The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on June 14, 2013, 05:57:50 pm
-
Murphy is starting a 'sheep safe' course in Malvern, Worcs on 23rd June. Looking forward to it very much! It will train Murphy to ignore livestock unless told otherwise and is a course developed to cope with a lot of local sheep deaths due to dogs. wish us luck!! (they've said "not for cold or fragile dogs...or owners..." eek!)
oh here's a pic - he was rooting for Watford in the championship play off final...
-
Oh, he is so gorgeous.
Have a good time on the course and don't forget to share some of the tips with us
-
Arh bless him, no sheep will come near him dressed like that...he is lovely !!
-
Looking froward to hearing all about the course - sounds really good.
-
what a great idea.
-
I read about the course in the local press - there were lots of sheep killed in Malvern where many sheep and cattle graze on common land.
It is heavily subsidised by the conservators and has encouraged lots of dog owners to take part. It would be great if this kind of course could be rolled out UK wide really!
http://www.educating-rover.co.uk/dog_training.html] [url]http://www.educating-rover.co.uk/dog_training.html (http://[url)[/url]
the link tells you about how Sue achieves results :thumbsup:
-
The place I go for gun dog training (when I go) also does a bit on stopping dogs chaseing sheep, mine never seem to bother but no way would I tempt them by letting them loose anywhere near sheep....I had a shock once when I walked along a part of a disused train line, that I often use so knew it was safe, I stopped to put my dogs back on a lead as some one was comming along and from the field behind came a few sheep to watch, I had no idea they were there but they came up to the gate to see what was going on...so I stopped going along that bit just in case......
-
That link should read
http://www.educating-rover.co.uk/dog_training.html (http://www.educating-rover.co.uk/dog_training.html)
-
Sounds like a fab idea! Look forward to hearing how you get on.
Helen
-
That link should read
http://www.educating-rover.co.uk/dog_training.html (http://www.educating-rover.co.uk/dog_training.html)
thanks Sally :thumbsup: I was a bit over zealous in my link writing ;D
-
Lesson 1 today - I'm exhausted and so 's Murphy!
We covered 'focus' and keeping our dogs attention, 'leave' (dropping treats and using the command) some recall, off lead amongst other dogs using 'leave' and murphy ate loads of sheep poo. Very good so far, my confidence has increased and they have shown me my bad habits (too tight a grip on the lead, not praising enough at the right time etc) but also identified that in order to hold Murphys focus, he's a dog that doesnt' respond well to lots of speaking, instead he responds if I'm almost silent and use hand commands only.
Really, really impressed so far - looking forward to next Sunday!
-
That sounds really good. Its interesting to hear about the hand signals too.
-
so does murphy chase your sheep? mine used to chase mine but stopped after a long while. i wouldnt trust my terrier though but we dont have any sheep at the moment.
-
Not really, Shygirl but he's still a pup and I want to do all I can to be in control from day 1. He does chase one wether if he runs but I can break the chase with 'leave' in a firm voice. He has chased my goatling though, We lost a lamb to a dog attack at xmas so I'm uber sensitive about it all really!
-
Course sounds amazing wish there were more in the country!
-
It is, Sheepcrazy - really glad I saw it in the local press. I will ask Sue who runs it if there are similar else where in the UK, if there are I will post links.
I've just sat in the sheep field with 4 sheep and a dog standing/sitting next to me, very peaceful - no chasing and any sign on it, I was able to break it before it happened. Feeling quite happy :)
-
It sounds as if its been a very productive course. :thumbsup: for Murphy