How to Train Your Border Collie Dog to Herd Sheep
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Introduction
If you’ve ever passed by a farm that kept sheep or cattle, it’s hard to imagine such a farm without a means to keep the sheep from wandering too far. While in some cases, it may be a farmhand’s job to maintain the sheep while they graze, more often than not, the job is given to the farmer’s ever mindful dog who accompanies the livestock on their journey to and from the pasture. The most common breed that is selected for this job is none other than the incredibly intelligent Border Collie, normally representing their breed in a blaze of black and white fur as they round the sheep up and drive them in the direction the farmer would like them to go.
Developed near the Anglo-Scottish border in the 19th century, the Border Collie has lived up to the role of loyal sheepdog and the ideal working companion. For modern-day farmers, the breed remains just as popular to drive sheep, though training such a behavior to be reliable takes an invested and committed owner.
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Defining Tasks
While Border Collies may be born with the instinct to herd, it’s not always as easy as letting them loose and hoping they pick up on what you want them to do. There is much work to be done with a puppy who has had his job picked out for him since birth if he is to be an ideal working dog. Not only must he master basic obedience, but also the specific tasks that come with the handling and directing of livestock.
Training for a sheepdog must start early, normally within the range of puppyhood, and can take months before he is prepared to be let loose with your sheep. A dog with an inappropriate or aggressive temperament will almost always struggle, if not wash out entirely, and it’s important to determine what sort of temperament your dog has before asking this much of him. It’s also important to consider consulting an experienced herding trainer for assistance.
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Getting Started
First, ensure that your dog has had a full checkup by a veterinarian to determine that he is ready to start training to herd. A dog that is sick, disabled, or injured may not be suitable for this work. If your vet gives him a clean bill of health, ensure that he has the appropriate temperament. An ideal herding Border Collie should be eager to please, excited to learn, and be motivated easily by rewards like treats or toys.
Make sure you have access to animals like ducks, sheep, or other types of livestock for your dog to adjust to their look and presence. Without access to these animals, this training may not be successful. A herding Border Collie should also have a good grasp of basic obedience skills like ‘come’, ‘down’, ‘sit’, and ‘stay’.
Lastly, get together a leash for handling control, and some treats or toys for rewards as your dog learns.
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The Lead Method
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Adjust your dog to the sheep
Sheep can be large and a little bit intimidating when your dog or puppy is first introduced to them. Allow him time to get used to them being around.
Practice obedience
With the sheep present and your dog on a long leash, practice some basic obedience commands like ‘down’ and ‘stay’. This will help him get adjusted to the idea of listening to commands while the sheep are nearby.
Teach ‘right’ and ‘left’
Focusing on one direction at a time, adjust your dog to moving around the sheep to the right and around the sheep to the left. Reward each time he moves in the appropriate direction, even if it’s on the leash with you.
Separate
Have your dog perform a ‘down’ and ‘stay’ on the opposite side of the sheep from you. You may either use a long leash for this or try it off leash if you feel confident in your dog’s obedience commands.
Practice the flank
A majority of what working Border Collies do is flanking livestock or cattle in order to drive them a certain direction. Using your ‘right’ and ‘left’ commands, allow your dog to practice going around the sheep in those directions. Remember that the commands should be referencing your dog’s right and left, not yours. Reward for positive progression.
Work up to the pasture
Most of your dog’s learning should take place in a controlled situation like a large fenced in area. As he gets more confident in his herding abilities, move out into the open if possible. Most herding is done in the open pasture or grazing grounds, so it’s important to practice in these environments.
Continue to work
Border Collies need constant practice and stimulation to remain in working condition. Even if your sheep don’t necessarily need herding on a specific day, practice commands with your dog anyway.
The Instinct Method
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Bring your dog around livestock
Expose your Border Collie to sheep early on in the training. The more time she has to get used to them, the easier she’ll be able to herd them later on.
Observe behavior
Some dogs may know instinctively what to do around sheep. Flanking behavior can occur naturally. However, do not allow any nipping at the heels of livestock as it can result in your dog being stepped on or kicked.
Reward for appropriate actions
Using treats or a clicker, reward your dog when she flanks in certain directions around the sheep or makes any inclination of moving them in a certain direction.
Use verbal commands
When you notice her performing ideal behavior, put a verbal command to each one that you’d like your Border Collie to repeat so she familiarizes the command with the behavior. Common commands are ‘come by’ which means to go left or clockwise around the sheep and ‘away to me’ which means to go to the right or counterclockwise around the sheep. Reward as necessary.
Remain in control
It may be practical to use a leash at first to ensure that your dog and your livestock are both safe. Use your own discretion regarding whether or not you believe your dog to be ready to be off-leash.
Integrate obedience
Practice usual obedience commands like ‘stay’ and ‘down’ to establish a working context with them. These commands should be used together with the new flanking commands that your dog learns.
Keep sessions short
Continue to work with your Border Collie daily, but never overextend her patience. Working in 15 to 20 minute sessions will ensure that your dog will remain interested in training and will not get burned out. Consider the patience of your livestock as well.
The Progression Method
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Begin with smaller animals
Ducks or poultry may work well for this. Gather a few of them into a pen to maintain control.
Practice herding commands
With your ducks or other smaller animals, familiarize your dog with the flanking commands by either using ‘right’/’left’ or ‘come by’/’away to me’ verbal cues. You can either show your dog what you’d like him to do or allow him to figure it out on his own. Reward for good behavior.
Maintain distance
Smaller animals may be easier to spook. Don’t let your dog get too close to them. If he does, place him in a ‘sit’ or ‘down’ to let the animals settle down. Remember not to overstress your animals. Take breaks as necessary.
Work upwards
Have your Border Collie master herding commands with smaller animals and then work up to bigger animals like sheep or other livestock. Remember to remain in control when first meeting larger animals as they have the potential to cause injury if mistreated or scared.
Repeat the learning process
Just as you worked with the smaller animals, repeat the same process with the larger. Practice herding commands and reward accordingly. Keep these sessions shorter than the ones with smaller animals.
Practice!
With daily repetition and training sessions, your Border Collie will keep his knowledge at the forefront of his mind and be better able to herd livestock. Remember to practice basic obedience as well to keep him working and thinking.
Written by TJ Trevino
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 01/02/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Grace
Border Collie
5 Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
I'd like to see if my dog, with whom I do agility skills, has any ability to work with sheep. She is a gentle dog who longs to be doing something at all times. She appears to want to please people.
Feb. 2, 2022
Grace's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Elizabeth, I would look for a herding instinct test within driving range of you. Check out this website and page for more information on the test: http://www.ahba-herding.org/MainPage.php?AreaName=HCT Often herding trials will have instinct testing available for a fee too. Many local herding training clubs, herding breed clubs, and sometimes other canine sports will instinct testing going on at their event as well. http://www.ahba-herding.org/MainPage.php?AreaName=EventsCalendar Check out your local breed clubs and herding associations or private herding trainers who conduct herding workshops by state in your area, to find an event that says they will do instinct testing at the event. If you will even google "herding instinct test near me" or "herding instinct test (your state)" you should be able to find some events in your area that might offer that in the near future. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Feb. 7, 2022
Bess Sutherland
Border Collie
13 Weeks
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
daph
Aug. 5, 2021
Bess Sutherland's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Daphne, Did you have a specific question I could help you with? It looks like you only entered your name into the text box to ask a question. Thank you, Caitlin Crittenden
Aug. 5, 2021