Quirks of the herding breeds.

Ritz459 · 06-27-2007, 06:40 PM

Being a retriever gal, having Chloe is just full of fun discoveries. lol

One thing that I just can't get over is how much she watches me. If I get up and walk through the house, she follows me right at my heels watching my face to see what I'm going to do next. When I make her sit and stay for her food, she is eyeing me, waiting for my command to release her. If I'm playing fetch with her, she is constantly looking at my face waiting for the hints of when I'm going to throw it.
That is one thing that my Labs have never done. They follow me around, but it is more of a, "Oh, mommy's going in here. Let's follow because I don't want to be without my person" instead of a "Oh, mommy's going in here. Let's follow to see what she is going to do next." When Sadie would sit and stay for her food, she would stare at her food with drool coming out of her mouth, only shooting glances at me when I made her stay longer than normal, almost like a "Come on, what are you waiting for?! Let me eat my dang food!" When I would play with Sadie, she would stare at the toy, not at me. lol

The other thing I've noticed is her sheer intelligence. From her watching everything, she picks up on what we do and what the other animals in the house do to decide what she should do too.
For instance: she has learned that when my cell phone rings to go running and stand in front of the cell phone because whenever it rings, that is what I do! lol (So now when I can't find my cell, I just follow her.

)
She has learned that to get passed the gate blocking the stairs she has to jump up onto a chair and hop through the railings: just like the cat does. (She can't do it anymore as she is too big, but she tries sometimes.)
She's learned from Rose that she is supposed to eat every plant in sight (she watched Rose eat grass once, so now when we are out on walks, she has to eat EVERY plant

).
She's also learned from our dogs that a kiddy pool is to splash around in and put your feet in, not just to drink out of.

So, for all of you people out there who own herding breeds, what special quirks have you noticed about them?

***Rivsky*** · 06-28-2007, 03:50 AM

Chloe sounds super smart Ritz!!

And while I don't have a herding breed I have noticed that they are SO people focused. I couldn't believe it particularly when I was doing puppy school with River I noticed those with the herding breeds were more interested in watching their owners than interacting with all the other dogs - while the rest of us were struggling to get any focus on us at all

briarlow · 06-30-2007, 04:12 AM

My breed is a herding/gundog breed and boy they are something special.

They also follow me everywhere I go. Are extremely intelligent and quite to learn both good and bad things. They are utterly mad one second and then totally controllable the next. They are the most affection/loving breed ever. Whether I'm away all day or just a few minutes they greet me in exactly the same way, as though I've been away for weeks.

As you can tell I adore them.

Glitzie · 06-30-2007, 07:23 AM

DaKota has a weird quirk. If Glitzie gets into trouble & I say "Glitzie no!" DaKota will Come out of no where & gentle pin her to the ground, then let go. She'll look at me & then go back to whatever she was doing.

mom2cocoa · 06-30-2007, 07:53 AM

Cocoa is a shepherd mix, but her biggest quirk is making sure everyone, both people and animals, never leave our yard...lol. Not only does she stay within her boundaries but she thinks we should also. She is not like other dogs that get upset about being left home alone. She gets upset if anyone in the family is gone. She also watches us all the time and understands more of the human language than any other dog I've ever had. And she thinks it's her job to keep our other dog in line.

Ritz459 · 06-30-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mom2cocoa

Cocoa is a shepherd mix, but her biggest quirk is making sure everyone, both people and animals, never leave our yard...lol. Not only does she stay within her boundaries but she thinks we should also.

I wish Chloe wouldn't leave the yard. If she is outside she has to be on leash because if she sees a bird or a butterfly she is GONE. lol

I have to say, she is the most "humanized" dog I've ever seen.

Rottielvr18 · 06-30-2007, 08:58 PM

My shepherd has some weird quirks about him too. He loves to chase whatever moves in his sight. He chases flies around the house (wont stop till he eats them

) and when ever I have foster puppies, he likes to know where they are at ALL times! He is a very good listner. I didnt even intentially teach him the command "leave it," but he picked it up somehow and wont touch it till I say "ok." I love him, his eyes are always on me.

brandysmama · 07-02-2007, 02:08 PM

I joke that I should have named Brandy "Shadow" instead. She always wants to be right.there.with.you. Plus she's excellent about knowing her boundaries. She might be a mix, but I think she's 100% pure herding dog.

