5 Easy Ways to Mentally Stimulate A Herding or High IQ Dog

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[@diydogguy]

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[@ChiefHerzensCoach]

shredding is great. our shredding machine in the office is broken. how much will this sweet kelpie take a day to help out? we pay well ;) (just kidding ;) )

[@lorilayton2223]

My baby girl loves her herding balls too ! She’s blind now and the herding ‘ jolly balls ‘ are saving her sanity ! She hears her ball and she finds it fast . She smacks her ball just the same as yours . I love it !!❤She knows every inch of her play ground . Happy dog ! I love your dog !!

[@backkat9475]

Nice! Yep, my boy is crazy over frisbee and fetch. For bad weather days, I put him in a stay and hide pieces of kibble all over the house. Release him with a "find it". Love your pup!

[@diydogguy]

I gotta give frisbee a try with Cowboy! "find it" is a great one we do that too with toys

[@user-ge4om9jw5u]

I call it treasure hunt but be careful to put the same number of treats out each time. I use 5 pieces. Once she was so good that I put 7 pieces out. After finding the first 5 she stumbled across the last 2 and then must have thought to herself that maybe she hadn't been sesrching hard enough. So all the books came off the shelves, the cushions off the lounge and the bedding was pulled off the bed.

[@rjay7019]

I used to have a Border Collie that loved Frisbee so much we had to just say the "F" word 😂 I used to hide her toys too and tell her to find them. I've got a puppy Heeler mix now probably about 10 weeks I'm guessing.

[@krystalshepherd4582]

I love how he demolished the box in 2 seconds 😁

[@hillbill5448]

I just leash trained my cowboy,, the first few minutes was a little ruff on the fella but after about 5 minutes we were walking around the neighborhood.... HB

[@diydogguy]

right on! ya it's normally a shock for pups at first but they learn really fast

[@williamdugger5572]

Great! Never heard of a herding ball and throwing a handful of kibble in the backyard is a great idea! My little rescue is a Border Collie - Red Heeler mix. To say she is smart and full of beans is an understatement!

[@KingsMom831]

Cowboy is adorable! What a good boy!

[@bingsballyhoo711]

Thanks for pointing out the you don't have to spend tons of money on agility fun for your dog. My herding dogs have always loved shredding boxes. It's an awesome way for them to exercise their prey drive.

[@brandillysmom]

My daughter’s cowboy corgi- Aussie shepherd puppy’s gonna love that ball and everything else too!

[@meanwhome]

Yes my cattle dog loves his herding ball

[@Iconoplastt]

What a great boy you got, as a corgi owner I can dig all of what you say, great list. Agility is really one thing I wanted to get my dog into.

[@diydogguy]

Corgis have that herding mind for sure

[@amberforcen1177]

My cattle dog got into a box of wet cat food in a can he was trying to move the metal tab but ended up biting through the can and it was leaking everywhere

[@user-wf3fh5bz2u]

Thank you for sharing the tips.

[@JM-gz4jc]

Thank you sooooo much for these quick & easy tips!

[@snowfall7557]

great tips, thanks.

[@PatriciaRodriguez-dm7oc]

Thanks Uncle Jack! Good times!!

[@jeanettejenmeredithdohmen3386]

Thank you! This is helpful

[@rrichardson53]

Great ideas for heelers to keep them mentally & physically stimulated! Mine went to training classes for many months (mainly for socializing) but because we enjoyed learning lots of obedience! Also dabbled in agility, sheep herding and nose work! Being retired enabled me to spend lots of time with my girl.

[@diydogguy]

that's awesome! i am going to start nose work with Cowboy

[@diydogguy]

what type of nose work did you do?

[@melodys.40]

Awesome breed. Thanks for sharing your tips. 👍🙂

[@MynnKitchen]

Thank you! We recently got a blue heeler mix and I’m now going to buy a herding ball!

[@BuddhatheRockstar]

I love your channel. Been working with shelter dogs for 8 years. Enrichment makes a difference.

[@francescabadoino9828]

Thank you for the tips!! I’ve done everything but the box shredding and kibble outdoor hack. I will be doing both!!

