[Bionic]

Steve, we tried exactly that, driving them down the fence line with two long sticks but they did a quick turn and broke the sticks  Cunning little devils

[SteveHants]

The sticks are just to make yourself look big - you hold them out to the side to prevent them dashing off one way or the other and when you have got them past the lip of the pen you hold it out in front of you as you are dragging the pen shut....


Clapping is also helpful when they need an aural 'shove'.

[Marches Farmer]

If they need a bit of a push try the way they do it at livestock markets - lift your hands up to shoulder level then slap your thighs while making a sort of hissing sound.  Ours need a first lambing season to get really well bucket trained - I call them every time I bring their late pregnancy feed into the field.  After that I just have to shout  and they charge up the field in a most satisfying manner.

[woollyval]

The sticks are just to make yourself look big - you hold them out to the side to prevent them dashing off one way or the other and when you have got them past the lip of the pen you hold it out in front of you as you are dragging the pen shut....


Clapping is also helpful when they need an aural 'shove'.

You havent got primitives Steve!!! Ordinary nice big placid sheep are a doddle to move like that.....primitive types however....

[SteveHants]

Wilts horns can be an absolute bugger - but al you do then is put a bit of flexinet from the open edge of the pen to act as a guide - they rareley try to push through it.

[SallyintNorth]

You havent got primitives Steve!!! Ordinary nice big placid sheep are a doddle to move like that.....primitive types however....

Wilts horns can be an absolute bugger - but all you do then is put a bit of flexinet from the open edge of the pen to act as a guide - they rareley try to push through it.

I'm with woollyval on this one, having worked with moorland Swales and Blackies, commercials and primitives.  You can push and 'shwoosh' hill sheep, even ones as canny and wily as Swaleys, and drive them with brave dogs, too - but you can't use any of those tactics with primitives. 

I've spent weeks with my dogs learning how to keep the pressure and excitement very very low in order to gently and calmly move primitives, even ones that run up to you and stick their heads in your bucket when you aren't trying to gather them.     Any raised voices, or raised pitch, or dogs too close, and they're OFF!

[SteveHants]

I know of a feller who has about 1000 shetlands and shetland/wilts crosses on the Blackdown hills (I think). God knows how he copes.

[woollyval]

I'm on the Blackdowns and there is a biggish flock up the road of soays.....don't know about Shetlands

Sally is right regarding the sheep that will run up and be all friendly until you need to catch them...We have a pet Ouessant wether who is now pretending he is a Ryeland.....but set up a catching pen and rather than being right in your face, in your pockets and under your feet is off at a rate of knots!! Luckily the Ryelands seem to ignore him and cannot be bothered to go at any speed faster than a waddle!!!

[SteveHants]

I think the shetland/wilts crosses are to graze former landfill sites - puts them to the beltex and lambs at 150% and gathers them a few of times a year.


Dunno if its the same guy with the big flock of shetlands though - it was a longdiscussion I was having about easycare systems.

[woollyval]

Not got any landfill up here...Its a protected AONB!!!!

[kumquat]

Only a small floack of Soays and Shetlands here.....


I've got two borders (terriers) and use them. The sheep will follow the dogs everywhere, i normally walk the dogs into the hurdles and then close the hurdles behind. Terriers then ejected out of the pen.


Works for me 

[SallyintNorth]

Only a small floack of Soays and Shetlands here.....


I've got two borders (terriers) and use them. The sheep will follow the dogs everywhere, i normally walk the dogs into the hurdles and then close the hurdles behind. Terriers then ejected out of the pen.


Works for me 

Love it 

[Bionic]

my poodle doesn't seem to have the same effect 

[ScotsGirl]

I bought 3 black welsh mountain last October and they move like grease lightning. No chance of turning them without a dog unlike my lovely mules and Suffolk crosses.


However, I put feeder in corner of field and after several days of putting a few nuts in, I brought 3 hurdles up to make an open pen. Works a treat. They are conditioned to go in when they see me, most days for food and when they appear with half a bramble bush trailing along, I must Close the pen and hey presto!


I don't think they will ever get tAme. Gotta pick up 3 more this month in lamb.