Dog Glossary

Approach: Action of a dog when it comes up to stock.

Backing: Action of a dog when it jumps up and runs along the back of penned sheep to move them on.

Bark: To “give tongue” or “speak up” on command to frighten and move stock.

Beardie: A type of dog of Scottish origin – usually with long hair. Used as a “handy dog” for all jobs (head and hunt).

Bitch: Female of any age.

Bolt: To run away in fear; out of control.

Brace: Pair of dogs that work together.

Cast: Action of a dog when it leaves the handler to encircle or gather stock. It can be a right hand or left hand cast.

Collie: A breed of dog of Scottish origin. Most common type is the Border Collie.

Dingo: Australian wild dog.

Dog dosing: Drenching or dosing dogs to obtain a sample of faeces to test for internal parasites.

Dog tucker: Food for dogs.

Eye: The trait in a dog to stand and stare at sheep. Dogs are described as “strong eyed” or “plain eyed”.

Eye dog: Same as heading dog that casts around stock to gather them.

Face up: the action of a huntaway to always face the sheep and bark at them.

Handy dog: General-purpose dog that will both head and hunt stock. It will also back sheep, work in sheep yards, wool shed and in the lambing paddock.

Heading dog: Dog that goes around or “heads” stock to gather and hold them, and then bring them back to the shepherd.

Heel: To bite the heels of cattle to make them move. Can be a command to return to the handlers side or heel.

Hunt: Ability of a dog to drive stock away from the handler.

Huntaway: A special type of dog bred in New Zealand for mustering where the main job is to drive stock while barking on command.

Kelpie: Australian sheep and cattle dog.

Lead dog: Dog used to go in front of a mob of stock to control their progress.

Lift: Action of a dog to move sheep from a standing position.

Long head: Task at a dog trial where the dog has to gather sheep placed a long distance from the handler.

Night barker: Dog that barks or howls when chained up at night.

Novice: Young dog that has competed in a limited number of trials.

Outrun: The action where the dog runs away on command from the handler to gather stock.

Overrun the head: Action of a dog that goes too far when heading and does not stop opposite the handler.

Point of balance: Position of the dog directly opposite the handler where it can go in either direction (on command) to move the stock.

Pull: Action of a bringing sheep directly to the handler.

Pup: Young dog of either sex from birth to weaning (6-8 weeks), and may be used up to 6 months.

Ringing sheep: Fault in a dog where it goes in a complete circle around sheep and comes back to the handler. It fails to stop after its outrun directly opposite the handler.

Shed: To separate or cut off one or more sheep from a group.

Short head: A task in a dog trial where the dog has to gather sheep placed a short distance from the handler.

Socialising: Letting a pup from 6-12 weeks old experience different situations such as people, other dogs, vehicles, etc.

Sundowner: Dog that leaves its work, especially when it’s hot. A lazy dog.

Team: Group of dogs owned by a stockperson. Usually made up of a heading dog and couple of huntaways.

Trucking dog: Dog used by truck operator to load stock. Usually a huntaway type that barks and backs stock.

Turning tail: Fault in a dog where it turns away from sheep, often in a circle. It fails to face up to the sheep.

Weaning: removing pups from their mother, usually at 6 weeks old.

Whelp: the action of giving birth to pups.

Whip shy: Dog that is scared of a cracking whip.

Wing heading: Action of a dog going out to the sides of a mob to stop their movement.

Worrier: Dog that chases, attacks or kills sheep.

Yarding: Putting sheep into yards or woolshed with a dog.

Yard dog: Dog that is good at working in the close confinement of stockyards.