He started herding today!!

Good boy Blue!!  Hes so pretty!  Give him kisses for me! 

Doesn't he follow you really close when you move from room to room -- sorta 'bumping into' you??  Doesn't he ever race from room to room to 'find' others in the house who have changed position? THAT is herding too!
 
I'd be astonished if this was his 'first' herding -- *grin*  USUALLY we humans are just too dumb to know WHEN we've been 'herded'.
 
One time my husband took a dead pine branch (one we had tossed out back long after Christmas and just hadn't gotten to the curb 'in time' ) and he walked across the patio strewing needles in his wake.
 
Foxy (sheltie/corgi mix) approached with GREAT caution -- it was a tad breezy but I wondered what the heck was going on as Foxy began to prowl in a large circle on the patio -- every circle became tighter and a bit faster ... and faster and *faster* and *FASTER* and  **FASTER**   til he was flat out running that circle ....
 
and inside that circle were a whole bunch of pine needles ... now literallyl dancing with the centrifugal force of the whirlwind Mostlie Sheltie speeding 'round them ... he actually LEVITATED them right off the floor of the patio.  HERDING them.
 
I never laughed so hard in my life -- the very movement of them by the wind was enough to kick that herding thing into gear ... he totally exhausted himself but had a darned good time of it.
 
Get a whole bunch of tennis balls in a small bucket and toss them high in the air.  Then give him a treat for every one he retrieves and drops back in the bucket.  It's a grand herding game!!!  Eventually you can transfer it to all toys and get him to go 'herd your toys!' and he'll pick them all up and put them where they 'belong'! Have fun -- they are a blast to watch!

[sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif] It's exciting to see them do what they are wired to do.   Jules

I didn't know that following you around that close and then trying to find us was herding!!! I always thought it was just something all dogs and cats do. Well then I'm just happy he was trying to herd something else instead of us all the times.[8D]

Good for you Blue! Blue is such a pretty dog. I like Callie's ideas for herding fun.

My herder can be a pain in the butt! When we're all out walking (off leash) he's always clipping the front of my legs to try to "keep my in line!" He also drives my GSD crazy because he's a "go to the head" herder. He has a heck of a time keeping Isis in line, too, 'cause she's always off chasing stuff and doesn't really abide by his "rules."

Have fun with Blue!

Seriously - go rent the movie "Babe" and sit back and watch it -- it's the best example done easily of herders at work -- how they will run a bit ahead of the animal and then either 'cut them off' or bump into them. 
 
Cattle dogs herd generally by nipping the heels -- but ANY herder will do this if it can get away with it. 
 
A herder tends not to be happy just knowing where you are.  (Lassie did NOT want to leave Timmy in the well just 'cos' -- Lassie wanted Timmy going where she WANTED him to go!! LOL)
 
A herder wants to keep everbuddy together -- all gathered up and moving into the same place.  But it's helpful to know your own herder well enough so you can SPOT when you are being herdED -- and say "HEY -- I'm the alpha, and I'll go where I WANT to go!! Not where you herd me!!"  not just saying in words, but to catch yourself before you allow the dog to habitually tell YOU where to go!

Oh Blue, I understand. Those silly humans don't understand that we have jobs to do. I'm 'posed to be out pointing the birds all day, and when I stand by the glass door watchin' them mama calls me "cute." [8|]
-Rupert

Blue is stuck between if he wants to herd or be a tracker. He doesn't really do much herding he's more into guarding the bed or the couch by stretching out with his eyes close.
 
He is a great tracker. Once he is on a scent he finds where it came from. It just makes it harder to walk home another way because he wants to retrace our tracks to get home.

My herder definitely herds people, since we lack any cows at my house!  LOL! I'm used to being bumped in the back of the leg by her nose.  She knows I won't tolerate heel-nipping.  I wish she would stop doing it to the 14yo, though!
 
The tennis ball game sounds like fun!  LOL!

Way too go Blue!! Sara actualy caught a bird the other day when I was takeing her out side too  use the potty. I don't belive she hurt the bird I told her to leave it!!! and she droped it,
 
I could not belive she caught one.  She  is always looking at them and trying her best too sneak and catch one. And  like I said she did the other day. Never thought she would really catch one tho! 
 Too bad I burst her bubble and did not let her keep it. 
 
 I don't know for sure what she would had done with it if I was not there. I would hope nothing. But she is for sure very intrested in them as well!!