familyservicehub Herding dogs are known for intelligence, agility and a strong work ethic. These dogs were bred originally to control livestock and are excellent working dogs.
Anyone who has a dog in this category will know that having them as a pet can present unique challenges. Once you learn how to work with herding dogs, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Here are some tips to help you solve the “problems” that herding dog owners face.
Herding Dogs Types
Herding dogs come in many different varieties. But did you know that they were all bred for different purposes?
Knowing what your dog’s original purpose was can help you better understand how to train them and their motivations.
- Fetching or Gathering Dogs(Border Collie or Shetland Sheepdogs): Fetching dogs turn sheep around and bring them back to their handler. Gathering dogs stare down the sheep or use the body to do so.
- Driving Dogs Australian Cattle Dogs , Australian Shepherds, Corgis, Shelties: Driving dogs are behind flocks of sheep, pushing them forward. They are also known as “heelers” because they bark and bite at the livestock.
- Tending Canines (German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Belgian Tervurens): Tending canines act as a live fence to keep large flocks together while they graze. Tending dogs are used to move flocks but at a slower rate than driving or fetching dogs.
Common Behavior Problems In Herding Breeds
Each dog is unique, and not all herding breed dogs will exhibit the same behavior! Here are some of the more common “problem” behaviors reported in herding breeds:
- Alert barking
- Controlling interactions with other people or animals (or dogs)
- Attention seeking behavior: whining or barking at you. Squeaking loudly while on the phone.
- Animals, people or cars can be chased
- Staring and freezing at people, animals or objects
- Fixation: A constant need to be alert, vigilant and fixated on the things around you.
- By nipping at heels or pant legs. By nipping heels or pants legs
- Neophobia is the fear of new experiences and things.
What causes problem behaviors?
- Unmet Needs: In general, this would be communication, enrichment and exercise (between you, your dog, or both).
- You may live in an environment that is not compatible with your personality.
- Socialization is not adequate
- Lack of a broad behavioral repertoire
- Reinforcement history
The following is a list of preventions.
It can be very helpful to know the specific behaviors of a breed, and to become familiar with triggers such as movement.
You can also identify acceptable behaviors (like chasing squirrels or the vacuum if they don’t bother you) and inappropriate behavior (anything that could cause harm, like chasing cars).
Some practices that can help prevent herding behavior include:
- Exercise Find the right balance, your dog does not need to be a professional athlete. You can use long lines and secure opportunities to let your dog off the leash.
- Enrichment Your dog may need more than other dogs and more opportunities to practice breed-typical behaviors.
- Nutrition : Check for eye problems, allergies or any other physical ailments. It is important to provide your dog with a healthy diet.
- Communication: Improve your communication with your dog. Assure that your dog is in a safe, healthy environment.
- Mindful Socialization: Know their typical behaviors and when to practice them. If your puppy is really mouthy and barking, it’s a good idea to give them a nap.
- Age/skill-appropriate activities: You don’t want to push your puppy beyond his or her physical and mental limits.
- Life Skills Before Flashy Skills: Before they learn tricks, they should be able to use reinforcement and feel comfortable in their surroundings.
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You should first consider:
- What is the purpose of the problem behavior? Many herding dogs will nip the heels of their companions to control movement.
- What are the consequences? Has it been reinforced? The more often a dog repeats a certain behavior, the more satisfied it will be.
- Is it harmful to your dog, other animals or people? Is the behavior harmful to your dog or to other people, animals or society? You don’t need to be constantly in dialogue with your dog to try to eliminate herding behavior. You can use this time to consider whether the behavior is harmful or if it is just annoying.
Next Steps:
- Can this behavior serve a different purpose? You could buy a ball to herd children if, for instance, your dog herds them. There may be a better way to satisfy this need in your dog’s life.
- What other forms of reinforcement are available? Herding behaviors are very rewarding. You can offer your dog different reinforcing activities like agility classes.
- What is the most effective way to change behavior? It’s not possible to eliminate these behaviors completely, so we need to find other outlets.
The next step is to work on differential reinforcement and desensitization. You’ll need to desensitize many herding dogs to movement (bikers running through the yard, children playing in it, cars etc.). It’s more than one blog can cover, but you should start desensitization at a distance before moving closer.
Differential reinforcement is a way to focus on what you do want, rather than what you dislike. It is difficult to stop certain behaviors and reinforce the bad behavior. Differential reinforcement focuses the dog on what is right, rather than what is wrong.