Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
Is that because Blackie tups have been bred to have 'spark' i.e. be bloody mental, instead of being selected for something useful?I’ve never known sheep like it for piling up
Is that because Blackie tups have been bred to have 'spark' i.e. be bloody mental, instead of being selected for something useful?I’ve never known sheep like it for piling up
Apparently they make better cattle dogs than sheep dogs. I won’t let the shepherd or the huntaway near cattle though, if either of them got kicked they’d get seriously injured where as a collie should just get lifted into the air as their 18kg and not 40kgWould they be good cattle dogs Al?
Im just back in from shifting cows with my huntaway, she works cows more than sheep .Apparently they make better cattle dogs than sheep dogs. I won’t let the shepherd or the huntaway near cattle though, if either of them got kicked they’d get seriously injured where as a collie should just get lifted into the air as their 18kg and not 40kg
Ever seen a charmoise I really don’t know what goes through their heads at times, we get the odd “bruising” mark on lamb, only 1 way that is possible and that’s from a charmoise stamping his front legs on another lambs back to try and “get a lift” they also dive under in a race and randomly appear further along and then headbutt you.I’ve never known sheep like it for piling up
And there was me toying with the idea of trying a chamoise tupEver seen a charmoise I really don’t know what goes through their heads at times, we get the odd “bruising” mark on lamb, only 1 way that is possible and that’s from a charmoise stamping his front legs on another lambs back to try and “get a lift” they also dive under in a race and randomly appear further along and then headbutt you.
What's the basic way to train them to shut up? I swear I'm going to kill our huntaway one day.Took about an hour too teach my dog to stop barking on the “quiet” command … kelpies are unreal the speed they learn at and the things they can learn compared too a collie
I started off by asking her to speak up when she was near me then tell her to be quiet and if she didn’t squirt her with water out of a bottle didn’t take her long to realise what was going on…. Then at distance if she didn’t shut up when I told her to be quiet I’d tell her get out the pen …What's the basic way to train them to shut up? I swear I'm going to kill our huntaway one day.
The more we tell him to shut up the more he answers back. He'll walk round the empty pen wagging his tail and barking his head off like he's really enjoying himselfI started off by asking her to speak up when she was near me then tell her to be quiet and if she didn’t squirt her with water out of a bottle didn’t take her long to realise what was going on…. Then at distance if she didn’t shut up when I told her to be quiet I’d tell her get out the pen …
I do get a lot of whimpering now though but I can live with that lol ..
when I was in Australia, the neighbour to the farm I was working on, was telling me, the best way to load a race is to have a dog that is willing to run under the sheep in the race, that made them really fill the race. Remember this was nearly 40 years ago (so I guess dogs were cheaper). He said, he used to pull the puppies/young dog under the sheep in a pen on a piece of string, and if the dog was too scared he would shoot it, and get another!Why they won’t push up would just be down to training not breed, if they can teach them to dance the tango an climb ladders an all such nonsense then getting them to push there natural opponent up a race should be straight forward! I know several collies that unload 4deckers all day long, the only thing they don’t do is open the gates, they just ram their self under/through/around to the back of the partition every time, it’s just what they’ve been encouraged to do repeatedly
Does anyone know of any other German shepherd working dogs and is yours just a pen dog or do you use it out in the fields to l think originally they were used along fences or as a fence. I've always liked them as dogs.You need a Shepherd! Rams wouldn’t dare even face mine! @CopperBeech has seen videos of her Still training her. On the fixed setup if you let the sheep fill themselves I can get 20 big ewes in the dosing pen, with human encouragement/shakers up to 28 ewes. With the huntaway behind probably 34 ewes. With the shepherd, around 40 ewes! Work rate like a kelpie, size of a big huntaway and agility of a collie. View attachment 1045710
I work a malinois x gsd bitch. (Protection and detection parents).Does anyone know of any other German shepherd working dogs and is yours just a pen dog or do you use it out in the fields to l think originally they were used along fences or as a fence. I've always liked them as dogs.
I don’t think I’d cope with a Malinois, pure insane work rates! Must be an absolute animal in pens if taught right!I work a malinois x gsd bitch. (Protection and detection parents).
Is a tending dog, not a dog to gather. Can do it but not what they have been designed for.
Will work sheep and cattle. Takes no prisoners, deep bark and not afraid. Will work in a pen.
Also have a Schafpudel (which is also a german shepherd) looks a bit like a bearded collie. Also a tending dog by breeding/nature. Good in a pen.
I have a kelpie to gather however with lambs he can annoy me with slowing down and having to much eye.
Tending dogs have zero eye, energy level can be an issue. They are used to trotting 100klm a day.
Downside to these shepherd dogs is their size. Both my bitches are +- 30kg. The kelpie dog is only 17kg. Does make a difference when getting hurt.
I’ve not trained a dog before, send our pups awayDo you guys go for puppies and train them up or buy trained dogs from sales? I’ve mostly had puppies and sent them away for training. But I have had two trained dogs before. One was okay one was complete rubbish. Wouldn’t do a thing for me.
My concern with the trained dogs is being able to create that bond with them. It’s just not the same as a puppy as far as attachment to us. The bad one I had that I couldn’t get on with kept clearing off and I couldn’t get her back. Done that for years. The other trained one we had was brilliant. And lovely tempered with the kids. I guess it’s all about luck.I’ve not trained a dog before, send our pups away
I’ve 2 bitch pups now sent off to a good and well recommended trainer, he phoned the other day and said sorry they just won’t work, no interest at all
Strange as I had a battle to stop both of them diving under a gate and chasing sheep
Anyway I arranged to go and see the dogs and sure enough the first one just sat and looked at the ( here’s the clue) well dogged sheep, second dog with me running about started going round and nipping the backside of the sheep.. anyway we left her with the trainer and brought first pup home , I’ve been out with main dog and pup gathering some in bye ewes and she’s as keen as mustard
I can only say certain dogs just “take “ to you and others can be brilliant for one guy and absolute pan lickers for another person
I had a very good pup from 7 weeks old , sent her off at 10 months for schooling and she was gone nearly 5 months! Lucky it was a favourMy concern with the trained dogs is being able to create that bond with them. It’s just not the same as a puppy as far as attachment to us. The bad one I had that I couldn’t get on with kept clearing off and I couldn’t get her back. Done that for years. The other trained one we had was brilliant. And lovely tempered with the kids. I guess it’s all about luck.
Do you guys go for puppies and train them up or buy trained dogs from sales? I’ve mostly had puppies and sent them away for training. But I have had two trained dogs before. One was okay one was complete rubbish. Wouldn’t do a thing for me.
I bought my kelpie as fully trained… Welsh pr*ck kept making excuses which meant I couldn’t go see him work her… so instead I had her as a trial and he would have her back if I couldn’t get on with her after 3 months… paid him £750 deposit… soon as I realised she barely knew the lay down command I phoned him and he’d blocked me With the help of BATWK somebody part trained her for me and I’m still training her now but I can do most things with her. It’s quite satisfying tbh I’d Definitely train another dogDo you guys go for puppies and train them up or buy trained dogs from sales? I’ve mostly had puppies and sent them away for training. But I have had two trained dogs before. One was okay one was complete rubbish. Wouldn’t do a thing for me.