Happy New Year! And what better way to start the year than to consider that vital third component of sheepdog training – sheep behaviour.
It’s true that sheep don’t always behave as we expect them. Don’t be tempted to think sheep are irrational though. They’re experts at protecting themselves from a dog – either by running away, or surprisingly, by standing and aggressively facing the dog. Inexperienced or shy farm dogs can be intimidated by stubborn or hostile sheep.
We talk about sheep in our Sheep – Essential Facts for Trainers video. It looks at sheep behaviour, finding suitable training sheep, where to keep them, and why sheep can be controlled by a dog.
Of course we can’t all choose sheep with perfect characteristics. Many of us simply have to work with what we’re given. Watch the video tutorial Woolly Jumpers for some ideas about coping with sheep who’ve discovered that escape is the easier option.
Sheepdog and sheep behaviour, are closely related
You don’t want your dog to cause distress to the sheep, for reasons of both welfare and productivity, so it must learn to control and move the stock with respect. Watch Give the Sheep Space to see the difference it makes when a dog keeps its distance; the sheep will be calmer, and easier to manage than excited or frightened animals will be. Calmer sheep make for a calmer dog, and you’ll probably feel calmer too.
Essential Facts, Woolly Jumpers and Give the Sheep Space can all be found in the Sheep Behaviour category in the Library.
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If you’re interested in training a dog to work sheep, cattle, or other livestock, we can help you – whether you’re a complete beginner, or just wanting to improve.
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