Teaching a dog to catch

[Woolless]

Mine does that now, it's why she works in a muzzle.

Mine tends to try and engineer that type of situation as well!

 

[Downton_shep]

Because it's a disqualifying trait in trials.

I'm not convinced it's a sign of a strong dog when it's a cowardly grip on the back quarter as it runs away.

It's just not the way I was taught to work sheep and I would be mortified if my dog gripped someone else's sheep and left damage, particularly if it was as a result of something I had trained.

Your right it is a disqualification and a cheep shot if it bites the flank but think it's ok to bite the face if a ewe stands to the dog and will not give up or charges the dog.

 

[CopperBeech]

Because it's a disqualifying trait in trials.

I'm not convinced it's a sign of a strong dog when it's a cowardly grip on the back quarter as it runs away.

It's just not the way I was taught to work sheep and I would be mortified if my dog gripped someone else's sheep and left damage, particularly if it was as a result of something I had trained.

Ah, I did wonder if it was something to do with trialing. . . .

Fair play, if you're training a trials dog then I can see why you'd want to discourage it.

But i'm no trailer, I just want to get the job done as quickly, effectively and stress free as possible! And as a one man band, with a lot of sheep to deal with and lamb outside I couldn't do my job without dogs that catch.

For the record a good catching dog isn't one that grabs at the back legs as the sheep runs, thats an arse biting coward!

My best two bitches have slightly different methods.

The one will circle in front of the ewe / lamb and try to push it to me, if it breaks she will hit it head on and try to turn it, if it perseveres and I give her a command she will grip it by the head / neck and hold it.

The other will sit on the bike, or at my feet and stare at any ewe that looks like it might need catching, give her the command 'catch it' and she will launch her self like a missile at the animal and hit it in the shoulder / neck and latch on, anchoring herself and trying to swing the ewe down.

Obviously damage to sheep is a problem, especially if its someone else. And its not something that happens much, although accidents do happen. But to be honest I find more often than not, people are more impressed than worried and in some situations it looks more professional to do that than chase one wild ewe around the village green, looking like you should be playing the benny hill theme.

 

[RedMerle]

Sadly knowing my luck I would end up chasing a yow with an arse biting coward attached to its arse down the village green

 

[CopperBeech]

Haha true!

It doesn't always go to plan.....

My one bitch loves catching sheep, she also believes that she knows when a sheep needs catching.....

Sometimes it's great, she pulls one down randomly and it's got strike or some other problem that she's obviously spotted....

Other times it just paused for a second to pee or looked the wrong way.

She has a bad habit of nailing one during a road crossing, middle of the road, in front of an audience.

 

[Downton_shep]

Ah, I did wonder if it was something to do with trialing. . . .

Fair play, if you're training a trials dog then I can see why you'd want to discourage it.

But i'm no trailer, I just want to get the job done as quickly, effectively and stress free as possible! And as a one man band, with a lot of sheep to deal with and lamb outside I couldn't do my job without dogs that catch.

For the record a good catching dog isn't one that grabs at the back legs as the sheep runs, thats an arse biting coward!

My best two bitches have slightly different methods.

The one will circle in front of the ewe / lamb and try to push it to me, if it breaks she will hit it head on and try to turn it, if it perseveres and I give her a command she will grip it by the head / neck and hold it.

The other will sit on the bike, or at my feet and stare at any ewe that looks like it might need catching, give her the command 'catch it' and she will launch her self like a missile at the animal and hit it in the shoulder / neck and latch on, anchoring herself and trying to swing the ewe down.

Obviously damage to sheep is a problem, especially if its someone else. And its not something that happens much, although accidents do happen. But to be honest I find more often than not, people are more impressed than worried and in some situations it looks more professional to do that than chase one wild ewe around the village green, looking like you should be playing the benny hill theme.

It's definitely better than chasing it round and round with the bike for five minutes until it collapses from exhaustion! Surprisingly a lot of people think this is the way to do it!

 

[unlacedgecko]

It's definitely better than chasing it round and round with the bike for five minutes until it collapses from exhaustion! Surprisingly a lot of people think this is the way to do it!

Sounds like a good way to induce abortion...

I had a landowner very impressed my dog would catch a specific lame ewe.

 

[cooksey]

my 2 year old bitch loves catching has done from about a year old! catch's by the front leg and then stands over the sheep while its on the floor if the sheep tries to get up the puts them back on the floor

 

[Leereade]

Some videos of different techniques would be good to see

 

[CopperBeech]

My favourite is my bitch, who catches lambs by running into them and lying on top of them when they fall over lol. Proper small lambs, rather than fats.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Mine tends to try and engineer that type of situation as well!

It's very frustrating when she "locks on" to one sheep and pushes it into the hedge, ignoring the rest of the mob disappearing over the hillside...

I am trying to break her of it though. Growly voice normally works. Considering an e-collar on vibration.

 

[Downton_shep]

Some videos of different techniques would be good to see

I'll see if I can find a lame one!

 

[Leereade]

I'll see if I can find a lame one!

There sheep u only have to mention that you haven't had any die or no lame ones then like magic