Farm/Herding by Eric Reeder

1. Pages 4/5: What farm animals do you know of? You may think of cows, pigs, and horses. There are also dogs who live and work on farms. Farm dogs have different jobs. Some herd other farm animals, keeping them in the right place. Others serve as guard dogs. Other farm dogs are family companion dogs who protect children. Some of these farm dogs protect livestock, such as goats and cows.1 Farm dogs may also do other tasks. They may hunt rats and mice to keep them away from the farm’s crops and animals.2 Dogs on farms may also pull carts and do other jobs as needed.3

Sidebar 1: Herding and farming dogs are not just one type of . There are over 90 different breeds of dogs that can work successfully on farms and ranches. Many of these dogs have been bred for that purpose.4

2. Pages 6/7: Farming and herding dogs have been used for a very long time. Herding dogs today are likely descended, in part, from domesticated dogs brought to Britain. They were brought there, along with sheep, around 3000 B.C., over 5000 years ago. These ancient people began breeding and using dogs that could best herd sheep and cattle.5 Around the world, other types of farming and herding dogs have also been developed and bred. One example is the , originally brought to the United States by Spanish explorers in the 1600s. It was then bred and used by French explorers in the 1700s to find and herd livestock in rough terrain areas, such as forests and mountains.6 Over the years, different types of farming and herding dogs have been bred and continue to be used on farms around the world. In the United States, breeds that have been developed include the Blue Lacy, the multipurpose , and the popular .7

3. Pages 8/9: Today’s farming and herding dogs often live off of farms and ranches but sometimes live on them. They are companions to ranchers and farmers. And they also do a variety of different tasks. These dogs gather and move livestock, such as cows and sheep. They keep flocks of sheep out of danger. They watch livestock so that farmers can do chores, such as cleaning barns or fixing fences. Their work these days is often part-time instead of full-time. And herding dogs have a high need to burn off their high level of excess energy. If they do not have enough to do, they can become too hyperactive and destroy things. They must have vigorous exercise regularly so that this does not happen.8

4. Pages 10/11: Let’s look at different types of farm dogs. First, let’s look at herding dogs, such as Border and Australian Kelpies. These dogs work on farms or ranches with herds, or groups, of livestock, such as cows and sheep. They keep the group of animals together and lead them where they need to go. They also fetch animals that have left the herd and bring them back. They do not guard the herd, unlike the next dog.9 Next, let’s look at livestock guardian dogs. The most common types are the Akbash, Great Pyrenees, and Komondor breeds. They independently guard their herd, usually sheep or goats, keeping them safe from predators, such as wolves, foxes, and bears, or other dangers. If the animals are in danger, these dogs let the farmer or rancher know.10 Finally, let’s look at traditional farm dogs used for different purposes. These dogs may guard the farm and the family. They might pull carts or do other work. Or they may simply be companion dogs to children and families on farms. They may live indoors or outdoors or both. Dogs of this type include Hovawarts and Airedale Terriers.11

Sidebar 2: Herding dogs lead herds, usually with the help of the farmer or rancher handling them. The way herding dogs lead their herd from one area to another is by barking, biting, and chasing them.12

5. Pages 12/13, 14/15: Farm dogs do many different types of work. So they have many different kinds of training. Training helps get them learn. It helps them to be good farm and herding dogs that do what is needed. Dog’s natural instincts combined with good training and direction can help make an excellent farm dog. This means they already know some of what to do naturally. But they have to be taught other skills.13 People who train farm and herding dogs should be able to understand how dogs’ minds work. They should be able to see things as the dog sees them instead of how humans see things.14 Farmers have to expose puppies to livestock so that they are not afraid. Dogs that listen well, are not afraid, and are confident make good farm and herding dogs. Farmers and ranchers teach their working dogs different commands that they are expected to follow. They also teach them how to do their work, such as herding sheep. The farmer will give the dog the commands it needs and let it slowly learn how to herd the sheep. The farmer makes sure that the dog knows when it has done a good job. He will also let the dog know when it is wrong so that it can change its behavior. Training begins when puppies are young and lasts several months or longer.15

