Chasing sheep

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Aru

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my friends 7 month german shepherd has been shot for chasing sheep... rip puppy
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my friend is obvoiusly vry upset as feels responsible for dogs death(as she was kept loose as yard dog on their farm..something they have done with all their dogs and never had a problem with before)and of course for the poor sheep!
i was just wondering has anyone got any ideas on how to keep a dog from starting to chase sheep? bar keeping them locked in..
because even tho another dog wont be on the cards anytime soon they will probly eventually get a new one and she never wants something like this to happen again...
 
Oh dear.I guess the farmer was within his rights to do what he did.Tis a shame though.My friend used to stick the young dogs in a pen with the Rams,They would rough the dog up abit but they never chased the sheep after that.They always had a healthy respect for the sheep after that.
 
Keep them on a lead when in a field with lvestock, I now it was only a puppy but should have been under control.
 
We have had to do the same with 2 dogs caught chasing our sheep recently. If anyone suspects their dog is considering chasing sheep I'd contact a local farmer, explain you want to stop it before it begins and a samerlin says they will no doubt have a Tup or fiesty ewe who will scare the bejesus out of the dog. I'd behappy to do it for anyone in my area
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i completely understand and agree that the farmer was well within his rights to do it..ive seen what a pack of pet dogs can do to sheep...thanks for the ram suggestion il defo pass it on!would it work on an older dog tho? i was going to sugget a rescue to them for next woof
Gypsycob she wasnt on a lead as she was at home.almost all of the fields around them are theirs or have cattle in them(and pup never bothered the cattle! ..they didnt realise their neighbour had sheep in land nearby he always kept cattle before this...
 
I guess it would work with an older dog,You might need a stroppier Ram to make it stand down.Sheep are not the most cleverist of animals but they can be bloody stubborn when they want too be and will not back down easily.
 
It can work with an older dog - I knew of a rescue Innuit which always wanted to play with lambs on the farm where he (and I) lived
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Seriously, he thought they wanted a game with him
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The farmer put him in with the three rams for a while - the rams went for the dog every time he moved, the dog never wanted to play with lambs again
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See I am contemplating putting Beau in with the rams at my friends farm, but I am scared as to HOW MUCH damage they will do to him!!! (as he is also a sutbborn little........ darling!)

Has anyone seen what happens when you put a puppy in with them (he is 9mtnsh old) as I obv dont want any broken bones etc, and these rams will be texels!
 
Something a gamekeeper friend of mine recommends is to put the dog (of any age) into a trailer with a few rams and drive around a bit. The dog gets roughed up by the rams and never looks at another sheep again.
 
It does work on older dogs & I would only ever put a mature dog in with a tup or in fact a ewe with some young lambs is much better than a tup. Purely from the damage they can do.

Years ago we had a lady who's dog was pestering sheep, we thethered it short to a tup so it could not get a run up & really pelt the dog could only head butt it. The tup carted it down the meadows & back & dog was not in a happy state when it got back but it never looked at a sheep again.

Best way is with a puppy get them in with stock from a very early age, as soon as they look at a sheep them repremand say no & tell them off.
Have them on a long line so that if they make a break, let the run for a short distance, say no & then yank on the line.

My old dog was a pup at the time of F&M so could not get her in with stock, she use to play with sheep. She would chase them till they were cornered but then stop when they stopped.

This can do enough damage to an inlamb ewe by twisting the lamb beds & thus they then abort. Hence why chasing is just as bad as actually getting a old of a sheep.

We used an electric collar on her.

Had her lose in field with sensible old sheep out of lamb. She would look get told 'No' on the third time of saying 'NO' she got shocked.
Only had to do this 5 times at the most & now she is the most stock proof dog, will not look at them just pass them quietly or ignore them as running past them.

Her you see them in with some young gimmers so very inquisitive!
Old dog at front & young dog think she would be just under a year her behind
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Here I am not too bothered at them looking as they are just watching where they are not 'interested' in them
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Ok, so should I put beau with a ewe with lambs (plenty at the moment at the farm!) rather than rams or tups???

I also havea long line and extendible lead so.....

I just need him to get over the want to chase/play with the sheep! (similar to your dog he only goes when they go, if they stop he just lies and watches them!)
 
Personally I would go for ewe with lambs & as you say timing is perfect for it!
Make sure yo supervise though! Step in when you feel you need too! Repeat it a couple of times aswell.

You have to be cruel to be kind in the long run. I would of shot my old dog if we hadn't sorted her.


Young dog not so happy now!!
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Sorry to hear about the puppy.

My dogs don't encounter sheep loose (mine are Christmas lambs and live indoors until they go) but they DO have a very healthy respect for goats which they'd chase like sheep, so basically the same scenario.

The big GSD wouldn't dream of having anything to do with them, the young bitch has very strong herding instincts and tried it with the Pygmys. BIG mistake, the old doe gave her quite a hammering (she also battered the mini pony
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) Poppy won't go near a goat now.

Dogs around stock absolutely HAVE to learn the rules (one way or another, be it a ram, training, shock collar or whatever) or pay the consequences. It is only fair to everyone concerned. I would have no hesitation whatsoever in shooting a dog as a last resort if the situation warranted it (If I had a flock and a gun that is)
 
our puppy was like this, we live by a farm, sheep and cattle everywhere, we had her on a very long lead- like a lunge rope, and she thought she was off the lead, we walked far away from the sheep so when she ran towards them she didnt actually scare them as they were too far away, and because we were holding onto her she had to stop she then got told off, not hitting just had her ear bitten (taught this by a training guy- works wanders!!) and shuoted at, soon stopped the little puppy! we did that 3 times, and shes now sorted, she enver chases them anymroe, you can see she wants to "play" with the lambs, but she doesnt dare....
word of warning, have someone strong with you and wear gloves!!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
See I am contemplating putting Beau in with the rams at my friends farm, but I am scared as to HOW MUCH damage they will do to him!!! (as he is also a sutbborn little........ darling!)

Has anyone seen what happens when you put a puppy in with them (he is 9mtnsh old) as I obv dont want any broken bones etc, and these rams will be texels!

[/ QUOTE ]

I was worried about that the first time I did it but I decided that I would rather they were bruised and stiff for a few days than shot
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