American Bouvier des Flandres Club
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Committees
    • Constitution & By-Laws
    • Contact Us
    • Membership Info
    • Officers & Board of Directors
    • Club Officer History
    • Partner Organizations
    • President's Message
  • Bouvier Info
    • Get to Know the Bouvier
    • AKC Breed Standard
    • Articles of Interest >
      • A Farmer's Dog
      • Function and Purpose of the Bouvier
      • Diet Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy
      • Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cells
      • Getting the Edge – The Owner/Handler
      • Makin' It Look Easy - The All-Breed Handler
      • Taking it to the Next Level - The Making of a Special's Dog
      • Losing is Only Fun if You're Dieting
      • Why I Love Herding
    • Find a Bouvier
    • Beginners Guide to the Bouvier >
      • Beginner's Guide to the Bouvier
      • How to Read a Pedigree
      • How to Select a Breeder
      • Selecting Your Bouvier Puppy
      • What About a Rescue Dog?
    • Judges Education
    • Breeder Judges & Mentors
    • Position on cross-breeding bouviers
  • Events & News
    • National Specialty
    • Upcoming Events & News
    • Past National Specialties >
      • 2018 Specialty Results
  • Programs
    • Futurity
    • Multi-Level Performance
    • Outstanding Sportsmanship
    • Owner/Handler and Owner/ Breeder/ Handler
    • Register of Merit (ROM) >
      • ROM: Program Info
      • ROM: Sires and Dams by Rank
      • ROM: Sires and Dams in Alphabetical Order
    • Top 20 Bouviers >
      • Top 20: Annual Celebration
      • Top 20: Breeder Honor Roll
      • Top 20: Conformation Program
      • Top 20: Conformation Winners
      • Top 20: Performance Program
    • Versatile Bouvier >
      • Versatile Bouvier Program Information
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2015-2024
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2005-2014
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 1995-2004
    • Volunteer of the Year
  • Statistics
    • Current Statistics >
      • 2023 >
        • Top 20 NOHS 2022-2023
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2022-2023
        • Best in Show/Group 2022
        • Best of Breed 2022
        • Top Producers 2022
        • Junior Handler - 2022
    • Performance Statistics Archive >
      • 2022 >
        • Agility 2022
        • Herding 2022
        • Obedience 2022
        • Other Titles Earned 2022
        • Rally 2022
      • 2021 >
        • Agility 2021
        • Herding 2021
        • Obedience 2021
        • Other Titles Earned 2021
        • Rally 2021
        • Top Producers 2021
      • 2020 >
        • Agility 2020
        • Herding 2020
        • Obedience 2020
        • Other Titles Earned 2020
        • Rally 2020
        • Top Producers 2020
      • 2019 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2019
        • Best of Breed 2019
        • Agility 2019
        • Herding 2019
        • Other Titles Earned 2019
        • Rally 2019
        • Top Producers 2019
      • 2018 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2018
        • Best of Breed 2018
        • Agility 2018
        • Herding 2018
        • Obedience 2018
        • Other Titles Earned 2018
        • Rally 2018
        • Top Producers 2018
    • Conformation Statistics Archive >
      • 2021-2022 >
        • Top 20: NOHS 2021-2022
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2021-2022
      • 2020-2021 >
        • Top 20: Conformation - 2020-2021
        • Top 20: NOHS -- 2020-2021
        • Top 20: Performance - 2020-2021
      • 2019-2020 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2019-2020
        • Natl. Owner-Handled Series 2019-20
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2019-2020
      • 2018-2019 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: NOHS - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2018-2019
  • A Versatile Breed
    • Work & Play
    • Carting
  • Member Area
    • Member Payments & Donations
    • Member Portal
    • Breed Mentors

Why I Love Herding

Back to Get to Know the Bouvier
Jane Baugh - Contributing Author
My first introduction to herding was in 1996.
It all started when I was at an agility class with my new Bouvier puppy “Sadie.” Sadie seemed to be enjoying going through the tunnels and doing the dog walk when she ditched the equipment and decided she wanted to herd the horse in the field next to us. My instructor said “I think you have a herding dog.”

