I recently took my pup for a sheep herding instinct test. Very interesting experience. At first, I was thrown by the air of border collie superiority that surrounded the place, but I decided to just ignore it.

Time for the test. Trainer brings her dog into the ring with my pup and rounds up the sheep with her dog then tells me to let my dog go. He goes running for the other dog doesn't even glance at the sheep and all he wants to do is play with the dog who is doing an impressive job of completely ignoring him. The trainer takes him out of the ring and we try it again, but my pup runs to the fence where the dogs is waiting desperately to get back in with the sheep. Great - I'm thinking. Some great working lines he supposed to come from. We try it again. This time I go towards the sheep with him and boom something clicks. He starts herding for 20 minutes straight. One sheep keeps leaving the herd and he will have nothing to do with it. Goes right after him. Get back in there.

He is a little mouthy with the sheep (takes some wool off and tried to jump one of em), but in the end he is respond to the trainer and her wand. Most amazing thing I have ever seen. I have never seen my dog so focused and having so much fun. I had to drag him out of the ring and when I got out the border collie crowd was so impressed with his test that they warmed up to us. They inquired about his age and were shocked - he was 6 1/2 months at the time and about 70 lbs.

Anyhow, I am planning on signing up for weekly lessons because it is sucha great outlet. I have one concern. We live next to an equestrian village and share the trails and parks with horses.

My pup was very barky at horses but we have been working with him getting him to sit and down while the pass by and has calmed down quite a bit. Will this sheepherding reverse the progress we have made with him? I am thinking he might want to start herding the horses now? Any thoughts?

I dont do any sheepherding but I do train horses and also have working line GSDS Mals and Dutch Shepherds.As long as my dogs dont see the horses as a threat then they pretty much ignore them.But I had one GSD that went nuts evrytime horses got too close to me or anyone else for that matter.I do think they know the difference between sheep and horses so I would let the dog know that sheep are ok to herd and horses are off limits.Ed has a video about teaching your dogs to get along with horses.I havent seen it but am thinking of purchasing it myself.I doubt it will cause problems with sheep.My dogs know the difference between horses and cows but they are raised around them and are exposed to them every day.

I'd love to try sheephearding, but with my SAR dog, I suspect I don't want him showing that much intrest in ANY critters. When he met his first horse at 4 months old, they sniffed noses, the horse went on grazing, and the dog layed down and started eating a mouthful of horse$#!+. All went well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I was amazed at how much fun it was. He loved it and I was in awe as this incredible natural ability just emerged as if it was there all along sitting dormant.

I suppose crittering in general may become more of a problem with him? Is there anyone out there with working line GSD house pets that does sheepherding with their dogs?

I am curious as to how encouraging his herding insticts will affect him. I definitely don't want him to be one of those annoyingly crazy (drivey?) dogs that tries to herd every and anything. But, I really want to continue with this because he loved it so much and I am sure it will help with overall obedience because he has to learn a lot of commands and do moving downs from a distance with sheep as the distraction, etc.

I do mostly sheep herding with my german shepherds (mostly boundary work).

I have also trained my male Aiko in TTD (tracking through drive). He is very good at it and does 2-4 hr. aged tracks, approx. mile long with some cross tracks, articles, different surfaces. I have never had a problem with him on a track. When he tracks...he tracks.

I have also not had a problem wtih my dogs and horses, although they are not around them a whole lot.

I also have a border collie (unbelievable drive and work ethic). I have worked him on my flock of sheep in and amoung the horses! The sheep will often run to the horses (2) for 'protection' (a natural thing they would do if they saw a preditor etc). Riggs has no problem pulling them off the horses. A dog is capable of learning what is appropriate and what is not. Even IN herding, they should never be allowed to just work for themselves and should only be working livestock when you as pack leader have given them permission to do so. Thus I firmly believe a dog can learn to work appropriate stock and to leave the rest alone. Will the 'try' to herd horses...maybe, but you teach them not to. (many herding dogs learn to work all types of livestock and learn to leave livestock alone when not asked to work).

Forgot to mention that my younger dogs are working line gsd's.

Thanks for the advice. I signed up for the weekly classes. I can't wait. It seems like the place I am going to teaches the herding style more suited to border collies. I am assuming this won't be a huge problem. Does anyone know of anywhere in Southern California that offers classes for the GSD stle herding (I think you called it Boundary? or HGH?).

Take a look at this site. Herding

She has some good articles on herding and is located in southern california. She has trialed the HGH and also worked her dogs in other avenues (AKC, AHBA, and cow trials)

I would love to try sheepherding someday.I wonder if you can have too much dog for sheep?I was trying to load some cows one time in a trailer and they just wouldnt go in..soooo..I sent in my Dutch Shepherd female for a little motivation.She drew blood and I had to go in and "rescue" my cows.It was a big mistake on my part but she had more tenacity and hardness than any Heeler Ive seen.I guess my question is how much drive do you want or need for a good HGH type dog???