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I take back everything I've said...

9 replies

Daisybell1 · 21/08/2012 09:17

Please be gentle but my collie has really shaken my faith in him. He went for a sheep

I know it's only due to him being a former working dog, he just clicked into working mode and felt that he needed to hold this sheep but he was gripping (biting) it on the legs and then shoulder.

Luckily, if there's any luck here, it was one of our own sheep, which belted off and isn't seriously hurt, and it was on our own land.

I never have him off the lead around sheep but my OH had told me that those fields were clear. We weren't to know one had got back in.

Until yesterday I would have described him as bombproof as a working dog can be, and very good around children and other dogs. Now I'm worried as I couldn't get him off straight away. He was a cattle dog at his previous home and so is very strong and fearless around stock. I guess because of his age I'm a bit worried about him going senile and not understanding/obeying commands.

Sorry, I realise this is a bit of a nothin post, as the solution is to walk him away from sheep, or have him on the lead if we're passing through stock. But I'm just a bit shaken up.

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PeriPathetic · 21/08/2012 09:25

I'm not surprised you're shaken up but you know it could have been much, much worse. And you know how to prevent it in the future.

I'm sure he's not going senile, his natural instinct kicked in, hard.

My sheep farmer friends say that all collies actually want to kill and eat the sheep and it's just the strong training that prevents that from happening.

Hope the sheep is OK.

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Daisybell1 · 21/08/2012 17:55

Thank you. The sheep is fine, she was checked again today and there's not a mark on her, showing it looked worse than it was. That's no excuse though.

We tried to do a lot of obedience work on our walk today which worked well until he heard the quadbike in the next field and took off after it despite my frantic shouting/arm waving etc etc. No damage this time thank goodness.

But I'm still worried about his new lack of listening to me and his aggression with the sheep.

This evening's problem to solve is how to rescue the injured buzzard which distracted me, causing the incident in the first place. Anyone know how to catch a buzzard???

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RedwingS · 21/08/2012 20:33

I'm glad the sheep is okay and I'm not surprised it shook you up. I guess the dogs have to have an instinct to nip since that's where their herding abilities come from. I'm sure more training will sort it out.

I have no idea how to catch a buzzard. Is there a buzzard rescue anywhere that can help?

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PeriPathetic · 22/08/2012 00:21

Realise this is way too late now but were you able to get close to the buzzard? What was wrong with it?

What I would do is put on a very thick pair of gloves, grab a towel or something, get something to put the buzzard in, and try and 'net' it. Gently place your hands over its wings so they can't flap and pop it in the box. Remove hands as soon as possible and cover the box even quicker. You may need backup...

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Daisybell1 · 22/08/2012 07:52

Result!

Local buzzard rescue came last night, and admitted they hadn't actually caught a buzzard before .

Luckily OH cornered it, and just picked it up like a n extremely vicious chicken

Peri - your approach was spot on, that was the plan. Although the chap on the phone advising the rescuer just said to keep away from its feet...

So, good deed done for the evening, now to sort out this wretched dog.

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PeriPathetic · 22/08/2012 14:14

Oh yeah, forgot about the feet! And yes, I would liken it to catching a chicken with added perils!

Glad it's been sorted. And hope you have no more troubles with the dog.

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Justme23 · 22/08/2012 15:11

If you haven't been keeping up her training as pp says then its understandable she could do this.

Obviously in future don't release your dog until you are certain the field you are entering is clear of livestock. Any earlier or later in the year and your dog could have caused miscarriage in not only the ewe she bit but the others in the flock.

Have you informed the shepherd that his ewe is potentially injured, even a tiny tear in the skin can be devastating especially of the flies get into it.

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Justme23 · 22/08/2012 15:12

Just read your last reply. Glad the sheep is ok.

Think yourself lucky it wasn't a field with a horse in it. My old ned used to chase dogs for sport (and blood :/)

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Daisybell1 · 22/08/2012 18:00

Justme, thanks for your response. I'm very lucky that I'm able to walk him solely on our own land so he wouldn't come across horses loose in a field, if I see them on a bridleway then on goes the lead.

He was only off the lead in the field as my OH, who owns the land and the sheep, had told me it was clear. It was just one who had sneaked back in.

He's over 10yrs old, and had a very hard working life before coming to us, hence my worry about possible dementia setting in.