I was curious about herding and decided to test Sadie’s herding instinct. Well from that day forward I was hooked! Turns out Sadie was a dog of a lifetime in many ways. She had a sound temperament, was confident, loved to show in the conformation ring and was a good honest herding dog. If I only knew then what I know now…Twenty years later, I enjoyed the sport even more with Sadie’s grandson Trey. I’ve been lucky to work with some wonderful herding clinicians and have access to sheep, geese and cattle.
"Trey" working through a challenging situation.
Several years ago I was at a clinic where sheep and cattle were offered, the clinician and my friend who was hosting the clinic convinced me to run Trey on cattle. Of course I was scared to death but decided it was worth a try. Once I got over the fear of working cattle I really enjoyed it, and so did Trey. Cattle do not “flock” like sheep so the dog has to work harder to keep the cows together. They also move slower than sheep, and there is more time for the handler to think about the next command.

In the early days, Bouviers were used on farms to herd cattle. The “Bouvier,” meaning cow herder or ox drover, was well known for their abilities as a cattle drover. The Bouvier is without question one of the finest of the European cattle dogs that were found driving herds of beef from the grazing grounds to butchers pens - just as sheepdogs once escorted flocks. Well into the last century, a cattle drover walked his animals to the slaughterhouse along lonely country roads, assisted only by his droving dog. The drive often took days in miserable weather, and it was the Bouvier that took on this grueling work. The drover depended on his dogs, and they rarely let him down. With instinctive initiative the Bouvier went about its tasks without waiting for orders from its master. It would even work alone if the drover went away for a short time. Using its bulk and strength to redirect straying animals it would nudge them back onto the road and prod them towards the rest of the herd without having to nip at their heels. Bouviers are also known to throw “body blocks” at the front end of a cow when necessary. Bouviers require a fair amount of training, more so than the smaller herding breeds because of their power and presence. The overwhelming impression given by a Bouvier is one of power. They tend to work close to the livestock and have to be taught to work farther off as to not upset the livestock. All this takes training time and patience. Once Bouviers understand the stock will move when they are at a distance they are more willing to stay farther off the stock.

There are many rules in herding and the dog needs to understand the rules and follow them to have a successful outcome. It is important that the dog and handler have a good working relationship, and there is mutual trust and respect. The training will go much smoother if the dog truly views his handler as the pack leader. One quote I heard many years ago that has stuck in my mind is “the handler must own the game.” I can’t emphasize this enough. You do not want the dog working for himself. The dog’s job is to listen to the handler and execute the task at hand. And the handler is always right – even if they give a wrong command. It’s important to follow through with all commands. Like most herding breeds Bouviers tend to be independent and choose to do things their way, they can be stubborn and willful. However I’ve seen some biddable Bouviers that are willing to please their owner, this trait will make the sport much more enjoyable in the beginning stages of training. I enjoy herding because it is challenging and fun. Most Bouviers are happiest when they have a job to do. I got involved in the sport of herding because it requires teamwork; the handler and the dog must read each other continuously. Also I believe herding is probably the most difficult of all the performance events. In all the other performance events, there is the dog, inanimate equipment and/or possibly another human (aside from the handler). All of these things can be controlled by the trainer to teach the dog and handler in a logical and controlled fashion. All that goes out the window in herding. There is the dog, the handler, the obstacles or course, and the livestock. The dog and handler have worked out a relationship and have commands down well. And the livestock have their own agenda and have refused to follow the script - any script. That’s where the fun starts. It's now the handler's job to remember the course, control the dog, read the livestock, move at the correct time (sometimes backwards and at top speed), remain upright no matter what and assist your dog if needed. Herding is a multi-tasking sport and that can make it very challenging for some people, me included!!

Trey is a multiple conformation champion and has earned herding titles in AKC, AHBA and ASCA on sheep and cattle. His breeders/owners are James and Jane Baugh, he was trained exclusively by Jane Baugh, and was the first recipient of the ABdFC Tammy White Memorial Herding Trophy.

