Advice for someone thinking of getting a working collie for the first time

Andyt880

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co. Down
Just wondering what advice people would give me on getting a working sheepdog for the first time. I have never worked a dog before but sheep numbers are increasing and could be doing with something to make things a bit easier.
Running a paddock system so would only ever be gathering sheep of 3 or 4 acres generally and maybe 10 or 12 acres on winter runs. No big gathers on a mountain or anything like that
 
With my 77 th birthday next month I am now too old to train up another Border Collie. My current working dog is now 8 years old and besides which the price of pups, thanks to Covid, has gone totally beyond reason.
So I have decided to train the sheep instead. Here are a few on the 'Lie down command'
The one still standing was born deaf, but starting to learn hand signals.
It's going to save a lot of running around when it comes to catching them.
1630142375877.png
 

HarryB97

Member
Mixed Farmer
Buy one from a proper shephard not a trainer with a couple of dozen sheep which are dogged to death. Buying from someone who is local and good at working dogs means you can go back for lessons which is what I did and was well worth doing as I had never had a working dog before. If you buy a part trained dog then you will no how steady it is and what kind of style it has as well as having less training to do. The main thing is buy a dog you like to look at and like its personality then stay consistent with the training and nip any bad habits in the bud. It's not as daunting as it looks!
 

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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