Herding instinct test and family reunion tomorrow

[Jean512]

I'm SO excited about this and have to let it out somewhere. My boy is over 7 months old now and so dear to me. Tomorrow we're driving a few hours to try a herding instinct test. I don't really care how talented he is as long as he has a good time and doesn't injure any sheep The event was arranged by his breeder, and her own dogs (his dam and grandma) plus a bunch of other related dogs will be coming too. We'll get to reunite with some of his siblings, whom we haven't seen since they were 8 week old fluffballs.
It'll be Dutch shepherd heaven.
I'll be sure to post pictures afterward! For now, here he is on a recent walk in the woods.

[centrop67]

That is awesome! Can't wait to see the photos.

[Jean512]

I keep getting distracted from uploading photos, but here's a little collection finally. He got two sessions with the sheep, and did pretty well in the first one, interested in the sheep and only occasionally sniffing the grass In his second session later, he was so tired that he kept stopping to sniff all the time. We had an amazing time! He reunited with one of his brothers (shorthaired, their dad is a cross between short and long) and met puppies from the next litter and so many other dogs!

The downside is, he was nauseated and drooling during the few hour drive to get there (fortunately slept more on the way back). Poor little guy. Until that day he was doing a little better in the car and we're still hoping he'll outgrow his carsickness.

[Joker]

I have to ask -- what was involved with the "test" ? I ask because my 8mo old duchy is a P A I N when I am working in my pastures. She wants to be with me 24x7 and if I let he into the paddocks with my sheep or goats she goes totally nuts. She has to go find them and she will chase like crazy. 3 out of 5 times I end up with a bunch of sheep or goats right at my side making working on fencing or cutting worms out of trees with a pole saw a pain. I assume this implies she has strong prey drive but herding . . . no idea. I think it has been pot luck I end up with the sheep at my side. But, each paddock is 1.5ac so maybe she is bringing them to me?

[Jean512]

@Joker The test was very basic, mostly just to see if the dogs are interested in the sheep, and if they figure out how to put pressure on the herd to make it move or change direction. He pulled like a freight train toward the sheep whenever he wasn't distracted, haha, so I have no doubt he would chase them just like your girl. I'm not sure how to tell the difference between herding instinct and prey drive, unless it's as simple as "do they attack the sheep or not"
I did also learn that there are different styles of herding instincts, e.g. border collies more naturally round up a flock while German shepherds are more often fence patrollers. If I had to guess, Dutch shepherds might have more the latter style.