Is Herding for My Dog's - Page 1

Some bloodlines have higher prey drive, and dogs taught to work in schutzhund often aren't done so until they are HGHed first(herding titled). This way they don't try to apply their biting from SchH to sheep.

Some bloodlines are more privy to herding, but all GSDs should have some degree of herding ability (note: I said they should, not that they DO).

Google your area and search for Herding Instinct testing and see if any such opportunities will be in your area. You can enter your girl into such and see how she does. Also check with reputable local schutzhund clubs and ask them if they know of anyone who has sheep and trains for herding. It's a little more difficult to find herding places than it is schutzhund, so be patient & thorough in your search. That might help you.

Thanks - I am a member of Schutzund club - but we don't do herding - it just sounded kinda fun - so I thought I would inquire....not a lot of sheep around here....My girl is more laid back than my male  - not really sure of her bloodline - I know his very well...  this is her bloodline - http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/554393.html

Thanks Mystere - you really know your dogs - -and I appreciate the knowledge - my Greta is laid back - way back - she has suprised alot, though - what do you look for in a dog that can do herding?  Is there a certain trait that a herding dog needs to herd sheep?

Thanks for all  knowledge - it is appreciated...

 Just curious: is there a difference between the herding that Schutzhund folks do vs. herding with someone more AKC oriented?

Mystere, I tried to get my five year old female into herding.  She is over the top prey, but too aggressive with the sheep.  I did some serious correcting on her with a prong collar, but I would have had to kill her to slow her down. (the trainer was not into hard corrections but agreed we had to get her under control).  She went crazy in that pen, wanting to attack what I believe was the lead sheep, but  with too much aggression.  We tried putting her leg through her fur saver (leaving her with three legs) to slow her down and self correct herself on turns, but it did nothing.  So we put a muzzle on her so she could not hurt the sheep, but that did not slow her down, she just kept charging into them like a wild rabbid dog.  She was exhausted, completely spent, but everytime the sheep moved she did her best to go after them on three legs with no mouth to bite..  She could hardly stand when we called it quits.  She ran for the water tank and jumped in and paddled/dug at  the water for some time like a wild animal .   I know this was releasing frustration.  She is not dog aggressive, but sure loved going after those sheep. It killed me to have to hang it up with her cause she sure loved it.

If I had it to do over,  I would have started her off on some real serious socializing with the sheep until she understood they were not for her own amusement, and I would have started her younger.  So my very limited knowledge of sheep herding is that prey drive is a must, but must be under control and should start at a younger age.  So good luck happyday and do some research before you jump into it.  I had been told by the trainer to let her go in the pen the first day to see her reactions, but hindsight tells me that was a mistake.