Can Sheep Herding Dogs Really Help?

Having decent sheep herding dogs (stock dogs) to help with moving the flock is a valuable asset. With a couple good stock dogs the grass season can be managed by one shepherd. Year round, when one considers the amount of work a dog does and the amount of work a dog saves the rancher, there really is no comparison to be made.

We believe in, encourage and promote the immeasurable merit of stock dogs.

How Stock Dogs Can Help on the Ranch

With the tangible tasks:

• holding stock off during chore time in the winter

• gathering animals out of brush

• gathering animals out on pasture

• trailing (driving) livestock

• catching ewes out on pasture. This is seldom possible without the aid of a dog and some days just not doable even with the aid of a dog!

• moving flock from pasture to pasture during summer grazing

• moving sheep in pens and through a race for shearing and treatment days

• loading livestock trailers

With learning the intangibles like:

• "Good instincts tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out" (anonymous)

• "You don't have to live forever, you just have to live" (anonymous)

• "Be yourself. Everyone else is taken" (Charles Shulz)

Is using a Dog as Simple as it Looks?

No. A dog is a living being, not a mechanical tool. They do have minds of their own and more often than not the good ones will want to express themselves.

It takes a willingness to trust a dog, a good dose of patience, a dedicated partnership and miles of experience to obtain a right hand dog. Once you get a feel for working with a dog though, you won't look back and you won't consider being without a dog again.

Not everyone is cut out to work with dogs either. If you lack the inclination, time, and patience to bond with, care for and work with a dog then you'll be more frustrated with having one than not. Dogs can't develope their skills if they're kept tied to the dog house.

Thinking of buying a Stock Dog?

Not sure where to buy or what to expect when you do buy a herding dog? Read buying sheep herding dogs for information and tips.

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