Most novice handlers are horrified if their sheepdog grips sheep. It must be stopped, of course, but help is on hand!
“Gripping” is the euphemistic term we use to describe a dog that bites – literally “grips” – a sheep. It covers a spectrum of behaviour, from taking a nip at the fleece to a determined hanging on. The dog will often aim for a leg or the tail.
Biting the sheep is unacceptable; it’s grounds for disqualification in a sheep dog trial. More importantly, when the veterinary inspection at an abattoir shows bruising on a carcass the value of the carcass is reduced. So, even aside from issues of sheep welfare, there are sound reasons to stop your dog from gripping.
What can I do if my sheepdog grips sheep?
Try not to panic. Unfortunately, shouting and screaming at the dog is likely to make the situation worse. So, calm down, look for the signs and learn the pattern. Forewarned really is forearmed!
When might the dog grip?
The dog is most likely to grip when flanking in the direction it likes least – be it Come Bye or Away
In addition, the dog might grip when:
- You change its direction
- You ask it to stop
- You turn your back on it
Signs to look for
The signs will be changes in the dog’s body language:
- The dog might adopt a longer, and lower, stance
- The tail goes up
- The ears go back
- It begins to run in straight and/or tight, with a different (harder)facial expression
Once you understand when the dog’s likely to grip you’re in a position to set up the situation. If you can set up the situation then you’re ready to do something about it.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that a gripping dog is a strong dog. Very often the opposite is the truth, and the aggressive but sensitive dog can be very frustrating (though not impossible) to train.
Watch training in action
Watch the Online Training Tutorials for more information and help for handling gripping, training sensitive dogs (“Calm But Firm”), and why “Sometimes, Nice is Not Enough”.
If you prefer to watch away from the computer, the tutorials are also available on four DVD collections, in both PAL and NTSC formats.
CLEAR, AFFORDABLE SHEEP AND CATTLE DOG TRAINING INSTRUCTION
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