The thesis focuses on interspecies relations and communication in the context of recreational sheep herding with dogs. Through the anthropological discourse of the interpretation of domestication and its impact on the actors involved, the author tries to understand the process of animal domestication, focusing on the domestication of dogs and sheep. The selection process of domestication is presented through the example of the development of the border collie breed, which, alongside the handler and the sheep, is a key element in the formation of relationships and communication techniques within the interspecies dynamics of sheepherding. Through the autoethnographic method of research and anthropological contextualization, the author interprets the hybrid forms of relations between the handler, the dog and the flock of sheep, which are formed in the context of leisure activity. A detailed analysis of interspecies communication in herding sheep with dogs, discusses the methods of production and reproduction of handler’s knowledge, the effects of the environment on the success of interspecies cooperation, and the methods of communication between the handler, the dog and the sheep, which are divided into physical, voice and sound communication.
|