I read on another post that neighbourhood dogs killed to lambs or sheep or something along those lines. I have a beautiful, cute, loving, sweet, adorable, 5 year old German Short-haired Pointer, (with a teensy weensy, itsy bitsy bit of lab in her). That's how much I love her...but I am also VERY interesting in sheep. There's where the problem lies. I am quite sure that my dog would most assuredly be interested in sheep as well, but not in the way I would be. What could I do to prevent the tragedy of my dog killing the sheep, which would most certainly bring on the death of Jenny,(by my Dad, NOT ME!!)? Maybe, it isn't possible to construct a safe enough abode for the animals, but I'd be willing to try. I'd really appreciate anything anyone has to say. How's that for an invitation? :o)

-- Abigail F. (treeoflife@sws.nb.ca), May 02, 2000

Answers

Your dog should be supervised at all times or tied or put in a kennel with 6 foot high chain link pannels and a cement floor.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), May 02, 2000.

Abigail: Different breeds of dog have different personalities, and different tendencies within each breed, but I would think that your dog would be more interested in poultry than the sheep. We have a lab, and she doesn't bat an eye at the sheep. She goes up to the fence and sticks her nose in between the wire and licks them if she has the chance. The ducks and chickens, now that is another matter! She would love to get her paws on them, but knows she cannot touch them. We also have a couple shelties and one just runs a path around the sheep pens and barks constantly at them. Thinks he has to herd them, I guess. You might try your dog, On a leash, at someone's place that has sheep or another small animal, and test it. Otherwise, you have the choice to make. Dog, or sheep. Jan

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), May 02, 2000.

If you fence the sheep well enough to keep the dog out and the sheep in, you shouldn't have a problem. Best bet is probably hot hi- tensile fencing.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 02, 2000.

I have high tensile fence around my sheep pasture. I kept my nieces border collie, my Jakes' brother, for a week. He decided he should tear right into the sheep, headed down across the lawn and about the time he hit the electric fence I shouted NO!! We didn't have a problem with the sheep from then on and he sure respected NO. I still did not trust him completely, kept him tied when I was able to watch him. Most dogs kind of ignore sheep, but sometimes the natural instinct comes through. Maybe if you work with your dog and really scold him/her if she shows agression. The electric fence is kinda drastic, but it was just the way the circumstances worked out. My border collies ignore the sheep until I pick up my crook and the door opens to the pasture. Great dogs, the smartest I've every owned.

-- Betsy (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), May 02, 2000.

We have an Australian shepherd and the sheep are HER babies. After the lambs are born and are a few days old, we let her near them and she has to clean them too. We have put her in the field with the sheep when we have had coyote problems and she does her job keeping the coyotes away. Currently we have quite a few Nubian goats in with the sheep and don't have a coyote problem and the goats don't like the dog, so she can't go in with the sheep. Our oldest sheep were bottle babies and still come up to the fence for her to clean their faces on a regular basis.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), May 02, 2000.

Abigail, we've had a lot of dogs over the years. Most of the time they are adults when we get them. We've never had a problem. Once I brought a terrified, cowering dog home and when she shivered her way out of the car, she saw a lamb. Off she went. Didn't hurt the lamb and she stopped quickly. Other than that, all our dogs have gotten used to all of our livestock. You'll just have to watch how your dog and your sheep get along. Right now, the dogs are outside poking around with a little bottle lamb hard on their heels. You'll just have to supervise until you know that your dog won't likely cause a problem. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 03, 2000.

Thanks for all your responses. Maybe I'll be able to convince my Dad of it. I'd also be interested in hearing other kinds of fencing and of the best way to fence...

-- Abigail F. (treeoflife@sws.nb.ca), May 03, 2000.

Hello, I have raised sheep for many, many years. Just be VERY careful when having ANY type of dog around sheep. I have found Dogs(anybreed) & Sheep just don`t mix. Even to most seemnly gentle fido can turn into a hunter in a heart- beat. I have seen this time and again. Have also been on the recieving end of people telling me, my Dog would never harass or kill my sheep. Guess, what they do!! And it is always very costly for me! Just be very careful.

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), May 06, 2000.

Thanks for the warning...

-- Abigail F. (treeoflife@sws.nb.ca), May 08, 2000.

Abigail, Our friends and neighbor have sheep. They have lost several of their sheep to dogs and have also shot several dogs due to this. We decided after getting a small dachound (? spelling wrong) that we had to get rid of him after we found out he had joined some other dogs and went up to the sheep. Our kids were heart broken,but we did not want to see our dog get shot. We had been keeping a very close watch on our dog,but it only took one unnoticed time. (the other dog.by the way never made it home :(

-- maryellen mckee (mckee@humboldt.net), May 08, 2000.