I am really excited, as hubby is treating me to a couple of dvds from the US. One is a Herding Trial which takes place in Germany ... for GSDs Should be very interesting.
I saw them herding in Austria and Switzerland, wonderful to watch but have to admit it was mainly cattle, but was very impressed when I saw them on sheep
Lucky you! They should be good. Maybe Yogi will come in handy around the farm now lol. I've seen some clips of them herding in the US and I think it's a shame there is nothing structured like this for them to do.
I have seen a rottie herding on a tv programme. Perhaps gsd herding could be the next new dog sport in this country. Are you thinking of training Yogi?
How wonderful Jeanette! I wish I could see it in *real life* so to speak. Flame did have a couple of lessons with my sheepdog trainer a few years back, but didn't show any aptitude for herding unfortunately.
I am sure Yogi would like to have a go ... but I think we already have enough sheepdogs I will lend you the dvd once I have watched it, if you are interested?
I think HGH trials would be difficult to hold in the UK as they are nothing like ISDS trials I adore the Kirschental dogs & bitches & they do work for a living !
You're probably right. Probably best you don't ignite his interest in sheep lol. I would love to watch the dvd, thanks so much for offering
Would be really interesting to see how they work - I guess their style must be different to the collies.
Hi, You're so lucky. I've only ever seen GSds herding on TV. Can't imagine any of mine herding sheep. They'd thik it was fun rathe rthan work and chase them all over the place for a giggle. (And ptrobably get shot for the privilege too!) Laura xx
It's totally different. They do drive the sheep/cattle, but not from the back as much as collies do. They trot alongside the sheep/cattle & stop any attempts to "escape"when they are moving the sheep/cattle on the roads. Once they reach the pasture fields, the shepherd(as in human version ;-) ) walks a line & the dog(s)have to keep the sheep/cattle behind the line, this is why GSDs have to have a sound gait & also why they need to be able to keep gaiting for long periods when required. The human shepherd do help-by throwing clods of earth at the "escapees" Never seen that at an ISDS trial ! The test should consist of a gather, a drive(through a village & usually over a bridge )then to the pasture & being shown the line & then to "patrol"the line. They do not flock guard like Anatolians etc they"shepherd"the stock. Hovawarts were used at one stage, but if thieves struck they used to take the dogs as well(that little tale came from a very elderly German(human)shepherd)
I can't see there ever being HGH trials in this country, as there just isn't the same interest (or GSDs that work sheep!) as there is for ISDS sheepdog trials. I have seen the Kirschenbach website before and would love to watch their dogs work in real life. Are there any dogs of that breeding in this country? I read somewhere that BMK GSDs are bred to retain herding ability but am not sure whether their dogs actually work sheep on a regular basis? Do you know?
LOL hmm it is already ignited unfortunately, but I am working hard to teach him that the sheep/lambs are off limits to him. I guess it must be confusing for my GSDs, when they see the collies working the sheep every day, and wonder why they can't have the same fun
Yes, very different from the snippets I have seen. I think part of the problem with Flame's sheep training experience was that the trainer attempted to train Flame in the same way he would train a border collie (which he was an expert at!) and clearly it didn't work, as GSDs don't herd in the same way as border collies, or even beardies. He was hoping to use her as a novelty sheepdog in his demonstrations but it was never to be!
That is very interesting Dyane, especially the bit about the test ... as I had no idea what would be involved. I am definitely looking forward to getting the dvd.
I think most GSDs have the inherent instinct to *herd* or perhaps I should say chase and unfortunately many have a bad rep with farmers for being sheep chasers/worriers :-( GSDs certainly don't seem to have the natural instinct to gather that working bred border collies have though. I wonder if this is because the herding/shepherding instincts in GSDs have been harnessed for so many years to undertake alternative tasks that have nothing whatsoever to do with livestock?
My Jazz definitly has the instinct and driving me nuts LOL she chases anything that runs and gently nips the back legs so now has to be muzzled till snap her outta it.
