats Turkeys

What is Herding Instinct?: 

What is Herding Instinct? “Herding Instinct” is the desire of the dog to do “something” with livestock Gathering dogs like the Border Collie, Australian Kelpie, Collie, English Shepherd Rottweiler, etc., bring livestock towards the handler Driving dogs like the Corgi, Briard, Australian Shepherd, etc., push or drive stock away from the handler As a “Drover’s Dog”, the Bernese Mountain Dog was a “jack of all trades”. Vergil Holland describes the BMD as a herding dog: “They may lack intensity, resulting in a lack of sustained interest in working stock. They seldom, if ever, grip and must be handled with great enthusiasm in order to encourage sustained interest”. (Herding Dogs: Progressive Training)

Why Herd?: 

Why Herd? Disciplined with verbal and positional signals; hand signals Partnership between handler and dog Useful and transferable to other activities Fun and enjoyed by the dogs who harness the instinct; perhaps suppressed for hundreds of years Meets BMDCA Working Dog and Working Dog Excellent Awards criteria

Bernese Mountain Dogs and Herding: 

Bernese Mountain Dogs and Herding General purpose farm dog Berner Sennenhund means “Bernese Alpine Herdsman’s Dog” Accompanied Drovers (people who were hired to take the cattle to the alpine meadows and Alps) Margret Baertschi states, “To understand Bernese, we must consider that they have in their genes both packets: that of a sennenhund (a small, lively cattle driver) and that of a stately, calm, and watchful farm dog, who is the king of his estate.” (2000)

What does a Bernese Mtn. Dog look like herding?: 

What does a Bernese Mtn. Dog look like herding? It’s style is different than a Border Collie’s style BMD is “loose-eyed” meaning it doesn’t drop its head and is less intense than the “strong-eyed” Border Collie “Loose-eyed” dogs are more inclined to look to its handler for direction, bark and glance around the fields (video clip)

What makes a good herding dog regardless of breed?: 

What makes a good herding dog regardless of breed? Desire to work Temperament Happy & comfortable in new surroundings Well-bonded with its handler Eager to please its handler Style The combination of power, balance and degree of eye united with a natural ability and instinct to herd

How to Get Started: 

How to Get Started Train your dog to sit, down and come. Doing this with livestock present is even more difficult! Find a trainer- preferably someone familiar with “loose-eyed” dogs and appropriate sheep Heavy/test sheep Lighter/trial sheep Take a few lessons Instinct does not always appear the first time, second or third time Let the trainer start your dog around the livestock so that the dog herds and does not just chase. Chasing can be difficult to break once you have allowed it to occur. (i.e., splitting groups of stock) Herding Instinct Test Regional clubs might sponsor a “Fun Day” which could include a Herding Instinct Test (see form) AHBA offers Herding Capability Tests First leg tests instinct Second leg tests control and capability (see form) (view video of Herding Instinct Test)

How Do I Train Without Stock: 

How Do I Train Without Stock Not everyone can have sheep, cattle or ducks at their home To train for competition, a dog must be trained weekly or more You can practice herding commands at home without stock You can practice control commands at home without stock

Herding Terms : 

Herding Terms Flight Zone Distance between you and the stock When you move into that zone, the stock will move (watch heads)

Herding Terms: 

Herding Terms Balance The proper position of the dog to prevent the stock from escaping from the handler usually with dog, stock and handler in a straight line The dog’s instinctual goal is to establish balance or to reach a balance point that results in stopping the stock from further movement For example: sheep move from handler Dog reacts to the “pressure” (sheep’s desire to move) Dog reacts in a way that establishes balance (lack of movement of sheep) When all pressures are “equalized” the “balance point” has been reached

Herding Terms: 

Herding Terms Come Bye – Dog goes clockwise no matter where you are in relation to the sheep Can train without stock using a lead to “lunge line” or objects to “go around clockwise”

Herding Terms: 

Herding Terms Away to Me – Dog goes counter clockwise no matter where you are in relation to the sheep

Goals for Beginner Herders: 

Goals for Beginner Herders To teach you and your dog the basic commands and terms for working stock How to balance Establish and maintain a comfort zone Using and learning basic commands How to “read” the stock, the dog and yourself Getting the dog to look at you as the leader, the “alpha” Maintain a good, positive attitude in you and your dog Develop the bond necessary for a working team

Beyond Instinct: 

Beyond Instinct Instinct testing is just the foundation of a herding dog. If your dog likes to herd there are opportunities to continue to allow your dog to use its skills. After the AHBA (American Herding Breed Association (the only American foundation in which BMD’s can herd competitively)) Herding Capability Test (HCT) there is the Junior Herding Dog (JHD).

Junior Herding Dog (JHD): 

Junior Herding Dog (JHD) Pre-trial class where your dog learns to drive livestock through panels in a pre-designed course Qualifying class title for the BMDCA Working Dog Award Video-clip

Beyond Tests : 

Beyond Tests AHBA offers three trial level classes (video clip) Herding Trial Dog Class Herding Trial Arena Dog Class Herding Ranch Dog ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) AKC BMD’s are not a recognized herding breed for either ASCA nor AKC

Support for you and your Berner in herding: 

Support for you and your Berner in herding BMDCA Herding Committee can help you and your regional club sponsor Fun Days, instinct testing and AHBA tests and/or trials Medallions for all titles (including HCT) Yearbook page for your first AHBA title (including HCT) Herding BMD yahoo group is a discussion list for those herding with their Berners (contact Claire Coppola) AHBA yahoo group discussion list Find trainers, ask questions, announcement of tests and trials, clinics for beginners and dogs Information at www.ahba-herding.org

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