Quote:
Originally Posted by
stone_family3
....when he was a pup he loved to herd deer and the vacuum cleaner. Herding dogs are so much fun
By "fun" I assume you mean "pain in the neck." 
I have had a number of Shelties prior to Windy, but none like her. She has the intensity of a Border Collie in a little body. A total nut job. (I can say that because I love her 
)
Windy must be locked outside when we clean the house. Mops, Swiffers, brooms, God forbid the vacuum - all are to be chased and attacked when they won't submit to being herded. She knows "leave it" but proofing that command in relationship to these sorts of objects has proven to be a real challenge. I make her sit while I sweep a little near her and she just quivers and makes these pathetic little whimpering noises. Her reward for "leaving it" for a good length of time is to be released with an "okay" to go ahead and attack it (I only do this with the outside broom). She thinks that is the greatest reward ever, even better than treats.
I remember seeing a video of a Sheltie trying to herd one of those Roomba vacuuming robots. You could just see the frustration levels rising as the dog just could not get this "alive" thing to respond at all to herding cues to move the way the dog wanted it to go.
Have you guys seen this new dog sport for herding dogs in areas with no sheep? It is called Treibball. It used large exercise balls instead of sheep. At more advanced levels the dog even has to cut out of the "herd" a specific ball, based on the commands of the handler who must stay in a certain area away from where the dog is working.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfCDKPKfQHU
Oh, Jaimie, I meant to ask you what sort of herding style a Beauceron has. Was is mostly a containment herder like a GSD or maybe a drover? They seem a little large to get in there and cut sheep out of the herd like a border collie or sheltie.
