Herding Help UPDATE

UPDATE
It seems like the Herding Instincts Test is the first step, but can newbies take this test who know NOTHING? Are there going to be a bunch of trained dogs there, and I'll be sitting in the bleachers going what the hell..?
Were growing our Corgi right, and I do belive that he would be great at herding our cats and chickens.
Thanks!

Why is it so hard to find a herding trainer in Oregon? Really having a hard time finding someone who is not a border collie trainer. Any ideas on what the first steps of training are? BTW someone would make a killing in this line of work down here, as there is a dried up supply of corgis specializing.(and breeders)
Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Beth on July 17, 2009 at 2:43pm

And you do bring up an interesting point. I mentioned once before the Border Collie people are not happy about their recent AKC recognition, and the inevitable show ring breeders that followed. The last time I watched a dog show on tv and saw the Borders, I nearly had a heart attack. Big, fluffy coats and no sign whatsoever of the trademark BC mannerisms. I thought, what the heck, you already have turned one collie into a fashion model. Why do it to another?

I dunno, I'm kind of torn. On the one hand, I was raised with hunting dogs and hunting dog people, and if you want to hear derision about show dog people, talk to the hunting people. Show dogs are bred with no consideration at times of what the breed was meant to do. On the other hand, most people just want a pet, and a dog that is bred to work or hunt or guard is really not a suitable pet if it doesn't have an outlet for all that energy.

At least with Corgis, the show people (so far) have kept in mind the dog's original intent when they set the standards. Your average show Corgi still looks like it could go do a day's work. It's athletic and muscular and well-proportioned, and most still show some hard-wired herding behaviors. As for being afraid of the sheep and ducks, that quite possibly is as much a lack of exposure at a key age as a lack of instinct.