Herding dog
A herding dog, also known as a stock dog or working dog, is a type of dog that either has been trained in herding livestock or belongs to one of the breeds that were developed for herding. A dog specifically trained to herd sheep is known as a sheep dog or shepherd dog, and one trained to herd cattle is known as a cattle dog or cow dog.
Origins of herding dogs
The creation of herding dog breeds is associated with the development of sheep, goat and cattle breeding. Domestication of sheep and goats began in the 8th–7th millennium BC. Originally, this process began in Western Asia, in the territory of modern Iran and Iraq. Shepherding was a difficult task: primitive herders did not have horses and moved their animals for grazing on foot as horses and donkeys were not yet fully domesticated or obedient enough. Dogs that previously helped humans in hunting became assistants in livestock maintenance. The main task for dogs in the early stages of herding was protecting herds from a variety of wild predators, which were very numerous.This function predetermined herding dogs' characteristics: they had to be strong, vicious, courageous, decisive, able to stand alone against a large predator and, most importantly, ready to defend their herd. The history of the ancestors of herding dogs can be traced back to six thousand years ago, archaeological findings of the joint remains of sheep and dogs date back to 3685 BC. The place of their origin is considered to be the territories of modern Turkey, Iraq and Syria.
In the Old Testament, Job refers to "the dogs of my flock", although it is unclear whether these are guardian dogs or herding dogs. The age of the book of Job is debated, with some placing it as early as c. 1800 B.C.E. and others significantly later.
In the writings of Cato the Elder and Varro, images of dogs are found in works of art created more than two thousand years ago. These dogs were used not only to guard herds, but also for military purposes.
From the regions of Western Asia, herding spread to the west and north, followed by an increase in the number of domestic animals. On the territory of Europe, the progenitors of herding dogs appeared in the 6th to 7th centuries BC. According to archaeological research, cattle breeding and agriculture spread across Europe in different ways: along the Danube and Rhine rivers to the territory of modern Germany, northern France and the Netherlands, through the Mediterranean Sea to the Alps, up the Rhone to central and southwestern France.
There is evidence that the Chiribaya culture of Peru and Chile bred and used a species of herding dog. Chiribaya dogs were believed to be used for herding llamas, and were valued highly enough by the Chiribaya to be buried in their own graves; often, the burial sites also included blankets or food.
The development of agriculture, increasing the number of settlements and foundation of cities led to a decrease in the number of predators. After the extinction of large predators in most of Europe and Great Britain, with the massive spread of sheep breeding and with an increase in the share of cultivated and populated land, the main task of herding dogs was to protect crops, private and protected areas from harm during grazing and moving herds. Shepherd dogs were more suitable for this work than larger and stronger breeds, being medium-sized and mobile. Such dogs managed small and large livestock, as well as domestic birds. In addition to the Central European type of shepherd, another type of dog has emerged, often with thick hair, more suitable for colder areas. These dogs have shown not only the ability to manage the herd, but also to protect it. With the spread of reindeer breeding among the northern peoples, hunting spitz-like dogs were "retrained" into shepherds.
Most breeds of Central European shepherd dogs – with erect ears and short hair on the head, similar to wolves, were mainly formed in the 16th to 17th centuries. The breeds of curly-haired dogs of the Northern European type were formed later.
Terminology
In Australia, New Zealand and the United States, herding dogs are known as working dogs irrespective of their breeding. Some herding breeds work well with any kind of animals; others have been bred for generations to work with specific kinds of animals and have developed physical characteristics or styles of working that enhance their ability to handle these animals. Commonly mustered animals include cattle, sheep, goats and reindeer, although it is not unusual for poultry to be handled by dogs.The term "herding dog" is sometimes erroneously used to describe livestock guardian dogs, whose primary function is to guard flocks and herds from predation and theft, and they lack the herding instinct. Although herding dogs may guard flocks their primary purpose is to move them; both herding dogs and livestock guardian dogs may be called "sheep dogs".
In general terms, when categorizing dog breeds, herding dogs are considered a subcategory of working dogs, but for conformation shows they usually form a separate group.
Australia has the world's largest cattle stations and sheep stations and some of the best-known herding dogs, such as the Koolie, Kelpie, Red and Blue Heelers are bred and found there.
