What command goes against a herding dog instincts?
Mathilde Olson
2025-07-16 18:12:05
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The 'leave it' command goes against a herding dog instincts.
Herding dogs have been bred for generations to want to herd livestock naturally, and this is a great talent that can be harnessed and very useful to farmers, a dog that herds when it is not supposed to is a danger to livestock and himself.
Ironically, teaching your dog to herd on command and giving them an outlet for such behavior may be a good way of controlling it, by teaching the dog that they only herd when directed.
Other methods of controlling instinctive herding involve teaching your dog a different association and behavior with livestock, such as the 'leave it' command or an alternative behavior so that a dog exposed to livestock, small animals, or children ignores them, backs away, or performs other behavior to receive reinforcement.
You will need lots of treats to teach 'leave it', and alternative behaviors to dogs that are motivated to herd.
Victoria Konopelski
2025-07-07 02:46:02
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They retain their herding instincts and may sometimes nip at people’s heels or bump them in an effort to ‘herd’ their family, and may need to be trained not to do so. The herding instinct can be hard to live with. We had a farm collie when I was a teenager and she would always nip your heels as you were going out. In order to manage this behaviour, we first have to realise that it is happening. The dog is focusing on you and what you are doing and is very aware of other animals. He wants to take control, to be in charge and drive away the other dogs. Other examples of herding include the way a young collie engages with other dogs out on a walk. They might look as though they are taking part in a ‘chase’ game and running around after another dog.
However, this will very quickly become a case of the collie trying to drive the other dog and snapping or barking at it if it doesn’t go the right way. Pay attention to what they are doing and positively call them away. Engage with them in a different activity and reward them when they focus on you and not the ‘prey’ that they want to herd.
You will need to pay attention to your dog if they think they can chase the cat, and again, distract and reward for non-chasing.
Jeromy Schowalter
2025-06-28 14:32:54
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Herding breeds nip for a number of reasons, the most common one being that it is their DNA.
Herding dogs may nip at heels or other pets, reflecting their instinct to herd.
Although Gambini wants to herd the people and animals in the house, this wasn’t a job that his family wanted him to do.
So I taught his guardians how to disagree with his behavior and showed him how to gain self control using counterconditioning.
When both dogs are in their crates work on opening the door slowly and closing it if they attempt to exit before their release word.
The command that goes against a herding dog instincts is to wait for a release word before coming out of their crates.
This is because herding dogs have a strong instinct to move and take action, and being told to wait can be counter to that instinct.
Herding dogs may nip at heels or other pets, reflecting their instinct to herd, so telling them to stop and wait can be a command that goes against their natural behavior.
For example: no dogs on the furniture, having them sit before going outside, maintaining a distance of at least seven feet from anyone who is eating, and waiting for a release word before coming out of their crates, are commands that disagree with a herding dog's natural behavior.
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