GPS Tracking Reveals How Sheepdogs Successful Herd Sheep
18 Sep 2014Thanks to GPS tracking technology, experts now understand more about how a single dog is able to herd a flock of sheep.
A recent study published in the Journal of The Royal Society Interface reveals information about the tricks and techniques sheepdogs used to herd sheep. In fact, herding sheep is often done by a single dog, which is proven to be both a mystery and unbelievable feat to many people. That’s because herding sheep is no difficult task, yet one skilled sheepdog is able to convince dozens of them to move efficiently in the same direction.
Finally, through this study, the big question is answered. Researchers at the Uppsala University in Sweden fitted a herd of 46 female merino sheep and a well-trained Australian Kelpie sheepdog so that they could analyze the data and determine exactly how it works. The tracking devices were each encased in small backpacks that were placed on each of the animals.
The GPS tracking data was collected as the dog successfully herded the sheep. Researchers then poured over the data and created a computer model of the entire scene in front of them. What they found is that the dog uses very specific techniques to get the sheep to move in one direction.
The data showed that the dog begins by grouping the sheep together by walking around them side-by-side at the back, urging the sheep to move closer into a group. Any time there is a gap between sheep, the dog works to bring those sheep together, so that it only sees one big fluff of white in front of it.
The dog is continuously working to be sure the sheep herd is cohesive. It continues in this manner until it is happy with their grouping. Once they are in a group, the dog is able to nudge them forward toward the target area.
This is an amazing feat since it is not uncommon for one sheepdog to move a herd of 80-100 sheep at one time. Through this model and with the help of the GPS tracking data collected, researchers believe a dog that is well trained could herd over 100 sheep, though it might take a little longer.
Not only is the mystery of how sheepdogs herd sheep of this magnitude solved, but the researchers believe that these intelligent dogs and the technique they use could be used in other ways. They think it would be the same application for herding livestock, keeping animals out of certain areas, cleaning the environment, and even crowd control.
By getting everyone or every animal, close together, it is easier to move them as one unit, as opposed to attempting to move them one at a time. Daniel Strombom, head researcher at Uppsala, is interested to see exactly what these sheepdogs are able to do, regardless of the number of sheep in the herd.
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