Herders are so darn smart!! They question every bit of training so they make you think your rationale and methods through very carefully. We use all-positive, no-aversive methods. We've had a couple of real damaged cases to work with. Encouragement and emotional support are key.
The down-side is that herders were derived from dogs having a strong prey-drive. That prey drive has been redirected to gather rather than to slay, though I will admit the occasional bunny meets misfortune. They are still dogs, after all. (They also get regular wormer!)
That brings me to the guineas. Our kids' job (since we don't have sheep) is to protect the gardens (part of our "butter and egg" money and part of how we're able to eat at all) by running bunnies and squirrels away. They're generally not inclined to touch, just run them. So far, a couple of bunnies and one of the neighbor's guineas met with misfortune. I had to go apologize about the guinea.
Since guineas can make an 8' fence (chickens can be contained in 6) keeping hyper herders and independent-minded guineas who will go wherever they please separated no matter how I slice it seems to be cost prohibitive.
You've got me thinking though. I wonder if it would be possible to make a "guinea tractor" kinda like a chicken tractor. If it's not too heavy, or I could put it on workable wheels, make it roomy enough to make having enough guineas worthwhile, maybe I could pull it around with the lawn tractor.
Think such a thing could work?
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