A Guide to the Livestock-Working
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A Guide to the $1.50 Livestock-working Dog B. Henny elcome to the Selecting Your fascinating world Wof the livestock- Employee working dog. This publication If you select and train contains four sections: your working dog as carefully • Selecting the working dog, as you would hire and train a including review of the manager for your farm, you common working breeds can have a very valuable four- legged employee that does the • Basic training methods work of four people and and tips becomes your best and most • The International Sheep Dog faithful friend. Whether you select honest. List your Rules with course pattern and train the dog yourself, or traits, such as • A list of resources including instruct a 4-H member, we can’t temper, patience, and breed associations overemphasize the importance of the type of discipline you use. studying all aspects of training Don’t be afraid or too vain to ask It’s intended as a reference before you begin. your spouse, parents, or leader if guide, not a training manual. The first thing to consider is the list accurately reflects your “Training a working dog is not choosing the working breed most personality. Then study the breeds child’s play. It is serious business, suited to your personality and and make a selection that suits you. requiring patience, perseverance, situation. Each working breed has The following is a review of the and knowledge of what you want common personality traits and a most common working breeds and your dog to learn. You must not primary purpose for which it was some helpful hints on the “non- expect the dog to learn it all in a bred. You should select an adapt- instinct” dog. week or month or any set time. It is able breed. Prime examples of a constant learning process.” improper selection include the Border Collie This excerpt from Pope dairy farmer who works Border Collies and their sleek Robertson’s excellent training anextremely aggressive dog that working style were described as manual, Anybody Can Do It, aggravates the dairy cows, which early as the 1500s; however, it illustrates the realities for results in a decrease of their milk was not until October 8, 1973, in 4-H members, or anyone else, supply, or the beef rancher who Bala, North Wales, that the first considering the challenge of works a meek and mild dog that documented sheepdog trial was training a working dog. lacks the power to move cattle, Experienced handlers, highly causing inefficiency and loss of recommended by their peers, wrote Bonnie Henny, Brooks, Oregon; with valuable time. These situations all the resource materials listed in assistance from Alan Snider, former occur often. this publication. Each author has his Extension specialist, 4-H youth When examining your development, Oregon State University; or her own method, each with its personality, be objective and and the 4-H Development Committee own merit. for the Dog Program. Illustrations by Nancy Lorain, Brooks, Oregon 4-H 123L Reprinted August 2003 1 held. Ten dogs competed before bite. It moves livestock with a A reputable breeder is well- several hundred spectators, and the direct, businesslike attitude. versed on the bloodlines and will winner was a Scotch-bred dog. The variation in the power level guarantee the pup has the instinct This dog originated near the border of the “eye” and the strength of to work. Many Border Collies of Scotland and England, and is personality allow the breed to work annually are purchased from Great now known worldwide as the any type of animal; however, it Britain, and many American-born Border Collie. works best with herding-instinct puppies have imported parents. Border Collies are primarily animals (such as sheep). This This does not imply that American- black and white with occasional ability to work any animal is well bred dogs are inferior or that tinges of brown or red. They have documented by Arthur Allen in his imported dogs are better; however, either a long (rough) coat or a short book, A Lifetime with the Working bear in mind your needs and select (smooth) coat, stand approximately Collie, Their Training and History, the type of Border Collie best 16 to 26 inches in height, and in which he describes two Border suited for your situation. This will weigh approximately 40 pounds. Collies working a mountain lion allow you to obtain a good work- The Border Collie is bred for into a truck. ing dog more easily. intelligence, instinct, working style, The Border Collie is quick to and “eye”; not for color, coat, nor learn and easy to train. It can Australian Shepherd size. understand up to 60 commands of The Australian Shepherd The most striking characteristic both whistle and voice, and is originated in the Basque region on of the Border Collie is the “eye,” extremely affectionate to its the border between France and the dog’s power to control live- handler. It’s considered the most Spain. It worked for the Basque stock with its eager watchful eyes intelligent of breeds. It’s the most shepherd for many generations, while it crouches on the ground popular breed of dog working and may have immigrated to North with legs gathered under it for sheep and cattle at trials in the America with the Spanish settlers immediate action. Border Collies United States and Great Britain. in the early 1800s. use “eye” to establish authority and The Border Collie is born with the There is evidence the Australian control without overrunning the instinct to work. It’s very good in Shepherd was imported to Austra- livestock being worked. The “eye” obedience trials, but can become a lia from Spain with Merino sheep. is hereditary. Within the breed, handful if not given enough work In Australia, it was crossed with dogs will show many levels of to expend its energy. The breed English herding dogs to improve “eye” power, from very weak to generally thrives on large livestock its herding ability, and then im- very strong. “Eye” power is unique farms. ported to North America, where it to the Border Collie and does not In selecting a Border Collie, look had remained a purebred for many carry over well genetically when a for a dog that has good working generations. dog is crossbred. parents, medium-eye control, good In top working dogs, “eye” and power (neither flighty nor shy when “power” are complementary traits working), and that is friendly to its that allow the dog to show no fear. handler. It’s very helpful to know the Border Collies use their eyes as an bloodlines of the Border Collie, as enforcer and are able to communi- style of work, level of “eye,” and cate their courage to livestock instinct are hereditary. Purchasing a without using roughness. This puppy is the least expensive means breed is not inclined to jump in and of acquiring the Border Collie. You can feel confident the pup will have the instinct to work if you’re well aware of the bloodlines. 2 The Australian Shepherd can with all working breeds, selection Dogs often become self-appointed be identified by its natural or should be based on bloodlines and guardians of their owners’ herds docked bobtail. Males stand 20 to working style of the parents. The and property. 23 inches tall; females 18 to Aussie does not have the control- 21 inches. Average weight is ling “eye,” but does have strong Australian Kelpie 40 pounds. The Aussie (common working instinct. The Australian Kelpie is a lithe, nickname) may be blue Merle, red extremely active, and intelligent Merle, liver Merle, red, liver, or Australian Cattle Dog dog with tireless gait and a strong black. Merle is described as any The Australian Cattle Dog was instinct to work. It’s sometimes coloration with flecks of another developed in Australia exclusively referred to as a “desert Border color in it. Eyes are almond-shaped for working cattle in heavy brush Collie.” It’s a short-coated, prick- and may be any color. (Dogs with or confinement. The breed is used eared dog that revels in difficult one blue and one brown eye are in America to work cattle, hogs, terrain. The Australian Kelpie was common.) and horses. Its primary style is established specifically for desert The Aussie is a well-balanced “heeling,” defined as driving the or tough terrain where it could dog of medium size and bone. It’s animal by biting low on the heels. “muster huge areas under extreme attentive and animated, and shows The Australian Cattle Dog (also conditions, often having to do strength and stamina combined called the Blue Heeler) weighs without water for hours on end.” with unusual agility. The dog approximately 33 pounds; males It can be black, black and tan, red, should be slightly longer than it is are 18 to 20 inches in height, while red and tan, fawn-chocolate, or tall. The coat should be of medium females are 17 to 19 inches. It may smoke-blue. Males are 18 to texture, straight to slightly wavy, be blue-mottled, with or without 20 inches in height; females 17 to weather-resistant, and of moderate black, or red-speckled with darker 19 inches. The Kelpie weighs about length with an undercoat. The red markings on the head. A blue- 25 to 30 pounds. This breed is very Australian Shepherd is intelligent, headed dog may be marked with sturdy and strong, but light boned. primarily a working dog, an black and tan, with tan legs. The Kelpie usually is found to have exceptional companion, versatile, The Australian Cattle Dog has a great endurance and energy and and easily trained.