Physical characteristics
During the selection process, the physical characteristics of the dogs were formed, allowing them to do their job in the best possible way. Regardless of the conditions in which herding dogs work and what function they perform, they all have a number of common characteristics. Herding dogs are strong and have a lot of stamina. Their paws are well protected from thorns and sharp stones: toes are compressed into a tight lump, paw pads are thick, claws are strong. The coat has structure and density to protect from getting wet and temperature extremes common in the region of the breed origin. All herding dogs have excellent eyesight and hearing. Cattle dog colors are varied and depend on local breeders' preferences, but all herding dogs should have well-pigmented eyelids, lips, nose and paw pads, because pink skin is too delicate and prone to wounds and sunburn.Many dog breeds are selectively bred for physical traits that will benefit them in their environments. Australian Cattle Dogs, for example, come in two main colors, Blue and Red. These two main coat colors feature variations, including Speckle and Mottle. Border Collies feature similar patterns to Australian Shepherds, such as Black and White, Lilac, Merle, and Tricolor variations. The Patagonian Sheepdog's medium or long length coat comes in an abundance of colors, allowing it to not only be protected against the cold and possibly snow, but also camouflaged against the rocky Magallanes region. Most herding dog breeds are medium to large in weight, and are bred to be muscular, lean, and agile to perform their duties.
Possible consequences when picking for traits
When it comes to picking the herders from a litter once they're born, it leads to some being euthanized due to possible defects or illnesses. With light colors around the eyes and to the eyes themselves could potentially cause blindness or serious eye damage later down the line. Most recessive genes but also some homozygous genes can be extremely dangerous coming from 2 heterozygous parents. Since diseases or defects can happen anywhere throughout the body, they could activate from an early age or later. Along with certain diseases they can be caused by dangerous genes within specific breeds that can end up being fatal.When looking for defects and diseases, the most common things that are examined are the eyes, tails, skeletal, muscles, teeth, stomach, neurological/ mental. Some examples can include later deafness, blindness, crossbite, dysplasia, fly biting and brachygnathism. While others could be serious aggression, cataracts, spine problems, pan osteitis and anxiety. So, if problems are found within the first year it is known for them to be euthanized at a young age to prevent further pain.
With the more breeding done to make the most optimal breed it could lead to more problems with each successful breeding.
Starting with normal vision and going to full blindness, by the age of 3 or 4, due to faulty genes caused from repeated breeding and a recessive gene. All being passed from the successful herders that live and get to produce the next of kin with most of the faulty genes resulting in eye problems compared to the others. With the heterozygous parents, that would cause the gene to continue since DNA tests were not available and were just not done before the breeding.
Herding behavior
All herding behavior is modified predatory behavior. Through selective breeding, humans have been able to minimize the dog's natural inclination to treat cattle and sheep as prey while simultaneously maintaining the dog's hunting skills, thereby creating an effective herding dog.Dogs can work other animals in a variety of ways. Some breeds, such as the Australian Cattle Dog, typically nip at the heels of animals and the Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis were historically used in a similar fashion in the cattle droves that moved cattle from Wales to the Smithfield Meat Market in London but are rarely used for herding today.
Other breeds, notably the Border Collie, get in front of the animals and use what is called strong eye to stare down the animals; they are known as headers. The headers or fetching dogs keep livestock in a group. They consistently go to the front or head of the animals to turn or stop the animal's movement. The heelers or driving dogs keep pushing the animals forward. Typically, they stay behind the herd. The Australian Kelpie and Australian Koolie use both these methods and also run along the backs of sheep so are said to head, heel, and back. Other types such as the Australian Shepherd, English Shepherd and Welsh Sheepdog are moderate to loose eyed, working more independently. The New Zealand Huntaway uses its loud, deep bark to muster mobs of sheep. Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd Dogs and Briards are historically tending dogs, who act as a "living fence", guiding large flocks of sheep to graze, while preventing them from eating valuable crops and wandering onto roads.
Herding instincts and trainability can be measured when introducing a dog to livestock or at noncompetitive herding tests. Individuals exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials.
With behavior it will depend on the connection to each of the breed's repeating genes since some have similar connection to brain function within the genes of dogs working within the herding field. In the company of traits having learning, memory, mental and social skills. While being smart and focused but losing the desire to kill thought they are still good in the other traits to hunting.