[@maryvoigt8763]

Happy I found your post! I have a 5 month old part Healer. I all ready do some of your activities. But you have me thinking, Thanks

[@flipnshifty]

Thanks! useful video. i tire my sheltidoodle out everyday but was thinking of some mental stimulation for when im home

[@Azazel518]

Great video mate...If you look on the top of the dogs head there's a diamond.. this is called the " Halls heeler " mark its the sign of a good pedigree.. there's a book called "Dogs that made Australia" it had the whole history of this amazingly intelligent breed

[@diydogguy]

also called the Bentley mark right? I should read that book

[@Azazel518]

Yes it's areally good history of how these uber clever dogs came about..along with the Australian kelpie..i think it was about 10 buck's on amazon

[@kylermajeau]

Jack and cowboy you two are awesome!!!

[@diydogguy]

:)

[@chewher4171]

Thanks.

[@bm2longoria955]

Just got me my first female cattle dog and your videos help with extras to do with REMI, thanks man!

[@diydogguy]

happy to help!

[@SayWhyChickenThigh]

New subscriber here ❤ I'm loving your simple yet genius tips! Our little hobby farming family said goodbye to our Border Collie of 16 years and are welcoming a rescue red Heeler into the family. I appreciate these tips to help steer her on the right course to work together with our chickens while also enjoying the good life of a beloved pet. Thanks again for the great info 🐕

[@diydogguy]

welcome and thanks for the kind words!

[@LogCap4Jobs]

*That was hilarious when the black lab was pushin' up against Jack's butt like he was gonna stop him from gettin' all the kibbles. Peace from Costa Rica!*

[@diydogguy]

classic lab!

[@sheridanluis2349]

You should check out Collie ball! It’s amazing my Aussie loves her!!

[@mariosanseverino5595]

yooo I'm following cowboy on instagram, I had no idea u guys had a youtube channel. that's so cool! I'm tutor of a 7 months old blue heeler and I'm learning so much from you. Thanks for sharing this video =D

[@diydogguy]

appreciate ya!

[@georgeclarke2258]

All I need is the herding ball. I have the 14 inch hard plastic ball and my cattle dog doesnt just push it around. He runs it around as fast as he can go. Sometimes the ball gets airbourne and balances on his snout for 10 feet or so. He has even taken me out at the ankles, flipping me in the air........after that I stay clear of him when he's in maniac mode

[@carlosishac8954]

What is your opinion on desexing your male red Australian stumpy

[@kat9285]

I’ve got a corgi and I bought him a herding ball. I’m having a hard time trying to find any videos on how to train him to use it. Any ideas?

[@tanatribe]

Im trying to train collie to pushf rather then bite thr jolly ball . if anyone knows if i should use a muzzle to train this

[@elliottgrimes7533]

Would you recommend giving them raw marrow bone to chew on?

[@Lcali43]

My dogs name is Cowboy also. 🤠

[@heather7390]

My problem is I'm over protect over my maggie. She also loves to sheard boxed

[@zehlua]

What do you recommend for a corgi?

[@diydogguy]

the same

[@DomesticAnimo]

I have an aussie but he does not like herding but loves fetching 😅. I am like you arent a retreiver you are a shepherd! I guess every dog is different and has their own special personality. Can you get your aussie or herding dog to herd if they wont and how?

[@diydogguy]

you can certainly train some behaviors to help get them interested but if they don't have the drive for it it will be difficult and they won't go as far with it as a dog that has the natural drive

[@amberforcen1177]

My dog is so food driven he does tricks without being asked constantly and he was going through treats so fast it was getting bad for him and bad for my wallet

[@jasonpotts4279]

A put treats in one of my hands and and get my girl to pick which hand the treat is in

[@kiYAKER741]

Interesting - some good suggestions. I am concerned that if you were teaching your dog to herd a ball, and now all he does is bite it and shake (the ways dogs kill things), what would happen if he was used to herd chickens? And that habit he's has now has spread to opening a box. Are neighborhood cats next? Perhaps the lawn chair cushion where you spilled some food?

[@diydogguy]

I never actually use commands with the herding ball like i do when herding. They just naturally push it around. He herds and he can tell the difference between a ball and livestock, though I wouldn't put him on chickens, only larger stock.

