Understanding Sheep!

click to get your own little desktop sheep. He will teach you heaps.

One of the most difficult tasks to teach students is the ability to "read" the sheep.Watching someone who has the concept of livestock reading down is a pleasure for us all. They are able to work the sheep or a cow without much stress and that is really what this whole message is about. If you are one that doesn't get a chance to utilize their livestock skills much, try working the livestock with out the dog. Their reactions might surprise you, and you might rethink some of the pressure that you are using in your handling. 

SheepPsych 101 by Patrick Shannahan

In conducting many of the clinics and judging trials this summer, I have noticed that the hardest transformation that a handler has to make is when they can trust their dog and concentrate on the sheep. Many of you that have been in my clinics get tired on hearing me say "Watch your sheep" but if you want to succeed in livestock dogs you have to understand livestock.

Hurray for the Sheep by Patrick Shannahan

A good friend has told me that our sheep are a reflection of our dogs. How true this statement is. Think about that when you are having a difficult time working you own sheep. Think about that before you offer your sheep to be used by dogs that have no respect for your animals. Think about it before you offer to put your ill-mannered pup out on someone else's group of sheep.

Making the Most of What You Have by Joyce Geier

this is key - it's been my experience that it's not so much "how much" or "how often" the sheep are worked that makes them sour and doggy -- its "how" they are worked. Nothing ruins sheep for training faster than getting them physically tired, hungry or thirsty, mentally tired, letting a dog harass them or chase them,

How breed affects Sheep Behavior to Working Dogs by Michael Neary

Probably the most important factor is previous dog exposure and experiences to sheep. This can range from them being attacked by a pack of loose running dogs with the intent of great bodily harm, to being worked often by a well trained Border Collie, or to never have seen a dog of any consequence. Depending upon previous type of dog exposure, sheep can be spoiled, fresh, just well broke, too well broke, wild, panicked, fighters, etc. Breed can play a role in these responses, but previous and type of dog exposure will play just as important a role.

             From  Little Hats.net   Sheep Dogging for Newbies

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Caring for Sheep/Stock

                                                                                                                                                                                                   The History of Sheep Development

                                        Bud Williams is the world's leading authority on handling livestock.

and now click here for  Sheep Dog Training

                                                                                             
                                                                         

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