Sheep Dog Wanted

[The Fenster]

Hi All,
Just got a Small county council tenancy so looking to run about 75 ewes this winter and 100 store lambs . Have been borrowing my bosses dog for a couple of years and decided it’s about time to sort something of my own. I’m not looking for a world beater by any stretch of the imagination, I’m after a youngish dog preferably ( defo not a pup) that’s hopefully seen a few sheep and heard a few commands. You can see the small numbers it would be working , on easy flat paddocks ( in Cambridgeshire.)

I have no other dogs and on my own so doesn’t have to get along with other dogs or kids, but a good temperament would be useful.
Finally as you can see from the relatively small sheep numbers it wouldn’t work everyday, far from it, but wouldn’t be left in the kennel either, can always be out and about with me. I do however have plenty of experience with a variety of dogs , sheep dogs , hounds, terriers, gun dogs etc .

My biggest object is money , I really don’t have the finances to be spending a lot on a dog, definitely no where near 4 figures. I know this budget might seem a little unrealistic and if you think so do say , but I thought it would be worth a post incase anyone has suggestions of useful people to talk to or a dog available . Many thanks in advance , Joe

 

[Man_in_black]

All the best Joe, but my biggest concern would be the lack of work & boredom. I know you've said dog will be about with you or around yard, but imo a working dog needs the work. I know it's just 'nice' to have a dog working with you, but for those numbers you really won't need one. We lamb 300 ewes last year, increased this year, still no dog.

 

[The Fenster]

All the best Joe, but my biggest concern would be the lack of work & boredom. I know you've said dog will be about with you or around yard, but imo a working dog needs the work. I know it's just 'nice' to have a dog working with you, but for those numbers you really won't need one. We lamb 300 ewes last year, increased this year, still no dog.

Ah I see , just wondering how you get the sheep in , sorry if that sounds stupid but I’ve spent hours running around and trying trucks , flexi nets , quad bikes , you name it and really don’t find it efficient or suitable . I’ve always seen a dog as necessary with most sheep , but I’m always keen to be proven wrong !

 

[Man_in_black]

Ah I see , just wondering how you get the sheep in , sorry if that sounds stupid but I’ve spent hours running around and trying trucks , flexi nets , quad bikes , you name it and really don’t find it efficient or suitable . I’ve always seen a dog as necessary with most sheep , but I’m always keen to be proven wrong !

What's your set up?

We have 2 fields that approach the yard & handling areas, and both of these the fencing funnels as you approach the gateways. Using bike I can go up & down the line of sheep to keep them going until they in the funnel.
Get it all set up right, bit of trial/error. Having a dog doesn't always make it easier anyway!!! Lol
Only time I really think a dog would help me is doing yard work, pushing into pens/race etc.

 

[The Fenster]

Sounds like a cracking set up. My Council farm is only 40 acres and not fenced so sheep will be on electric fencing all year round , all other grazing is short term tenancies , so no chance of making a permanent set up. I’ve got my own mobile handling system of sorts , a truck , father can help round sheep up sometimes but not always available ( and he has no farming or sheep knowledge.) A huge range of field sizes and shapes , from long thin river banks to large open bits of heathland and marsh type areas. To complicate matters more I lamb outside as well which can mean catching sheep quite often. A better shepherd than me could most probably do it minus a dog but so far I haven’t . The way I’ve always seen it is every working dog is different , I know plenty of gun dogs that go picking up 4 days a season and are quite happy on the sofa the rest of the time, I also know others than go every day they are sound in the season and are bouncing off the walls when they aren’t out, I’ve always found its down to what they are exposed to early on

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

All the best Joe, but my biggest concern would be the lack of work & boredom. I know you've said dog will be about with you or around yard, but imo a working dog needs the work. I know it's just 'nice' to have a dog working with you, but for those numbers you really won't need one. We lamb 300 ewes last year, increased this year, still no dog.

300 ewes and no dog

 

[unlacedgecko]

300 ewes and no dog

There's not a chance I'd do anything with sheep without a dog. Any dog is better than no dog.

2 winters ago I gathered and penned 300 dry ewe lambs with the Lab. I couldn't have done that on my own.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Hi All,
Just got a Small county council tenancy so looking to run about 75 ewes this winter and 100 store lambs . Have been borrowing my bosses dog for a couple of years and decided it’s about time to sort something of my own. I’m not looking for a world beater by any stretch of the imagination, I’m after a youngish dog preferably ( defo not a pup) that’s hopefully seen a few sheep and heard a few commands. You can see the small numbers it would be working , on easy flat paddocks ( in Cambridgeshire.)

I have no other dogs and on my own so doesn’t have to get along with other dogs or kids, but a good temperament would be useful.
Finally as you can see from the relatively small sheep numbers it wouldn’t work everyday, far from it, but wouldn’t be left in the kennel either, can always be out and about with me. I do however have plenty of experience with a variety of dogs , sheep dogs , hounds, terriers, gun dogs etc .

My biggest object is money , I really don’t have the finances to be spending a lot on a dog, definitely no where near 4 figures. I know this budget might seem a little unrealistic and if you think so do say , but I thought it would be worth a post incase anyone has suggestions of useful people to talk to or a dog available . Many thanks in advance , Joe

I quite often see older dogs looking for a retirement home.

Check Sell My Livestock. They've recently launched a stock dog section. Place a wanted add.