[@doesnotFempute]

Our heeler loves the jolly ball. I didn't "teach" her to herd it, but she does anyway. She will occasionally shake the ball around before dropping it at my feet. But we also have chickens and she doesn't bother them except for running circles around them.

[@lyaboy]

how was your dog training and barking wise around the ages of 4-7 months. was it hard or easy to deal with. lol

[@diydogguy]

they will push the boundaries around this age all the way to a year old and often times past that. Like a bratty teenager. Staying consistent with training during this time is a must!

[@stephaniemcphetridge61]

What breed is River?

[@diydogguy]

he was an english lab

[@peiwoody8509]

I love the cardboard box idea! I will def try it with my pup

[@dmtripreport8542]

jolly balls are great

[@diydogguy]

they're great! wish they lasted a little longer. Cowboy rips the handle off in a couple days lol. They have some models that last longer than others

[@gstrdms]

Cool dog but stop feeding them that industrial, dried trash. Some issues : The taped box : many dogs would end up ingesting parts of the tape or the cardboard - not the best idea. You want something that won't tear apart or break. A strong plastic bin would do. The kibble in the yard : through experience, i've learned that although this is an effective way to get them engaged in an activity - it tends to reward them for rooting around for "edibles". So when you take them somewhere public or free roam, they tend to be rooting around for edibles and will eat anything they find - including dangerous, toxic things as well as people's picnics. An alternative is using a ball or toy and hiding it in a field or in the house and having the dog search for it.

[@pookienumnums]

while the box idea is clever, cardboard isnt the safest for them to have in their mouth, or tape, due to chemicals and adhesives that can be unsafe.

[@MissTeacakes]

One of our cattle dogs knows left from right when rolling. The other can't figure out how to roll at all, lol. We joke about him being a bit dumber, but his sister is also way more willful than he is.

[@oldsagerat]

My Aussie Jake got the short end of the stick for owners. He's out of serious cowdog lines and I don't have any livestock for him. I've checked around. Nothing. He thinks tennis balls and frisbees are stupid and I'm not building an agility course in my backyard. Just my opinion, I would never encourage Jake to rip up a box. In all a good enough video.

[@sonofstinkfoot9551]

