AN OVERVIEW OF SHEPHERDING IN FRANCE
by Linda Rorem
by Linda Rorem
Traditional French shepherding practices generally have involved close daily contact of sheep, shepherd and dogs. Predators remained a greater threat and there was less enclosing of fields in comparison to parts of Great Britain. During the grazing season of spring, summer and fall, a shepherd and his dog or dogs accompanied the sheep to their pasture for the day and brought them back to an enclosure or stable for the night. During the winter, the sheep were kept at the fold and given fodder.
Flock leaving the barn, Charles Emile Jacque
Conditions vary throughout France, and stock-handling practices likewise have varied. In the mountains of western and southern France, while sheep have daily contact with dog and shepherd, being taken from stables out to pasture and back again, they are not as closely supervised as is the case with the sheep in the more populated and cultivated plains. In the mountains, flocks are allowed to spread out more; the close grazing practiced on the plains would be too intense for the vegetation there.
In the mountain regions, single dogs often are used, although two or even three may be used with very large flocks. The dog may work at great distances from the shepherd, even out of sight. The terrain can be rough and fog frequent. There may be periods when the dog may be relatively inactive, but it must always remain at hand, ready for any eventuality. It will be called upon to seek out strays, regroup, gather and redirect the flock, or hold the flock as the shepherd milks the ewes.
In the mountain regions, single dogs often are used, although two or even three may be used with very large flocks. The dog may work at great distances from the shepherd, even out of sight. The terrain can be rough and fog frequent. There may be periods when the dog may be relatively inactive, but it must always remain at hand, ready for any eventuality. It will be called upon to seek out strays, regroup, gather and redirect the flock, or hold the flock as the shepherd milks the ewes.
Shepherd and Flock in the Mountains, Félix-Saturnin Brissot de Warville
Shepherding in the mountains has remained little changed, although the transhumance -- seasonal migration between winter and summer pastures -- is now more often accomplished by truck. A few shepherds still make the journey on foot, taking several days to reach their destination.
The plains regions of central France, with more crops and people, necessitated a more controlled and precise usage of grazing land. Large flocks of sheep would be taken out daily along roads, past unfenced fields, to a grazing area which might be marginal land or a field being rested from crop production. In the east near the German border, the sheep might be stabled at night in buildings in a village. Toward central France, the sheep would be kept at a farmstead out in the country. In the practice called "grazing to the square," the close-flocking sheep would be kept in a compact group, with each section of the field being thoroughly grazed down before the sheep were allowed to move to an adjacent area. In many cases, there also would be nearby fields of crops from which the sheep needed to be kept.
In these conditions, two dogs often are used. One, called the "foot dog," "hand dog," "dog of the man," works in close cooperation with the shepherd, remaining near the shepherd for the most part and being sent out as needed. A second dog, the "dog at a distance" or "border dog," controls the side of the flock furthest from the shepherd. This was a dog which was very experienced, enduring and capable of great initiative, which had been given additional training for its job by being walked along the edge it was to guard. If the sheep are content to graze in place, the dog may stand or lie down. Should the sheep attempt to trespass on a nearby crop, the dog would patrol that side and keep the sheep where they belonged. Some dogs doing this work might run nearly 80 to 90 kilometers a day. Therefore, it is preferable for the dog pace itself so as to conserve its energy.
The plains regions of central France, with more crops and people, necessitated a more controlled and precise usage of grazing land. Large flocks of sheep would be taken out daily along roads, past unfenced fields, to a grazing area which might be marginal land or a field being rested from crop production. In the east near the German border, the sheep might be stabled at night in buildings in a village. Toward central France, the sheep would be kept at a farmstead out in the country. In the practice called "grazing to the square," the close-flocking sheep would be kept in a compact group, with each section of the field being thoroughly grazed down before the sheep were allowed to move to an adjacent area. In many cases, there also would be nearby fields of crops from which the sheep needed to be kept.
In these conditions, two dogs often are used. One, called the "foot dog," "hand dog," "dog of the man," works in close cooperation with the shepherd, remaining near the shepherd for the most part and being sent out as needed. A second dog, the "dog at a distance" or "border dog," controls the side of the flock furthest from the shepherd. This was a dog which was very experienced, enduring and capable of great initiative, which had been given additional training for its job by being walked along the edge it was to guard. If the sheep are content to graze in place, the dog may stand or lie down. Should the sheep attempt to trespass on a nearby crop, the dog would patrol that side and keep the sheep where they belonged. Some dogs doing this work might run nearly 80 to 90 kilometers a day. Therefore, it is preferable for the dog pace itself so as to conserve its energy.
