Sheep Herding

Does anyone on here work their dogs on sheep or attend trials?

Thanks.

Not intentionally

Bobby herds sheep very well though...........

Please be careful if your dog is loose in a field of sheep, as the farmer is within his rights to shoot a dog who he feels is worrying his livestock.

I did a few years ago, I had a Kelpie Cross Border Collie, we had two pet sheep which she used to round up all the time, she was always trying to round up the cat as well

I never did anything serious with her, but I was taught a lot by a friend of the family who used to work his Kelpies, and so I did use her occassionally to help out a neighbour who had a small flock to bring them in when they had to sheared every so often so she was used then and was a brilliant worker

Yes, at the time I was scared to death that a shot would ring out at any moment. I've never run so fast up a hill as I did that day

He has never been off the lead since.......

Thanks Willow. I trained my collie pup a few times at around 3-4 months old but haven't done any since - in fact I have trained him to ignore them. He is now 15 months old and I would love to have a go at trialling, but I am worried about starting his training again as I do a lot of fell/hill walking and we come into regular contact with sheep. I just wondered what others views were.

Phew! You had me worried for a while

Is an owner within his rights to shoot a farmer who he feels is worrying his dog ?

Yes Although for most farmers it would be the very last resort

I trialled my first male BC extensively for a couple of years & he was very successful, I didn't have the time with my other dogs & IMHO it's wrong to start something you can't keep up with for a BC.

I might let Rjj have a go at sheep when his obedience is solid. at present he's going through a lack of concentration stage for everything but retrieve