The Truth About Herding
KB 
THE TRUTH ABOUT DOG SPORTS....HERDING BY LAURIE LEACH It is amazing but true that the sport of herding was popularized by a pig. Ask any tyke who's seen the movie "Babe" and they can describe an imaginary world in which dogs or a precocious piglet move livestock in an orderly fashion through pastures and gates. As you might expect, the real world of herding is not so simple or tidy. Herding is, in fact, a very complex world with a long and rich history. For the neophyte, it is difficult to even learn about herding for reasons that I will explain. Despite the challenge, I have managed to permeate this world. As a result of my foray into this arena, I am going to discourage those of you who have not yet started this sport. Toss some Frisbees to that pup. Dabble in the benign sport of agility. Get anal in obedience. Let me explain why these activities are better and safer choices. HERDING IS NERVOUS MAKING. Dog sports are supposed to be fun. With herding, there is always an underlying tension. This tension is easily understood when one examines the origin of this activity. Centuries ago, in the wild, dogs pursued herds of animals and singled them out to be killed and eaten. In some cases the dogs chased the herds until a weak member dropped out. In other cases, they turned the herd back into the jaws of their waiting pack members. Today's herding dogs still reflect one of these two approaches, preferring to either drive or gather stock. Somehow early man convinced dogs to round up the stock, rather than eat them, and then wait for a bowl of leftovers. This is one of the great mysteries of canine history. Without benefit of clicker, tennis ball, or food stuffed toys, this early dog trainer worked miracles. Despite this history, herding dogs are not supposed to grab a sheep thigh like a smoked turkey leg. Out on the ranch, they may nip heel or nose to move reluctant stock, but in public, biting is a serious no-no. However, one can never forget that herding is a partnership that stops the dog just one click short of bringing in his dinner. HERDING REQUIRES INTERACTING WITH ANIMALS THAT WOULD MAKE A GOOD STEW. Herding is an activity that requires not only the finest dog training skills but also requires a group of other animals known as "stock." Just that word should raise your red flag. Stock are big, dirty, and live in muddy places. They have no qualms about running over you. They are much more interested in sticking together than avoiding what is in their path. They are the original gangs. They are very difficult to understand if you did not grow up with them. More on that later. HERDING IS AS DIFFICULT AS PLAYING QUARTERBACK IN THE SUPER BOWL. In other dog sports, events happen in one direction. In agility, dog and handler run toward the A-frame. In flyball, the dogs run straight to the box and back to the handler. Herding, on the other hand, is multi-dimensional, and chaos is always imminent. It is most accurate to imagine herding is like being dropped into the middle of a professional football scrimmage. The sheep scramble one direction. The dog flies the other to bring them back. The handler, like the quarterback, tries to orchestrate the movement by yelling or whistling. Covering one's eyes is always tempting, but it's not a good option. There is a real possibility of getting hurt while herding, if the dog gets a bit too wild, the sheep may charge toward the handler with considerable momentum. While they will not be screaming, "SACK," the effect is the same. One must have quick reactions to prevent a crash. HERDING REQUIRES AN ENTIRE NEW LANGUAGE. If you identify with either of those novice handlers above, there is another hurdle to successfully entering the world of herding. In addition to being able to think like a sheep, you must learn to speak a different language. Here is typical quote: Once the dog is trained on the rake, we need to make sure the dog will move off your body pressure (Billy Bob, 2001) My feeling is that if you can get the dogs to rake, you should get them going with the lawn mower too. However, if you insist on herding rather that getting that yard work done, you must be prepared to acquire an entire new language as you would French or Italian. Make sure to consider that learning c'est la vie and Je suis heureuse could take you to Paris. The language of herding will take you to slippery, muddy pastures. Think this through! If you are still determined to forge forward, you might as well get started on some key terms that you must internalize: Bad Sheep: These are woolies that are not committed to the club. They tend to break away from the others. This makes a dog look bad. They may even turn and fight. This is smart in my mind, but shepherds want docile sheep that hang together. You might think of the rebellious sheep as "Sheep that are going to be lambchops." Good Sheep: Officially these are the sheep that let themselves be herded and stick together. In my experience, these are sheep that keep trying to climb up on your shoulders to get away from the dog. This is not attractive because they have pointy hooves. However, they are highly prized in the herding world. I refer to this group as "Sheep that are not going to be lamb chops." Outrun: This is the action when the dog runs out past the sheep to begin gathering them. For advanced dogs, this outrun is hundreds of yards long. Herding books say that the ideal outrun is shaped like a pear. Are these people kidding? Who cares about fruit when your dog is racing away from you at top speed and becomes a speck on the horizon? I have had several dogs do an outrun but they were hot on the heels of a bunny. In my mind, the outrun is synonymous with the unhappy phrase, "My dog has run off." Lift: This term refers to time that the dog moves toward the sheep initially in order to get them moving. I refer to this as the "short moment before all hell breaks loose." Way to me and Go Bye: These are the traditional Scottish commands for sending the dog around the