How Early Can You Identify Herding Drive in Puppies?

Understanding Herd Instincts in Young Pups

The herding instincts of a pup is bred into its DNA. Before dogs became the lovable, domesticated creatures we know today, they were once wolves. The drive to herd comes from the way a wolf pack acts, surrounding its prey, but has since been modified into herding instincts, rather than a violent attack. Since this instinct is embedded in their biology, it’s important to understand how to harness this drive so your pup can live a happy, fulfilling life, doing what they were born to do.

Typical Age Ranges for Recognizing Herding Behavior

On average, herding instincts and drive start to reveal themselves in the first 6 months of a young pup's life. Advanced pups can exhibit herding behaviors as early as the first 6-8 weeks of life, whereas others may be slower to develop. Look out for things like chasing after moving feet, biting its litter mates, circular movements, or barking when its brothers and sisters scatter out of a room. What may be mistaken as typical puppy play could be signs of early herding drive.

Common Breeds Known for Strong Herding Drive

Three of the most common breeds with a strong herding drive are the Border Collie, Australian Cattle Dog, and Australian Shepherd. These dogs have been bred for centuries to work on farms, ranches, and in fields to help humans maintain large herds of livestock. A Border Collie is most notable for their intense herding eye behaviors, in which they stalk their target from a distance. In contrast, Cattle dogs are better known for their ability to encourage other animals to move by nipping.

There are other less commonly used canine breeds with a history of herding drives that are common household pets: Welsh Corgis, German Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, and smooth- and rough-coated Collies. If you are considering owning one of the mentioned herding breeds, you must understand their unique abilities and instincts. With a natural inclination to run around a field for hours each day, these breeds have an impressive amount of energy that requires constant stimulation to prevent unwanted behaviors.

Early Signs to Watch For

Here are some early signs to keep an eye out for from your litter or new puppy:

Reactivity to moving objects: Pups show excitement toward moving objects, whether they are children, other pets, or passersby such as runners, bicyclists, or even cars. It's appealing to their natural herding instinct to control the motion around them.

Circling- The herding drive can manifest as circling. This could look like trying to get around people, animals, or objects. For example, if you observe your puppy constantly moving behind you when you stand or walk, this indicates they are attempting to control their movements.

Intense focus- An intense focus on an object is one of the most common signs that your pup is developing their drive. It will appear as if they have tunnel vision on the moving target. This is known as the herding eye.

Nipping at the heel- If your puppy starts nipping and biting at your heels, this is not them being ornery. Nipping and biting ankles is an instinctive herding behavior used on stock, like cattle and sheep. This is a more intense form to help move stock that may be more stubborn to movement.

Evaluating Puppy Temperament Through Testing

Testing your pup's herding drive is important for a number of reasons. For breeders, it's a way to identify which puppies might be suitable for sale to individuals seeking a working dog. It is also a great way to test each dog's innate ability to be trained, even if only for good behavior.

We recommend testing your pup early on in their life, ideally around the 7-9 week range for the first test, with follow-up testing around 3-4 months. Testing should occur early because it’s a prime age when the puppy's mind is open and curious, allowing their natural instincts to emerge without the intervention of training, for now. Here are a few tests you can perform with your canine to reveal their herding abilities:

Human Movement sensitivity- Test a variation of movements in front of the pup. Have a human walk or jog briskly in front of the dog and gauge their reaction. Do this ina group setting and while the pup is alone. Look for signs of nipping, staring, freezing, and blocking reactions.

Toy/Ball Movement- Roll a ball on the floor with variations of size and speed, tossing the ball. Look for crouching and stalking of the ball, blocking its path, and controlling it with their mouth.

Remember, if your dog shows signs that they have a natural herding drive, this does not guarantee they will be a good herding dog by any means. There are many elements that factor into molding a pup into a great herding companion, but these tests can help breeders and handlers make informed decisions on which dog is right for their wants and needs.

Building Foundation Skills Through Early Training

Training plays a massive part in what separates an average pup from an extraordinary herding dog. Like with most training, early intervention is key to building a solid foundation of herding skills and honing their natural drive. Building a done with the pup is crucial. Training should focus on preserving their natural drive, building engagement with their owner, and guiding their behavior toward what you would expect to see in a seasoned dog. Consider enrolling your dog in a training program designed for herding animals, as it can be a full-time job learning how to mold your young pup into a herding professional.

Are you looking for a herding puppy to join your farm or family? Contact Kuykendall Border Collies today to get more information on our current and upcoming litters!

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