Samoyeds come from an ancient lineage they are amongst the oldest breed of dogs on earth, they were originally required to be an all-round and versatile companion for their nomadic humans. They pulled their sleds, herded reindeer and carried their owner’s packs, they hunted polar bear and seals with their human companions and all these tasks helped shape the breed and make it what we have today, the ability to work is a major definer of the Samoyed. A Samoyed cannot be truly happy when he or she rarely leaves the house or yard and never gets a job to do from their owner. A Samoyeds’s eyes shine with joy when they are allowed to spend time with you outside in the fresh air and a trained Samoyed enjoys a real dog’s life and are usually the healthiest and happiest of dogs. Amongst the many dog sports now available for dogs and their owners is Herding.
In Herding terms Samoyeds are what is known as a “loose-eyed dog”, they tend to stand upright and use their bodies to move the stock, unlike breeds such as Border Collies, Kelpies and Farm bred working dogs which are mostly “heading” dogs and control the stock with concentration, using eye to eye contact, they crouch and their whole focus is on the stock they will often pause with one paw in the air and move with stealth, they live to bring the stock to the Handler and will instinctively keep the stock between themselves and the handler at all times.
Samoyeds on the other hand have for years now mostly been bred just for the Show ring and so no longer have that same level of instinct as the specialist work dog, but they can with training become a very useful dog and often prove to be a tough dog able to continue working even under very difficult conditions.I remember reading of a Samoyed used on a farm in Mexico and the owner said of all her working dogs the Samoyed was the toughest and would keep on working long after the other breeds quit because of the heat.
Today more and more people are becoming interested in working with their dogs and in trying to preserve some of the instinct and working ability in their show bred dogs. So the ANKC has set up a serious of Herding Tests and Trials for eligible breeds to compete in and these have followed the format of the American Kennel Club. Samoyeds were originally mistakenly left off the list of breeds allowed to compete in Herding, but thanks to some wonderful campaigning done by the SA Samoyed Club, and in the main by Dave Brown, the ANKC has reinstated the Samoyeds to the list of eligible breeds and they are now able to compete in Herding.
The first Samoyed to gain 2 passes in the herding instinct test in Australia was Ch Vashka White Chemistry (AI) bred by Lorraine Woods and she has now gone on to gain a title in Starters A competition. The first Australian Samoyed to achieve a herding title at trial level is Ch Vashka Sun Chemistry HSAs. There are a few dogs and bitches in both Victoria and South Australia now training in Herding. Tasmania probably has the greatest number of Samoyeds training and competing courtesy of Lorraine Woods, and here in NSW my dogs, Ch Keftiu McCoys Bayuani PT and Aldonza Dolcevita PT are the only Samoyeds with herding titles, two of my other dogs are now in training one Keftiu Set To Sparkle having successfully completed her Herding Instinct Test.
Herding is great fun for both you and your dog, it requires you to work together as a team, you have to learn to read the stock and be able to anticipate their next move and the dog has to learn to obey you but also he has to show initiative and the ability to at times use his/her own judgement, he has to be gentle and quite but also be strong enough to be able to handle difficult stubborn sheep. Sheep are drawn to white dogs they will come up to them probably thinking they might be another Sheep, but the Sheep also want to challenge white dogs more than other coloured dogs and will sometimes charge the dogs, here a dog has to be brave, strong and forceful enough to control the sheep but without hurting it.
Herding soon becomes very addictive for both the handlers and the dogs, the dogs get so excited at the chance to work and put their all into it, they will try their heart out to such an extent that you have to watch them closely for overheating and exhaustion. Herding is like no other dog sport you may have tried it can at times be very challenging, as you work not only with your dog but with stock that can be at times flighty and uncooperative. In Herding trials you are attempting to coordinate the brains and instincts of three animals, Man, Sheep and Dog.
Why not come and give Herding a try with your Samoyed, it is a sport that suits all age groups and fitness levels, it is a lot of fun and we cant let those Border Collies have all the fun by themselves.