Ritz459 · 07-02-2007, 03:40 PM

Phew, and did I mention vocal?

Chloe has been just "talking" (in the forms of high pitch yips) frequently the past few days. While she's playing, while she runs, when she just wants a conversation....it wouldn't be so bad but her bark is shrill.

trainingrixie · 07-03-2007, 07:58 AM

roscoe is very vocal (he's bc/rottie/?). if he's hungry/has to poop/or wants lovins he looks at you and moans and groans and does this like half bark thing. we keep asking what he wants, and he keeps making noise. he does it when you tell him "no" too. he stops what he's doing and talks back like a little kid. Trixie is starting to pick this up now a little. but her talking is a little more whiney than roscoes.

BTW...my camera busted on the trip down here, but hopefully I'm getting a part time job at agymnastics school until i get that dream job. so i should be able to get a new camera soon and posts pics of the two clowns.

laser · 02-08-2008, 01:06 PM

Hello ALL,

just a quick one hereYah hearding....

Well I have had Six or soon to be six Shelties and none of them have had hearding class. I will say this all of them by nature have this built in some moree than others. Our youngest we got from Chnaute KS USA is a male tri color and he is forever trying to knip at the heals and running around in circles when out in the field as well as in the yard to get you into place and stop. If I have more than tow out in the yard he tries to get all into one place. As for the Vocals Shelties are big mouths and for the boys Play never ends....

So it is a good time to watch them circle the heard of folks.... Hmmmmmmmm

My new boy Donovan seen below is comming here real soon From Alabama USA so I will have bookends to deal with... LASER

Attachment 1226

Ritz459 · 02-09-2008, 09:10 AM

What a cute Sheltie pup! Good luck with your new addition!

Chloe has absolutely no herding instinct. Lots of preydrive, but no herding instinct. She wants to play with my neighbor's cows, but if she got loose I think she'd be more interested in eating their poop than herding them.

His the herding instinct hereditary? Rose also doesn't herd but has a very large preydrive (her and Chloe act so much alike it is scary sometimes), but Rose's mom, Brownie, loved to herd.

laser · 02-09-2008, 12:54 PM

Well yes it is hearding in most Shelties as a rule???? Yes but, one has to be trained properly to do it and do it well. it is like any other dog sport if they have never been out for a swim they will sink Trust me on that Shelties are rotten in the water they sink due to the double coat ad small feet.

As I see it Most Shelties can heard right off the bat it is still in their spirit to do this it has not been totaly removed over the years..And Why i do not know???

I tried to put more photos but it would not let me??? OK

LASER

RedPowerLady · 08-14-2008, 08:13 PM

Our dog LOVES humans. She's a collie mix.
If someone walks by her and doesn't greet her she can get upset

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivsky

Chloe sounds super smart Ritz!!

And while I don't have a herding breed I have noticed that they are SO people focused. I couldn't believe it particularly when I was doing puppy school with River I noticed those with the herding breeds were more interested in watching their owners than interacting with all the other dogs - while the rest of us were struggling to get any focus on us at all

RedPowerLady · 08-14-2008, 08:15 PM

Our collie mix LOVES chase. That is all she wants to play at the dog park and frankly isn't interested in those who don't want to play it, LOL. It is so weird!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rottielvr18

My shepherd has some weird quirks about him too. He loves to chase whatever moves in his sight. He chases flies around the house (wont stop till he eats them

) and when ever I have foster puppies, he likes to know where they are at ALL times! He is a very good listner. I didnt even intentially teach him the command "leave it," but he picked it up somehow and wont touch it till I say "ok." I love him, his eyes are always on me.

