Sheep Herding for City Dogs ‘Rescues’ Bored, Badly Behaved Working Dogs in the Suburbs

Placing energetic working dogs in suburban backyards can lead to destructive behavior, uncontrolled barking, nipping and chasing cars.

But working dog owners in South East Queensland have found an outlet for their smart dogs to exercise their instincts.

Sheep Herding for City Dogs is one of the few facilities open to all breeders for training rather than competition.

“These dogs are working dogs and they want to work.”

A former retail chain manager, Mr Borg was unsure where enrolling his long-haired border collie, Bonnie, in pedigree herding training would lead him.

Within months, Sheila Marchant had hired him to become a part-time trainer at her breeding school in Woodford, northwest of Brisbane.

Both dog and handler went on to win a handful of ribbons in pedigree breeding trials.

The gift of an experienced collie, Maddi, helped him realize a dream of competing with farmers, working wild sheep.

“Maddi has become my shadow,” an emotional Mr. Borg said.

“She was a spinster, she was nine years old and I recently lost her before her 15th birthday.

“This [competing] was a huge thing for me. Don’t forget I’m a city guy, I achieved my goal.

When Ms. Marchant sold her business, Mr. Borg began part-time training on a farm in Peachester.

Career change

He had already survived two heart attacks and three strokes, but the pressure of paying mortgages on investment properties forced him to take on his full-time job as director of forest operations.

“Forced me to do this full time and it just grew and grew and grew, to the point where I see over 200 dogs a week.”

Mr Borg thinks that working dogs belong on farms – unless their owners are committed to providing their intelligent and energetic pets with the stimulation they need.

Exercise the mind

Getting away from the bush was a matter of life and death for Loki the kelpie.

“He was five months old in a pound in central Queensland and was about to be put to sleep if not rescued,” owner Amanda Vassallo said.

Mrs. Vassallo’s family lives on a small acreage and she believes the opportunity to herd sheep has helped improve Loki’s state of mind.

“Loki is a dog that needs something more, he’s constantly running along the fence chasing motorcycles or trucks, whatever comes his way,” she said.

Mr. Borg’s sheep move in sync with him around the yard, sticking close to his legs.

“I take great care of my sheep, they are my livelihood and they are not afraid of dogs, they are very tame,” he said.

The Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge Society (SCARS) sends high-energy animals to Mr. Borg to help them deal with the enclosures.

“We’ve had about 70 of them in the last year that are working breeds or crossbreeds of working breeds and the main thing we notice is that they’re incredibly excited in that environment,” said the president of SCARS, Penny Brischke.

“People have to understand that where there [the training] is executed, it is very safe.”

Animal enrichment

Mr. Borg explains that using human language, human instincts and human emotions is not the way to interact with dogs, which communicate through body language.

Stephanie Street and her daughter, Ava, brought along their energetic kelpie, April, to strengthen their bond.

“She jumps, she licks people, she’s usually annoying, but she’s the nicest dog,” Ms Street said.

Less than 15 minutes after herding the sheep in the yards, April is ready to rest.

“For this mental stimulation and also the fact that she is exhausted now, I would definitely come back and try again,” Ms Street said.

Mr. Borg’s personal pack of dogs has grown to include 13 border collies and a kelpie.

The day her beloved collie Maddi passed away, a customer captured the moment the baaing sheep gathered at the dog’s grave.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume.

Mr. Borg recently purchased the farm, with Sheila Marchant as his business partner.

They improved the road and fencing, with plans for an all-weather covered practice area.

“I’m making a change,” he said.