Sheep!

[Jessica lurcher]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

We got a new lurcher a month ago, she is 10 months old collie x. She's been ace with everything apart from sheep. She was excited and interested before but yesterday took off and chased a couple of sheep. Today she jumped the garden wall to cross the road again the field opposite was full of sheep. She didn't jump in to get to them and both times came back to me calling. So I didn't feel I should scold her then? Any advice should I be telling her off for showing interest in them when she's on lead? Thanks.

 

[dogmatize]

You are aware that a farmer can legally shoot your dog if it chases sheep? There was a report about dogs worrying sheep on the one show last week.I had to put it off because the dog caught one. Please keep your dog on a lead when near stock for HER protection.

I suspect that the mixture of breeds that she is will make training her a challenge, but gypsysmum2 who knows about these things should be able to advise you better than me.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Yes, your dog can be shot for chasing sheep. No matter that she may be playing! Sheep can die from shock when chased by unfamiliar dogs. If they are pregnant they can abort their lambs.

First you must fence your garden so that it is completely secure. Each time she escapes she is learning the tricks of escaping so while you wait for the fencing to be done you must keep her on a long line in the garden. Dogs can scale fencing so make sure there is nothing she can jump on to scale the fence.

You were right not to scold her when she returned to your call. Nothing negative should ever happen when a dog returns to its handler. It should always be a good experience. Keep up the recall training. It must always be fun to come back to you. Give treats and play games. Practice lots in all sorts of places and with all kinds of distractions. No dog is ever 100% trained so never rely on recall training to keep your dog safe. Dogs must always be on lead around sheep.

If you live in sheep country you should encourage your dog to ignore sheep. Call her name and reward her for looking at you when passing sheep (she will of course be on lead). It is just good practice to train your dog to concentrate on you. This should be rewarded with lots of praise and treats every time she looks at you. This is not a substitute for a lead and good fencing but may be helpful in an emergency.

Dogs do not have morals. They do not know it is wrong to do something that we do not like. We just keep training them to do what we like them to do so that they repeat that behaviour.

 

[deegee]

:thumbsup: good post!

 

[lurcherman]

If you can't train the lurcher or be sure It will not take off again then keep the thing on the lead, a menace will be shot or cause a accident so be aware...