New Zealand Heading Dog: eye, heading and working type

Key facts

Working type

New Zealand eye or heading dog [source]

Functional emphasis

Heading and holding stock by eye [source]

Historical background

Developed from Border Collie stock [source]

What heading means

Te Ara explains heading or casting as going around a flock. Its historical account describes a typically smooth-coated, longer-legged dog using eye at close quarters, with barking discouraged. The distinction is functional: it describes how the dog influences stock, rather than simply naming a coat pattern.

Type and individual work

A working-type description should sit alongside the dog’s actual ancestry and records. Do not assume that every New Zealand stock dog is a registered Border Collie, or that appearance alone determines the appropriate label. Ask the owner or breeder how they identify the population and retain that information with its source.

For a farm placement, describe country, stock and tasks. Ask to observe relatives in comparable conditions, including the distances and visibility relevant to your work. A close demonstration in a small enclosure answers different questions from gathering stock on difficult ground.

Training and household routine

An eye-dog description does not supply trained commands. Use experienced guidance to teach control and stock understanding while protecting animals. Away from work, discuss transport, ordinary handling, social contact and settling routines. A useful plan includes what happens during days without stock work rather than assuming a working label explains every part of the dog’s life.

Reading the historical source

The Te Ara account was published in 2009. It is useful background for terminology and the historical working population; it should not be treated as a current registration or competition rulebook. For entries and pedigrees, confirm the responsible organisation’s present requirements. Preserve exact result names and identifiers when connecting an individual dog to an archive.

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• Te Ara: heading dogs, huntaways and all-purpose dogs (opens in a new tab)

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