Farm406

43 farm406 Border Collie Beff checks back for orders when going to gather cattle on the Frenchman Valley Ranch near Saco. ometimes the best ranch employees are the four-legged ones. Dogs have been used for centuries to drive, herd and guard livestock, working alongside ranchers and sheepherders, often taking the place of ranch employees. "Having working dogs saves manpower," says Steve Streit of Saco, Mont., "Dogs can do the work of five to six guys; one dog can replace two employees." Many working dog breeds have been developed to serve specific tasks, like the Hangin' Tree Cow Dogs and Kommondor/Akbash guard dogs. "We like to do composite breeding for specific traits," says Marvin Dunster of 5R Stock Dogs in Billings, Mont., "like the short-haired Akbash with the Kommondor, a lot of our customers like that mix." Dunst and his wife, Carrie, have been breeding working dogs for 28 years. They have eight dog breeds they cross breed and formulate to meet their customers' very specific needs based on the fencing type, sheep breeds and numbers, acreages, neighbors and hazards like roads, railroads, highways, trappers and hunters. "We listen to the producers, and we pick the dog that is best suited for their operation," says Marvin. "They can have some input, but if we are going to guarantee the dog, we are going to pick it." Some working dogs are not necessarily good pets, with high intelligence and natural instincts, but are more like tools to manage and protect livestock. "Guard dogs are polar opposites of domestic dogs," says Marvin. "You just can't go out and catch them. A dog that is a little wild (not aggressive) tends to be more streetwise and will live longer than a dog that is more social, which tend to be less streetwise." Yet, some dogs adapt well to being family dogs, as well as working dogs. "The Border Collie can make a great family pet, they love to play fetch when they aren't working," says Steve. "They are very loyal and very active, so they have to have room to run. But, they have to have something to do or they will find something to do, which may get them into trouble." One of the oldest stockdog breeds, the Border Collie can serve many different roles, like search-and-rescue, security, family pet and herding. "They are a versatile breed," says Steve, who uses his 10 Border Collies to manage cattle on the Frenchman Valley Ranch. "They are very quick, fast learners and have good herding instincts." Steve started raising Border Collies after purchasing Odi, a finished trial dog, from a National Western Stock Show Trial and Auction in Denver. "They are amazing," he says. "They save me miles on a horse and can go places where a four-wheeler can't. I can calve 800 head of cattle by myself with these dogs. We can trail 1,200 head 30 miles in the winter using two people and five dogs." Steve uses hand and voice commands when using and training his border collies, and is learning to use whistle commands with Odi. "Each dog has its own personality," he says. "Some are very soft-hearted, so you have to be careful with your tone of voice when you give them commands. If you speak or discipline too harshly, you can break their hearts." Steve says he likes the Border Collie's softer nature, as it helps keep cows and calves calmer when sorting, gathering and trailing. "I don't need a lot of bite in my dogs," he says. "My dogs will wait while a cow picks up her calf and gets to moving instead of getting in their faces. I don't need an aggressive dog all the time." Dog Name: Odi Dog Breed: Border Collie Owned by: Steve Streit Where: Saco, Montana About the Breed Role on the Ranch: Herding Country of Origin: Anglo-Scottish Border, United Kingdom Temperament: Intelligent, Energetic Potential Health Concerns: Epilepsy, Hip Dysplasia, Collie Eye Anomaly Average Weight: 26-44 lbs Life Expectancy: 10-15 years S

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