[VSS]

I would go with a sheepdog of some sort for sheep work and stick with a gundog for the different job.

If you think a Border Collie might be too much of a handful, how about a bearded collie?

[grumpsgarden]

thank you all for your advise , i now have a collie pup he is great only had him for 3 days and all ready comes when called , my other dog at home is not to sure about this bunddle of energy she is to ladeback for his get up and go style, he is tri coloured 

[faith0504]

oh bless it would be lovely to see a picture 

[grumpsgarden]

i will try to get one today if he stays still long enough for me to take it , i took him to meet the pigs yesterday he wastnt to sure about them but then 7 4 month pigs are a shock on any dog when they have just been moved on to new grass, my other dog jumbed in with them just to make sure all the noise they where making was ok until one looked at her then she ran home and hid 

[faith0504]

It sounds like your going to have loads of fun, bless 

[SallyintNorth]

That's great news grumpsgarden, he sounds great.  Pics (or vid if he won't stand still!) eagerly awaited 

[grumpsgarden]

i will try later today when ive got the last two  fenced in to there new area and a naughty pony finaly caught and in a stable ,if i have any engery left i will try and get some pics but as im trying to get lots done before the kids are back and the new goats come in the next week or 2

[Corrie Dhu]

10 sheep is really not enough sheep to justify having a working dog.  They aren't machines you just take out and they will round up your sheep for you.  It takes experienced trainers years to fully train a dog to be a good sheep dog.

Please think about the welfare of your sheep, and if you insist on trying to train this dog to work sheep, get some lessons with an experienced trainer. 

Frankly you would be far better to train your sheep to follow a bag of feed, it will be the easiest, cheapest and most sensible option.

If you wait til the grass is getting sparse over the winter and use a bag or bucket to feed the sheep some concentrates it will not take them long to come to you as soon as you shake a bag or bucket.  Then build a little pen in the field and feed them in the pen.  Then feed them in the pen with the gate closed.  Do that all winter and they will be no problem to get in and they never forget.

[grumpsgarden]

im not a complete idiot, i do know to train him as sheep dog i would need an experienced trainer but as i have said the collie ive got is not from working stock ,we may only have 10 sheep this year but we are going to be ingreasing them next year and the sheep do come to the bucket but they dont go in to the pen as they arnt stupid,

[Old Shep]

Lots of border collies live happy lives as just pets - one as a pet with a
 bit of work thrown in will be fine with the right training. I hope you enjoy your young puppy and hope to see some piccies pleeeeese???

[Collie26]

I agree with shep on this one my collie is quite content just being with me 'helping' (i say this very lightly) with everyday jobs and has a good eye for sheep still. As long as the dogs kept active you should have no problems. And as for a professional/experienced trainer i disagree, just use the dogs natural instinct read a few books or DVDs i did and worked out well, you just need patiience and common sence, like everything with animals give them time and dont rush them.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[grumpsgarden]

i will try ,the kids love him they only found out today after a 7 hour drive home from there dads and have kept him busey with fetch so im hoping they can wear him out enough to keep him still for some pics and there response was about time a dog that acts like a dog and not hide from the ball when its thrown like are  mastif does , he is a quick learner and allreadys comes when called and is learning the basic as he plays , he has also learnt to stay away from the electric fence round the pigs unlike the mastif that has to sniff it every time she goes near it   thank you both ,i will be taking him to puppy classes only as a help with his training and i already have some books on sheepdogs

[grumpsgarden]

tried to put pic of puppy but says it too large and im a diff when it comes to these things so dont now how to do it

[doganjo]

Do you have Microsoft Picture Manager?  If so open your photo and go to edit pictures, then on the right click on compress pictures, then on documents.  That'll take it down enough - but save it with a different name so you keep the original photo size.  Then when you close that program it'll ask if you want to save and say no!

Failing that email it to me and I'll do it for you.

[Castle Farm]

im not a complete idiot, i do know to train him as sheep dog i would need an experienced trainer but as i have said the collie ive got is not from working stock ,we may only have 10 sheep this year but we are going to be ingreasing them next year and the sheep do come to the bucket but they dont go in to the pen as they arnt stupid,

I train working collies and if you have a pup from a non-working strain it will require more work than a pup from a working strain.

The 'instint' in a working sheepdog is bred in, but if you get all your 'yard work' done before you let it off anywhere around sheep your in with a chance.

Do not ignore or take to heart this comment, as your going to end up with a pet collie that is a right pain in the arse if your looking to use it on livestock.