Herding

The Canadian Kennel Club Bearded Collie Standard describes beardies as:

"One of the oldest of the British herding breeds, the Bearded Collie has for centuries been the Scottish hill shepherd's dog, used to hunt and gather free-ranging sheep on the Highlands. The breed was also popular as a cattle drover. Both jobs required a hardy constitution and intelligence, initiative, strength, stamina, and speed."

Herding with a beardie seems to be a daunting task to many who have seen their beardies bouncing, playing, running and generally being a "beardie". But for centuries the bearded collie has been a highly valued breed among the shepherds of Scotland

Robbie keeping the sheep in place

If you are thinking about herding with your beardie, the first step is to determine if your beardie has herding instinct.

Kyla seeing sheep for the first time

If your young dog has not seen sheep before and isn't sure what this is all about, let him approach the stock in a safe manner to get the scent and discover stock.

Mom, this isn't a beardie - what is it?

A novice dog frequently has difficulty moving the stock out of a corner. It is important to help the beardie be successful

Summer receiving help to
move the sheep

It is important that a novice dog has a positive first experience with stock.

It is also important to watch the stock when working with your dog. It is especially important with a young novice dog.

This ewe was "sizing" Bailie up and began to stomp her foot - a sign that she might come at him. In order to ensure that Bailie wasn't charged or butted, he was moved back a foot and the ewe settled down.

When herding, your beardie is to move the stock from one point to another. This should be done in a calm manner.

Bailie calmly moving the
sheep around the pen

A herding dog's instinct is to keep the stock together to bring to the handler.

Robbie going to get the "escapee"

Once you have decided to begin herding, it is important that when in the pen or field with stock, your beardie learns to control the stock, but you control your beardie.

Learning the herding terms is part of the human's job when training your beardie.

Training your beardie can present challenges, but there is always a solution to the problem.

There are a number of organizations in the United States which put on herding trials.

You are invited to continue your visit...

[Getting Started in Herding] [Does a Beardie have Balance]
[Robbie] [Summer] [Bailie] [Kyla] [Briana]
[About Beardies] [Boomer's Park] [Herding] [Rainbow Bridge]