Welcome to The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily!
Herding breeds are clever, sensitive and intensely tuned into the world around them, but that intelligence doesn’t necessarily make them easy dogs to live with.
In this episode of The Yappy Hour, Nathan is joined by Tina Kristensen, founder of Tina’s Happy Hounds, to talk all things herding breeds. From German Shepherds and Border Collies to Corgis and Australian Cattle Dogs, Tina explains how the instincts these dogs were bred for can still shape their behaviour in modern family life.
They explore why smart doesn’t always mean easy to train, the importance of balancing mental stimulation with genuine rest, and why trying to simply tire out an intense dog can miss what they really need. Tina also shares practical ideas for scent work, free work and everyday enrichment, alongside advice for anyone considering bringing a herding breed into their life.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why herding instincts can show up as chasing cars, bicycles, joggers or even trying to control the movement of children
✅ Why an intelligent dog isn’t necessarily an easy dog to train or live with
✅ How sensitivity, intensity and hypervigilance can affect herding breeds in busy or urban environments
✅ Why herding breeds need mental stimulation, purpose and connection as well as physical exercise
✅ How scent work, tracking, free work and simple household jobs can provide fulfilling outlets
✅ Why rest and predictability are just as important as activity and enrichment
✅ What to consider before choosing a herding breed, breeder or rescue dog
Key Takeaways:
Smart doesn’t mean simple. Herding breeds can learn incredibly quickly, but their intelligence, sensitivity and intensity mean they may also need more guidance, structure and understanding.
Their instincts haven’t disappeared. Chasing, controlling movement and intense focus can be expressions of the behaviours these dogs were originally bred to perform.
You can’t just tire them out. Long walks alone don’t necessarily create a fulfilled dog. Mental stimulation, scent work, choice, connection and appropriate outlets matter too.
Rest is part of meeting their needs. Dogs who are sensitive to movement, sound and their environment may need help switching off, particularly when life around them is busy.
Slow things down when your dog is overwhelmed. Tina recommends creating more calm, choosing quieter environments where possible, encouraging sniffing and scent work, and prioritising sleep and rest.
Look at the individual dog. Breed traits can help us understand behaviour, but every dog has their own needs, sensitivities and personality.
Thanks for tuning in! Let’s celebrate the joy and challenges of dog parenting together, because we’re all here for the dogs.
Connect with Tina
Connect with Nathan and Yappily
Are you a compassionate Dog Pro?
If you’re a behaviourist, dog trainer, dog walker, house sitter, vet, home dog boarder, daycare provider or groomer, and you believe in kind, ethical care, we’d love for you to list your business on our directory!
To celebrate the launch of The Yappy Podcast we have a special code for you which gives 50% off a premium listing! sign up below to receive your code which you can then use at checkout.
The Yappy Hour Podcast is available anywhere you listen:
and we’d love for you to leave us a review!
Add a comment