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Adding a new pup to your small hobby farm and want him to learn how to herd? Maybe this is the first time you have a large herd on your farm and you could use a little extra help? No matter what the reason, teaching your dog to herd can be a great way to give yourself a little extra time, save you from running around the fields after a rogue critter, or to simply stay out of the rain, while he brings in the herd. These are all very good reasons to train your dog to herd.
Of course, there is the other side of the picture. Herding has become a national and international competitive sport. One that can be just as much fun for you as it is for your dog. While some breeds such as Border Collies are more naturally inclined to herd, you can train most breeds to do so. It may take a little longer but is well worth the effort.
The act of herding is when a well-trained dog can be commanded using either hand or whistle signals to move a herd or flock of animals from one place to another on your farm or in competition. No matter whether it is a group of animals, or even people, your dog is quite capable of being trained to herd them around. Bear in mind, that this is a difficult series of commands for your pup to master and that some dogs are better suited to this than others.
Your dog will need to have mastered basic commands before he is ready to move on to complex training such as this. You should also be aware that there is a significant risk of injury in this activity, your dog needs to be a young adult, puppies are not suited to this activity. Also, be sure to have your vet give your pup a complete exam to make sure he is healthy enough for this activity.
In order to get started training your dog to herd, he must first readily respond to the most basic commands, including 'come', 'sit', 'stay', and 'lie down'. You will also need to teach him the basic herding commands including 'come bye', which means turn the herd to the right and 'away', which means he should turn the herd to the left. The other command he needs to learn is 'walk up' which indicates he should be behind the herd driving the herd towards you. You are also going to need access to a herd or flock you can practice with, plenty of time, and patience.
The Long Leash Method
Most Recommended
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Most Recommended
5 Votes
Use a long leash
Attach your dog to a long-leash (one that is 20 to 30 feet long) and walk him up towards a small herd of animals or flock of birds while giving him the 'walk-up' command.
Be patient
Give your pup plenty of time to get used to being around the herd and reward him with a treat when he calms down.
Walk around
Take him for a walk around the herd on a shorter leash. He should walk around them instinctively without trying to bother them. If he does, give him a treat.
Reverse directions
Keep using your 'away' and 'come bye' commands as you reverse directions while he is on the leash. Once he has mastered behaving like this on the leash, it's time to let him try his skills.
Practice makes perfect
Keep repeating the above until he has mastered the commands and then let the leash pay out as you back off 20 feet or so. Keep practicing the commands with him until you are fully satisfied that he can do as instructed. Keep working until you are all the way at the end of the leash. Once he can herd the animals on the leash, you can take him off the leash and keep practicing.
The Keeping It Small Method
Effective
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Effective
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Select a herd
The last thing you want is for your herding dog to be scared of your herd, so start out small. Consider using chickens and a small training pen.
Add chickens
In a small training pen, place a few of your calmest chickens in the center and bring your pup in on a leash. Have him sit at one edge of the pen.
Time to Relax
Give your pup plenty of time to get used to the chickens and once he settles down, give him a treat.
Let him meet the chickens
With him still on his leash, walk your dog towards the birds, giving him the 'walk-up' command and stop when you are two feet away. If he stops and doesn't fuss, give him a treat.
Around and back
Walk around the flock in circles using the commands 'away' and "'come bye' to get him used to associating them with directions going around the birds. Each time he gets it right, be sure to give him a treat.
No more leash
Once he is calm and behaves around the birds, you can take him off the leash. Continue using your commands to have your dog move the flock in the training pen. Keep repeating this training until your dog masters it.
Moving out
Now you can move the training outside to work with a bigger flock and bigger animals. Be patient and work with your pup. In time, he will become an excellent herding dog and keep your herds under control for you.
The Whistle Method
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Least Recommended
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Sounds and signals
Using a loud whistle, introduce your pup to the sound and treat him when he stops being startled by the sound. The traditional whistle commands are two short blasts for the 'away' command, one short-one long for 'come bye', and a short high/low pair of blasts for 'to me'.
Train your dog
Now take these whistle commands and introduce them to your pup as part of several training sessions. Match the command to the whistle and work with your dog until he has mastered them.
Back to basics
Start working with these commands with small flock or herd to help reduce any excessive distraction.
Practice on-leash
Since you are essentially introducing a new type of behavior to your dog, you need to start this process with your dog back on his leash to protect the flock or herd. Once he has shown you he can follow commands on the leash, it's time to move on to the next level.
Back off his leash
Unhook your pup from the leash and keep him close for the first few trials. Have him work with a small flock or herd at first and work his way up to working your entire herd over time. Remember, this is going to take a little time, but be patient and your pup will master the skill.
Written by PB Getz
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/10/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
I was wondering if it is best to start them individually or together on learning commands. And also if individually, should the other look on?
July 24, 2020
Otis and Gizzy's Owner
Alisha Smith - Alisha S., Dog Trainer
253 Dog owners recommended
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.
July 24, 2020
Hello! i am trying to train my 3 month old puppy to heard sheep, but whenever she gets close to them, she lies down, and stops what she is doing. I can only get her going by either, getting the sheep running (which sets her off as well.) She also just chases them round, and once she gets them trapped in some corner, that's when she lies down. What can i do about this? This is my first time training a puppy, and she isn't quite fast enough to over take the sheep to get to the front of them yet, so i haven't started properly training her the "come bye" and "away" commands yet. It almost looks like she feels like she has accomplished something when she gets them trapped in a corner, or she is scared to move them out. An answer, and some advice would be amazing! I know she has great potential to be a sheep dog, as she is always eager to do it. (sometimes even forcing her self through the fence!)
April 15, 2020
Clover's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
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
April 15, 2020
awesome advice! Thanks so much . i have just invested in some videos from the "working sheepdog" and they are already helping! thanks again.
April 15, 2020
Capri Summer F.
I have read that there are many techniques to teach a dog to herd a flock. I want to know if you have ever seen/heard a technique known as 'learning from experts', where an 'expert' dog performs herding and the newbie dog will learn by observing these demonstrations.
Aug. 5, 2019
Peggy's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
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
Aug. 5, 2019
Are the definitive guides, manuals, scientific research which explore these herding techniques? I am interested in the different styles and forms of herding.
Aug. 6, 2019
Clark Kendrick G.