6. Pages 16/17: Farm and herding dogs do not usually become famous or win awards for their service. Some of these dogs do great things, though. One farm dog, a in North Carolina, was loyal to her owner. She helped keep her owner from danger. On the farm, the woman’s pig had given birth to piglets. She picked up one of the newborn piglets. The mother pig wanted to protect her baby. So the pig came running toward the dog’s owner. The pig snapped at the woman and was going to bite her. Instead, her collie ran up, snapped at the pig’s nose, and backed the angry pig into a corner. This let the woman get safely out of the pig pen. Pigs can bite hard and hurt people. The farm collie stopped this. Another collie on a farm probably kept the barn from being burned down. Someone had been setting buildings on fire around town. Late one night, in the dark, the collie noticed a man on the farm who should not have been there. The collie wanted to protect her family and farm. So the dog went and knocked the man down. This stopped him from setting a fire that night. The man, who had a can of gasoline with him, was the one who had been setting fires. As you can see, farm dogs can help in many brave ways.16

7. Pages 18/19: When approaching and interacting with herding and farm dogs, it is important that children are not afraid of them or of other farm animals. Dogs can sense fear and sometimes react negatively to it. On the other hand, as with other dogs, children should, under the supervision of adults, be calmly approach farming and herding dogs. They should let dogs sniff them so the dog knows the child is OK. Children should be kind and gentle with these dogs and be firm in their commands, such as telling a dog “NO.”17

8. Pages 20/21: Many different breeds of dogs work as farm and/or herding dogs. There are many different jobs that these dogs can do. There is not exact set of traits that farm dogs need. Here are some that are helpful, though. Farm and herding dogs need a high level of energy and willingness to work.18 They also need the natural instinct to herd farm animals or do other jobs well. They must want to work hard.19 Also, they must want to please their master, the farmer or rancher, and must be willing to obey commands.20 Dogs that herd cattle, for example, should be brave, strong, and hard-working.21

Sidebar 3: Rat terriers are a farm dog that lives indoors. They are very close to their owners. Rat terriers will serve as watchdogs for their families and are good with children. Around the farm, they will hunt animals that are pests, such as mice, rats, raccoons, and possums.22

9. Page 22: Quiz 10 questions and answers The quiz should have questions that are drawn from the text. Both questions and answers should be brief, requiring only recall info from the reader.

Quiz 1. K-9 gets its name from which English word? 2. Which European city used dogs as guards during the Middle Ages? 3. Some police dogs were originally bred to be what type of dog instead? 4. What was the contest that Trakr won after his owner submitted an essay about him? 5. Can you name one of the breeds that make a good police dog? 6. Where do dogs in K-9 units live when they are off duty? 7. What special protective equipment do K-9 dogs wear sometimes? 8. What is built into K-9 unit police cars to protect the dogs? 9. How often do K-9 units do a full-day training session? 10. What city in the U.S. first started using K-9 units in 1907?

ANSWERS 1 Canine 2 Paris 3 A guide dog 4 “World’s Most Clone‑Worthy Dog” 5 German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, beagles, border collies, and Belgian shepherds 6 At the homes of their human partners 7 Bulletproof vests 8 Metal cages 9 Every one to two weeks 10 New York City

Quiz 1. Herding dogs were used at least how long ago?

