Sad Day

[zilloot]

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Round here the badgers have been taking sheep and they make such a mess of the carcass we've got all sorts of rumours of a 'beast' in the woods. Badgers have a nasty set of teeth and are fast so I'm not surprised. They're taking sheep because there are so many that the rabbits are running out. I've seen about five killed by cars in the last few months.

My whippets and lab are livestock trained but I just can't get it into the Iggies heads :wacko: They chase ANYTHING including leaves and loose feathers so I keep them strictly on leads unless I'm 100% sure there are no animals around. When I pass one neighbour who has chickens Zoomie is at the end of his lead screaming to get at them.. and I've tried everything to stop him including a waterpistol but it's like he goes blind, deaf and dumb to me! He's usually on a coupler with Lottie so she's started doing it too.

Ages ago he once got into a field of sheep (belonging to a friend and it was with her permission because he'd ignored them previously) and he went wappy and chased them until I was hoarse with screaming at him. He thought it was great fun unfortunately and I couldn't get it into his head not to do it.. we put him on the lead and yelled 'no' etc but nothing made any difference. Luckily the sheep were not too bothered and there were no babies around and my friend wants me to go back and try again with a bucket of water! I just wish one of the sheep had turned on him and given him a fright. At least he doesn't chase cows but he 'squares up' to them through the fence so I bet he would if they ran away!

I'm at a loss with him and Lottie because the whippets and lab were so easy to train to leave livestock alone. :wacko:

 

[Lal]

As a farmers daughter I couldn't agree more with the importance of livestock training. I was fortunate enough to be able to do the same thing as Keith when Rifle was very young and he has never been a problem, that said I am still very much aware of keeping him close when we are near any stock. If in doubt, keep them on a lead, it is not something you can leave to chance. The shepherd we had believed in putting a pup in a pen with an old ewe who would give the pup a few bumps but I'm not sure I'd be up for doing that with a Whippie, not much meat on their little bones to protect them!