Be the Pack Leader by Cesar Millan

Author:Cesar Millan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780307405555
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2007-10-01T16:00:00+00:00

The Herding Group

The instinct to control the movements of other animals comes from the predator drive that is rooted in the wolf nature of domestic dogs. If you watch any of the canine pack hunters at work, you will notice how they coordinate their positions in order to weed out the weakest members of the herd they are preying on, and how effortlessly they seem to steer the animals they’re chasing, to “corner” them, readying them for the kill. Over the centuries, humankind has taken that innate skill and created dogs that complete all these actions, right up until the final moment. These dogs, the members of the herding group, don’t kill the animals they are corralling. They simply keep them grouped together for human benefit, following both their own judgment and their owner’s commands. Some nip at the heels of livestock to keep them in order, others bark, others stalk and stare, and others simply use their motion and their energy. Popular herders include the German shepherd dog (considered by some to be both a herder and a working dog), the Shetland sheepdog or sheltie, the short-legged corgi breeds, the Old English sheepdog, the Australian shepherd, the blue heeler, the collie and Border collie, the Australian Cattle Dog, and the Bouvier des Flandres.

It takes a lot of stamina in order to guard and herd livestock, so herding dogs were intended to have high energy levels. If you have a high-energy herder, walking, Rollerblading or bike riding for thirty minutes to an hour at least once a day, and at least one shorter outing later on, are absolutely necessary to drain energy and achieve balance. These are not dogs that should be left to meander in the backyard with nothing to do. Remember, herding is a job, so being a worker is deep in the herding dog’s genes. The dog is happiest and most fulfilled when using her energy toward a purpose. Giving her a challenge is your best bet for preventing or helping solve behavior problems that are caused by boredom or repressed energy.

Once you have completed your regular walk or run, there are dozens of different breed-fulfilling activities that herders enjoy. Of course, most of us can’t bring cattle, goats, or sheep into our own backyard, but we can substitute other challenging activities. Due to their patience and agility, herders often make great Frisbee or “disc dogs”—an official dog sport since 1974. Of course, dogs of all kinds can play Frisbee—some world champions were mixed breeds rescued from shelters—but cattle dogs have really distinguished themselves in this field. The 2006 world champion is Captain Jack, an Australian cattle dog known as “the hardest working disc dog in the sport.” If you are seriously interested in the sport, the International Disc Dog Handler’s Association (www.iddha.com) can help you find a club in your area, but the great thing about Frisbee playing is that all it really requires is a flat, grassy area and the plastic disc you can pick up at any sport or big box store for well under ten dollars.

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