known herding lines

[Crestlynn]

Which one of yours was herding you? I have several that will do that to me :x
You know, breeding Simon to something with herding instinct and agility could be arranged....

I have a lot that will herd me too, but Belle is the worst! I sent her to Sherri's to do herding lessons but she only got to go to one before she came into heat. I'm now breeding her with Simon but the last time she didn't take. If it does, they both have nice conformation (although I didn't keep her ears down so can't show her), both show herding instinct, and I think both could have done agility had I known earlier what I know now. She is also from a outcross pedigree with nothing that I can see that stands out as being a herding dog though.

We'll have to talk about that breeding Simon's getting older and I would like to get some good kids out of him before he's done siring!

 

[jazzyfizzle]

Crestlynn, You bet on the VCX, that is my dream for Merlin man.

The health issue that occured on the pup I had brought home was genetic-think the worst- and should not be bred- he was returned home and has been neutered. It was quite heartbreaking for me, and I am sure for the breeder as well. Not only for the pup, but for it coming from the pedigree. McQuiregirl- I will PM you. Do you think you will be looking for a herding dog when the time comes?

 

[Cheje-Lyn]

Excellent thread my favorite subject!

Well, this is something I have a great interest in. I want my shelties to be the working dogs they were originally intended. That may or may not entail herding in it's typical form, but at the very least, the form we believe the breed was originally desired for- the all around farm dog with ability to move and control stock to some degree by agileness, confidence in it's own ability, and movement.
The sheltie I have with a very large amount of drive and natural ability has nothing of note in her pedigree up front. Behind she is quite linebred to Halstor's Peter Pumpkin.
I have 2 of the dogs out of Crestlynn's Simon, and have herding instinct tested 2 other puppies out of him. All showed great interest. The bi-black boy Merlin has already been on sheep a number of times, he is just now 4 months. He is showing a ton of drive and natural confidence.

I am so glad to have the opportunity to have him- I have searched and searched for a sheltie male with the drive I desire. Almost had it once before, from a male puppy from Michigan, and he was returned for genetic health problems.

Dogs that I have found to be of common link in some herding pedigrees (just from my own research)-
Magdega Piano Man , Banchory Formal Notice, Banchory Blue Nun, Banchory Thunder Blue, Dundee Famous Amos, Chenterra Thunderation. I have more lol

Kennels I have found in common - Pocono, Lanbur,

Sherri and I actually talked in depth about this a few times. Rain shows excellent herding potential. Her trainer went so far as to say that she shows more herding instinct than some Border Collies that she's had come in there. Rain has basically a no name pedigree, but I was able to trace hers back to Peter Pumpkin, Macdega, Banchory, Sea Isle, Pocono, etc. Peter Pumpkin was used many many times in her past. The other one used many times was Am Can CH Malpsh The Duke of Erle.

 

[JessicaR]

I was wondering what age do you start herding? I would like to do herding with Dusty when he is old enough, but I don't know how old that is

 

[HopeShelties]

I don't know about everyone else, but I do prefer exposing mine early on. There seems to be a fearless stage that young ones go through, and that's always a good time to expose them. I think I had Torrey and Knight on ducks at 5 months old, and they were both very eager. We also exposed them to tunnels and contact equipment at its lowest height at that age..

 

[Crestlynn]

I was wondering what age do you start herding? I would like to do herding with Dusty when he is old enough, but I don't know how old that is

Sherri and I had my litter out at 8 weeks old on her ducks. It wasn't a formal instinct test but we could certainly see who was more interested or not. The one with the most interest is the one that she has had on sheep now and he's only about 4 months old! The sire of this litter is the one that I was wondering about the lines too.

I'm sure there is a proper time but I would think a lot would depend on the particular dog too.

 

[JessicaR]

thanks for the info. I guess for now he will have to be content with herding the cats until I can him around some ducks

I still want to get Belle tested sometime since one of her favorite games is "get the kitty" which is where we tell her to get the kitty and runs up to the nearest cat and pokes him with her nose to try and get them to run. of course the cats are getting bored with that game and will just lay there and look at her like she is nuts She also loves to herd the soccer ball

 

[Caro]

You are lucky - I'm thinking of getting mine a cat to herd too! I tried to get mine into sheep herding training/school here in Canberra, Aust but would you believe I was told Shetland Sheepdogs are not real sheepdogs so would not be allowed to attend. It makes me soooooo angry. Deska has the best herding instinct I have seen in a dog - better than the "Barbie" Collies (I mean Border collies) I see around here. He had a go with a friends hens once that got out of the property and he did superbly bringing them back in.

 

[jazzyfizzle]

Oh man Caro, I think I would have been steaming! There definitely aren't many that have the ability to be 'real' sheepdogs but there a few out there still! Would you be able to possibly get some ducks you could raise around your dog, and maybe get some exposure that way?

Jessica- I bet you would love Judi, and she is not too far from you. She is super patient, kind, and very good with shelties.
Dusty- I'm not sure if herding will be his game, but it is always worth a try. I would be more than happy to expose him to the ducks tomorrow to see if anything happens, if you like. I did herding instinct test his mother, her sister and their mother, and unforuntately didn't see anything fire up in them.

I am now doing like Stacey, I am doing short exposures early on- approx. age 7-8 weeks for first exposure, and then weekly (just short and fun). Merlin boy- (the bi-black from Crestlynn) was exposed twice to ducks and showed very good interest, and I then took him to sheep.
The first sheep exposure he showed mild interest and good confidence, but not the gung-ho. The 2nd half of his 2nd exposure you could see the moment the lightbulb hit fully on and it is exciting at 4 months. We will just do fun exposures like this until he gets closer to a year old, and then it will be light, easy training.

Michelle's Rain and my Jazz have the same Malpsh (does anyone know the proper pronunciation for that?? lol) Malpsh Duke of Earl and alot of Pumpkin.


Sher

 

[Lahree]

Hi Lori,

What characteristics does Ellie exhibit?

Oh, I missed this, sorry!

Ellie herds the cat and us as much as possible. She is EXTREMELY fast and will dart in front of us and try to cut us off from moving forward. She squats down in front and gives us the "stare" (where they lower the head) and then makes a counter move to every move we make. This drives the cat crazy! She also will run along side and nips at heals and moves into the side of you so you either have to move to the side or step on her. She also has the extremely bad sheltie habbit of nipping at heals (we are working on that very hard). I am sure she would do very well at herding!