I want a sheltie,but our landlord doesn't want us to get a herding dog because he thinks it will chase his cows. I know they have strong herding instincts,but would a sheltie chase cows(they were originally bred in Scotland for sheep) and if they did couldn't they be trained?? I think he has this breed mixed up with the border collie and cow herding type dogs. Help!!
2007-11-20 12:35:15 · 8 answers · asked by *Country Girl* 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The dog I want is a 12 month old sheltie.
2007-11-20 12:56:03 · update #1
Hm. Interesting situation. You could, perhaps, explain to your landlord that only certain dogs (particularly dogs of strong working lines) have a high prey drive and urge to herd. My border collie is a perfect example. She LOVES to herd. On the other hand, when we went to pick her out, we looked at other dogs who couldn't care less if a big group of sheep was standing right in front of them. They would rather chase a ball.
It all depends on the dog you get. Because you need a dog that isn't going to herd, I would suggest you adopt. You won't be able to know how a puppy will be when you're buying it, so if you get a dog that has already grown out of its puppy stage and developed its own interests, you will be able to tell what will and will not herd. Bring your landlord with you to choose the dog, just to be sure that he approves of the non-herding dog.
Check out www.petfinder.com for homeless shelties.
EDIT: I should also mention that you CANNOT train a dog to not herd. It's like training a bloodhound to not sniff the ground. It's in their blood, they are going to do it. You need to find a dog with a low or no herding drive.
2007-11-20 12:42:35 · answer #1 · answered by Fur and Fiction 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on where this dog is coming from, would you by chance be able to have the dog come visit for a "test run" with being around the cows? There is a Sheltie in my herding class, but he's not too turned on by sheep really. They have to work very hard just to get him interested. So, it really can vary from dog to dog as to if you will have a problem.
Of course, your other option is to actually train the dog for herding, in which case, you will eventually be able to have full control over the dog. A simple "That'll do" is all it takes to get a well trained, even a high drive dog, off the stock.
2007-11-20 13:22:06 · answer #2 · answered by Shadow's Melon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The instinct to herd is largely inherited, not learned. Therefore, one should start with parents that have proven their herding ability. Insitinct is a response to stock that no amount of training can create. However, the greatest instincts are not useful without a willingness to work with the handler. Trainablility is as important as good instinct, so the greater level of working accomplishements by the parents, the higher the likelihood the offspring will achieve these skills. Without attention to this in breeding, it is all chance. A few individual dogs have produced good herding instinct consistantly. Today, only about 50%-60% of the Shelties tested have shown some herding instinct, but not all of these are capable of intermediate and advanced work. In choosing a puppy, outgoing temperment and an interest in chasing moving objects (balls, cats, vacuum cleaner, ect.) is important. Boldness and reserved self-confidence are desirable, but not aggressiveness or shyness. Altouhg they are a hearding aniaml most of it is up to the person training it too.
2007-11-20 12:46:00 · answer #3 · answered by nenee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, shelties were bred in the Shetland Islands to herd their smaller livestock and to kep the ponies out of gardens. Scotland had nothing to do with them. Just a little historical fact.
A sheltie not raised around livestock will unlikely chase cattle. And, as you said, they can be trained to leave the livestock alone. Of course, the dog shouldn't be off lead when outside a secure fence anyway, so chasing the landlord's cattle would be a moot point.
A sheltie trained to herd could probably be trained to move cattle, but they really aren't designed for it like corgis, Australian cattle dogs, etc.
2007-11-20 22:31:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you keep your Sheltie indoors there will be no problem. That would be the only way I would have a collie or sheltie near a farm, unless you trained them.
2007-11-20 12:42:47 · answer #5 · answered by lilyflower 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Herding dogs will herd anything - ducks, chickens, cows, and even children.
2007-11-20 12:49:05 · answer #6 · answered by Diana 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shelties have herding instincs in their blood so it would probably chase the cows.
2007-11-20 12:41:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
You probably won't be able to train it to not chase. That's in their intincts.
2007-11-20 12:39:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