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south east Indiana | I am by no means an expert but i have been using border collies on stock for 13 years. It seems cattle folks are opposed to having the cattle bought to them. They believe the cattle need to be pushed. If you are working wilder cattle this is true, I stay away from those. The thing is the dog is pushing the cattle, it can push them toward you OR away from you. Yes Border Collies gather and they drive. Just takes training to do it well. IF you have ever moved a herd of cattle a distance it works best IMO to have someone in front Leading the way - be that a person on a horse or pickup or 4 wheeler. Cattle, sheep ect follow what is in front of them. I do not see a problem with you being in front and the dog pushing from behind. If that doesn't work for you or the situation simply teach the dog to drive and both he and you are behind the cattle. If cattle are out of the pasture I would prefer to be the one at the gate and the dog bringing the stock back to the pasture. I want the dog saving me work and time. To work cattle well no matter the breed the dog needs to quiet, confident and always moving steadily forward into the cattle. A stron eyed border collie will not work cattle as well as a looser eyed border collie
No matter the breed of dog temperment and the way the parents work needs to be taken into account. Talent and temperment is passed down. My working border collies are not hyper. I can have them all in the house and they each find a spot to lie down but they get plenty physical and mental excersice. I want all the knowledge of stock in the dogs heads already as a pup. They know where they need to be in relation to one cow or a herd of cattle to turn them, move them forward, stop them,... My training is basically bringing out the knowledge that is there and showing the dog the way in which I want it to relate to stock. I correct it when it is wrong and let it work when it is right. I want to be able to have my dogs in the woods, around a corner on the next hill and know all will be well and not have to be standing next to them every minute. Each dog brings a bit of different strengths and weakness to the table. Herding is a team effort so you have to be there to help them when they need it and they are there to help you. The Relationship you have with your dog will make all the difference.
The last 5 years I have worked with other folks and their dogs - many different breeds from Aussies, Eng Shep, German Shep, Cattle dogs/heelers, and others. The thing I see is that there are more talented Border Collies out there than the other breeds. Simply due to the fact the other breeds have been bred for other purposes. I find generally Aussies can be more aggresive toward people and stock mostly due to lack of confidence. Good ones are tough to find but they are out there. I do not see the 'range' of ability in them that a bc has. They work closer to the stock and benifit from more direct supervision/assistance. I feel they tend to work individual stock as opposed to working the 'herd'. This comes from working closer, they don't see the large picture as well. They simply take a different training approach.
Cattle dogs Heelers that I have worked I feel can do a few things well but again they seem a bit limited in skills where they excell. I do not run across many shepherds with a lot of herding talent. Everyone has The Breed that works for them, you have to watch enough dogs work to figure out what work for you. | |
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whats a good cattle dog?
