She might be a herding dog

gsalem

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discussion title:

She might be a herding dog - sort of

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2132.1

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gsalem

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Oct-26 9:32 am

My "baby" chickens are 9 weeks old now and I've been letting them out of their coop to free range in the yard a little bit. They're good size for baby chickens but I still try to keep an eye on them.

I let them out yesterday and when I went to close up the chicken coop I did a head count and 2 were missing. They have been going into the coop on their own when it starts to get dark but 2 weren't there. I went through the yard with the flashlight and didn't see them. This morning Gracie and I were walking in a different part of the yard and she was very interested in a woody area. I stood still for a minute and heard a peeping noise. It was dark but there was a little light from the security lamp. I told Gracie - go get the chickens- where are they- and she went into the woods and stood near a downed limb. I went into the woods where she was and sure enough, the chickens were sitting right there. Something must have chased them there because it's a good distance from the coop. Gracie was standing right next to them looking at me. It's so funny. It was like she was "fetching or herding" them. She tried to walk behind them so they'd come in my direction but one of them was very nervous and went the other way. I picked up the one who was calmer but the other one went into the briars so Gracie couldn't follow. Hopefully, she'll head to the coop on her own during the day while I'm at work.

I was so surprised that Gracie knew what I was talking about. She went right to the chickens and waited for me. I think a lot of dogs instinct kicks in sometimes. I know labradors who have to carry something (anything) when they walk and I'm sure instinct is strong in a lot of other breeds as well. Of course, it helps that I exposed Gracie to the chickens as they were growing up so the chickens aren't nervous about her and she's fine with them too. I'm not sure I would have found them without Gracie since it was so dark and for the most part they were being still and not making much noise, just a few peeps.

Has your dog ever done anything specific to his or her breed or mix of breeds?

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cl-terreinarkansas

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discussion title:

She might be a herding dog - sort of

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2132.2 in response to 2132.1

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cl-terreinarkansas

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gsalem

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Oct-26 12:06 pm

How cute and how very smart of Gracie to retrieve. My dogs don't retrieve unless it's to dig and find a mole, shake its head until it's dead. Or, in Jack's case - eat a bird. Lately though I'm finding Jack and Taz are doing some really smart things. Like this summer Jack is known to roll in something so when he comes in from outside I have to check him out - just to make sure he's not dirty. Now - everytime he comes in he'll automatically sit so I can check him out!

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gsalem

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discussion title:

She might be a herding dog - sort of

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2132.3 in response to 2132.2

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gsalem

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cl-terreinarkansas

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Oct-26 12:34 pm

As far as Gracie goes, I'm not sure it's smart as much as it's instinct. She brings me the soccer ball and that's just sort of an extension of her herding instinct. I think she was doing the same thing with the chickens. Maybe not. I wish she could tell me.

Jack & Taz are very smart! Shaking the mole is probably instinct (and yuck, by the way - LOL) but them sitting when they come inside surely is intelligence. I tried to get the shelties to wipe their feet when they come in but it hasn't stuck. Shall I send them over to your house? I bet they'd do it for you. What do you do if you find Jack & Taz have rolled in something? Is it bath time? I'd be in trouble if Gracie & Bud rolled in stuff. They take a little bit to dry. Here are the steps for washing a sheltie- rinse, lather with soap, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, towel dry, blow dry, brush, brush, brush, LOL

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cl-terreinarkansas

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She might be a herding dog - sort of

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2132.4 in response to 2132.3

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cl-terreinarkansas

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gsalem

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Oct-26 12:53 pm

Right! It is instinctive. Gracie is just doing what comes natural. And Jack digging and killing moles is also instinctive. Yes, it's yuck when I see him shaking that mole to death.

I can get Jack and Taz to do almost anything. Hmm, maybe I can teach them to wipe their feet as well. LOL! When Jack rolls in something - first I make sure it's poop or mud. So I have to smell him first - yuck! If it's just mud I'll do a quick sponge bath which is just mixing some shampoo with water and cleaning him up. If it's poop - off to the bathtub to get a bath which he is thoroughly hates!! But he was good this summer. After that last bath when rolling in a dead snake carcass he got mad that he had to have a bath. Maybe it's coincidence but after that he didn't roll in anything, to date.

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gsalem

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discussion title:

She might be a herding dog - sort of

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2132.5 in response to 2132.4

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gsalem

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cl-terreinarkansas

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Oct-26 1:20 pm

Well, it's very constructive of them to rid your yard of moles!

I pretty much figured you'd be able to teach yours to wipe their feet. I'll send mine along to learn it too since they're not "getting" it from me. Wink.

It sounds like Jack is a VERY smart boy to learn from the snake rolling experience. LOL no more baths for him ;)

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