Sheepdog Question

ihatewinter

I have only one dog working at the moment, she's nearly 14 and still fit , can still do the work but I feel I need to start looking for a replacement. My other dog decided to stop working at 8 for some unknown reason and just lies around all day.

Anyway, my question is would it be better to buy a trained dog or try training one myself. I trained the 8 year old myself but couldn't train her for the hill so used the grandfather's dog and the 14 year old (grandfather trained her). The grandfather is unable to train dogs anymore due to health problems.

All help appreciated. Thanks

tabby aspreme

Ask your grandfather how he trained his dogs and have a go at it yourself then, great satisfaction in it

Cran

If you have the time train yourself, if you don't buy one. I used to always train a dog during my summer holidays when in school, but now that I'm a baldy with a job bought the last one fully trained.
If you decide to buy trained be very picky, more so than if buying a pup.

gazahayes

Cran wrote: »

If you have the time train yourself, if you don't buy one. I used to always train a dog during my summer holidays when in school, but now that I'm a baldy with a job bought the last one fully trained.
If you decide to buy trained be very picky, more so than if buying a pup.

How much would you pay for a fully trained dog?

Cran

gazahayes wrote: »

How much would you pay for a fully trained dog?

Not sure at the moment as its 6 years since I bought him, he was over 1k at the time and worth every penny.

Bleating Lamb

Know from a local man that trains and breeds dogs that you can expect to pay up to 2k for a top quality trained dog....so be choosy when buying....remember that when looking at a dog...he may work v well for man that trained him and not at all for you so always make arrangement as best you can that you could return dog within short period of time if that was the case.

razor8

Sometimes the man needs more training than the dog!!

arctictree

Really need to get a dog myself. I have one b**ch that just will not go into the pen! Always need help to get her in.

Username John

arctictree wrote: »

Really need to get a dog myself. I have one b**ch that just will not go into the pen! Always need help to get her in.

The nest time you're selling lambs, get rid of her. She'll only break your heart, and put you off bringing em in.

ganmo

arctictree wrote: »

Really need to get a dog myself. I have one b**ch that just will not go into the pen! Always need help to get her in.

She could ruin a young dog by turning and attackin the dog

farming93

Our dog at home (just going two years old) is just reaching his full potential now. A few months ago when it came to taking bringing in the sheep to the yard he rushed them too much, if a ewe ran from the flock he would plough her out of it( which we werent happy about) in the last 6 weeks his calmed down an awful lot and you will have some job without him with stock work. It just amazes me how seemingly overnight how he calmed down so much, does anyone else find this while training theyre dogs?

ihatewinter

I been inquiring around and I know of two farmers in the locality who have bitches in pup. I might take a chance with one of them. At least I can train it my way, with the grandfather's help.

I am starting a part time Master's course in September, so will have plenty of time to get a pup use to the livestock and surroundings. The new pup will live in the house with children around, so I think the downside is buying a dog not use to both.

solerina

Have you tried locking the 8 year old in for a week or two...that might rekindle her interest in work....it worked for a neighbour of ours a few years ago....his dog was out a lot and lost interest in work as a result, locked her in and hey presto she got interested again !!

working kelpie ireland

A good hardy forward pup is always that best way to go and will learn to adapt to how you work and your ways of working with sheep as the older trained dog has to re adjust to you and your way's which sometimes can be a real problem not everyone moves sheep the same way or works in a dog friendly way some people just don't get it at all and I have often seen where the man is doing more running than than the dog in the field