[DebMc]

Herding drive is derived from prey drive which is why most herding breeds have high prey drives - a desireable trait and an absolute *must* in working stockdogs. A stockdog without a high prey drive is like a car without an engine. It doesn't work.

In other words, prey drive is not the problem. The problem is lack of control or proper training on the owner or handler's behalf. The way I see it is, if you don't have the time, energy, know-how or skill to train a high prey drive dog, then you shouldn't bring one home. And I think that's the real issue at hand: folks not doing their homework in selecting a breed that fits their needs and their lifestyle. Sadly, selection is more often based on physical characteristics or how the dog looks.

I don't mean to offend anyone. I just feel it's important to correct the misconception here that "high prey drive" is the problem, for it ain't.

Deb Mc

 

[jay13]

Believe it or not Deb, I agree with you! I don't have the time to try and break this dog's habit of chasing the animals. We did get them after they were several years old and did try some training but it just doesn't "take." they are models of behavior when we are out there but the second our back is turned, they revert. We are currently looking for a new owner for the dog that got in the goat pen, she is on a lead 24/7 now. I don't like doing that to her, but I need my sanity too. These 3 dogs were all strays together when we adopted them, and we got them way before we had animals so had no way of knowing how they would behave until after we got them. Our neighbor wanted the dog at first but she has goats as well and I told her I couldn't in good conscience give her a dog that was going to cause havoc. She understood, thankfully.

 

[DebMc]

Believe it or not Deb, I agree with you! I don't have the time to try and break this dog's habit of chasing the animals. We did get them after they were several years old and did try some training but it just doesn't "take."

I do understand your situation. I have two cattle dogs. The female is very talented, couldn't ask for a better choredog. The male, OTOH, has a run-away prey drive. His herding call name name is "Torpedo" because that's exactly how he heels. Both dogs took stockdog training lessons with me as their handler from a professional trainer, the best IMO. Yet the outcome was not the same and that could be due to various factors including genetics. My female came from active working lines and has natural talent and endless versatility. She's amazing. The male, well, he's still my #1 snuggle buddy.

In a way it's kinda' sad. Because my male has the drive, he wants to work and do chores w/me. Of course, I can't allow that but have come up w/a compromise: an alternative job he *can* do, one he can be rewarded for. For example, when my female and I are going in the animal yards to do chores, I have my male dog walk "back" from the gate and "sit". Once we get inside, I call him to the closed gate, and once again have him "sit" or "down" for a treat. Within a short while, he started offering those behaviors on his own so now I don't even need to cue him, although I do continue to randomly reward him w/treats for doing so. The result is a dog that respects gates and does not to try to rush them or break into our animal yards. And this was accomplished without use of punishment or aversives. All positive and everyone wins.

Any professional trainer will say that management always fails. While that is true, there's always the exception and with enough structure, committment and consistent practice, such measures can be successful long term. All our animals (waterfowl, poultry, goats) are kept in predator-proof yards/habitats (6) and we always make sure there's at least 1 permanent barrier in place to protect them from my male dog. We've only had one accidental encounter since we put those measures in place and that was due to miniature Silky drake squeezing through a tiny hole (apparently gnawed into the hardware cloth lining the fencing by a wild bunny or squirrel overnight) and confronting my male dog in the barnyard breezeway, an area my dog is allowed to use. He latched on and killed the drake before I even knew what was happening - not his fault, it was mine. Something I could have prevented? Not really. So, yes, even the most seemingly foolproof management can fail. But for me, rehoming is not an option.

Good luck finding your girl a new home that's a good fit.

Deb Mc

 

[jay13]

Our goats/chickens are in a permanent fixed fencing yard, the dog just discovered (at the same time I did unfortunately) that the ice had grounded out the electric line making the line, that we have run outside the fence to keep the dogs from digging, cold. So she was able to squeeze through what should have been an in-penetrable space between the gate and its post. Not a lot I guess that I could have done to prevent it. Still working on getting a new fence charger.... in the mean time she is on a lead so that I can sleep at night without straining to hear the sound of the goats crying. ::sigh::

 

[sweetgoats]

I hate to say it but it might be best to re-home her. Maybe to someone that does not have other animals.

 

[sblueram6]

i wood have killed dog as quick as i could have got my gun . witch is on my hip at all time . no question ask.

 

[jay13]

Ok, good news is that I got a better (fingers crossed) fence charger. Dog investigated the line, got popped and took off running across the yard. So far, no more attempted break-ins and a great deal more respect for the fence. Also fixed the spot where she was able to squeeze through so can't squeeze any more. Still looking for a new home but at least its not so urgent any more.