Flock of Sheep at the Edge of the Field, Charles Emile Jacque
Although some "foot dogs"
may eventually be trained as "boundary dogs," it is common for the
dogs to remain in their particular jobs for their careers. When moving the
flock from one area to another, or when doing general farm work, however, both
dogs work similarly. They take various positions relative to the flock (behind,
beside, or in front) as needed, actively fetching, moving and directing the
sheep. With the largest flocks, a third dog might be used.
This type of work is diminishing, the regions where it was most often practiced becoming more devoted to cereal crops. This has left less land for grazing, and the use of chemicals in weed control and interfered with the use of marginal land.
A less common method of handling sheep, occurring as a local custom, was to keep the sheep in movable pens. During the good season, sheep were kept outdoors day and night in a mobile enclosure which the shepherd moved twice each day. The shepherd and dog spent the night near the pen. The dog's primary job was to keep watch and to keep the sheep contained as the shepherd moved the fence. Three sides of the pen would be moved at a time, with once fence remaining in place.
In the days before motorized transport, dogs also served as drover's dogs, taking livestock of all kinds to market and working at the pens. The drover's dog had to handle stock that could be stubborn or fearful, separated from its normal routine, moving the animals along briskly through crowded towns.
In recent decades there has been an increase in the keeping of sheep in enclosed pastures, in the "open air," as is common in Great Britain.
In France, the shepherd often leads the flock, or may be beside or behind it, depending on the circumstances. To collect the flock, the dog is sent around the flock to regroup it and bring it to the shepherd. When being taken out on the road, the sheep often are moved in long columns. In open areas and areas of less traffic, or with smaller flocks, the sheep are allowed to bunch up. The dog may work along the side of the flock, especially when moving a large flock in a lengthened formation, or may push from behind. Occasionally the dog will be sent to the front to stop or slow the flock. Changing sides may be done at the rear or at the front. The dog works in various positions as needed, both to command and on its own initiative. Practicality and doing what needs to be done according to the circumstances are repeatedly mentioned by French shepherds.
When a car passes a flock on the road, the dog should squeeze the flock to the right side of the road in the direction it is travelling, especially if a car is overtaking the flock from behind. When a car approaches from the front, the car often halts as the flock is taken by. In some cases, the flock may be stopped while the car drives past. On the routes of the transhumance, where traffic is sparse and flocks may number up to several thousand, the shepherd may simply walk through the flock in front of the car, forcing a passage.
In most work, a lot of barking is not desired. Where the sheep jam up at a narrow passage, however, the dog may bark to help move the flock, or even jump onto the backs of the leaders to shift them.
Nipping should only be used when needed, with the preferred locations being the lower hind leg and, on an adult sheep being especially obstreperous, the upper neck, in which case the dog may take a very brief hold. A restrained "blow of the teeth" on the side may also be acceptable, providing the dog does not nip too hard or take hold. The dog must not be too rough, but at the same time, it must be capable of using force or the sheep may learn they can overpower it.
Training methods differ from shepherd to shepherd. A common sequence of French training, according to a French training manual and other sources, went something like this: beginning around three or four months of age, the young dog receives basic obedience training to come, down, remain in place, walk on lead, etc. At around 8 or 9 months, the dog may be taken to sheep. It is first kept on lead, and its early exposures monitored. It may be taken into a small pen and allowed to move around the sheep a bit, under supervision. As time goes on, the young dog is taught commands for going ahead, returning, for moving to the right and to the left. Regrouping is practiced, as are: holding the animals against a fence or hedge or up to the shepherd; going to the head of a moving flock and stopping it; getting sheep moving through a difficult passage. According to the situation in which the dog will be working, further training is given for road work and for elements relating to mountain, plains or enclosed pasture work. Some shepherds use a more experienced dog to help train a young dog, but this isn't overdone or the dog might pick up any bad habits of the older dog or come to rely too much on the older dog.
In addition to the stock-working breeds traditionally bred in France, such as the Pyrenean Shepherd, Beauceron, Briard, Picardy Shepherd, and local, rare strains, other breeds including Rough Collies, Belgian Sheepdogs, and German Shepherds have been used occasionally. Nowadays the Border Collie is frequently seen. The Border Collie is differentiated from the other breeds by its characteristic "eye" and tendency to work further off the sheep, but for the most part Border Collies and native breeds receive the same general kinds of training and are used for the same tasks.
In France, sheep are raised for milk, meat and wool. There are numerous small flocks of 50 to 60 animals as part of a farming estate where cattle and crops are also raised; larger flocks of up to 300 - 400 animals in the cheese-producing regions; and flocks of 1,000 to 2,000 in the areas where transhumance is practiced. Large flocks may belong to one shepherd, or a shepherd with a smaller flock may contract to care for flocks belonging to several individuals. In addition to their work with sheep, dogs also are used to work goats, cattle and large flocks of geese.
