Age for herding testing?

wolfy dog · 09-17-2012, 12:12 AM

What is a good age to test a GSD for herding instincts? WD is getting better impulse control around our bunnies but I am sure he'll kill them if he had the chance.
He is 7 months old.

dogfaeries · 09-17-2012, 01:10 AM

Well, you can enter your dog in an AKC Herding Instinct Test at 6 months of age. I'm not sure what is considered an optimum age to try. My girls were both 2 years old when they took the test. One passed both tests and got her Herding Instinct Certificate, the other just passed one test (chased and bit a sheep on the second test).

llombardo · 09-17-2012, 07:14 AM

What is the herding test consist of? Where is it offered?

wolfy dog · 09-17-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llombardo

What is the herding test consist of? Where is it offered?

Yes, my question too. And is this a test for dogs that have never seen sheep or ducks or do they take a test after they have practiced herding already?

llombardo · 09-17-2012, 01:50 PM

Mine practices with the cats everyday...I make her sit when we see ducks and rabbits. I wonder if that screws things up?

wolfy dog · 09-17-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llombardo

Mine practices with the cats everyday...I make her sit when we see ducks and rabbits. I wonder if that screws things up?

I do that too. I don't know what the effect is on herding techniques but the bunnies appreciate it

FlyAway · 09-17-2012, 01:56 PM

My herding trainer like 8 months. I think you can go now.

**Liesje** · 09-17-2012, 04:47 PM

Mine will do as young as 2 months. There's testing instinct, and then testing the obedience required to go on to herding lessons. The latter is obviously done later.

martemchik · 09-17-2012, 05:00 PM

I did it at around a year...bunnies are too much prey and not enough herding. I did it around a year so that my dog had enough obedience on him that if he decided to do something bad I could call him off.

Don't equate how your dog does with bunnies to how he will do with sheep. Sheep are bigger and in general more fun to chase than to eat. I think you can go ahead and do it now if you want...I never went on to train in herding (too far away) but I'm not sure how long it takes for your dog to advance from sheep to something smaller. I'm not sure if bunny herding is even possible. I know ducks and geese are sometimes used but if you intend for your GSD to herd bunnies it might not ever happen.

Stosh · 09-17-2012, 05:36 PM

Stosh started herding training at 10 mos, but you can take the AKC test at 6 mos. It consists of the dog on a long lead in a pen with the sheep and you and the trainer. The dog has to show interest in the sheep and basically move them around the pen. The dog shouldn't be afraid of them or try to attack. Many dogs will bark or lunge or even nip. The trainer will be able to tell if it's interest or aggression. You can go to AKC.org and search for upcoming events in your state

09-17-2012, 12:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
wolfy dog Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,331	Age for herding testing? What is a good age to test a GSD for herding instincts? WD is getting better impulse control around our bunnies but I am sure he'll kill them if he had the chance. He is 7 months old. __________________ To know if you are doing things right, you should be willing to trade places with your dog.

09-17-2012, 01:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
dogfaeries Master Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma City metro Posts: 998	Well, you can enter your dog in an AKC Herding Instinct Test at 6 months of age. I'm not sure what is considered an optimum age to try. My girls were both 2 years old when they took the test. One passed both tests and got her Herding Instinct Certificate, the other just passed one test (chased and bit a sheep on the second test). __________________ ~ Diane in Okla Carly - AKC CH, Herding Instinct Certificate Sage - Ch. pointed, Herding Instinct Certificate Russell - GSD puppy

09-17-2012, 07:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
llombardo Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,990	What is the herding test consist of? Where is it offered? __________________ Misty- Samoyed Mix Tannor- Golden Retriever CGC Robyn- German Shepherd CGC Cats-Thunder, Harley, Miley, Bandit, and Ferah RIP Boo..Black Lab "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

09-17-2012, 01:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
llombardo Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,990	Mine practices with the cats everyday...I make her sit when we see ducks and rabbits. I wonder if that screws things up? __________________ Misty- Samoyed Mix Tannor- Golden Retriever CGC Robyn- German Shepherd CGC Cats-Thunder, Harley, Miley, Bandit, and Ferah RIP Boo..Black Lab "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

09-17-2012, 01:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
FlyAway Master Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: The Cold Midwest Posts: 569	My herding trainer like 8 months. I think you can go now. __________________ "And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."

09-17-2012, 04:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Liesje Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 16,279	Mine will do as young as 2 months. There's testing instinct, and then testing the obedience required to go on to herding lessons. The latter is obviously done later. __________________ Liesje & the K9s Nikon (GSD) U-CH SG Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 KKL T1 FO PA TF-III FDCh-S CL1-R UJJ U-CA HIT TT CGC Coke (All-American) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC, couch warmer extraordinaire Indy (All-American) Blue Horizon's Indigo Girl, flyball star in training Rainbow Bridge Kenya (GSD) U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop CL1-R CL1-F RA HIT TDI TT CGC vom Blauen Horizont / Blue Horizon GSDs

09-17-2012, 05:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
martemchik Knighted Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,465	I did it at around a year...bunnies are too much prey and not enough herding. I did it around a year so that my dog had enough obedience on him that if he decided to do something bad I could call him off. Don't equate how your dog does with bunnies to how he will do with sheep. Sheep are bigger and in general more fun to chase than to eat. I think you can go ahead and do it now if you want...I never went on to train in herding (too far away) but I'm not sure how long it takes for your dog to advance from sheep to something smaller. I'm not sure if bunny herding is even possible. I know ducks and geese are sometimes used but if you intend for your GSD to herd bunnies it might not ever happen. __________________ Rooney CD RE TC HIC 7/10

09-17-2012, 05:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Stosh Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: tyler texas Posts: 9,292	Stosh started herding training at 10 mos, but you can take the AKC test at 6 mos. It consists of the dog on a long lead in a pen with the sheep and you and the trainer. The dog has to show interest in the sheep and basically move them around the pen. The dog shouldn't be afraid of them or try to attack. Many dogs will bark or lunge or even nip. The trainer will be able to tell if it's interest or aggression. You can go to AKC.org and search for upcoming events in your state

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