Author Topic: Sheep bites dog!!!  (Read 10484 times)

morri2

  • Joined Jun 2008
Sheep bites dog!!!
« on: September 13, 2010, 05:10:19 pm »
Well, not quite - I was putting some feed out for some of my new additions and the dog followed me.  She's a border collie who doesn't round sheep up (unfortunately), but does have a go!  This is what she was trying to do when one of the sheep turned away from the trough, walked slowly towards her, and went to bite her on the nose! My dog looked horrified.  I just wish I'd got it on video.  Anke, if you're reading this, they are doing really well, as you can see from this post!!! Cheers everyone.

daddymatty82

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • swindon
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2010, 07:02:26 pm »
lucky the sheep did not kill the dog then   all collies have it in them its in there instinct mum has 4 2 used to do obedience crufts level and 1 is a part trained sheep dog and the other was bought to work sheep but is to hard and is better on cows  but all have the herding instinct have tried them all on our sheep but our sheep are used to working with a dog so know what to do amount of times the sheep stand there ground and will take on the dog no matter what is unbelievable

Freddiesfarm

  • Joined Jan 2010
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2010, 09:34:03 am »
As a sheepdog trainer it is not true that all collies have it in them.  We started out with rescue collies and have a couple who have zero instinct at all despite looking the part.  In fact Benjamin our 8 year old collie gets in the pen when ewes are lambing a licks the lambs clean without any bother from the ewe!  In contract we have four working bitches who never tire of working sheep.  Both of our boys are useless, particularly Splattacus Jack who doesn't even notice sheep unless they aren't in the field and then he has a panic attack!


http://www.freddiesfarm.co.uk/dogs.htm

andywalt

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • kent
  • observe react administer enjoy !!
    • photos
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2010, 10:57:57 am »
very interesting, im  glad my boy has enough him to help me out
Suffolk x romneys and Texel X with Romney Tup, Shetlands and Southdown Tup

daddymatty82

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • swindon
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2010, 02:25:30 pm »
As a sheepdog trainer it is not true that all collies have it in them.  We started out with rescue collies and have a couple who have zero instinct at all despite looking the part.  In fact Benjamin our 8 year old collie gets in the pen when ewes are lambing a licks the lambs clean without any bother from the ewe!  In contract we have four working bitches who never tire of working sheep.  Both of our boys are useless, particularly Splattacus Jack who doesn't even notice sheep unless they aren't in the field and then he has a panic attack!


http://www.freddiesfarm.co.uk/dogs.htm
where you from my grand dad is a trainer also and has 60 yrs experience and knows of most people over the yrs all over england scotland and wales so as your a trainer  you may well know him .

daddymatty82

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • swindon
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2010, 02:33:57 pm »
What is a Border Collie?
Border Collies are the fanatical black and white dogs that have been bred to herd sheep. They come in an assortment of sizes and colors, though they generally range from about 30 to 60 pounds and their "typical" markings are black with a white collar, chest, head stripe (blaze), paws, and tail tip. These markings are only the perceived "typical" markings, as Border Collies also come in red/white, black/red/white ("tri"s), blue merle, red merle, mostly white, tan and black, brindle, sable, and mostly black varieties. They are quite commonly seen in television ads and Hollywood films (the dogs in the movie "Babe", for example, were Border Collies). They are known for their incredible herding instinct and their keen intelligence.

What exactly is "herding instinct"?
The herding instinct in Border Collies is a behavioral trait that has been bred "into them" over the past two hundred years or so. What many people fail to realize, even long-standing Border Collie owners, is that the herding instinct is simply a modified version of the killing instinct of wolves. The instinct has been toned down somewhat through selective breeding. In fact, the instinct has not been bred "into them" but rather, "out of them". Border Collies retain the circling and gathering instinct so vital in hunting wolf packs but refrain from actually going in and making the final "kill".

