Herding Dog - Basic Herding Dog Commands

Basic Herding Dog Commands

• Come-bye or just bye - go to the left of the stock, or clockwise around them.
• Away to me, or just away or 'way - go to the right of the stock, or counterclockwise around them.
• Stand - stop, although when said gently may also mean just to slow down.
• Wait, (lie) down or sit - stop.
• Steady or take time - slow down.
• Cast - gather the stock into a group. Good working dogs will cast over a large area.
• Find - search for stock. A good dog will hold the stock until the shepherd arrives. Some will bark when the stock have been located.
• Get out or get back - move away from the stock. Used when the dog is working too close to the stock, potentially causing the stock stress. Occasionally used as a reprimand.
• Hold - keep stock where they are.
• Bark or speak up - bark at stock. Useful when more force is needed, and usually essential for working cattle and sheep.
• Look back - return for a missed animal.
• In here - go through a gap in the flock. Used when separating stock.
• Walk up, walk on or just walk - move in closer to the stock.
• That'll do - stop working and return to handler.

These commands may be indicated by a hand movement, whistle or voice. There are many other commands that are also used when working stock and in general use away from stock. Herding dog commands are generally taught using livestock as the modus operandi. Urban owners without access to livestock are able to teach basic commands through herding games.

These are not the only commands used: there are many variations. When whistles are used, each dog usually has a different set of commands to avoid confusion when more than one dog is being worked at one time.