sheep in either a counterclockwise or clockwise direction. There are musical sounding phrases that suggest they were lifted from Rodgers and Hammerstein. Using these lilting phrases is a nice idea if one could freeze the sheep and dog for a moment to figure out which way is counterclockwise. As I suggested in my article on Border Collies, these phrases are often replaced in real situations by "Quit biting that sheep, you little ####." These terms are merely the tip of the iceberg. From here you need to learn to string words like grip and flank together without getting arrested. You will know you have arrived when you can lean against the fence in your Wranglers and drawl, "After you pick up the sheep with a short outrun, you wear the sheep around the perimeter of the fence." But really, who wants to say that when you could be learning to say, "Je beux le creme brulee." HERDING DOGS MUST HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF. Although you may want to participate in this dog sport, herding requires instinct on the part of your dog. The movement of sheep screams. "DO SOMETHING" to dogs with the right genes. Dogs without these genes just stand around and munch sheep doo. The reality is that the best herding dogs will herd alone for days at a time. In addition to the instinctual ability to read stock, the dog must have the physical ability to react to the movements of stock and enough speed to affect those movements. The bottom line is that your dog either has it or it doesn't. A dog that will only circle in one direction or whose interest in sheep lasts less than thirty seconds is a candidate for a different activity. Be relieved. Try something simple like teaching your dog to skydive. ALL HERDING BREEDS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL Reading about the characteristics of different herding breeds is much like reading real estate ads. For example, we all know that an ad that says, "Doll House" means the roof is six feet high and the rooms are the size of postage stamps, Similar interpretation is required when reading about the herding breeds. For example, experts might say something like, "Training this breed requires the handler to be extremely upbeat and enthusiastic." What this really means is that, unless you have professional cheerleading experience, these dogs may seriously try your patience. In general, herding breeds can be grouped in four general categories. At one end of the spectrum, there are those breeds that are less than enthusiastic about herding. They have a lobby in Washington that is working to move them from the herding group to the couch potato group. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the high-drive, herd-until-they-drop dogs. These dogs may even become so mesmerized by the stock that they may go into a trance. In between there are two groups. First, there are the dogs that try to bark the sheep to death. Lastly, there are the breeds that approach herding like bureaucrats. With briefcase in hand, these dogs move the sheep without much fuss. They may lack a little flash, but they rarely have a grievance filed by the sheep union. IN CONCLUSION The point is if you don't have exactly the right kind of dog, you have your work cut out for you. Then again, if you do have exactly the right kind of dog, you have your work cut out for you. If you have been thinking about trying herding, put it to bed with a simple "That'll do" and go on with a nice hike with your pup. If you have already gotten involve, consider spending the next herding trial in the bleachers with a cold beer. Wow the spectators sitting around you by saying something like, "He's using a .banana' line. It looks good and straight and the entrance to the gates is lined up with the handler's post." Then take a nice hike with your pup. |
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I just finished LMAO over this. I think Morgan borders on a Lobbyist hiring dog and Marley definitly is a briefcase carrier  |
 That's too funny ... mainly because it's too true! "Chaos is always imminent" Yes, yes it is!
My one experience (so far) with herding was mind boggling and as a fan of "Babe" what I really wasn't prepared for was the look of sheer terror on the faces of the sheep as they were bolting away from my suddenly wolfish Fitzwilliam and running full blast directly at me. Naturally I froze. 
Where did you find this article? It's interesting 'cause my herding trainer is called Lynn Leach. |
| Laurie original wrote this and similiar (equally hilarious) pieces for something called Laughing Dog Press. There used to be a website with a collection of them. It seems the site is gone but this particular article has resurfaced on herding lists and beyond.
I don't remember the look of terror in the stock's eyes so much as I can feel the terror in mine when the buggers come flying at me 
Are you going to try herding again? Kristine |
| Oh, I think I'll try it again, 'cause Fitzwilliam loved it so much - I'm just hoping the experience will be more "Babe"-like next time. You know, a peaceful frolic around the pasture with some happy-go-lucky sheep? Is that too much to ask for?
At the time, I didn't think the sheep would actually knock me over ... until someone here pointed out that oh yes indeed they will. So that adds a whole nother dimension of anxiety to this complex sport they call herding.  |
maf wrote: Oh, I think I'll try it again, 'cause Fitzwilliam loved it so much - I'm just hoping the experience will be more "Babe"-like next time. You know, a peaceful frolic around the pasture with some happy-go-lucky sheep? Is that too much to ask for? Yeah? sorry At the time, I didn't think the sheep would actually knock me over ... until someone here pointed out that oh yes indeed they will. So that adds a whole nother dimension of anxiety to this complex sport they call herding. well- they may bump into you but I doubt they are anymore likely to knock you over than your dog is |
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