Central Fl Cracker, imo take your dog with you, but have a leash and a plan ready. just because your dog is a load mouth at the house doesnt mean thats how they will act in the field. i've read alot of comments on here and as most are good points but still you do not know if it applies for you untell you take it to the field. i'm surprised by the statements from some on the posters say that the work with dogs. i dont work much with dogs any more but i use to. and i tell you, you dont know how your dog will act untell you put it in the sitution.
our chocolate lab doesnt herd cattle but it is always by my side. if he gets to close a cow will head butt it. most times he stays back, but the real reward here is, my little girl on the weekend makes me take her with me to the field. i tell you this there is'nt a cow alive that can get close to that little girl. this sweet loving lab becomes a mean fierce devil when a cow starts toward her. kinda makes me think of Ol' yeller x 10.
whats the worst that can happen, your dog goes crazy a cow head butts it. you have to put a leash on the dog and tie it to a post. then you know where your dog belongs. but then it might turn out that in the field is where your dogs heart lies. big wide open spaces has been know to settle down many of high strung hearts.......