HEY THANK YOU SOOOO! MUCH I HAVE AN AZOREAN CATTLE DOG (PICTURE A HYENA AN BRINDAL PITBULL HAD A THREE SOME WITH A BEAR, AN THE AZOREAN IS THE BABY, LOL) THEY ARE ONLY USED FOR CATTLE BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE A LITTLE ROUGH ON THE SMALL DOMESTICATED LIVE STOCK, THEY LOOOOOOOOOOVE THEIR FAMILY AN KIDS TO THE POINT THE THINK WE ARE THEIR PROPERTY AN YOU THINK AWWW HE'S SNUGGLING UP WITH ME LAYING ACROSS ME ON THE COUCH!! AHHH! NOPE ,HE BUT MOSTLY SHE'S IS PUTTING THEIR SENT ON YOU TO REMIND OTHERS THAT YOU BELONG TO HER LOL HONESTLY THEY LOVE!!! KIDS, AN LOVE TO PLAY BUT WITH ALOT OF BIGGER HEARDING DOGS THEY TEND TO NOT LIKE OTHER DOGS UNLESS THEY GREW UP TOGETHER IN THE HOME ITS THEIR PROTECTIVE NATURE, BUT THEY LIKE PUPPIES WHICH I FIND FUNNY BUT THESE DOGS ARE SO LOYAL AN SMART! THE ACTUAL WORKING AZOREANS BITE AN GRAB BULLS BUY THE FACE NOT HURTING THEM BUT HURDING THEM, LOL ALSO THESE DOGS ARE GIVEN A DAY OR TWO OFF EVER 3-4 WEEKS BECAUSE THEY WILL WORK OVER AN OVER WITHOUT STOPING UNLESSED TOLD TO BUT THE DAYS THEY DONT WORK, THEY ARE WELL KNOWN TO GO TO THEIR PROPERTY LINE/FENCE (WHICH THAT CAN JUMP STRAIGHT UP FROM A FLAT FOOTED STANCETO A 5-6 FOOT VERTICAL JUST PUSHING UP OFF THE GROUND ITS NUTS LOL, BUT ON THEIR DAY OFF THEY GO TO THE FENCE PROPERTY LINE AN WILL SIT THERE ALL DAY BARKING AN GETTING THE ATTENTION OF PASSING CARS, JUST TO REMIND THEM THAT THIS IS HIS PROPERTY AN HE IS ON GUARD! LOL, THEIR SUPER SMART AN REALLY FUNNY AS I SAID THEY LOVE PLAYING WITH KIDS AN LOVE THEIRFAMILIES THEY ARE VERY WEIRRY OF STRANGERS , AN WILL INSTANTLY LOOK AT YOUR BODY LANGUAGE TO SEE WHAT WE FEEL ABOUT THIS STRANGER WALKING UP I PUT OUT MY HAND AN SAY :AHH NICE GUY HOW ARE YOU AN RUB MY HAND ON THEIR ARM AN ONCE THE AZORE SEE'S THAT THEY START BEGING FOR PETS AN SCRATCHES BUT IF YOU CHANGE YOU DEMENOR OR BODY TO AN AGRESSIVE TONE AN POSITON THEY SNAP TO WORK, I TELL PEOPLE IF YOU LIKE GOING TO DOG PARKS AN PLAYING WITH STRANGE DOGS THIS ISNT FOR YOU THESE DOGS NOMATTER THE MALE OR FEMALE NOMATTER THE SIZE THEY HAVE TO BE THE ALPHA IN THEIR HEAD PERIOD!, AN YOU CAN DO ALL THE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AN EXPOSURE TO STRANGE DOGS AS A PUP GROWING UP BUT ONCE THEIR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO THEY WILL HAVE ISSUES WITH A DOG WHO MAY BE A ALPHA IN HIS AREA BUT IF THERES NO SUBMITTING THE AZOREAN WILL CHALLENGE IT!, ALSO IF YOU GET ONE BE PREPAIRED FOR EVERY OTHER PERSON ASKING A BAZILLION QUESTIONS LOL THIS IS MY 2ND ONE AN HE NEEDS SOOO MUCH EXERCISE AN THESE TIPS WILL HELP ESPECIALLY THE HURDING BALL , WERE NOT FARMERS AN IN THE WINTER THAT BALLS GONNA HELP, AN I BET YOU WILL GO LOOK UP AZOREANS AKA CAO DE PHILA DE SANDMIGUEL, BUT THEY ARE VERY VERY RARE AN PEOPLE WILL TRY TO PASS OFF A MASTIF PITTY MIX WHEN YOUNG AN CLAIM THEY DONT WONT TO DOX ITS TAIL AN EARS (WHICH IS DONE TO NOT GIVE THE BULLS MORE AREAS TO GRAB. AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS ITS EASY TO TELL IF ITS A REAL AZOREAN AN EASIER AFTER YOU HAVE ONE, ALSO IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A GOOD BREEDER THE AZORES IS A PORTUGEUSE ISLAND AN THERES WERE I FOUND MINE, IN THE PORTUGEUSE COMMUNITY, AGAIN THANKS FOR THE VIDEO ITS AWESOME AZOREAN PICS! - www.pinterest.ch/pin/536843218080742297/

[@heather7390]

I did a no no. She loves butterfingers and icecream sandwiche. Don't worry I do not give her chocolate. Can I use that to stop her from heading me

[@capt_bry]

if you throw food on the ground, they will constantly be looking for food on the ground and end up eating things they shouldn't be eating. not a great habit to build

[@diydogguy]

If you don't throw food on the ground inside and train them not to eat things they shouldn't I have never had a problem with it.

[@Erniesworld]

I disagree bcuz My ACD is bored with herding balls, he’ll play for about 5 minutes then wants something more…. ACD’s have ADHD so people need to mix it up often with them, a truly intelligent ACD doesn’t do well with routines other than eating time. The fact that Cowboy is happy chewing a card board box is a sign of not much intelligence sorry to say, plus cowboy is a mix breed he’s obviously not a true cattle dog his temperament is not that of a cattle dog I know I’ve had them for 40 years and he is small and his muzzle is too stout. To give treats don’t just throw them make him earn each treat get his brain working the more he learns the smarter he’ll become.