Purists say sheepdogs should never play – we disagree!
Should a sheep dog play?
This is Ezra – one of the toughest and most determined sheepdogs we’ve known. He’ll work cattle as well as sheep, but (like his mother, Mel) he can be hard to stop. Unlike Carew, his litter sister, Ezra is pushing all the time – sometimes too hard, but if you need some stubborn sheep moved, he’s definitely “your man”.
Both Ezra and Carew love to play with balls, frisbees or any other toy that’s to hand when they’re not working. We encourage all of our dogs to play, and we play with them, but when we tell them to stop, they stop.
We make a point of not mixing work with play. This keeps it clear in the dog’s mind when is the right time for each activity. Of course, every dog is different. We’ve owned or trained several sheepdogs who had no interest in playing whatsoever.
But why do so many sheepdog trainers not allow their dogs to play? Perhaps they believe the dog will prefer play to work. In our experience this doesn’t happen. Perhaps if the dog is left alone with toys to “keep himself occupied” there may be a risk. However, moderation in everything is a good rule. Playing is good for your dog if it knows that when you tell it to stop, you mean it.
So should a sheep dog play? Definitely YES!
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