Sheepdog worth it? And if do which one?!

The Devonshire Bloke! · Nov 21, 2016

We've got 230 ewes and 85 bullocks and we've managed to move and control with just the quad but now the numbers are gradually rising just wondering if it's worth thinking about getting a dog to help me out and to relieve my grandad from having to help out so often but with those numbers would I be able to keep that dog working enough that he wouldn't get bored and ruin him?

hilux · Nov 21, 2016

No brainer. Man's best friend! How have you managed so far without one? Mine don't work everyday ,but are always with me around the farm and never seem to be bored ,just love being out and about! 1 good dog is worth 10 men.
Get a border collie.

The Devonshire Bloke! · Nov 21, 2016

Let's just say I'm a very good quad bike driver! And one extra man power can move anything. My dad's cousin has the same number of sheep and doesn't have one either so it can be done! Agree with you mate love to see a working dog!

polk_farmer · Nov 21, 2016

When you have a dog working sheep, ul wonder how you ever did it without one

Woolly · Nov 21, 2016

A bucket works great for us - sheep come running!

David. · Nov 22, 2016

Any dog is better than none when the sheep have it about them to p-ss you about.
TBH a terrier that will sweep sheep along with the bike, and nip their heels occasionally to get them in a pen is as useful as anything for flatland sheep.
Quite sure a hill farm would not be very handy to work without a fetch-hound though.

happycows · Nov 22, 2016

I got a 2nd one off Facebook 10 days ago. 7 months old and like the first one I had, they get them as a pet pup but can't control their desire to work. She's showing some potential already and I've got her walking to heal, recall and lie down.
It's always a gamble and I'm only looking for a dog to be good at what I need, not trailing or anything. If your on farmers freeads there's a pretty 6 month old b/w bitch on there now.

andybk · Nov 22, 2016

was once told a china dog is better than no dog , as above sheep are well aware when there is no dog in the field , and b£%r you about ,there is always the same one that wants to break from the pack when driven , doesnt have to be trained a collie , just one that will sit and stay and walk to heel when told can be a huge help , they soon pick up what to do .

David. · Nov 22, 2016

Never seen one quite like that, looks like some GS in there.

neilo · Nov 22, 2016

polk_farmer said:
When you have a dog working sheep, ul wonder how you ever did it without one

When you get a second, you wonder how you ever managed with one.

I got a younger model to back up my (now) 15 yr old collie, thinking she hadn't got that long left in her. That was 2 years ago and the old girl still works a bit every day, despite being deaf as a post now and working, albeit more slowly, off arm waves. The hardest part is persuading her to let the young legs do the bulk of the running.
Back to thinking of a replacement now, as she surely can't have long left now, and wouldn't want to go back to a single dog again.

@The Devonshire Bloke! , you will find life a lot easier and a lot less stressful (mostly) with a dog. You might make your senior drover last a bit longer too.

happycows · Nov 22, 2016

David. said:
Never seen one quite like that, looks like some GS in there.

Half collie-half huntaway.

Dry Rot · Nov 22, 2016

Next to the dog, a good friend who can give you advice and help you train it.

unlacedgecko · Nov 22, 2016

I got a part trained collie off Facebook. 2 yr old bitch for £100.

The absolute best thing I've ever bought. I can't believe I used to work sheep without a collie. (The wife and Labrador did a lot of running).

For the first few days she wouldn't look at sheep or cone within 4ft of me. She's out with me all day every day and has come on leaps and bounds. I'm terrified she will get injured and seriously considering getting a 2nd.

Joe · Nov 22, 2016

Old man always says a bad dog is worth 5 men, so right couldn't manage sheep without the dogs.. know fella that run 400 ewes and about 100 sucklers no dogs, loves hardship though

MRT · Nov 22, 2016

Joe said:
Old man always says a bad dog is worth 5 men, so right couldn't manage sheep without the dogs.. know fella that run 400 ewes and about 100 sucklers no dogs, loves hardship though

Being the owner of a bad dog (trained it meself

) I can tell you it is only worth one man, a woman and two small children

Woolless · Nov 22, 2016

happycows said:
Half collie-half huntaway.

Great dogs, best ones will do anything.

Sheep135 · Nov 22, 2016

Get a Welsh dog, good honest working dogs, they work well in the pens as well as the field. Make good hardy cattle dogs while not being too hard on sheep and have a lot more presence when stood up and barking compared to strong eyed dogs lay on their belly.

Andy84 · Nov 22, 2016

The amount of fowk I know that farm sheep with just quad bikes (neighbour has 1200 ewes and no dogs!) and I can't get my head round it! Even with a half trained dog you will wonder how u ever managed without one! Farming sheep and dogs go hand in hand imo!

Andy84 · Nov 22, 2016

The amount of fowk I know that farm sheep with just quad bikes (neighbour has 1200 ewes and no dogs!) and I can't get my head round it! Even with a half trained dog you will wonder how u ever managed without one! Farming sheep and dogs go hand in hand imo!

The Devonshire Bloke! · Nov 22, 2016

What's people's view on a kelpie than as I like them and hopefully they could handle cattle and sheep well??

Sheepdog worth it? And if do which one?!

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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