Article: “Herding 101”

Have You HERD?

Glossary of Herding Terms (A - G)

Approach: The manner in which the dog comes toward the stock, a smooth approach being most highly prized; that is, the dog moves in very steadily and surely without bounding around, weaving, or jumping in aggressively. Attempt: When the livestock crosses the plane of the obstacle. Bad sheep: In the handler’s terms - uneven, ragged movers, liable to break at any moment, or turn and fight the dog. One individual may constantly seek to leave the rest. Sheep vary according to temperature, so they may become sour during the heat of the day. Balance: The position taken by the dog, at an appropriate distance from the stock, which enables the dog to control the direction of the stock and to cover any attempts by the stock to break away. Brace: Two dogs working simultaneously with a handler. Broke sheep: Sheep which have been worked with dogs before and which understand that they should move away from the dog and do so without panic or fighting. Sheep which have not been worked by dogs will tend to stand and fight, to run wildly, or both, and are difficult to work. Close-running: A dog which runs in very close to the stock, trying to get as close as possible to the stock while passing around it. Come-bye (also known as Go-bye): The usual, traditional Scottish command for sending the dog around the sheep in a clockwise direction. Crook: A hook-shaped shepherd’s staff. Down: All stockdogs need a good command to bring them to an immediate halt. “Down” may mean to stop, sit, stand still or lie down. Drive: When the dog works between the handler and the sheep, moving the sheep away from the handler. In many trials, a triangular course bounded by pairs of hurdles or panels through which the sheep must pass. Driving: Taking the livestock away from the handler, or from one side to another at right angles to the handler either naturallly or upon direction from the handler to do so. Ewe: A female sheep. Exhaust: To remove the stock from the trial field, arena or pen. Eye: An intense gaze used by the dog to control the stock, often accompanied by a creeping or crouching approach to the animals. Fetch: When the dog brings the sheep to the handler. In a trial, the part of the course after the outrun and lift when the dog fetches the sheep straight down the centerline of the course to the handler. Flanks: The flanks or sides are the directional commands the dog must learn to understand in which direction he must travel around the sheep. The commands are always given in relationship to the dog’s position relative to the sheep. Force Barking: The dog generally works quietly, but in situations where the stock challenges the dog barks as a precursor to a nip. Gates: In a trial, the obstacles through which the dog must move the sheep - also called panels. Gather: When the dog collects the sheep from their scattered positions in a field into a compact group. In a trial, the outrun, lift and fetch portion of the course. Gathering: Going out and around and bringing animals to the handler, sometimes called fetching. Good sheep: In the handler’s terms, there area sheep that move away nicely from the dog, remain in a flock, do not show fight, and are all of equal stamina. These would be the qualities of a flock of well-broke sheep. Graze: Allowing the stock time to settle and feed in a designated area. Heading: When the dog moves in front of the sheep to stop their progress. Most stockdogs instinctively head off individuals and attempt to keep the sheep in a group. Heavy sheep: Sluggish and perhaps stubborn in movment, they allow a dog to work much closer to them than do light or flighty sheep. Heeling: When the dog works the stock from behind, usually nipping the lower leg to move the stock. This is an instinctive working characteristic of some stockdogs, and occurs most often when working cattle. Holding Pen: The pen on the outside of the course where the stock are kept before and after their use on the course.