Avery Humane Society
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Millie was brought in because her family does not have time to care for her. She has lived around farm animals, cats, and people from teenage and up. Millie loves to chase balls almost bigger than she is. She will chase tennis balls but will not bring them back. Millie is house-trained. While in our care we have noticed that Mille has tried "Herd" a dog smaller then her, but not a dog her same size or larger. it usually isn’t meant to be harmful at all. Herding is an instinct that’s deeply built into breeds like Heelers, Border Collies, and Australian Shepherds. For generations, these dogs were bred to control and move livestock, so the behavior comes naturally—even when the “livestock” happens to be another dog. When a cattle dog herds a smaller dog, you might see them circling, nudging gently with their nose, or guiding the other dog from behind. These are the same techniques they’d use to move cattle or sheep. They aren’t trying to dominate or hurt the other dog; they’re just using the skills they were born with. As long as both dogs are comfortable and no one is getting overwhelmed, this behavior is usually normal and harmless. It’s simply a cattle dog’s instincts coming through in everyday play.
