Border Collies Herding Ducks: A Fun and Challenging Experience

Border Collies have been bred for centuries to herd sheep, but they can also be trained to herd ducks with great enthusiasm and precision.

Their high energy levels and strong herding instincts make them well-suited for this task.

Border Collies are highly intelligent dogs that thrive on physical and mental stimulation, which herding ducks provides in abundance.

In fact, herding ducks can be a fun and challenging experience for both the dog and the handler.

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To train your border collie to herd ducks, it's essential to start with live training time. Place half a dozen of your ducks in the center of a small pen, using a pile of feed to keep them there.

Bring your dog into the pen on his leash, giving him time to get used to the ducks while they get used to him.

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Border collies are highly trainable, but herding ducks can be a unique challenge. They require a lot of space to move around.

Herding ducks at a young age can help them develop their herding instincts and skills. As a result, you can expect to see improvement in their ability to gather and move the ducks around.

Border collies can learn to herd ducks in as little as 6-8 weeks with consistent training and practice.

Drop the leash on the ground and work your dog around the skein using the 'away' and 'come by' commands to make him move the ducks.

This part will take multiple practice sessions.

At any time he seems to be ready to move towards the ducks aggressively, grab the leash and have him come to you and lay down.

Resume training when he has calmed down.

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Border Collies are expert herders and they can corral more than just sheep. They can herd ducks into a hula hoop with ease.

A demonstration at Putnam County Fair in Cookeville, Tennessee, showed just how well Border Collies can herd ducks. The goal was to move the ducks into the center of a hula hoop by guiding them down the dirt road to the ring.

The dogs, Roy, Lass, and Celt, are hyper-focused on the task, not letting the ducks stray too far from one another. They are also very still, crouching down so as to prevent the ducks from panicking.

All three dogs have the ducks surrounded soon, and the crowd of spectators is also rapt with attention, watching the dogs in action.

Working with ducks requires a lot of finesse and precise movements for the dog and the handler. Think of it as herding in slow motion!

Joyce Norris, a renowned breeder and trainer of Border Collies, has been working with ducks for over two decades. She's known as the "Duck Lady" and has a deep understanding of what it takes to train a dog to herd ducks.

The Duck Bone method, developed by Joyce, allows for a unique training concept that can be utilized in a variety of locations. It's a controlled manner of introducing a dog to work with ducks.

Patience is key when training a dog to herd ducks. It will take time for your dog to master the skills, but with consistent practice and positive reinforcement, you'll see amazing results.

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