Rogue dogs however, are not uncommon, and in many European countries, Australia and New Zealand, where the dogs are often allowed to roam free, sheep and calf-killing Border Collies can pose occassional threats to livestock. Many people say that once a Border Collie has tasted blood, they can never be trusted again and normally, the dogs are summarily exterminated.

The instinct to herd in Border Collies evidences itself differently than in most other herding dogs. Whereas most breeds of herding dogs drive the livestock away from the handler, Border Collies circle the livestock at the far end and bring them back to the handler (known as "gathering" or "fetching"). Additionally, Border Collies tend not to use force (initially) to drive the livestock where they want to but rather, use what is known as "eye", a sort of threatening stare-down that intimidates the stock into moving in the desired direction. If the non-physical means of moving stock do not work, a Border Collie's natural instinct is to slowly escalate the encounter into an ever-increasing use of force. Barking, nipping, and eventually gripping (biting) are used to get the point across to the more stubborn sheep.

morri2

  • Joined Jun 2008
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2010, 06:20:05 pm »
OK guys, but lets not forget - in this instance....the sheep went to bite the dog on the nose!  This is in itself unusual as if the sheep is going to retaliate it usually butts or stamps its foot - but it appears it was imitating dog behaviour which was what I considered to be seriously unusual. My dog did too.


andywalt

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • kent
  • observe react administer enjoy !!
    • photos
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2010, 06:22:18 pm »
thats really interesting
Suffolk x romneys and Texel X with Romney Tup, Shetlands and Southdown Tup

Freddiesfarm

  • Joined Jan 2010
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2010, 08:05:21 pm »
My goat chases the two useless dogs but allows herself to be herded (or maybe she doesn't have a choice) by the working girls!  She will even threaten any of the dogs if they look like they might steal her apples or carrots. 

As for the long splurg about border collies, I was born to be a doctor but can't stand broken bones (I can cope with blood) so genetics only go so far to making a creature!  I see a lot of collies which are herdy but not with sheep ( ie they will herd children, balls, other dogs etc) but Benjamin doesn't do anything, he just potters! - and eats blackberries like they are fillet steak!

suziequeue

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Llanidloes; Powys
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #9 on: September 18, 2010, 03:47:55 pm »
Could I get my chocolate labrador to heard sheep a bit?

He's nine months old now and it would be so handy if he could help out a bit with them. Is it too late to start?
We do the best we can with the information we have

When we know better we do better

morri2

  • Joined Jun 2008
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2010, 06:32:27 pm »
I don't think nine months old is too late, but unless there is the necessary 'instinct' it might be a no go!!

Freddiesfarm

  • Joined Jan 2010
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2010, 07:09:59 pm »
Nine months is an ideal age to start any real training.  Someone in our village uses a springer to help with their sheep, he charges round them enthusiastically and barks  and sort of keeps them together.  In theory you could teach them left and right and lie down and then just see if the sheep respect them enough to move. 

I will wait to her the results........!   :D

suziequeue

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Llanidloes; Powys
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2010, 07:44:07 pm »
Oh Freddie - that's just what I want Dugg to do!!!

Nothing prize winning - just a but of help and enthusiasm keeping them focussed on going in the pen.

I will make some enquiries next week.

Thanks

Susanna
We do the best we can with the information we have

When we know better we do better

waterhouse

  • Guest
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #13 on: September 18, 2010, 08:01:51 pm »
Get a chocolate labrador to do anything useful?  That'll be a first.

suziequeue

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Llanidloes; Powys
Re: Sheep bites dog!!!
« Reply #14 on: September 18, 2010, 08:09:39 pm »
LOLOLOL ROFLMAO

He's good at making me feel useful (for providing food) and needed (for cuddles). Also - good motivator to get me out on my run (he comes with me and is really good).

Um..... apart from that......

Yes - :-) good quesiton

Susanna
We do the best we can with the information we have

When we know better we do better

 

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