Sheep Dogs

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Why do dogs heard sheep?

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MaDgie0765 asked:




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13 Responses to “Why do dogs heard sheep?”

  • Kendra says:

    their trained to, and they get a reward at the end.

  • Sarah D says:

    collies are the well known breed that does that

  • Dsk2039 says:

    because they’re ordered to

  • Collies are herding dogs, it’s in their DNA.

  • giraffe shoe says:

    because that’s what they were bred to do over generations and generations.

  • Sapphirea says:

    Their instincts. Also, they’ve been bred to.

  • snappleapple says:

    first.. its herd.
    heard has to do with your listening.
    and those dogs do that because humans TRAIN them to.
    their natural instincts are to attack the sheep and eat them if they were hungry.
    but after dogs have been trained humans have been using them to protect their sheep for them.
    trust me dogs and sheeps arent best friends or anything.
    theyve just been trained for generations and generations to not attack sheep anymore.
    wolves are a type of dog, and we’ve known them to attack sheep

  • Joh says:

    Dogs herd sheep because they have been selectively breed for generations to do so.

  • Sara O says:

    they are trained.im not very sure,but i think they get fed after,too.domestic dogs are different than wolves in many ways.a wolf would just eat the sheep,but a domestic dog thinks its a part of the family too.

  • These “working group” breeds are designed to perform a task. It’s in their genes to do something. Hunting dogs track prey, retrievers retrieve water fowl etc. These dogs were bred to assist their owners, they were bred to work! They love to do it, it fulfills them! Herding sheep is important for Shepherds, sometimes you need to single a sheep out for trimming, or you need to guide the herd into a pen for the night. You may need to guide your sheep or keep them together as well. In these cases a dog is essential. Simple whistle commands can instruct a dog to herd a group of sheep into a pen. They are bred not to harm the flock, only to herd. It’s really cool if you ever get to see a competition, they are so focused and amazing to watch.

  • melissax1972 says:

    I have a welsh corgi and he has never seen a sheep in his life. But somehow its ingrained in him to herd. He actually tries to herd me he will run circles around me or nip at my heels whe he wants me to follow him(not cute it hurts). I guess its just the breed/instincts.

  • Meaghan says:

    It is a modified prey drive that has been bred into them for centuries. It is their instinct to create order out of chaos. You’ll see herding dogs herd children, other dogs, joggers, cars. Anything that moves, needs to move in a flock. It’s just an ingrained, genetic compulsion.

    Most of them aren’t bred to “protect” the sheep, though some might consider an outsider as a threat to their territory. Guardian dogs protect sheep because they are raised with the flock and have little outside contact. The flock becomes their “pack”.

  • Nancy M says:

    Most are trained and/or have a strong bond with the flock, depending on the breed and what their purpose is. Instinct is to get food – to stalk, chase, pounce, kill and eat but with many of the domestic breeds used for livestock herding or guardian, they are bred to have strong instincts for the first part and then trained to curtail the latter pounce, kill and eat part :)

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