farm dog presentation

Working Companions: Selecting and Raising a Small-Farm Dog

Heather Houlahan

Brandywine Farm First Friend Dog Training

Harmony, PA

Behavior Coordinator, National English Shepherd Rescue

Canine Director, Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group

Raised By Wolves blog

So you want a dog to help on your farm?

Think functions, not breeds What job(s) do you have

for a dog? What does your living

situation require of a dog? How much training and

time can you devote?

Breed ≠ Brand

Some working breeds have been "hijacked" - the name remains, but the working ability does not

Dogs selected for shows or to be pets lose their full suite of working traits in a few generations

Health and physical structure typically suffer Mental abilities always deteriorate in the absence of

working selection Other breeds have experienced a split -- working dogs

remain, but "show" lines use the same name

Be sure you aren't fooled by an appropriated breed name

Show "German Shepherd Dog"

Working German Shepherd Dog

A dog is what he does

Australian Shepherd Stock Dog

Australian Shepherd Show Dog

Select a working prospect from working parents

Show titles are not meaningless - they mean you should probably avoid buying

Ideally, see the parents work yourself If that's not possible, check the breeder's reputation widely

-- do not rely on the breeder's own claims about the dog Depth of pedigree is also a good sign

Farm Dog Functions

Stock work- How many stock?- What species / types?- In what environment?

Watchdog / Guard Dog- For people, property, or animals?

Varmint and predator control

Companionship and general help

Hunting with master (Species? Method?)

Specialist Dogs

Pure stockdog- Obsessive workers- Command responsive- No loyalty to stock

Livestock Guardians- Bonded to stock- Limited responsiveness

to master- Not a house dog

Generalist Farm Dogs

Can work a variety of stock / poultry

Reliable when free-range Guardian traits "Off switch" Family dog Adjusts to environment

Generalists are NOT

As talented at working large acreages / herds as a highly-trained specialist

As diligent at guarding stock as a bonded, well-bred specialist

Breeds / Types of Generalist

English shepherd "Farm collie" (often

crossbred) "Old Time Farm Collie" Some Australian shepherds Some individuals of a

variety of breeds / crosses

Where do generalists fit best?

Diversified farms and homesteads

Among free-range poultry Smaller numbers of stock More species of stock Smaller acreages No desire to have 2-4 dogs

performing different jobs

Field Marks of Useful Generalists

No history of breeding selection for shows

Work a variety of tasks Breeders have avoided

extremes of conformation and behavior

Reputation as "easy to train" or "train themselves."

Finding an Ethical Breeder

Start with breed clubs (working version only) - don't depend on them

ASK widely about reputation first - research online, lurk, question

A nice website is not a good breeding program - see right

Insist on seeing documentation of health testing results

What to expect

Expect to be grilled Expect to wait for a pup Expect to pay a fair market

rate for a pup Expect a written contract Expect to walk away if

something isn't right

Expect breeder to match or help match you with the right pup for you

Expect advice and guidance for the life of the dog

Expect a return-to-breeder clause in the contract

A good breeding dog will be

Healthy, well-built, athletic and clear of testable genetic disease

At least two years old, older preferred

A proven worker with a great temperament

Of solid pedigree for all of the above

A dog you would wish to own yourself

A well-raised pup will be ...

Raised in the house, unless family spends all its time in the barn

Handled daily from birth by a variety of people

Exposed to a wide variety of experiences

Kept in roomy, clean surroundings where housetraining can begin

... And

Challenged with toys and interesting environments

Fat, shiny, and nice-smelling

Bold and friendly with EVERYONE

Curious about new places and things

... And

Welcoming of all kinds of handling

A member of the only litter the breeder has at the time

Ready to bond with you and learn at eight weeks of age

Consider an older dog

Rehomed and rescued dogs can often take on farm duties

NESR is committed to placing "failed pets" into appropriate working situations

An adult can be evaluated for working traits in ways a pup cannot be

Fully-employed former rescue dogs

Raising Your Pup

Use a leash only as a last resort for safety

Allow pup to learn from her mistakes when possible

Puppy lives with you Confine only when

necessary for safety Allow to tag along on

chores Correct the wrong, allow

the right Include puppy in your life

Training Your Pup

Allow pup to grasp routine and encourage her attempts to help

Give direction when she's about to do the right thing

Basic obedience with a balanced trainer

Stockdog instruction if you need it

Find instructor who works with loose-eyed dogs, but is not a "grade inflator" for dabblers with pets

Keep it Smooth

Don't interrupt success - getting it right is its own reward

Slow down action before it gets too exciting

Give pup plenty of downtime to process after any important or "big" chunk of learning.

Let Puppies be Puppies

Stories of English shepherds and farm collies who "never needed no training" do a disservice to pups who then don't get what they need

Dogs mature at variable rates; some will have long goofy adolescences

Resources

The English Shepherd Club (ESC)www.englishshepherd.org

Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA)www.asca.org

American Working Farmcollie Associationwww.farmcollie.com

National English Shepherd Rescue (NESR)www.nesr.info

American Herding Breeds Associationwww.ahba-herding.org

English shepherd discussion list (yahoo)http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EnglishShepherd/

Ernie Needs a Farm Home

7 month-old "failed pet"

My NESR foster dog

Wants to work; nice farm pup

Mystery limp has kept him in foster care

Contact Me

Heather HoulahanBrandywine Farm

Harmony, PA

houlahan@zoominternet.net

Facebook: Brandywine Farm

http://cynography.blogspot.com(Raised by Wolves blog)