[Womble]

I think Shotblast's right. If I had ten ewes, I'd want them to be tame. If I had 500, I'd far rather they ran away from me!

[Remy]

I think to make life easier you do at least want them to come to a bucket, when trying to move them around!  All my breeding ewes are pretty tame in that they will come to wherever I want them.  I've got a field of lambs who have been quite flighty but I've got them used to coming for feed (aided by my bottle fed lamb and a couple who had been kept inside after a bout of flystrike) and it makes such a difference when I want to gather them all up for maintenance.


However no matter how tame they are, they always know when you plan to catch them 

[NethertonSH]

A wee update:

Since the carry on last time trying to move 3 sheep into a different field, I have since added to the flock and now have a dozen. I've been going out just every now and again with either some hay or concentrate in a bucket to help them get used to me.

This morning I had to bring them all into the shed as they are getting scanned tonight. Well what a difference from the last time, everyone of them followed me with the bucket straight in to the shed, couldn't have been easier.

There is definitely a bit of confidence in numbers with them as the more weary ones were being led by the confident ones.

Happy shepherd this morning!

[SallyintNorth]

Yeah... just watch those numbers, when they are numerous enough to mow you down, you better watch out!  lol

[devonlad]

Id probably describe our wilts horns as "accustomed to us". if anyone other than myself or OH go in the field they scarper, but we can stroll amongst them. they don't want us too near but they don't move away and on those rare occasions that weve time to stay a while, if we sit on the ground they wander over for a tentative sniff. in winter time when theirs more chance of us having food they'll come much closer.
One thing we don't do is tip them up. Im sure its not "the done thing" but any feet trimming etc we do  with me holding them and OH working on them in the manner of a farrier. its our way, means theres always got to be the two of us but seems to reduce any unpleasant association they may have with being gathered in. we are always quiet and gentle with them, we never herd them as they'll come to a bucket or my whistle- Easy care sheep !!!

[verdifish]

I find that if sheep are tame, I:E pet lambs for example, they don't fear humans so much which can be a positive and also a negative. If sheep are too tame, pet lambs, they don't always like to do what you want them to do, they like to go their own way, which can be and is sometimes a problem. My sheep are not too tame, they do come up for cake, but I do have to run to catch them, mind you mine is a big flock. You can have problems either way. I prefer semi tamed sheep, I have semi tamed sheep.  Semi tamed sheep are the best to have in my opinion, although you will need a dog. Personally I would go with semi tamed sheep, try to spend some time with them an get them used to a routine, remember there has to be trust between a shepherd and his sheep, they have to trust you.There are of course many advantages and disadvantages with any sheep, whether tamed or non tamed or even semi tamed. Semi tamed are the best in my opinion, not too friendly in that they will run after you all the time, but not too wild so that you can catch them. This is just my opinion, the question is what are you happy with?

So to be 100% sure, you prefer semi tame sheep?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

In a nutshell yea not too friendly and not too scared; ideal really