[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Sheep Information
- From: Diane Wright <Diwri@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: ShowGSD-L <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 13:51:58 -0400
If you're interested in herding titles AND lawnmowers, you should check with
people who use their
sheep for herding. Preferably herders who use GSDs, but if that's not
possible, some very 'dog
broke' sheep would be required.
Dog Broke implies that the sheep are used to being worked by dogs. They will
not be hysterical &
look for fence posts to impale themselves on when seeing a dog in their
proximity. There are levels
of dog broke-ness... for beginners you should look for what is referred to as
'knee knockers'. Knee
knockers love to huddle near human knees and search the horizon for knees when
they spot a dog. (The
dog's exuberant novice herding behavior will scare the crap outta the sheep and
they'll scatter, but
their love of knees keeps them close.)
It's VERY DIFFICULT to teach yourself & your dog how to herd alone, without dog
broke stock.
Someone, either the human, the dog or the sheep MUST know what is expected.
Success rates increase
when both human AND sheep know what is expected. ;-)
I like hair sheep. They don't grow wool. They don't need to be sheared as the
winter hair sheds off
in the spring. St Croix are more laid back... Blackbellies are more reactive.
Hair breeds are
more... natural? less domesticated? than wooly breeds, and don't need as much
constant care &
supervison. They're reportedly more parasite resistant, easy lambing, don't
need fussy food & water.
A good source for information on all the various sheep breeds:
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/
Where to find them after you've settled on a breed:
http://www.nebraskasheep.com/directory/Breeds/
If you just want lawn mowing...search out local sheep ranchers. You may be
able to entice a sheep
rancher to deliver sheep to your property in the spring, let them graze all
summer & take them home
in the fall! That way you get all the bennies & NONE of the expense!
:-)
Diane
We are considering buying some "wooly lawnmowers" for our new acreage. At
this point in time I would rather not get a horse as I do not have time for
one but, we were thinking that sheep would be a better option. Only one
problem.. I am a farm girl born and raised but.. I have no experience with
sheep. Is there anyone on the list that can point me in the right direction
as to what we should be looking for as far as, ease of care, the kind of
breeder to buy from, the breed to buy and what testing should be done on
breeding stock?
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