Introduction to Herding Instinct Tests
and
Guidelines For Herding Instinct Tests Conducted
by Laura Noll at Glenrose Farms
Purpose - the purpose of a herding instinct test may seem obvious, but a few key points should be covered. The goals include creating a positive setting in which the dog is allowed to succeed at herding livestock. Sheep are the most typically used species for beginning herding testing and training. Only livestock that are tame, accustomed to being herding by breeds similar to your own, healthy and otherwise suitable to the task should be used for an instinct test. Tests should only be given by experienced herding trainers who preferably have experience in your breed. Some instinct tests are done as public or group activities and others are done as one-on-one appointments with private trainers. The text below applies to both sorts of instinct tests.
| Do’s • Do keep your dog on leash until told otherwise. • Do keep your dog quiet for the neighbors’ and other participants’ sake. • Do praise your dog for looking eagerly at the sheep. • Do keep your dog away from other excited dogs to avoid conflicts. • Do keep your dog from getting too tired ringside before his turn if he is being exuberant. |
Don’ts • Don’t correct your dog for barking or lunging at the sheep ringside. Rather, remove him from sight of the sheep. • Don’t do obedience or other “attention” training while waiting for your turn. • Don’t allow your dog to harass sheep through a fence. • Don’t allow sheep to harass your dog through a fence. • Don’t allow your dog to get away from you or be too near the fence and distract another dog being tested. |
FAQs:
1. How can I find out if my dog has any herding instinct?
By taking your dog to a qualified herding instructor who is experienced
in working with novice dogs, and preferably is familiar with your dog’s
breed.
2. How old should my dog be before it's first exposure
to livestock? I
feel very strongly that young dogs should not be tested before 6 months
of age. Some other trainers do not share this opinion but many do.
Puppies under 6 months old are often very emotionally vulnerable, as well
as physically under-developed, and any mistake such as a sheep threatening
the puppy or the puppy accidentally getting pinned between the sheep and
the fence, no matter how careful the trainer tried to be, can scar a puppy
for life and you will never know how good that dog would have been because
the trauma is often not fully reversible. Even ducks can try to
attack a young puppy!!!
3. I just got my dog as an adult - how long
should I wait till I take it to be herding instinct tested?
I recommend that dogs be in a new home for at least 6 weeks before they
are taken for their first herding instinct test. That is not to
say that they can't go and watch herding before that, however.
4. What breeds of dog can be herding instinct tested? I feel that this is more limited by your individual dog, and the trainers and livestock available in your area than the actual breed of dog. I am willing to test most breeds. I have calm, tame sheep that won't scare a small dog or take off running in terror, thereby triggering aggression in large dogs. Further, if the only livestock available in your area are aggressive cattle, then testing your timid, first time dog on them might not be the best idea. I have worked Dobermans, Afghans, Poodles and several other individuals of "odd" breeds, or dogs you don't associate with herding, with good success in many cases. Conversely, I have tested other individuals in breeds in the AKC Herding Group that showed no interest in livestock at all.
5. What does my dog need to know before
going to instinct test? At a minimum, he should know his name
and hopefully to come when called. Everything else can be taught through
herding. However, young dogs may be instinct tested without knowing
this much.
6. Why shouldn’t I correct my dog for being excited while
watching other dogs herd? Until your dog has been allowed to
herd, he won’t understand why he is being corrected for being excited
OUTSIDE of the ring and then later encouraged to herd INSIDE of the ring.
Once you show your disapproval outside the arena toward his interest in
herding and livestock, he may decide that you never want him to herd,
ever, under any circumstances. Once he has actually herded a few times
and has decided that herding is permitted and a lot of fun, then you can
correct him outside the ring for unruly behavior.
7. What do I do if my dog is unruly or noisy while waiting for
his turn? Take him out of sight of the “action” and
let him calm down. If you are experiencing difficulties with this, please
see one of the test helpers for assistance.
8. What do I do if my dog is wearing himself out “spectating”? Take him out of sight of the “action” and let him
calm down. If you are experiencing difficulties with this, please see
one of the test helpers for assistance.
9. Why does the instructor usually have a dog dragging its lead
while being tested? This helps us catch the dog more easily at
the end of the session. Even the most obedient dog can be difficult to
catch after a fun session of herding and we don’t want to end a
fun session on a bad note by having to scold it for not coming when called.
Thus the owner is told to “catch your dog”, NOT “call
your dog.”
10. Can my dog be tested off leash? If the dog is reticent
to work with a dragging lead, the lead will be removed. It may also be
removed for other reasons at the instructor’s discretion. Otherwise,
leaving the leash on is a protective measure to ensure that the session
is concluded on a positive note when it comes time to collect the dog
at the end of the session.
The Usual Procedure for Instinct Testing:
1. Enter with the dog on leash and tell the tester the
name of your dog, its age and anything unusual about its history. This
could include it being a rescue, ANY prior livestock experience (intended
or otherwise), anything the dog might be afraid of (especially sticks,
whips, strangers and dragging leashes), etc.
2. Do not drop or remove the leash until clearly told
to do so by the instructor.
3. The instructor will then probably tell you to move
toward the sheep along the fenceline to help get them out in the open
to make a good start for the session.
4. In most cases, when the sheep are in a good position,
the instructor will tell you to “Drop the lead and come with me”
or "Drop the lead and go to the fence". Excited or exuberant
dogs may cause the instructor to ask the owner to remain by the fence
until the dog has calmed down a bit.
5. When dropping the lead, try to drape it over the dog’s
back to reduce chances of the dog stepping on the leash.
6. While the dog is being tested and if the owner is
walking with the instructor, the owner is ONLY to say positive things
to the dog. Allow the instructor to do any necessary corrections that
the dog may require. Corrections by the owner at this formative time can
be devastating to a developing herding dog, while a similar correction
from a comparative stranger often does not create such an impact. Also,
the instructor knows better what to correct and will do so more accurately.
7. While the dog is being tested and the owner is walking
with the instructor, the owner needs to try to stay with the instructor
at all times. The dog wants to bring the sheep to its person, not some
stranger in the ring. The instructor and owner will be at crossed purposes
if they are on opposite sides of the flock of sheep during the dog’s
test.
8. Do not pet the dog excessively, if at all, if it comes
back to the owner for reassurance. Herding requires the dog to be with
the sheep more than being with the owner and we don’t want to foster
a dependence of staying with the owner from the start.
9. At the conclusion of the test, the instructor will
usually tell the owner to “catch the dog”. Note the word "CATCH",
not "CALL", when collecting the dog at the end of the test.
This may include stepping on the dragging leash, getting its attention
and making a quick grab of the collar, etc. The instructor will continue
to protect the sheep with as little movement as possible while the owner
attempts to catch his or her dog.
10. The owner should get between the dog and the sheep
and use the dog’s name and encouraging recall sounds but should
NOT use obedience-style commands such as “COME!” that may
well not be obeyed in the heat of the moment. In very difficult cases,
the flock may be moved to the fenceline to reduce the area that the dog
is running around, or the sheep may be put into a pen and the gate closed
before the dog can slip in after them.
11. Once the dog is caught, secure the leash, praise
the dog profusely and promptly head for the gate with a firm hold on your
dog. At this point, or soon thereafter, the instructor should give
you an evaluation of your dog's performance on sheep.
Laura working a novice German Shepherd during an instinct
test. The long flexible cane she is holding is used to give direction
to an untrained dog. She will tap the ground with the cane in an area
behind the dog to move it forward or in front of the dog to reverse it's
direction. On rare occasions, the cane may also be used to help Laura
defend her sheep against an unruly dog or get the attention of an out
of control dog.
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