In the last 30 years, stock management methods have evolved and intensified. There are more expenses and fewer people involved in agricultural work. The services of dogs for handling sheep, cattle and other livestock are in good demand in France.
This type of work is diminishing, the regions where it was most often practiced becoming more devoted to cereal crops. This has left less land for grazing, and the use of chemicals in weed control and interfered with the use of marginal land.
A less common method of handling sheep, occurring as a local custom, was to keep the sheep in movable pens. During the good season, sheep were kept outdoors day and night in a mobile enclosure which the shepherd moved twice each day. The shepherd and dog spent the night near the pen. The dog's primary job was to keep watch and to keep the sheep contained as the shepherd moved the fence. Three sides of the pen would be moved at a time, with once fence remaining in place.
In the days before motorized transport, dogs also served as drover's dogs, taking livestock of all kinds to market and working at the pens. The drover's dog had to handle stock that could be stubborn or fearful, separated from its normal routine, moving the animals along briskly through crowded towns.
In recent decades there has been an increase in the keeping of sheep in enclosed pastures, in the "open air," as is common in Great Britain.
In France, the shepherd often leads the flock, or may be beside or behind it, depending on the circumstances. To collect the flock, the dog is sent around the flock to regroup it and bring it to the shepherd. When being taken out on the road, the sheep often are moved in long columns. In open areas and areas of less traffic, or with smaller flocks, the sheep are allowed to bunch up. The dog may work along the side of the flock, especially when moving a large flock in a lengthened formation, or may push from behind. Occasionally the dog will be sent to the front to stop or slow the flock. Changing sides may be done at the rear or at the front. The dog works in various positions as needed, both to command and on its own initiative. Practicality and doing what needs to be done according to the circumstances are repeatedly mentioned by French shepherds.
When a car passes a flock on the road, the dog should squeeze the flock to the right side of the road in the direction it is travelling, especially if a car is overtaking the flock from behind. When a car approaches from the front, the car often halts as the flock is taken by. In some cases, the flock may be stopped while the car drives past. On the routes of the transhumance, where traffic is sparse and flocks may number up to several thousand, the shepherd may simply walk through the flock in front of the car, forcing a passage.
In most work, a lot of barking is not desired. Where the sheep jam up at a narrow passage, however, the dog may bark to help move the flock, or even jump onto the backs of the leaders to shift them.
Nipping should only be used when needed, with the preferred locations being the lower hind leg and, on an adult sheep being especially obstreperous, the upper neck, in which case the dog may take a very brief hold. A restrained "blow of the teeth" on the side may also be acceptable, providing the dog does not nip too hard or take hold. The dog must not be too rough, but at the same time, it must be capable of using force or the sheep may learn they can overpower it.
Training methods differ from shepherd to shepherd. A common sequence of French training, according to a French training manual and other sources, went something like this: beginning around three or four months of age, the young dog receives basic obedience training to come, down, remain in place, walk on lead, etc. At around 8 or 9 months, the dog may be taken to sheep. It is first kept on lead, and its early exposures monitored. It may be taken into a small pen and allowed to move around the sheep a bit, under supervision. As time goes on, the young dog is taught commands for going ahead, returning, for moving to the right and to the left. Regrouping is practiced, as are: holding the animals against a fence or hedge or up to the shepherd; going to the head of a moving flock and stopping it; getting sheep moving through a difficult passage. According to the situation in which the dog will be working, further training is given for road work and for elements relating to mountain, plains or enclosed pasture work. Some shepherds use a more experienced dog to help train a young dog, but this isn't overdone or the dog might pick up any bad habits of the older dog or come to rely too much on the older dog.
In addition to the stock-working breeds traditionally bred in France, such as the Pyrenean Shepherd, Beauceron, Briard, Picardy Shepherd, and local, rare strains, other breeds including Rough Collies, Belgian Sheepdogs, and German Shepherds have been used occasionally. Nowadays the Border Collie is frequently seen. The Border Collie is differentiated from the other breeds by its characteristic "eye" and tendency to work further off the sheep, but for the most part Border Collies and native breeds receive the same general kinds of training and are used for the same tasks.
In France, sheep are raised for milk, meat and wool. There are numerous small flocks of 50 to 60 animals as part of a farming estate where cattle and crops are also raised; larger flocks of up to 300 - 400 animals in the cheese-producing regions; and flocks of 1,000 to 2,000 in the areas where transhumance is practiced. Large flocks may belong to one shepherd, or a shepherd with a smaller flock may contract to care for flocks belonging to several individuals. In addition to their work with sheep, dogs also are used to work goats, cattle and large flocks of geese.
In the last 30 years, stock management methods have evolved and intensified. There are more expenses and fewer people involved in agricultural work. The services of dogs for handling sheep, cattle and other livestock are in good demand in France.