About Dr. James Hartley

Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist

Herding Instinct & Working Drive Specialist

Edinburgh, Scotland

My Journey Into Herding Behavior

I grew up on a sheep farm in the Scottish Borders, where working dogs were simply part of the landscape. It wasn't until my undergraduate studies that I began to question what seemed so ordinary: how does a ten-week-old pup know to circle rather than chase directly? Why does a good dog stop when the sheep stop? These questions led me to the University of Edinburgh, where my doctoral research attempted to untangle the genetic and environmental factors that produce a working Border Collie.

Twenty years later, I'm still asking questions. The more I learn, the more the complexity reveals itself. What looks like simple instinct turns out to be an intricate dance between inherited motor patterns, developmental experiences, and the feedback loop between dog and livestock that no amount of laboratory study can fully capture.

Credentials and Affiliations

  • PhD in Animal Behavior, University of Edinburgh
  • Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB)
  • Member, Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)
  • Contributing Editor, International Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
  • Author of three books on pastoral dog behavior
  • Consultant to International Sheep Dog Society breeding programs

Areas of Research

Herding Instinct Assessment

Developing standardized protocols for evaluating herding potential and predicting working ability in young dogs.

Prey Drive Management

Understanding the relationship between predatory motor sequences and their modification in pastoral breeds.

Critical Period Development

Identifying the developmental windows crucial for expressing herding behavior and proper livestock introduction.

Working Dog Selection

Advising breeding programs on behavioral criteria for maintaining working ability across generations.

Breed-Specific Behavior

Comparing herding styles and motor patterns across different pastoral breeds and landrace populations.

Instinct Channeling

Helping pet owners redirect herding behaviors into appropriate outlets when working livestock isn't available.

Research Philosophy

I believe that understanding animal behavior requires both controlled research and extensive field observation. A laboratory can tell you what's possible; only time in the field tells you what actually happens. My work bridges these worlds, testing hypotheses developed from watching dogs work under real conditions, then returning to those conditions to validate what we think we've learned.

Too much of what passes for behavioral expertise comes from people who've read about herding dogs but never spent a cold morning watching one gather scattered ewes from a Highland hillside. Theory without observation is empty. Observation without theory is blind. Good science requires both.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) actually do?

A CAAB is a behavior specialist with a doctoral degree in animal behavior or a related field, certified by the Animal Behavior Society after meeting stringent academic and supervised case-work requirements. My CAAB work focuses on applying peer-reviewed research to practical questions about working dog selection, behavioral assessment, and developmental management. The certification distinguishes scientifically-grounded behavior consultation from training-based dog professions, which serve a different and equally important function.

Why focus specifically on pastoral and herding breeds?

Herding breeds present a unique opportunity to study the intersection of genetic specialization, developmental plasticity, and learned behavior. Centuries of selective breeding have produced dogs whose motor patterns and motivational architecture differ from generalist breeds in measurable ways. Understanding how those differences develop—and how they can be channeled or compromised—generalizes to broader questions in animal behavior that matter beyond the working dog community.

Do you consult with individual owners, or only with breeding programs?

Both, though the work differs substantially. Breeding program consultation typically involves analyzing pedigree behavioral data and advising on selection criteria across generations. Individual owner consultation addresses specific behavioral concerns in pet pastoral breeds, particularly when herding-related behaviors create management challenges outside working contexts. Geographic distance from Edinburgh sometimes limits in-person work, but written assessment and remote consultation remain options.

How can I learn more about the science behind your work?

The articles on this site summarize current research on specific topics—from developmental windows to the neurology of herding eye. For deeper engagement, the journals I publish in (Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Journal of Veterinary Behavior) are accessible through most university libraries, and the International Society for Applied Ethology hosts conferences open to non-academic attendees with relevant working dog experience.