Herding Instinct

Short article about what this trainer looks for in a herding dog 

when testing at a young age 

"The ONLY thing I ask of a pup is intensity of interest in stock (prey drive)

 then the only other factor that will determine whether or not the dog becomes a herding dog is trainability.

Sure, at a young age (8 weeks) you can see signs of heading, driving, stalking, intensity, focus, whether the dog breaks wide or dives in... many different things.... but it all boils down to trainability for ME.  I just want a dog that is trainable so that whatever the dog doesn't have naturally I can then train it.

Even BEFORE 8 weeks of age environment plays a huge roll in how the dog perceives its surroundings, that includes that first exposure to stock.  Pups may not show interest if their environment hasn't created a lot of confidence in the pup.  So remember that environment determines how the dog grows into herding.  If they are driven at a young age then they would continue to be driven unless environment has taken it out of them."

Pat Taylor- Bouviers
 

 2015 MASCUSA Nationals - Save the Date!!!

1^st MASCUSA Nationals with full AKC Recognition

Purina Farms - 200 Checkerboard Drive, Gray Summit, Missouri 63039

Hosted by: MASCUSA, MASCUSA Members and Affiliates

MASCUSA Nationals (September 14^th-17^th, 2015)

• Conformation Regular/Non Regular/Sweeps

• Most Versatile - Miniature American Shepherd

• 2 AKC Herding Trials

• 2 AKC Agility Trials

• 2 AKC Rally

• 2 AKC Obedience Trials

• 2 Barn Hunt Inc. Trials

• NADD Dock Diving

• Skyhoundz Disc Dog Local

• Seminars

• Banquet
  
  

All Breed Conformation Gateway Cluster Supported Entries (September 18^th-20th, 2015)