How to Train Your Dog to Herd

Hello Shyann, How to stop her from barking partially depends on why she is barking. Is she aggressive toward other dogs, fearful of them, or simply excited? If simply excited or even fearful, first, work on teaching the Quiet command. Check out the Quiet method from the article linked below: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Next, work on desensitizing her to other dogs to teach her to be calm around them. Do this by correcting her when she gets worked up to interrupt her, but focus the most on rewarding her when she is calm and quiet or obeys your Quiet command. If she sees another dog and does not bark, calmly praise her and reward her before she has the chance to bark. If she barks before you can reward her quietness, then tell her Quiet. If she does not get quiet, correct to interrupt her barking, then praise and reward when she focuses back on you and is quiet. Pay attention to when she is calm and focused on you - remember to reward that behavior since ultimately that is your goal all the time. When you praise her, keep your tone happy and calm - soft, calm praise tends to be good. It's also important to act calm and confident during walks in general. Practicing heeling in general can help with your own attitude before you run into another dog. Work on her heel, so that she is focused on you and following beside or behind you, with her head no further than your leg. When she walks behind you she is in a following mode and less likely to react to begin with - this can make other training easier to accomplish and help her listen better when you do give her commands or interruptions. Check out the Turns method and the video linked below for Heel; Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Additional Heel video with a more intense dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Nicole, Since herding is so hands on, I suggest googling "herding workshop (your city)", "herding test (your state)", herding evaluation (your state)", "herding event (your state)", and variations of those things to either find a trainer who can give you a couple of lessons to help you understand the concepts, or find a workshop (which is like an all day weekend class) on herding. YouTube is also generally a better resource for learning than articles because the herding is a lot of directional commands, body language, and responding in your time, so it is easier to learn by simply doing and by watching others do it. How to herding series: Part 1: https://youtu.be/0oTBfqmIGLA Part 2 https://youtu.be/gLeP_cScV2w Part 3: https://youtu.be/EwWf-Ej5zgE Part 4: https://youtu.be/Wb4cPRXOpiI Review of video series to purchase: https://youtu.be/ZYODEanyncY Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Sally, What city are you located in? Check out the following websites to find herding events within driving distance of you. These events can be good ways to connect with others who train and own herding dogs, as well as learn more about herding by watching. http://www.ahba-herding.org/MainPage.php?AreaName=EventsCalendar https://m.facebook.com/groups/125705387027/?ref=group_header&view=group https://webapps.akc.org/event-search/#/search If you cannot find a trainer or group to help you, then I suggest puchasing a good herding video series, then joining a Facebook type group or herding forum with others who herd, where you can ask questions if you feel stuck while learning to train using a video series. you can purchase a herding how to video series at the link below. That website also contains blog articles. I suggest starting with the "first steps in border collie sheepdog training". https://www.sheepdog-training.com/product-pcategory/all-shop-items/ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Clark, Since herding is an instinctual behavior for most dogs, one dog learning from another can be really helpful in helping a puppy grasp the basics of moving a flock effectively, but generally there will still be further training and involvement from the handler needed to teach the dog responsiveness to the handler's commands and directions (so you can tell pup how to move the animals - left, right, to you, away from you, slowly, stop, ect...) and stop unwanted behavior like biting and grabbing and chasing, that can happen during too much excitement and inexperience. Most collies will naturally attempt to gather a flock and fetch them to the person, other breeds will naturally drive livestock away from the person. What's probably being taught by an older dog is how to effectively move and gather the animals so that they do not get away from the dog. What's not often being taught is not to bite or chase, and to listen to the owner's directions to do something different than what the dog naturally what's to do. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Capri, Pup is actually holding the sheep for you, which is a herding skill. Typically there is driving livestock away from the handler, fetching them to the handler, and holding the herd so that the handler can pick one animal at a time out of the flock - such as during shearing time. By lying down and staring the flock down she is intimidating them to keep them in place. I suggest investing in some herding videos so that you can see different types of training demonstrated and watch a step by step process for teaching things like fetching. https://youtu.be/ZYODEanyncY https://theworkingsheepdog.com/ https://youtu.be/0oTBfqmIGLA I also suggest joining some livestock and dog training forums so that you can read other's experience, how they problem solved random issues that could come up, and can ask questions from other shepherds as well. https://www.workingdogforum.com/vBulletin/f33/#/forums/33?page=1 Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! When I am working with multiple dogs in the same household, I typically start them off individually (privately) for a few weeks, so each dog can learn the commands without distractions. Once you feel each dog has the commands down pretty well, you can essentially "start over" with them together. Have them sit in eachothers presence, etc. While there is no "right" way to go with training, as I feel everyone's dynamics are so different from eachothers, this is usually the easiest route to go.

Hello! That is a wonderful idea. My suggestion to any customer regarding a dog displaying herding is to try to put them in a scenario where they can get that outlet. Working breeds often need a release more than just a walk. I haven't seen any negative impacts of people allowing their dogs to herd. And by that I mean, they usually never revert to herding in inappropriate settings.