Which Herding Breed?

You may already have a herding-breed dog; if that is the case, an instinct test will let you know if your dog has enough instinct to pursue herding.  But if you do not already have a dog, and are looking to get involved with working dogs, then you will have some decisions to make.  There are a number of herding breeds out there, and each was bred to do a specific type of work. For instance, some breeds are very good at dealing with large flocks, keeping them contained within a certain area as they graze.  Other breeds are very good at driving stock along, as in a cattle drive.  Other breeds work well with livestock in smaller areas, as in sorting livestock in pens.  Others are known for their gathering ability, casting out wide over vast areas, gathering large numbers of stock and bringing them in.  And each breed has its own temperament and energy level.  It is imperative to do research on the breed of dog you are considering to see if it will fit in with your lifestyle. 

By far, the most versatile stockdog is the Border Collie.  Because they have been bred for centuries strictly for their working ability (which is why there is such variation in their looks), they have the highest level of intensity, or the strongest instinct, of all the herding breeds.  They work well in small areas, in the open field, tending grazing stock, driving them, or doing large gathers.  They work cattle and sheep equally well.  But there is a price to pay–a Border Collie is NOT for everyone.  They are very high energy, and, because of their intense keenness for stock, are truly obsessive-compulsive if not worked regularly.  As a rule, they do not make good family pets unless you provide them with a job to do.  We always have vast numbers of them in the Border Collie Rescue because they did not work out as a family pet.  They simply have too much energy and drive. 

If you decide you want a herding dog, contact us and we will help you find the right one for you.  We know of pups for sale from working lines, if you want to begin with a youngster.  But often, someone will want a slightly older dog, somewhere from 6 to 18 months old, who may already have some training.  We can find a dog for you, with whatever level of training already in place, that will suit your needs.  Many times, a competitive trials person will have a dog who will make an absolutely wonderful ranch dog, but the dog is just not up to the serious competitive level.  The advantage to this is that we already have an idea of its working style and temperament, which is always an unknown with a pup.  We can also help you select the right dog for the type of stock you want to work, as working cattle is very different from working sheep.