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