My 2 boys have just chased and injured a local famers sheep, they have never done anything like this before but I'm really scared they'll do it again. We live on a little croft so are surrounded by cows and sheep, i'm now very wary about letting them into the garden incase they escape into the fields again, they are so used to being out and about in an acre garden, I now feel like i'm keeping them imprisoned in their own home. The farmers ok'ish about it, he hasn't got police involved or anything like that thankfully. I love my dogs dearly but am so ashamed of them just now. Has anyone out there had similar experience and if so, how did you deal with it?
2006-09-25 21:44:25 · 16 answers · asked by crofty 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
To GLH
My dogs ARE boys. I AM their owner and I most certainly do not 'SIMPER' over them.
I AM their leader, they know who's BOSS, this was just a very unfortunate incident, and i have only asked for advice, not to be talked down to by the likes of you!!!
And also for your information, my BOYS were punished at the time of the incident, they know they have done wrong.
Thankyou.
2006-09-25 22:24:02 · update #1
We have sheep on our land and some of the previous answers are correct in that I could shoot an animal worrying my sheep.
However, you say the farmer is understanding about it - thats a good start and a shame to throw away this relationship by not addressing the problem.
I would ask the farmer if he knows of any sheep dog trainers. They might be able to sort it out for you with aclimatisation training.
Also, you should be aware that it is your responsbility to ensure your animals do not escape from your garden.
For peace fo mind why not put up a stock proof fence ? If the appearance bothers you they be left to blend into the hedge after a while if you prefer. Again, the farmer could probably help you here, and to fence off 1 acre is very cheap - a few hundred quid.
And it would be showing that you are trying to solve the problem.
We have a dog in our village that comes into our fields, its only because I'm a bad shot that its still around. So its best to get the dogs sorted now.
Depending on the age of the sheep, each one might cost the farmer about £70 for a lamb. Oo if its a breeding ewe then you atalking a lot more.
2006-09-25 22:05:06 · answer #1 · answered by Michael H 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You start by calling them boys and end by calling them dogs. This is the first part of the problem - these are not "your boys"; they are animals with animal instincts. One of the basic instincts of almost all breeds of dog is to hunt - and sheep make ideal prey.
If you are their owner then you should be behaving like the lead dog of the pack, not simpering over them. They require discipline and firmness if they are not going to get into trouble again. In order for the punishment to have any effect it must take place immediately after "the crime" so that the dogs connect the two in their minds. It is therefore already too late to exact any effective punishment.
I'm not sure whether you are in the UK or not but in the UK a farmer is entitled to shoot any dog caught worrying his sheep. If dogs have tasted blood then very often they will want more and you will have to be constantly on your guard from now on.
They will have to be kept permanently on leads whenever there is the slightest possibility of there being sheep around that they can get at. You're very lucky that the farmer has been so forgiving - he would be well within his rights to demand compensation from you and even request a court order to have the dogs removed or put down.
UPDATE I'm not talking down to anyone. Whenever I see a badly behaved dog there's usually an idiot owner who will say something daft like "dogs are human too". Personally I would shoot the owner, not the dog as it's not the dog's fault it hasn't been properly trained (and the very fact that such behaviour has taken place demonstrates the lack of training). The sheep are a farmer's livelihood and if you didn't want to hear people's answers then you shouldn't have asked the question. Sorry it wasn't what you wanted to hear - but TOUGH
[Hey look - at least three people agree with me, thanks folks!]
2006-09-25 21:46:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
did you know farmers are in there right to shoot your dogs?
so for your lovely dogs sake don't let them chase them are they working as a pack when they do it? or are they just herding and get carried away,you will have to secure your garden to keep them on your land and your breed of dog are intelligent so you are going to have to train them, no to chasing as they will chase the cattle to if they get the chance.you could try leading them one at a time past the sheep and when they show any interest in the sheep say NO in a very firm voice keep doing this and they will soon think chasing sheep is bad and makes you cross with them and hopefully stop doing it.Have you thought they maybe Board and are doing it for something to do?Lucky you living on a croft.
2006-09-25 22:25:25 · answer #3 · answered by Carol B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is an old tale of shuting them in a stable with a ram < male sheep .> and letting him sort them out with head butts etc.
but you need to desensitise them from sheep . walk them single past sheep with a treat and if they look at the sheep distract them maybe look at training discs or clicker. or may be electric collars.. as two dogs become a pack one its own is probably ok
remember that once theyve a taste for a blood sometimes nothing will cure them. and you are responsible for all the damage . with lambing season nearly here that could be thousands
.remember the farmer has the right to shoot
good luck
2006-09-27 09:32:42 · answer #4 · answered by helengav4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do contact a sheepdog trainer who may have solutions from overagressive herding dogs. But ultimatly your gonna have to dogproof your garden because even if the trainer has sucess you dont want them in a position to break the training.
I grew up on a farm & we trained all puppies to leave the coes alone but I dont think just putting them in a boxstall with a sheep & scolding &m shaking their scruff every time they approach the sheep will work with an adult with expericnce chasing them.
2006-09-25 23:23:53 · answer #5 · answered by ragapple 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, once dogs discover the joys of chasing livestock it is difficult or impossible to get them to stop. If you want to keep them safe, they MUST be leashed or securely fenced when outside. And I don't mean one of those invisible fences, a determined dog will easily get past one of those, I mean a real solid fence.
Weimaraners are a hunting dog, not a herding dog, and believe me the farmer won't be any happier about your dogs "herding" his sheep even if you could teach them to do that.
You are fortunate that this isn't lambing season. Pregnant ewes can abort their lambs simply from the stress of having strange dogs around.
2006-09-26 05:30:21 · answer #6 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you need to spend abit of money and dogproof your garden, if it happens again with your dogs the farmer will be within his rights to shoot your dogs. I think farmers generally have shown remarkable restraint as regards dogs and livestock. We get the same problem over here occasionally with some horrific injuries or deaths to sheep and even then the farmer will warn the owners first that next time he will shoot.
2006-09-25 22:07:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you need to dog proof your garden and don't let them off the lead when you are around sheep etc. The farmer would be well within his rights to shoot your dogs should he catch them doing this again, so invest in some decent fencing to avoid a tragedy.
I have Mastiffs who will demolish most fencing to get to anything moving on the other side, so I now have 3 different types of fencing combined!
the things we have to do for our dogs eh? nightmare.
2006-09-25 21:51:36 · answer #8 · answered by neogriff 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your best bet might be to buy a PAC fence and 2 collars. That way thay can still run free on your land but not cross the boundary. Otherwise train them with a PAC collar. Not a first resort by any means but it might be the only way to stop your dogs from being shot!
2006-09-26 00:53:24 · answer #9 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A well-trained dog makes everyone happy, including his owner. Take a little time training him, and you'll never regret it; you'll always have an obedient dog by your side. Find more https://tr.im/xPkIr
By their nature, dogs are pack animals with a well-defined social order. Through basic training, you need to consistently make sure your puppy understands that you are the leader, not him. So in teaching him the basic rules, you take on the role of pack leader.
To fit into the family circle, your dog must be taught to recognize his name and such commands as come, heel, lie down and sit.
2016-02-15 18:34:31 · answer #10 · answered by Isabel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