Up until recently we had goats. But no fenced pasture. They were kept in a small paddock which did nothing for them in terms of grazing so twice a day my English Shepherd, Holly, and I would take the goats out to graze the 2 acre field next to their paddock and surrounding the house/garden. She would get them moving in the direction I wanted (shown to her by shooing them myself) and then settle down and watch as soon as we stopped and they started to eat. If one or more started to stray I would point and say "get 'her!" and she'd chase her back. Holly learned they were not allowed in the garden or up by the house. She allowed them to go around the house to the pasture in the back but not into the boiler house or the shop. All this was demonstrated by me. She just watched and followed my lead. When it was time to put them back she understood where they were to go and helped get them in (often times in pairs or singly since they would be stubborn about it) I would guard the the open gate and she would put them in and go back for another. At one point the goats broke out of their paddock and I looked out the window to watch Holly keeping them contained to "their" pasture until I arrived. She wasn't putting them back in the paddock but was letting them to graze where they were allowed. In contrast, Ellie, (BC) would be pushing them all over the place, knowing they were out and needing to be moved *somewhere* but not using an understanding of the rules like Holly. In fact Ellie has brought the goats to the house for me in such a situation. Both dogs were helpful but Holly's choice of solutions was more appropriate as I don't appreciate the goats on my porch ;-) When our electric fence wasn't behaving itself this past summer and our draft horses kept escaping Holly (who was never encouraged to move the horses) was right in there barking and bossing them back to their area. I was somewhat taken aback by her fearle! ssness w ith these big animals (if you saw how mellow she usually is you'd understand) and actually was afraid she didn't have enough experience to dodge a kick if necessary. Luckily that didn't happen. Our poultry is free range and she does a good job of keeping them away from the house and garden. Again, all this was taught by example (stupid human flailing her arms at said birds and yelling shoo!). If I need to catch a bird she helps corner it and pins it for me. Judah (English Shepherd/collie) is really good at that too and steps on them for me. When we sent our pigs off to the butcher Holly goosed them into the trailer.
It took me a while to discover this technique of getting Holly to move the animals. A Border Collie is born wanting to move them and you just mold it (kind of like steering an already moving car). Holly didn't work that way. It wasn't until I tapped into her bossiness that I discovered her ability to herd. She definitely moves the animals because *I* say they should go or because she has internalized the rules regarding them. Very different than Ellie. In fact as long as she thinks I have things in control she is happy to lay on the porch. But the least little fussing at the stock from me and she materializes to help. I don't think she'd make a good trial dog. She doesn't have the drive for it. But she has what it takes to help me here and her nurturing attitude toward the stock is priceless as is her protective nature. Virtually all my dogs herding training comes out of a "lets just figure it out as we go" training approach. As such the only formal commands we have are go get 'em, bring 'em up, easy and that'll do. Ellie knows those as well as stand there, lie down, walk up, get out. Directions are communicated by body language (blocking the way or pointing)
I have to say though that if I had never attended a clinic or two it would've probably taken much longer to learn what to do with myself when working the dogs. Knowing how to read the stock and the dog and where to position yourself is very valuable and something I picked up clinics
I really can't wait till I get sheep again. I want to give her more of a consistent opportunity to show what she can do.
Amy
Good Shepherd Farm
gshep@aeroinc.net
English Shepherds