Often I will see posts about a working stock dog needing to be “tough” and that the handler prefers a dog with lots of bite.

This really isn’t my type of dog and here is why.

As far as sheep are concerned (my area of expertise), they really only have a couple lines of defense against a predator. To face the dog and stomp a foot, possibly charge forward OR to turn and flee. A sheep can't bite or kick at the predator.

Theoretically, this means a dog should only bite when getting charged by a sheep AND the bite should be on the nose, not a shoulder or side (cheap shots). If the dog bites on the side of a sheep, it’s usually because they are insecure, afraid to hold their ground and face up to the sheep.

Some dogs are quite natural at biting a nose, while others are not. These dogs may be able to be trained to nip a nose.

A dog SHOULD NOT be biting a sheep that has turned and is fleeing. This would be a “cheap shot”. An exception might be a chute full of sheep that need to keep moving forward. They might require a small heel grip.

It actually takes quite a confident dog to walk straight into a ewe and lamb and move the pair quietly, without biting. This dog understands when to apply pressure and when to release the pressure. It’s only once the pressure is released that the ewe will feel comfortable enough to turn and walk off.

I teach my dogs to grip on command, as this usually builds enough confidence in their ability to move the sheep, that they no longer need to grip. The dog knows it CAN move the ewe. If I have a dog that is worried about holding ground with a ewe, I will keep the dog on her feet and then allow her to feel confident.

I will also work my dog in a small pen, so that they get comfortable moving sheep while not having to bite. If a nip is needed, then it’s appropriate, not a hang and drag on a side.

A couple of my dogs also do a few air snaps along with a bit of forward movement that warns the sheep, but doesn’t follow through with a bite. This works very well when competing, as in some venues a DQ follows a grip.

Basically, I want a dog that can grip if needed, but the majority of the time just feels confident that they can move anything!

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