Sheepdog worth it? And if do which one?!

[Grimsbyforever]

as all of the above, couldn't be without the dog, makes yard work a breeze. I can run ewes through race and just operate shedding gates with dog filling the race. Once they understand what you want them to do they're fantastic.

 

[polk_farmer]

On this thread, does anyone insure their dog? And if so who with? Cos I often think if our dog go seriously injured or pinched then we would have to buy a trained dog already in the swing of things, I couldn't have a year without a dog retraining a new pup. Ours doesn't do have that much work to do, and she isn't trialling standard, but f**k working sheep without her

 

[happycows]

That was why I got a second one. That's my insurance policy. First one works fairly hard every day taking a few knocks along the way. I can see it taking its toll eventually so having another will ease the workload and worry if something goes wrong.
It's so much easier when one can learn from the other.

 

[tr250]

A bucket works great for us - sheep come running!

All very well apart from the few at the back

 

[Wishful Thinker]

I got a dog this year. 120 ewes and similar number of cattle. Not fully trained but I'm green too so has been a learning curve however he has been brilliant. Everything can be done so much quicker and i can do a lot of cattle work on my own now with him

 

[Leereade]

If any body looking for well bred pup I have some

 

[Downton_shep]

What's people's view on a kelpie than as I like them and hopefully they could handle cattle and sheep well??

I've got a litter due next week! Excellent dogs. Also know of a litter in Dorset out of a yellow bitch if your interested.

 

[AJR75]

I have 3, 2 trained and one in the process (slowly!). I can't echo enough about what others have said. Wouldn't even contemplate having sheep without one. I will admit to being biased towards working dogs in any case as I love working and training them. All I can say is that what one man and a trained dog (s) can achieve will outweigh a quad bike and/ or bucket of cake by a country mile. Examples I can think of... rams came out last weekend, used the dog to shed off and load into the trailer, no penning the whole mob and making a mess in the field, lame ewes- single off, catch and treat, pen/ race work- dog keeps the race full leaving me free to weigh/ grade/ draft lambs etc. I will be the first to admit that my sheep are in fields rather than on a mountain where the usefulness of dogs enters a whole other league.

 

[Man_in_black]

only worth one man, a woman and two small children

One woman, two small children, a bottle of red & I'll collect dog this evening ??

 

[CopperBeech]

I could never do my job without dogs. Use them seven days a week.

Re insurance - I use farmers and mercantile. Absolutely brilliant service!

 

[Bowyang]

If any body looking for well bred pup I have some

Are both parents working (size of flock?) .Smooth or rough coat ? How old? How much?

 

[Leereade]

Are both parents working (size of flock?) .Smooth or rough coat ? How old? How much?

Will send you pm

 

[Purli R]

Will send you pm

would it be rude to ask about pups alsothank you

 

[wilber]

Dont get sucked into the "buying an expensive dog is better" scene.

Until recently we had never paid for a dog always had them from neighbours litters or family for free. Most we have ever paid is £70 and we have always had excellent sheep and cattle dogs. I have seen far too many farmers paying silly money for dogs both pups and trained expecting it to do the work for them, and believe me its the most comical thing to watch from a distance.

A dog needs to be worked, and often, they will get lazy if they think the quad will do the work for them.
Also your stock need to get used to a dog and how to react towards them, sheep that are not used to a dog will be twice the work.

 

[CopperBeech]

Seen lots of dogs people thought were good. . . . .

 

[TripleSix]

Its interesting when people grumble over the cost of a dog.

how much did you pay for your quad bike?


I used to shepherd 400 ewes with a quad and no dog.

not always easy but we managed.

a nimble 2wd quad is a boon, could spin it around on the spot faster than the sheep could turn.

 

[Stewartry hill]

Don't know how anyone can keep sheep without a dog always have two main dog and pup or pensioner

 

[Nae bother]

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

 

[Leereade]

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

Where are you

 

[Leereade]

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

Where are you