Help With Livestock.

[beast 1,884]

when you are breaking a pup to sheep, there are more things to consider than just walking a calm pup near calm sheep. first, make sure the pup igores the sheep when it is in an excited state, for example i like to put a 50 foot line on the pup then play fetch or tug games, get it really revved up, whilst the sheep are as close as i can get to them.

secondly, and most crucial of all, makke sure you can trust the pup when the sheep are agitated, any prey type animal running away from a dog will get its interest a hundred times more than the same animal standing or wandering about would. i put pup on 50 foot line, then push the sheep around a bit, get nearer and nearer and try to make them run a bit, all the time checking the pup if it shows any interest

[Saluki246 1,053]

 

I generally snap no to them with a tug on the lead an a sit in the same field as them jus chill let the dog see theyre no there to pursue an any attention they show I jus re iterate the same as above

true , 1st you got yank them of there feet with firm no , once they realise they get hurt if they show to much interest in them, 2nd as above you got let the dog be oblivious to them, meaning there just boring things to them. But I will say this though even dogs of 5-6 years old that seen sheep from pups, have one day killed a sheep, god knows why but dogs have, even farm dogs have.!, but there just dogs not machines , and its natural for dogs to want to chase+kill sheep, never trust any dog 100% only 95%

 

 

Good post.

A line sometimes works to start with, like below..

 

[Wales1234 5,675]

It's a funny time of year for sheep their either pregnant or giving birth and out on the hill gives them a wild smell aswell keeping from them atm farmers get very pissed off this time of year aswell

[bird 10,014]

 

 

I generally snap no to them with a tug on the lead an a sit in the same field as them jus chill let the dog see theyre no there to pursue an any attention they show I jus re iterate the same as above

true , 1st you got yank them of there feet with firm no , once they realise they get hurt if they show to much interest in them, 2nd as above you got let the dog be oblivious to them, meaning there just boring things to them. But I will say this though even dogs of 5-6 years old that seen sheep from pups, have one day killed a sheep, god knows why but dogs have, even farm dogs have.!, but there just dogs not machines , and its natural for dogs to want to chase+kill sheep, never trust any dog 100% only 95%

 

 

Good post.

A line sometimes works to start with, like below..

 

 

1st that's the way to start with 2nd what I do if I am happy with the way things are going do the above for say month, so the pup or dog used to seeing sheep . what I do next is put the dog right next to them in stay , then walk away then walk back to the pup pup in to me if still going well, put it in the wait and walk off then call it to me, and if good do this for week or so. then I put the pup in the stay and throw a ball right in the middle of the sheep, what your after is few sheep to move off when the pup goes in for ball ,that way he seeing them on the move and it this will really test the pup . but as said this is the latter part of there training

[jeemes 5,062]

Is it sheep hes after? If so its probable just necause they run and he thinks its a game, i know a few fields here where the sheep follow you about 5 yards away and dont run, using these is better because eventually the dog gets bored. Bot to say the next sheep that runs ge wont chase ahh worth a try though

When you go somewhere quiet and the sheep are spooky he may chase then. Ive known this happen with my own.

[morton 5,369]

I start the stock training from a very young age,the pups become familiar with stock and learn to accept and ignore.The trouble with pups is without stock training they will often accept and also ignore stock until their natural urges come into place,which will differ with the individual youngster,when a pup eventually wishes to explore its strength and speed is often when the interest in stock manifests itself the strongest,its at this individual time that the owner as to be aware of and concentrate the stock breaking more fully,when I have done this I do it all over again,then start again when lambs are at foot,as this can lead to much excitement and confusion on the pups part.When they ignore running stock,especially lambs in front of them,then you have completed about a quarter of the stock training.

[terryd 8,921]

A long line and play ball around them worked well for mine so I could lob the ball towards the sheep and the dog belts at the ball and the sheep tend to leg it so its a good test.

But you need to visit the sheep dam near every day if you can and when ever your driving about if you see sheep the other side of the fence get out and walk the hedge/fence so you don't miss a chance. Sheep in a new place get a different reaction initially I found.

Mine is a work in progress even at 11 months I won't be relaxing any time soon and keeping at it all summer then come winter once I direct him at rabbits hopefully we will be on right track.

Was looking good on sheep but now lambs about initially they caught his interest but showing him lots road side on our walks and distracting him and treating when his good is working well

Edited March 13, 2015 by terryd

[terryd 8,921]

good site here for finding public foot paths if you don't have maps

http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm

 

Can be handy for passing sheep if you don't have permission but obviously keep the dog on a short lead and don't be seen to disturb the sheep. But they can be handy for a calm walk by some and it all helps