Fulfil the needs of herding breeds

In recent months, when out and about I have seen several collies that have been struggling with movement of children, dogs, bicycles, and cars.

This can lead to our herding dogs building up frustration.

It doesn’t matter if you bought the dog from a farmer or a breeder, you need to be fully aware that this breed has spent generations being bred for a specific job, where they would work for up to 12 hours a day.

When they cannot perform this natural behaviour, that is very difficult for the dog. After all we bred them to do it and now, we want them to just not do it.

When we buy a puppy that was bred to herd and they are living in a home with no job they can choose something in their environment that they can ‘herd’. As I said above, that is often cars, bikes, runners and more.

Some herding dogs love a ball, but it is important to understand that if you own a herding breed and you are throwing the ball for them, that can be very stressful for a collie having a ball thrown if they need to ‘herd’ it and it can build up frustration in the dog.

Does your dog get the ball a couple of times and then refuse to bring it to you? It may be that they don’t want you to throw the ball, they just want to gather them to fulfil the herding instinct.

Collies are complicated dogs, and some have quite different needs to other non-herding breeds.

In fact, I have heard it said that other dogs speak a very different language to those that herd. It is like they are from a foreign land.

It is important to point out that all dogs are individuals. There will always be dogs that do not have the ‘breed specific’ behaviours. Not all Collies could herd sheep. They might have the instinct to herd but not necessarily the aptitude to do the work with living, breathing sheep.

If you have a herding breed that has shown a need to practice these natural behaviours, you need to provide them with an outlet.