Another Ted Herding Video

I *know* it was just a movie...but...are sheep really mean, like in BABE? I would be afraid to be that close to that many sheep!!

Er -

Were the sheep mean in Babe?  I don't remember - the sheep at the farm were Blue Face Leister crosses like my sheep and the ones at the trial were Suffolks and "mules" - BFL/hill breed crosses.  Hmm - I guess the trial sheep were the ones you were talking about?

There's a potential for danger when you are working with any livestock.  If you pick up my ducks you can get an eye severely damaged if the duck happens to wiggle around and get a sharply clawed foot in it.  Their wings don't tickle when they beat against you.  But most of the time it's not intentional.  I'd say the most common injury with sheep is having a kneecap blown when one stampedes blindly against you.  I've learned how to avoid that over the years but it could still happen in a moment of inattention.

There are times when sheep truly exhibit dangerous behavior that is calculated in nature.  It's usually around breeding and lambing season.  A ewe can get very nasty if they think a lamb is at risk, and rams are dangerous at all times.  Sheep are different than cattle - once they've got the dog (or you) on the ground, they'll stomp and grind with any feet or skull surface they can - if possible they will push their target into a corner and keep hitting.  Sheep are used to fighting each other, and sheep skulls are extremely tough.  I've seen sheep knock a dog unconscious without even trying hard. 

Another time I got a sprained ankle and plantar facia when I got stuck between stampeding sheep and a gate they wanted to go through.  Trapped against the gate, one ewe decided I was the cause of her troubles and began a systematic attack on my sandaled foot (yes, I rarely wear real working footwear - I'm from CA, what can I say?).

With that said, even most rams vastly prefer intelligent retreat to attack.  I can wade through a flock of sheep like that above (that's only about a quarter of my sheep, by the way), fairly easily by keeping the knees slightly bent and lightly pulling wool all around me.  When you gently tug the wool on a sheep, it will move away from the direction you pull if it can move at all.   You'll see me doing this every so often in videos.

The short answer is, most sheep are harmless, but it's best to be smart around any livestock. 

 So neat!  I'm loojking forward to watching the series as it develops.

Oh, and you weren't kidding!  All Maremmas, all the time. 

 Awesome! Neiko is at this point in his training too. We have been setting up out runs for 2 weeks now. The little stinker thinks that it's fun though to ignore the out command and drive the sheep. He will do a good outrun but once he gets tired of working he just tries to drive and play.

I should really be video recording like you are to watch the progress.  

You really can't do anything around here without tripping over a Maremma or three.  The locals sometimes think I'm a bit crazy because they have llamas and guard donkeys.   A couple weeks ago black bears were spotted about thirty miles from here, and then about five miles from here.  Now people are asking me about the dogs!  These dogs are proven against bears and wolves, but guess what's going to happen if a bear shows up where a llama or donkey are?  Heck, the llama will be first pick for dinner, most likely!

I hope you can continue enjoying these videos without too much trauma, Meg!

You must be having a blast with Neiko - he sounds great.  Ted's actually doing much more advanced stuff (gathering sheep 250 yards away for instance) but it's pure instinct with a bit of obedience.  For competitions this must be refined, and for this bit we are starting from square one to make sure it's right, because he does have some bad habits.

brookcove

You really can't do anything around here without tripping over a Maremma or three. 

Can I come live on your farm?  I'm a fast learner....can learn to do....something farm related.  LOL!

How well can you groom?  Tully and Lu both need a through once-over now the dog days have settled in.  PJ saw those pictures you posted and said - "Those dogs are like ours - how do they keep them so CLEAN?!?"  Sidebar - PJ is a total neat freak and the dogs give him the heebie jeebies.  Favorite animal:  penguin because they look so clean.  But grooming them is at the bottom of the chore list as usual.  And as usual we'll prboably let Mother Nature take care of it - their coats are very wash and wear.  They just look so much nicer during shedding season if they get a couple of grooming sessions..

brookcove

J saw those pictures you posted and said - "Those dogs are like ours - how do they keep them so CLEAN?!?"

Actually, most of those dogs get bathed once a year - a few days before Crufts.  But they aren't working dogs, which is likely the difference.  

brookcove

Sidebar - PJ is a total neat freak and the dogs give him the heebie jeebies.  Favorite animal:  penguin because they look so clean.

I just got the most hilarious mental image of a penguin farm, with PJ standing in the middle of a flock (herd? crew? bunch?) of penguins, smiling.

But...I can groom...and will HAPPILY come and groom them.  *Heads off to check flight prices to NC*

That would be too fun if you could work that out.  And I wouldn't work you too hard, really.  :)  I'm equally distantly located between GSO, Raleigh, and Richmond VA airports.  Or you could connect from DC to Danville, VA - I think there's flights.

brookcove

You really can't do anything around here without tripping over a Maremma or three. 

Are the Maremma's trained not to interact with the sheep and Ted?..or are they just not interested?

Ted looked great!!  I think I'll join Kate. I could really use some time to destress on a farm and I''m a fast learner for whatever needs doin

 I think Becca's missing a trick here....she should offer a sideline in "farm holidays", and people from the forum can all spend a couple of weeks in NC with Becca and her crew, working the farm and living the country life, before heading back to the real world.  LOL. 

Benedict

 I think Becca's missing a trick here....she should offer a sideline in "farm holidays", and people from the forum can all spend a couple of weeks in NC with Becca and her crew, working the farm and living the country life, before heading back to the real world.  LOL. 

No kidding! People pay good money to go to those dude ranches and I've seen some of Becca's recipes, so I know the food would be good. A few horses to ride would be nice, but some of those sheep look pretty big