 

[JP1]

I quite often see older dogs looking for a retirement home.

Check Sell My Livestock. They've recently launched a stock dog section. Place a wanted add.

That's one suggestion.

Also FB message the East Anglian Sheepdog Society . PM me and I can give you one of their member's numbers who brings on young dogs. Mine was a project at 2,5 but was less than 4 figures.

Some things like the pleasure you feel in the bond between a working dog and Master cannot be bettered or even bought

 

[Man_in_black]

Any dog is better than no dog.

Whilst I agree with lots of your posts mate, I totally disagree on this count!! I've seen untrained dogs 'helping' and once even tried to get my own lurcher to just hold some ewes back; carnage! Splitting the flock, sheep crashing into fence etc.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Whilst I agree with lots of your posts mate, I totally disagree on this count!! I've seen untrained dogs 'helping' and once even tried to get my own lurcher to just hold some ewes back; carnage! Splitting the flock, sheep crashing into fence etc.

Probably would have been better worded.

Any well trained well behaved dog is better than no dog.

 

[Jim75]

Having just lost my dog in an accident 2 days ago, you don’t realise how much you rely on them till they’re gone. Managed to shift one group today with the pickup and a lot of horn blasting but next week sees weaning and lambs to mart so will have to get something or a friend sorted.

 

[Woolless]

Sounds like a cracking set up. My Council farm is only 40 acres and not fenced so sheep will be on electric fencing all year round , all other grazing is short term tenancies , so no chance of making a permanent set up. I’ve got my own mobile handling system of sorts , a truck , father can help round sheep up sometimes but not always available ( and he has no farming or sheep knowledge.) A huge range of field sizes and shapes , from long thin river banks to large open bits of heathland and marsh type areas. To complicate matters more I lamb outside as well which can mean catching sheep quite often. A better shepherd than me could most probably do it minus a dog but so far I haven’t . The way I’ve always seen it is every working dog is different , I know plenty of gun dogs that go picking up 4 days a season and are quite happy on the sofa the rest of the time, I also know others than go every day they are sound in the season and are bouncing off the walls when they aren’t out, I’ve always found its down to what they are exposed to early on

If you have a knack with dogs, then I'm sure a sheepdog would be an asset to you. An older dog might work but it sounds like you need an all-rounder and if I had a good catching dog, it would be going nowhere but you never know.
I have a couple of collie X huntaways and they might fit your bill. Not as highly-strung as some collies and will gather, catch and work in the pens. I work away midweek and wife or kids take them out but when Friday comes they are bang there!

 

[HarryB97]

Ah I see , just wondering how you get the sheep in , sorry if that sounds stupid but I’ve spent hours running around and trying trucks , flexi nets , quad bikes , you name it and really don’t find it efficient or suitable . I’ve always seen a dog as necessary with most sheep , but I’m always keen to be proven wrong !

Put the pen just outside a corner so you run the sheep into the corner which is where they naturally want to go anyway and they go straight into the pen. Also train a few to a bag or bucket. Have a neighbour running 1300 ewes and they dont have a dog. Have another neighbour who runs a couple of hundred ewes and just chucks a ball and his labrador follows it, the presence of a dog is often enough as long as it nows to stand and come back.

 

[Woolless]

Put the pen just outside a corner so you run the sheep into the corner which is where they naturally want to go anyway and they go straight into the pen. Also train a few to a bag or bucket. Have a neighbour running 1300 ewes and they dont have a dog. Have another neighbour who runs a couple of hundred ewes and just chucks a ball and his labrador follows it, the presence of a dog is often enough as long as it nows to stand and come back.

1300 ewes and no dog? F**k that!

 

[unlacedgecko]

Put the pen just outside a corner so you run the sheep into the corner which is where they naturally want to go anyway and they go straight into the pen. Also train a few to a bag or bucket. Have a neighbour running 1300 ewes and they dont have a dog. Have another neighbour who runs a couple of hundred ewes and just chucks a ball and his labrador follows it, the presence of a dog is often enough as long as it nows to stand and come back.

1300 ewes and no dog? F**k that!

Can't agree strongly enough! That is insane.

A dog would pay for itself in the first week in time saved.

 

[unlacedgecko]

If you have a knack with dogs, then I'm sure a sheepdog would be an asset to you. An older dog might work but it sounds like you need an all-rounder and if I had a good catching dog, it would be going nowhere but you never know.
I have a couple of collie X huntaways and they might fit your bill. Not as highly-strung as some collies and will gather, catch and work in the pens. I work away midweek and wife or kids take them out but when Friday comes they are bang there!

Wouldn't part with my catch dog for less than £6k.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

I'd be wanting a small pack of good dogs for 1300 woolly bástards.

 

[sean m]

I'd be wanting a small pack of good dogs for 1300 woolly bástards.

if i had no dogs i would have no sheep,never go dipping without at least 1 in the lorry,why would you

 

[Old Shep]

All the best Joe, but my biggest concern would be the lack of work & boredom. I know you've said dog will be about with you or around yard, but imo a working dog needs the work. I know it's just 'nice' to have a dog working with you, but for those numbers you really won't need one. We lamb 300 ewes last year, increased this year, still no dog.

I agree that some sheepdogs need lots of work, but many don't. I have some that maybe work once a week but are out several times a day with me and are quite content with that. A nice dark eyed black and white long coated type might suit.