Retired sheep dog
- Thread starter ARW
- Start date
- Location
- Ceredigion, wales
Ideal if you can find a suitable dog. Some old dogs have selective hearing and some want to work all the time, even when they aren't supposed to. I think that's mainly down to trying to keep one step ahead of younger 'rivals'.
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
Should think it will be a lucky dog to have a working retirement 
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
It was already broken.
Member
- Location
- South Norfolk
But don't all older dogs of any breed get to the point where they do their own thing. Someone once told me that Guide Dogs for the Blind retire dogs at 8 or 9 not because they can't do it any longer but wherever their hosts want to go the dog just takes them to the park.
Keepers
Member
- Location
- South West
I have an old dog here, very keen and full of life, big rough coated old trialling dog. You would be welcome to him if you could get him to work for you!
CopperBeech
Member
- Location
- A Welsh man lost in England
This isn't a dig at all!
But i remember having a conversation with a friend of mine, who trains sheep dogs ( a few folk on here have had dogs off him or sent dogs to him). He said, if he's had a pound everytime some one rang him, looking for a retired sheep dog to 'give a good home', he'd be rich.
What he said was. . . . let me get this right, you're after a dog that has lots of experience working sheep, has sides, a good stop, listens well, rides in the truck or on the bike, has done a few lambings, is good in the kennel etc etc etc. . . . .. and you're willing to give it a good home? Aye, you and everyone else!!!
We have a couple of old dogs here, one is 10 and I keep telling him he's due to retire, as he's mostly buggered. . . . . but he's having none of it, keep on coming out and although he's a bit deaf and fairly ignorant now, he can work 1000's of sheep like a pro. He'll probably stay here till he dies, filling in gaps when others in the team are injured, and bringing on pups.
Where i'm getting to is, unless its off the true hill, most old dogs I know, keep on going for their owner until the end, or until they are truly buggered. And one last thing, if he's done a decade with us. . . . . he's earned his place here by the fire!
Your best bet is probably either a dog thats just good enough, but basically won't ever be special, but 'would do' or one retired off the hill, but you're looking at 10 plus in my mind.
Good luck!
But i remember having a conversation with a friend of mine, who trains sheep dogs ( a few folk on here have had dogs off him or sent dogs to him). He said, if he's had a pound everytime some one rang him, looking for a retired sheep dog to 'give a good home', he'd be rich.
What he said was. . . . let me get this right, you're after a dog that has lots of experience working sheep, has sides, a good stop, listens well, rides in the truck or on the bike, has done a few lambings, is good in the kennel etc etc etc. . . . .. and you're willing to give it a good home? Aye, you and everyone else!!!
We have a couple of old dogs here, one is 10 and I keep telling him he's due to retire, as he's mostly buggered. . . . . but he's having none of it, keep on coming out and although he's a bit deaf and fairly ignorant now, he can work 1000's of sheep like a pro. He'll probably stay here till he dies, filling in gaps when others in the team are injured, and bringing on pups.
Where i'm getting to is, unless its off the true hill, most old dogs I know, keep on going for their owner until the end, or until they are truly buggered. And one last thing, if he's done a decade with us. . . . . he's earned his place here by the fire!
Your best bet is probably either a dog thats just good enough, but basically won't ever be special, but 'would do' or one retired off the hill, but you're looking at 10 plus in my mind.
Good luck!
I know what you mean @CopperBeech we don't retire our sheep dogs on the farm at home, they just slowly do less, and a good dog is impossible to part with.
I thought they may be shepherds out there who have to retire there dogs and need the room.
I would love a sheepdog but it's a waste of a prime dog to round up a few ewes and lambs twice a month.
I thought they may be shepherds out there who have to retire there dogs and need the room.
I would love a sheepdog but it's a waste of a prime dog to round up a few ewes and lambs twice a month.
CopperBeech
Member
- Location
- A Welsh man lost in England
M-J-G
Member
Yes older dogs seem to get that way.My oldest collie just ignores me now and gets the sheep in the way she wants
She's right 99% of the time
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
It's the withering look she gives me when the command I've given her is obviously not going to happen
Barbara Sykes's border collie rescue Freedom of spirit occasionally get older working dogs whose owner has passed away, its worth giving her a ring
http://www.fostbc.org.uk/
http://www.fostbc.org.uk/
Downton_shep
Member
- Location
- Leintwardine