Questions or feedback? Contact a Committee or the Officers & Board of Directors directly.
All photos, illustrations, charts, articles or content may not be reproduced without the express permission of the ABdFC and the photographer.

Site Map  | Copyright ©2021 The American Bouvier des Flandres Club (ABdFC).

Get Social with Us
Like us on Facebook
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Committees
    • Constitution & By-Laws
    • Contact Us
    • Membership Info
    • Officers & Board of Directors
    • Club Officer History
    • Partner Organizations
    • President's Message
  • Bouvier Info
    • Get to Know the Bouvier
    • AKC Breed Standard
    • Articles of Interest >
      • A Farmer's Dog
      • Function and Purpose of the Bouvier
      • Diet Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy
      • Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cells
      • Getting the Edge – The Owner/Handler
      • Makin' It Look Easy - The All-Breed Handler
      • Taking it to the Next Level - The Making of a Special's Dog
      • Losing is Only Fun if You're Dieting
      • Why I Love Herding
    • Find a Bouvier
    • Beginners Guide to the Bouvier >
      • Beginner's Guide to the Bouvier
      • How to Read a Pedigree
      • How to Select a Breeder
      • Selecting Your Bouvier Puppy
      • What About a Rescue Dog?
    • Judges Education
    • Breeder Judges & Mentors
    • Position on cross-breeding bouviers
  • Events & News
    • National Specialty
    • Upcoming Events & News
    • Past National Specialties >
      • 2018 Specialty Results
  • Programs
    • Futurity
    • Multi-Level Performance
    • Outstanding Sportsmanship
    • Owner/Handler and Owner/ Breeder/ Handler
    • Register of Merit (ROM) >
      • ROM: Program Info
      • ROM: Sires and Dams by Rank
      • ROM: Sires and Dams in Alphabetical Order
    • Top 20 Bouviers >
      • Top 20: Annual Celebration
      • Top 20: Breeder Honor Roll
      • Top 20: Conformation Program
      • Top 20: Conformation Winners
      • Top 20: Performance Program
    • Versatile Bouvier >
      • Versatile Bouvier Program Information
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2015-2024
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2005-2014
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 1995-2004
    • Volunteer of the Year
  • Statistics
    • Current Statistics >
      • 2023 >
        • Top 20 NOHS 2022-2023
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2022-2023
        • Best in Show/Group 2022
        • Best of Breed 2022
        • Top Producers 2022
        • Junior Handler - 2022
    • Performance Statistics Archive >
      • 2022 >
        • Agility 2022
        • Herding 2022
        • Obedience 2022
        • Other Titles Earned 2022
        • Rally 2022
      • 2021 >
        • Agility 2021
        • Herding 2021
        • Obedience 2021
        • Other Titles Earned 2021
        • Rally 2021
        • Top Producers 2021
      • 2020 >
        • Agility 2020
        • Herding 2020
        • Obedience 2020
        • Other Titles Earned 2020
        • Rally 2020
        • Top Producers 2020
      • 2019 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2019
        • Best of Breed 2019
        • Agility 2019
        • Herding 2019
        • Other Titles Earned 2019
        • Rally 2019
        • Top Producers 2019
      • 2018 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2018
        • Best of Breed 2018
        • Agility 2018
        • Herding 2018
        • Obedience 2018
        • Other Titles Earned 2018
        • Rally 2018
        • Top Producers 2018
    • Conformation Statistics Archive >
      • 2021-2022 >
        • Top 20: NOHS 2021-2022
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2021-2022
      • 2020-2021 >
        • Top 20: Conformation - 2020-2021
        • Top 20: NOHS -- 2020-2021
        • Top 20: Performance - 2020-2021
      • 2019-2020 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2019-2020
        • Natl. Owner-Handled Series 2019-20
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2019-2020
      • 2018-2019 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: NOHS - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2018-2019
  • A Versatile Breed
    • Work & Play
    • Carting
  • Member Area
    • Member Payments & Donations
    • Member Portal
    • Breed Mentors