Although I am not a dog trainer, I have learned quite a lot about dogs over the last few years. Prior to owning dogs, I will admit, I was no more knowledgeable than most people. I, too, saw dogs not for the job they were bred to do, but for the feelings they evoked in me. Labradors and Golden Retrievers have always made me want to reach out and hug them. I have long been intrigued by the fixated stare of the Doberman and wondered what she is thinking. Standard Poodles have long reminded me of the most regal, elegant and sophisticated actress of the 1920s. German Shepherds simply intrigued me; intelligent, loyal, brave and beautiful, I could stare at them for hours. Greyhounds and Salukis were pure poetry in motion and I couldnt help but think of many small breeds as being a wee bit hyper for my taste. There was one exception to this. I have long had a love affair with the Pug. I didnt understand (until I did research) why he breathed so heavily and snored, but I found him cute beyond words!
These were my impressions of dogs. Having no understanding of why the Doberman can win any staring contest with a human, why Goldens are sweet and affectionate with the energy of five cheetahs or why Terriers, especially the Jack Russell, could run circles around anyone, I just saw dogs for the characteristics they displayed, not the job they were bred to perform.
This naivet on my part was not only understandable it was easily forgiven. I didnt own any dogs and had the luxury of seeing them this way.
Now that I have dogs and have spent tireless hours reading about not only breeds (most if not all of them), but also health conditions, their history and relationships with humans and so on, I am frequently asked by friends and family to help them understand why their dog does this or that.
Sometimes their questions lead me to question whether they did any research before picking out the breed they did. I am frequently curious whether most people have any understanding about dogs in general. Oftentimes I am left to conclude the answer to each is no. Dogs arent humans and yet with all the evidence available to validate this statement, people continue to treat them as if they were. But this article isnt about training or perhaps the lack of it and its obvious necessity, but rather a question I got from a good friend who was genuinely baffled by her dog, whom she named Aussie.
It seems that Aussie, who is an Australian Kelpie, has this rather odd behavior. When my friend lets her outside, Aussie runs in circles, and my friend reported to me, tries to herd us all. She drives us crazy! Why do you think she does this? This is the email I sent back to her.
Who Is This Dog and Why Does She Try and Herd the Family?As with most breeds of dog these days, chances are, if you met Aussie the Australian Kelpie, you wouldnt think much of her. Apart from agreeing that she is aesthetically pleasing, or, in laymans terms, pretty, it appears as though you have picked out a dog without knowing what she was bred to do. Your Kelpie is just one of a few dozen dogs who are known as herding dogs, also known as working dogs or stock dogs.
Although herding dogs make charming and lovable family pets, they really shine when given a task to do. Take Aussie for example. While she would do wonderfully in athletic dog competitions, shes best on the farm where she can help herd cattle, sheep or poultry.
Herding Dog DutiesAussies duties on the farm would vary from guarding to helping flock herds of livestock.
HeelerSome smaller breeds of herding dogs, like Corgis, operate by nips in pushing at the ankles of their herd to move them along. Heelers run alongside or even weave in and out of a herd when it moves.
HeaderHeaders use a technique called the strong eye. They stare down a herd to control its motion, either to stop it or to congregate it. The most well-known header breed is the Border Collie.
Aussie, as well as some other herding breeds, has a less formidable stare and is not as swift and agile. She uses a combination of the header and heeler techniques to guard and guide her herd.
Commands Aussie is very active, highly intelligent and she has an incredible vocabulary, which is wider than that of the average dog. There is a set of commands specific to herding that Aussie is responsible for knowing. There are some obvious ones, like, wait, steady and thatll do. There are some less obvious commands as well. Look back, means that Aussie lost an animal and needs to go find and retrieve it. Cast, means Aussie must gather her animals into a group. Bye or Come by means to go around the animals clockwise. Away or Away to me means to go around them counter clockwise. In there means to move the herd through a small gap.
Herding Dogs in CompetitionAs a herding dog, Aussie could participate in whats called a sheepdog trial. A sheepdog trial is a herding competition. The dogs herd their animals through obstacle courses. They are timed and judged on their performance. Although not as popular in the states, sheepdog trials are prominent in New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and Australia.
Owning a Herding Dog as a PetAussie is loving and protective, and everything a family dog should be. However, it is not fair to her to ignore that she is more. Herding dogs have been bred to subdue their instinct to treat other animals as prey. At the same time they have been bred to use their hunting instincts and natural talents to herd animals.
Chances are, Aussie may nip someones ankle, or find herself underfoot. She will have to be trained not to do these things, as it will be her tendency to try and herd her family, which you have already discovered. Also, herding dogs need more exercise than most dogs to stay happy and healthy. Aussie, although happiest on a farm, makes a unique, beautiful, and useful pet, but in return, you need to be aware of her special needs and do your best to meet them in true header fashion.
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