[Citrine]

Good morning! 

If all goes to plan with our house purchase, my husband and I will be moving to North Devon in the next couple of months. We’ve had an offer accepted on a bungalow with 8 acres near Holsworthy.

For the last couple of years, I have been training my 2 border collies to work sheep and decided it was time I got my own to practice with.  I’m not going to lie, the dream is the easy part but as we get nearer the reality, I’m having periods of mild panic!! 

The aim is to get about 12 smallish sheep, probably Shetlands, but I don’t intend to breed them / eat them, they’re just going to be kept for my dogs to work.  I also would like to keep chickens and try and grow more veg to become more self sufficient.

I would love to make contact with other smallholders in the area, especially if you need help with sheep so that I get more experience before taking the plunge and buying my own. 

Sharon

[SallyintNorth]

Hey Sharon 

Congratulations on your purchase.

We are just over the border in North Cornwall, and have sheep and a working collie dog.  (And house cows, chickens, ducks, peacocks and a large veg growing area too.)  You are more than welcome to visit and have a look around and a chat - and we will be very happy to rope you in to help with things too, if you would like! 

Drop me a PM when you are ready and we will sort something out

Sally x

[Citrine]

Thank you Sally - I would absolutely love that!  Will drop you a message once we move

[Rosemary]

Congratulations!
This is maybe a stupid question but don't sheep get used to being worked?

[SallyintNorth]

Congratulations!
This is maybe a stupid question but don't sheep get used to being worked?

They absolutely do.  It got to the point when I was training Dot as a youngster, where the sheep would run the course as soon as I came through the gate, before I even let the dog off!   

(Yes, there is a conversation there, and I am planning on having it with Sharon when we meet   )

[Fleecewife]

Congratulations!
This is maybe a stupid question but don't sheep get used to being worked?

They absolutely do.  It got to the point when I was training Dot as a youngster, where the sheep would run the course as soon as I came through the gate, before I even let the dog off!   

(Yes, there is a conversation there, and I am planning on having it with Sharon when we meet   )

...and then the dog meets some new sheep which object to being shoved around and promptly has a nervous breakdown 

[Citrine]

Congratulations!
This is maybe a stupid question but don't sheep get used to being worked?

Yes, they can get over dogged due to working so much.  Fortunately the flock I work with rotate regularly and new stock is introduced when the really dogged sheep go on to live in pet homes.

It's going to be something I need to think about - I thought about buying young sheep in and working them for a while before selling on for meat and buying new ones. That said, as a vegan, I don't know whether the increased exercise they will be doing will increase muscle to the point it will affect the taste of the meat. It's something that definitely needs consideration!

[Citrine]

(Yes, there is a conversation there, and I am planning on having it with Sharon when we meet   )

Already considered the potential issues!  I might just need to find a sheep farmer who has a regular turnover and won't mind me hiring a few a couple of times a week!