Sheepdog worth it? And if do which one?!

[Downton_shep]

I've never had a dog only quad,but with a 1000 sheep I'm beginning to think I maybe should have one,anybody selling one that can work cattle and sheep?tia

Wow I just can't imagine 1000ewes and no dog!

 

[Downton_shep]

Where are you

Says Aberdeenshire

 

[Chimera]

Wow I just can't imagine 1000ewes and no dog!

I've 2000 sheep, and no dog!!

 

[CopperBeech]

I've 2000 sheep, and no dog!!

You're either a wizard or insane.

I cannot see why anyone, ever, would run big number of sheep and no dog.

Its the least hassle and highest value / used piece of kit on the farm.

I don't go anywhere without a dog.

 

[GTB]

I've 2000 sheep, and no dog!!

Obviously not a hill farm then?

 

[Downton_shep]

I've 2000 sheep, and no dog!!

Really!

 

[Leereade]

You're either a wizard or insane.

I cannot see why anyone, ever, would run big number of sheep and no dog.

Its the least hassle and highest value / used piece of kit on the farm.

I don't go anywhere without a dog.

I'd want a team of 8 with 2000 plus lambs doesn't bear thinking about

 

[Downton_shep]

I'd want a team of 8 with 2000 plus lambs doesn't bear thinking about

Really. 2 trained and a couple youngsters would be plenty surly

 

[Leereade]

Really. 2 trained and a couple youngsters would be plenty surly

Yeah but then maybe a couple of good yard dogs hunterway or kelpie so one trained then young where do you stop haha

 

[Spartacus]

Get one bought OP, one thing to bear in mind though, no matter what breed you go for if your cattle are not used to a dog working them they will challenge it good and proper for a while!

 

[Downton_shep]

Yeah but then maybe a couple of good yard dogs hunterway or kelpie so one trained then young where do you stop haha

Ha you sound like me! I've more youngsters than trained dogs. Once a youngster can do the job better than the older dog I move the older one on.

 

[Leereade]

Ha you sound like me! I've more youngsters than trained dogs. Once a youngster can do the job better than the older dog I move the older one on.

I love watching them come on

 

[Spartacus]

Ha you sound like me! I've more youngsters than trained dogs. Once a youngster can do the job better than the older dog I move the older one on.

You must know Vic morris down your way then? I do similar but if it's a real good one it stays with me.

 

[Downton_shep]

You must know Vic morris down your way then? I do similar but if it's a real good one it stays with me.

Yeah I had a pup off Vic a few years ago. Very well breed but never looked at a sheep!

 

[Keepers]

I wouldn't do sheep without a dog, I use a dog every single day and I actually struggle to think about sheep without one

My main dog is very different though and you won't see the likes of him anywhere else. He is 3 now, then I have a part trained 15 month old border collie and a young tan border collie with a dash of welsh 8 month old pup.

I shepherd for two flocks and then my own, I use Tully for pretty much everything I suppose, just have to work in a different way as it is a different kind of dog

Get a border collie, easiest to train as everyone has one and knows how they click, if you get something different then you may end up having to figure it out yourself, which may end up well but it may not

 

[Downton_shep]

I wouldn't do sheep without a dog, I use a dog every single day and I actually struggle to think about sheep without one

My main dog is very different though and you won't see the likes of him anywhere else. He is 3 now, then I have a part trained 15 month old border collie and a young tan border collie with a dash of welsh 8 month old pup.

I shepherd for two flocks and then my own, I use Tully for pretty much everything I suppose, just have to work in a different way as it is a different kind of dog

Get a border collie, easiest to train as everyone has one and knows how they click, if you get something different then you may end up having to figure it out yourself, which may end up well but it may not

So what is Tully?

 

[unlacedgecko]

So what is Tully?

Lassie

 

[Downton_shep]

Lassie

I like different.

 

[Keepers]

So what is Tully?

Yes... actually Lassie haha

 

[Keepers]

Bought him as a "Scotch collie" puppy, parents/family are from switzerland, the dogs were brought over here and then mated
I suppose I bought him to see if I could train him to work, and if he didn't want to work then oh well, but if he did then he would be a bonus

I made a big mistake when I first got the pup and took him to a sheepdog trainer who, had only ever seen bc's. he told me my dog wouldn't work, I told him to go f*** himself and took my pup home. Biggest mistake was I never actually did any training with him.
Just started using him from 8 months old on the rams and sheep, moaning at him when he did things wrong, now that he is 3 he is better than ever and is still better each day, but actually if I had had some patience and praised him when he was younger and took it slower, I would have had a better dog sooner.

He is great on big mobs, droves very well, does everything I want from him really
Like a huntaway but smaller and less noisy but more furry, but he does speak on command and rides the quad well.
Slower than a border collie with less of an outrun but I messed up with that part of his training, although his litter sister is just as fast as my border collies, Tully is more laid back. He has a lot of stamina though and will work all day every day, I actually would be lost without him now.
I would love another one day but a smoother coat and a pup to train on properly from the beginning rather than using him as an experiment, now that I know how they work I suppose