The New Zealand Heading Dog or New Zealand Eye Dog is a farm heading dog that uses its eyes and quick movements to control sheep. It was predominantly bred from the Border Collie, and there is generally black and white, although sometimes tan in colour.
The Border Collie was a common farm dog around the Scottish border in the U.K. and early British settlers to New Zealand brought these dogs with them. The Border Collie is long haired and has a tendency to lie down, and this trait was not desirable in the new country. To counter the warmer environment, shorter haired dogs were bred. They could be spotted by the farmer from a further distance since they no longer had the tendency to lie down. (NOTE: They didn't explain why they no longer laid down. Was this because of the shorter hair? Surely not.)
The New Zealand Heading Dog has been integral to sheepdog trials which likely began in New Zealand as early as 1867 in Wanaka. The competitive dog sport involves herding sheep around a field and into enclosures. The sport became popular on television in the 1980s when "A Dog's Show" was broadcast to New Zealand audiences.
This dog has been bred with natural abilities of being aware of its surroundings, and adapt to quick movements in its line of sight. They are classified as medium to large lass dogs with long, smooth and straight hair. These types of dogs are specially bred and trained for work in farms to circle sheep. It needs a large quantity of space like farms, therefore not intended to be kept as house pets. They are extremely intelligent and should not be left alone for a long duration of time; they are capable of herding animals as a natural ability and, if left along for too long, they will try to escape or try to herd small animals or children.
The New Zealand Heading dog is at all times, other than when asleep or tired, extremely active and therefore leaving them indoors or chained to backyards is inappropriate. If they are left indoors, destruction of furniture and other household products will be guaranteed.
The most famous shepherd from the settlements of New Zealand was a man known as James Lillico. Both New Zealand heading dogs and border collies are known for their ability to take commands from the shepherd to lie down and stay still and to circle sheep as they are are commanded. Heading dogs would herd sheep packs together by running in circles and stopping to watch sheep close enough to stop one or more sheep from running away from the direction they do not want them to go. If heading dogs were to be in the wilderness, the step after heading the sheep or other animals would be to pursue and hunt them down for the kill. The traditional trait of any heading dog would be the keen eye contacts it uses to notify the sheep that it is not supposed to run for its freedom and with the stare from its eye, the sheep will stop its movement and hurry back to the pack. The "eyeing" of heading dogs comes from the skills of its natural "heading" ability which is commonly known as a trait in heading dogs.
I think part of this dogs success is not so much in its ability to eye a sheep into submission but rather the natural reaction of the sheep to being eyeballed in such a manner.
ReplyDeleteProbably six of one and half a dozen of the other Delores.
DeleteI have seen exhibitions of their herding skills - incredible. The handler looked to be largely unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteThe smaller portion's sister's son (what a complicated phrase) has a border collie. They live in Brisbane and poor Jasper needs a very close clip in summer or he gets miserable skin infections in the heat.
They are certainly remarkable to watch. I used to watch them on TV a few years ago. Much more entertaining than some of the dreadful shows we get stuck with.
DeleteI think dogs with long coats need to be clipped in our summers or they are very uncomfortable and of course the humidity in Queensland wouldn't help one little bit.
PS: And just after I hit publish I remembered that nephew was the word I was looking for. Brain dead this morning.
ReplyDeletehahaha......know the feeling so well EC. Often can think of the first letter but not the word. : )
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteFabulous dogs. Bit prejudiced of course - My uncle Wullie, now dec'd, was the last of five generations of shepherds, and breeders and trainers of the Border Collies; I adore any of the sheep dogs but of course the BC is special and any that are closely related as this is. My heart aches when I see working dogs being kept as pets - particularly in urban areas. It's just wrong - unless like one neighbour I had in Sydney, they are participants in agility training and competition.
The "sit down" is used in herding as it calms the sheep before a turn. Obviously in the wider plains of NZ this was deemed unnecessary and likely the mention of that trait not being there was bred in via the short-haired mixings.
My but you got me going on this one!! Hugs, YAM xx
Glad you enjoyed this post Yam. My great-grandfather who hailed from Scotland back in the 1880s was also a shepherd in that country as well as in Victoria when he emigrated. I imagine he would have known quite a lot about dogs and herding sheep.
DeleteI too think working dogs belong in wide open spaces, such as farms and not kept in small gardens etc.
The dogs we saw working in NZ were unbelievable. They would go way up into the large hills and bring the sheep down just guided by their boss's whistle. xx
My first dog was a Border Collie and he was a wonderful playmate --intuitive: would stop and wait for a ball to bounce off a wall or tree and predict its trajectory. Disinterested in sheep, but we had none. His undoing came from slipping the gate to the road and trying to herd cars. Still miss him.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your canine friend. Their memories stay with us forever.
DeleteMy hubby had a border collie in England before he emigrated out here to Oz and he still speaks of her at times with fondness.
I'm always amazed at the skill these dogs have in holding a mob of sheep together. Imagine how handy one would be for those families in America that have 18 or more kids? Just send the dog out to round them up for dinner....
ReplyDeleteI had a border collie/german shepherd cross once, boy that dog could run!
Your idea of herding large families is a very good one. Those dogs certainly can put on a burst of speed. Quite unbelievable to watch them at work.
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