06-27-2007, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ritz459 "Nothing is ever easy" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,730 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 235	Quirks of the herding breeds. Being a retriever gal, having Chloe is just full of fun discoveries. lol One thing that I just can't get over is how much she watches me. If I get up and walk through the house, she follows me right at my heels watching my face to see what I'm going to do next. When I make her sit and stay for her food, she is eyeing me, waiting for my command to release her. If I'm playing fetch with her, she is constantly looking at my face waiting for the hints of when I'm going to throw it. That is one thing that my Labs have never done. They follow me around, but it is more of a, "Oh, mommy's going in here. Let's follow because I don't want to be without my person" instead of a "Oh, mommy's going in here. Let's follow to see what she is going to do next." When Sadie would sit and stay for her food, she would stare at her food with drool coming out of her mouth, only shooting glances at me when I made her stay longer than normal, almost like a "Come on, what are you waiting for?! Let me eat my dang food!" When I would play with Sadie, she would stare at the toy, not at me. lol The other thing I've noticed is her sheer intelligence. From her watching everything, she picks up on what we do and what the other animals in the house do to decide what she should do too. For instance: she has learned that when my cell phone rings to go running and stand in front of the cell phone because whenever it rings, that is what I do! lol (So now when I can't find my cell, I just follow her. ) She has learned that to get passed the gate blocking the stairs she has to jump up onto a chair and hop through the railings: just like the cat does. (She can't do it anymore as she is too big, but she tries sometimes.) She's learned from Rose that she is supposed to eat every plant in sight (she watched Rose eat grass once, so now when we are out on walks, she has to eat EVERY plant ). She's also learned from our dogs that a kiddy pool is to splash around in and put your feet in, not just to drink out of. So, for all of you people out there who own herding breeds, what special quirks have you noticed about them?
	__________________ ~Blackie, Rose, Chloe (dogs), Pheobe (cat), Casey, Dameon (ferrets), Joey ('Tiel), Dot, Louie (cavies), Pickachu (hamster), Rush (R.I.P. 15yrs), Lucy (R.I.P. 4yrs)~

06-28-2007, 03:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
*Rivsky* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Australia Posts: 3,793 Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 141	Chloe sounds super smart Ritz!! And while I don't have a herding breed I have noticed that they are SO people focused. I couldn't believe it particularly when I was doing puppy school with River I noticed those with the herding breeds were more interested in watching their owners than interacting with all the other dogs - while the rest of us were struggling to get any focus on us at all
	__________________ As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

06-30-2007, 04:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
briarlow Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 521 Rep Power: 65	My breed is a herding/gundog breed and boy they are something special. They also follow me everywhere I go. Are extremely intelligent and quite to learn both good and bad things. They are utterly mad one second and then totally controllable the next. They are the most affection/loving breed ever. Whether I'm away all day or just a few minutes they greet me in exactly the same way, as though I've been away for weeks. As you can tell I adore them.
	__________________ My dogs aren't my whole life but they make my life http://www.freewebs.com/briarlowsspanishwaterdogs

06-30-2007, 07:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Glitzie Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Rutland, MA. Posts: 279 Rep Power: 57	DaKota has a weird quirk. If Glitzie gets into trouble & I say "Glitzie no!" DaKota will Come out of no where & gentle pin her to the ground, then let go. She'll look at me & then go back to whatever she was doing.
	__________________ ~Saving just one will not change the world, but surely will change the world for that dog~ http://www.germanshepherds.com/ubbth...ubbthreads.php

06-30-2007, 07:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
mom2cocoa Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 246 Rep Power: 44	Cocoa is a shepherd mix, but her biggest quirk is making sure everyone, both people and animals, never leave our yard...lol. Not only does she stay within her boundaries but she thinks we should also. She is not like other dogs that get upset about being left home alone. She gets upset if anyone in the family is gone. She also watches us all the time and understands more of the human language than any other dog I've ever had. And she thinks it's her job to keep our other dog in line.
mom2cocoa Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 246 Rep Power: 44	__________________ My heart dog, Cocoa

06-30-2007, 08:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rottielvr18 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: PA Posts: 117 Rep Power: 57	My shepherd has some weird quirks about him too. He loves to chase whatever moves in his sight. He chases flies around the house (wont stop till he eats them ) and when ever I have foster puppies, he likes to know where they are at ALL times! He is a very good listner. I didnt even intentially teach him the command "leave it," but he picked it up somehow and wont touch it till I say "ok." I love him, his eyes are always on me.
	__________________ He'll be with you until the end; now all he needs is just a friend.

