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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 74
Guardian Dog Training:
The basic training for a guardian dog starts with being raised among sheep. The training requires supervision to prevent bad habits from developing and to establish limits of acceptable behavior.
Bonding with sheep:
This is a two-way concern between both the dog and sheep. Sheep accept a puppy more easily if they become acquainted with it in fairly close quarters, but they can also take a long time to accept the dog if it is turned into a large pasture with them. The regular practice is that when a puppy reaches the age of between 6 and 9 months, he is put in a safe enclosure within the sheep area with young lambs as old as 4 months.
Bear in mind the purpose of your dog, he is a guardian of your flock and it is they with whom he has to bond, not you and should never become a pet. This discouragement from bonding with humans helps to reinforce its protective instinct.
When the sheep and guard dog have formed a relationship if there is any disturbance in the pasture they will run to it, and he will take over.
Whereas you are not making a pet of your guardian dog, you must have a relationship with it so that he can be caught, put on a leash, and walked on the leash when required. If there is no interaction between you and the dog you won't be able to catch it for vaccinations or medical examination, or to hold it back while your sheep are being sheared and so on. The ideal relationship is that the dog should bond with the sheep and be friendly, but not too friendly and comfortable with you. Praise him when he is good and give him a pat every now and then.
It is not a good idea to try to train two puppies at the same time, because they will want to play with each other and disturb the flock in the process. A single puppy will bond with sheep more readily than this way. On the other hand if you have an older, experienced dog, the puppy can learn and be trained by it which is advantageous.
These useful dogs are prepared to put their life on the line to save your sheep, and there is always the chance that they will become the victim, therefore it is better to have a replacement on hand to take over in the case of injury or even death.
Most farmers prefer to have their guardian dogs neutered to avoid problems when the guard dogs or neighboring dogs are ready to be mated. The time when the neutering is best done is when the puppy is 4 months old.
Points to look for in a guardian dog are that they are attentive, bond well with the sheep and stay with them. He should have the appropriate aggressiveness, that is growling, barking and
The basic training for a guardian dog starts with being raised among sheep. The training requires supervision to prevent bad habits from developing and to establish limits of acceptable behavior.
Bonding with sheep:
This is a two-way concern between both the dog and sheep. Sheep accept a puppy more easily if they become acquainted with it in fairly close quarters, but they can also take a long time to accept the dog if it is turned into a large pasture with them. The regular practice is that when a puppy reaches the age of between 6 and 9 months, he is put in a safe enclosure within the sheep area with young lambs as old as 4 months.
Bear in mind the purpose of your dog, he is a guardian of your flock and it is they with whom he has to bond, not you and should never become a pet. This discouragement from bonding with humans helps to reinforce its protective instinct.
When the sheep and guard dog have formed a relationship if there is any disturbance in the pasture they will run to it, and he will take over.
Whereas you are not making a pet of your guardian dog, you must have a relationship with it so that he can be caught, put on a leash, and walked on the leash when required. If there is no interaction between you and the dog you won't be able to catch it for vaccinations or medical examination, or to hold it back while your sheep are being sheared and so on. The ideal relationship is that the dog should bond with the sheep and be friendly, but not too friendly and comfortable with you. Praise him when he is good and give him a pat every now and then.
It is not a good idea to try to train two puppies at the same time, because they will want to play with each other and disturb the flock in the process. A single puppy will bond with sheep more readily than this way. On the other hand if you have an older, experienced dog, the puppy can learn and be trained by it which is advantageous.
These useful dogs are prepared to put their life on the line to save your sheep, and there is always the chance that they will become the victim, therefore it is better to have a replacement on hand to take over in the case of injury or even death.
Most farmers prefer to have their guardian dogs neutered to avoid problems when the guard dogs or neighboring dogs are ready to be mated. The time when the neutering is best done is when the puppy is 4 months old.
Points to look for in a guardian dog are that they are attentive, bond well with the sheep and stay with them. He should have the appropriate aggressiveness, that is growling, barking and