2. Which dog was brought to the United States by Spanish explorers in the 1600s?

3. If some herding dogs do not have enough to do and do not have enough exercise, what will happen?

4. Which animals are types of livestock?

5. Which type of dog has the job of keeping groups of animals together and leading them places?

6. Which type of dog has the job of guarding the herd?

7. What are Border Collies used as?

8. What are Great Pyrenees used for?

9. How do herding dogs lead herds from one area to another?

10. What do rat terriers hunt?

ANSWERS 1. 5000 years 2. Catahoula Leopard Dog 3. They will become hyperactive and destroy things. 4. cows, sheep, goats 5. herding dogs 6. livestock guardian dogs 7. herding dogs 8. livestock guardian dogs 9. barking, biting, and chasing them 10. animals that are pests, such as mice, rats, raccoons, and possums

10. Page 23: Key Words 1. commands: orders given that must be followed

2. guardian: a protector

3. herding: keeping a group of animals together

4. instincts: the way animals naturally react

5. livestock: animals kept on a farm for profit

11. Index Airedale Terriers Akbash Australian Kelpies Australian Shelperd Blue Lacy Border Collies Britain Catahoula Leopard Dog companion dogs domesticated dogs Great Pyrenees Hovawarts Komondor North Carolina United States

12. References: 1. Burgus, Shari, ed. (n.d.) “Paws for Farm Safety: Animal Safety.” http://nasdonline.org/7181/d002406/paws-for-farm-safety-animal-safety.html. 2. Davis, Carol. Farm Dogs: A Celebration of the Farm’s Hardest Worker. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007. 3. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016. 4. Holmes, John. The Farmer’s Dog. 12th ed. London, England: Popular Dogs Publishing, 1991. 5. Renna, Christine H. Herding Dogs: Selecting and Training the Working Farm Dog. Freehold, NJ: Books, 2009.

13. Endnotes: 1. Davis, Carol. Farm Dogs: A Celebration of the Farm’s Hardest Worker. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007, p. 8. 2. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016, p. 23. 3. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016, p.11. 4. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016, p.12. 5. Renna, Christine H. Herding Dogs: Selecting and Training the Working Farm Dog. Freehold, NJ: Kennel Club Books, 2009, p. 8. 6. Davis, Carol. Farm Dogs: A Celebration of the Farm’s Hardest Worker. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007, pp. 8-11. 7. Renna, Christine H. Herding Dogs: Selecting and Training the Working Farm Dog. Freehold, NJ: Kennel Club Books, 2009, p. 27. 8. Renna, Christine H. Herding Dogs: Selecting and Training the Working Farm Dog. Freehold, NJ: Kennel Club Books, 2009, pp. 30-31. 9. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016, pp. 119-125. 10. Davis, Carol. Farm Dogs: A Celebration of the Farm’s Hardest Worker. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007, p. 70. 11. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016, pp. 267-272. 12. Davis, Carol. Farm Dogs: A Celebration of the Farm’s Hardest Worker. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007, p. 70. 13. Davis, Carol. Farm Dogs: A Celebration of the Farm’s Hardest Worker. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007, pp. 21-33. 14. Holmes, John. The Farmer’s Dog. 12th ed. London, England: Popular Dogs Publishing, 1991, pp. 75-94. 15. Renna, Christine H. Herding Dogs: Selecting and Training the Working Farm Dog. Freehold, NJ: Kennel Club Books, 2009, p. 111-130.

16. Davis, Carol. Farm Dogs: A Celebration of the Farm’s Hardest Worker. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007, pp. 79-84. 17. Burgus, Shari, ed. (n.d.) “Paws for Farm Safety: Animal Safety.” http://nasdonline.org/7181/d002406/paws-for-farm-safety-animal-safety.html. 18. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016, p, 24. 19. Holmes, John. The Farmer’s Dog. 12th ed. London, England: Popular Dogs Publishing, 1991, pp. 17-19. 20. Holmes, John. The Farmer’s Dog. 12th ed. London, England: Popular Dogs Publishing, 1991, p. 35. 21. Renna, Christine H. Herding Dogs: Selecting and Training the Working Farm Dog. Freehold, NJ: Kennel Club Books, 2009, p. 8. 22. Dohner, Janet V. Farm Dogs: 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2016, p, 262.