07-02-2007, 02:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
brandysmama OK, where's the snow??? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville, TN, USA Posts: 256 Rep Power: 64	I joke that I should have named Brandy "Shadow" instead. She always wants to be right.there.with.you. Plus she's excellent about knowing her boundaries. She might be a mix, but I think she's 100% pure herding dog.
	__________________

07-02-2007, 03:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ritz459 "Nothing is ever easy" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,730 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 235	Phew, and did I mention vocal? Chloe has been just "talking" (in the forms of high pitch yips) frequently the past few days. While she's playing, while she runs, when she just wants a conversation....it wouldn't be so bad but her bark is shrill.
	__________________ ~Blackie, Rose, Chloe (dogs), Pheobe (cat), Casey, Dameon (ferrets), Joey ('Tiel), Dot, Louie (cavies), Pickachu (hamster), Rush (R.I.P. 15yrs), Lucy (R.I.P. 4yrs)~

07-03-2007, 07:58 AM	#10 (permalink)
trainingrixie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: jax, fla Posts: 746 Rep Power: 57	roscoe is very vocal (he's bc/rottie/?). if he's hungry/has to poop/or wants lovins he looks at you and moans and groans and does this like half bark thing. we keep asking what he wants, and he keeps making noise. he does it when you tell him "no" too. he stops what he's doing and talks back like a little kid. Trixie is starting to pick this up now a little. but her talking is a little more whiney than roscoes. BTW...my camera busted on the trip down here, but hopefully I'm getting a part time job at agymnastics school until i get that dream job. so i should be able to get a new camera soon and posts pics of the two clowns.
	__________________

02-08-2008, 01:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
laser Sheltie Lover Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA New England Posts: 97 Rep Power: 21	Hearding !!!!!!! Hello ALL, just a quick one hereYah hearding.... Well I have had Six or soon to be six Shelties and none of them have had hearding class. I will say this all of them by nature have this built in some moree than others. Our youngest we got from Chnaute KS USA is a male tri color and he is forever trying to knip at the heals and running around in circles when out in the field as well as in the yard to get you into place and stop. If I have more than tow out in the yard he tries to get all into one place. As for the Vocals Shelties are big mouths and for the boys Play never ends.... So it is a good time to watch them circle the heard of folks.... Hmmmmmmmm My new boy Donovan seen below is comming here real soon From Alabama USA so I will have bookends to deal with... LASER Attachment 1226
	Last edited by laser : 03-07-2008 at 11:49 AM.

02-09-2008, 09:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
Ritz459 "Nothing is ever easy" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,730 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 235	What a cute Sheltie pup! Good luck with your new addition! Chloe has absolutely no herding instinct. Lots of preydrive, but no herding instinct. She wants to play with my neighbor's cows, but if she got loose I think she'd be more interested in eating their poop than herding them. His the herding instinct hereditary? Rose also doesn't herd but has a very large preydrive (her and Chloe act so much alike it is scary sometimes), but Rose's mom, Brownie, loved to herd.
	__________________ ~Blackie, Rose, Chloe (dogs), Pheobe (cat), Casey, Dameon (ferrets), Joey ('Tiel), Dot, Louie (cavies), Pickachu (hamster), Rush (R.I.P. 15yrs), Lucy (R.I.P. 4yrs)~

02-09-2008, 12:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
laser Sheltie Lover Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA New England Posts: 97 Rep Power: 21	Hearding Thank you. Well yes it is hearding in most Shelties as a rule???? Yes but, one has to be trained properly to do it and do it well. it is like any other dog sport if they have never been out for a swim they will sink Trust me on that Shelties are rotten in the water they sink due to the double coat ad small feet. As I see it Most Shelties can heard right off the bat it is still in their spirit to do this it has not been totaly removed over the years..And Why i do not know??? I tried to put more photos but it would not let me??? OK LASER

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