Buying a sheepdog- Options available

DJ98

Are trained sheepdogs a better but more expensive option than pups?
Will a dog work for more than one person?
What are the signs of a good pup (when parentage cant be proven)?
Looking for a dog to work a small flock of sheep (50 ewes).

Willfarman

DJ98 wrote: »

Are trained sheepdogs a better but more expensive option than pups?
Will a dog work for more than one person?
What are the signs of a good pup (when parentage cant be proven)?
Looking for a dog to work a small flock of sheep (50 ewes).

Going to be hard to keep a good dog right with so little work. Some dogs are only one person dogs. I like a friendly dog. If you have any sort of fool that'll come back to yo when you call him you'll move a few sheep with it.

DJ98

Im not after a fool have one of them at the moment, want a good dog dog that I can work with.

Paullimerick

Don't know much about sheepdogs. But I do know from hunting dogs. If you don't how to train them properly then bite the bullet and buy a trained dog from a good trainer. A good dog will work for anyone. And in 8-9 years time you will be happy you paid for a good one. If buying a pup I would pay for a well breed pup. As Breeding is everything. Just my opinion.

Willfarman

Have you had many dogs before and have you ever had a good one?

Paullimerick

Plenty bad ones. And not enough of good ones. The two very good ones I had I bought trained. Such a pleasure. Now have a very well breed pup. Here is hoping.

topmanamillion

I don't really see your need for a sheep dog with so few sheep.
It would probably be easier to train the ewes to come to you by giving them regular nuts or sugar beet (sheep go nuts for sugar beet).

Zoo4m8

There's a saying 'there's no such thing as a stupid dog, just stupid owners' certain amount of truth in that, training a pup needs lots of even tempered patience.
If you don't feel you could train a dog get a trained one but if you are just looking for a tool imho you need a lot more sheep, it's just not right to keep a dog locked or tied up till you need him and with a small flock it will be it will never be out.
I have less than fifty ewes now but my dog is with me all the time and works just as well now as she did ten years ago even though we only need the sheep in the odd time.
As suggested above if you have a dog that will sit and come to you on command it's all you need with a small number of ewes.

Zoo4m8

Just to add to the above..a bucket of nuts was mentioned, a neighbour and son have 180ewes and haven't had a dog for years , the bucket and lots of bawling gets the flock in.
They had a young dog that was only let out when needed so was always bursting with energy and enthusiasm and was completely unbiddable for that reason. He was a dog with huge potential if used properly, a real shame to see the way it went...

arctictree

We don't have a working dog but intend getting one as soon as the current pet keels over. We only have about 60 sheep but not having a dog means hardship and jobs get put off. I generally cant get them in on my own so can only get jobs done when my son is around. Also, once a few of them get it into their heads that they are not going into the pen, you may aswell give up for the day.

nagshead

A friend told me one day when i was asking him where to go to find a dog

" even a bad dog is better than 4 men " Having bought a young dog that so far has worked out well i know what he means

connolly18

in my opinion i would buy a pup and train him urself u need a dog for 50 sheep cause u always get the odd few stubborn ewes and it can ruin any dosing plans etc theres a good website to learn how to train dogs its theworkingsheepdog gd luck with what ever u do

Hillman86

Dogs can be tricky! I've never bought a trained dog, always had pups and trained them myself. It takes time and patience. But if you could give them 15 minutes work everyday they will come along nicely.
Generally they will work for anyone but I had one dog that I bought as a well bred pup, Welsh breeding, and he wouldn't do a tap for my brother or father.
I've a small farm, 100 sheep, but I'm a hill farmer so a good dog is essential for me, I'd be lost without them.

Ard_MC

Hillman86 wrote: »

Dogs can be tricky! I've never bought a trained dog, always had pups and trained them myself. It takes time and patience. But if you could give them 15 minutes work everyday they will come along nicely.
Generally they will work for anyone but I had one dog that I bought as a well bred pup, Welsh breeding, and he wouldn't do a tap for my brother or father.
I've a small farm, 100 sheep, but I'm a hill farmer so a good dog is essential for me, I'd be lost without them.

Same as that..not enough work some months for them but cant be without a 1.

kk.man

I've no dog on my own and have 150 sheep...no bother getting them in to an old stone shed which is in a corner of the yard and once in i tighten them to make life easier. Its all about herding I am a firm believer in yer wam Mary Temple Grandin.

Ard_MC

kk.man wrote: »

I've no dog on my own and have 150 sheep...no bother getting them in to an old stone shed which is in a corner of the yard and once in i tighten them to make life easier. Its all about herding I am a firm believer in yer wam Mary Temple Grandin.

Try and get them off a couple thousand acres of hill on your own! Lost my good dog on the hill a few yrs ago and had to get neighbours to gather for me until the young came up to scratch.

Hard Knocks

kk.man wrote: »

I've no dog on my own and have 150 sheep...no bother getting them in to an old stone shed which is in a corner of the yard and once in i tighten them to make life easier. Its all about herding I am a firm believer in yer wam Mary Temple Grandin.

Bucket of nuts can be a good job too