Would you be lost without your dog?

arctictree

I only have a small flock - a few dozen and some of my neighbours can't believe that I can get by without a dog. Anyone else sheep farm without a dog? Would you be lost without one?

razor8

i couldnt attempt part time farming without one, save endless time, i can gather a 100+ batch with lambs in 5 mins, good for getting them up a race when on your own too. have a quad too but the dog is easier on sheep and man

Username John

Only have a very small flock as well meself, but don't have a dog.

But moat of my fields are small enough, and i'm slowly putting a central passage to connect most of the fields.
The ewes are used to the place, so know where and most of the time. they go where they are supposed to

When the lambs are small, and a bit idiotic, a dog would be useful all right I'd say.

But, I have no plans to get one. A lot of other jobs on the list before a dog.

Cran

Be totaly lost without him, as my old man says a bad dog is worth 5 men. I would travel any distance for a good dog tbh, most valuable item I own....
Have a cousin that manages 300 sheep without a dog, I have no idea how. He told me once saw me drive into a field park by the fence load the ewes, and thought how do you do that - I thought how can manage sheep without doing it??

mikefoxo

As the fella in the co-op said to my Dad, "The bag of nuts is the dog"

Conmaicne Mara

Depends on time of year. After lambing I can pretty much catch any ewe I want without the dog in the lower part of the farm. But that's because I set it up that way with fences. On the upper part or in the hill, lol, I would not even attempt it, would end up a worn out idiot, probably hurt too.

eire23

Would be lost without the dog here. Never use the quad when im rounding up sheep. Just walk in to the field and get her to bring the sheep to ya. Bought her in wexford which was a bit of a hunt but it was well worth it. Shes great company around the yard as well when your out doing jobs

sea12

Haven't had a fog here in the last 5 years since the last one died. Haven't tone to train it or look after it during the week. The father and dogs do not well together.

foxylock

Had no dog for the first year, twas pure hardship on the hill. Amazing how sheep seem to enjoy making you run needlessly. Have a good dog now and wouldn't like to be without him.

Nekarsulm

foxylock wrote: »

Amazing how sheep seem to enjoy making you run needlessly.

I don't know which is worse, the mad eegit of a ewe than runs away the wrong way as soon as you start to move them, or the smart old bitch that stays out on the left wing and watches you!

Vandy West

Most times i would be lost without my dog other times i wish the dog would get lost.

Cran

My fella today making sure nothing moves without his approval

Bleating Lamb

Had to round up some 'uninvited' sheep today,given the wet underfoot conditions it would have been a 30 man job without a good dog....instead it was myself and the father and the dog....with the dog the man of the match....these were wild tricky sheep.....bit like their owner

foxylock

Nekarsulm wrote: »

I don't know which is worse, the mad eegit of a ewe than runs away the wrong way as soon as you start to move them, or the smart old bitch that stays out on the left wing and watches you!

In my place it's the mental brownface yoke that appears out of the back of the bunch and makes straight for the dog with the head lowered.........She made good money, looked sorry for her sins in the trailer though:D

Conmaicne Mara

A photo of my dog won me ploughing tickets last year

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111758162@N02/11895802503/

solerina

We have 5 and they save endless hours when out the hill...wouldn't go out without at least 3 of them to be honest- we would never get the sheep in.

Lano Lynn

wouldn't be without a dog,quad & dosing race/shedder.good dog well worth traveling and paying for.and learning how to work it is time well spent.

sea12

solerina wrote: »

We have 5 and they save endless hours when out the hill...wouldn't go out without at least 3 of them to be honest- we would never get the sheep in.

How many sheep are u rearing if u don't mind me asking.

Is it hard to give different whistle commands for each of the dogs?

AnFeirmeoir

Have a 6 month pup that is showing good signs. If he doesn't make a good dog it'll be my fault not his

supersean1999

Not sure how it is possible to manage sheep without a dog, unless small numbers, you certainly have not a hope of hill farming without a pretty decent dog, I'd be in trouble cos the old man is slowing up and my young lad is to young, so the dog is essential,

AnFeirmeoir

AnFeirmeoir wrote: »

Have a 6 month pup that is showing good signs. If he doesn't make a good dog it'll be my fault not his

He's 2 now and he is as good as i thought i'd ever get him. and will improve more i hope.

He was naturally good and turning back ewes making a run for it but if a ewe just walkied slowly passed him he didnt know what to do. He was beginning to go avoid the headstrong sheep but in the past few weeks he has really turned a corner and is getting more forceful. and can now gather them in from a 6 acre field - saving me a sh1tload of walking

Couldn't do without him now.

fanadman1

quick question how often do your dogs be out ? i never had a decent dog but numbers are starting to climb here and after spending most of yesterday runing around like a headless chicken im serously thinking on one

serfspup

would go off my head without dog,sheep here used to them so not a hope of gathering them without one.had a great on years ago she/we could shed off a ewe and a pair of lambs and bring them to hell and back. never had one like her since:(.
a good dog is a great investment,learning how to work a good dog is an even better investment.
don't swallow the selftrainer bullsh1t

farawaygrass

serfspup wrote: »

would go off my head without dog,sheep here used to them so not a hope of gathering them without one.had a great on years ago she/we could shed off a ewe and a pair of lambs and bring them to hell and back. never had one like her since:(.
a good dog is a great investment,learning how to work a good dog is an even better investment.
don't swallow the selftrainer bullsh1t

Did you get trained yourself serfspup?

serfspup

yes,part of sheep anca in northumberland 89/90 by a great jordie shepherd Ron Bailey he has passed away since then owe him a great deal can still hear him in my head when I give the dog a bad command.

ganmo

the dogs here never listen to me. one used to stop and look around for dad if i gave a command, if she didn't see him she'd take off

rangler1

serfspup wrote: »

would go off my head without dog,sheep here used to them so not a hope of gathering them without one.had a great on years ago she/we could shed off a ewe and a pair of lambs and bring them to hell and back. never had one like her since:(.
a good dog is a great investment,learning how to work a good dog is an even better investment.
don't swallow the selftrainer bullsh1t

Some are better left to train themselves, some are very clever and know better than some farmers. I've an old dog here that pretty much trained herself...oh alright I thought her right and left and stop and go but there's a lot more to it than that,
she went deaf at about six year old and I had to train her to hand signals, she's ten year old now so she's well slowed down, I've a younger dog too that does most of the rough work, I'm on the lookout for one to replace the old one now