[Jacob-list] Dogs and sheep

[Peaceful Valley Farm]

I know one of our dogs (Zion our big 130 lb. 2 yr. old Boerboel) could easily rip a sheep into pieces.  Ram or ewe.  He's got that bulldog mentalitiy where he just doesn't give up even if they're charging him.  He'd just dodge and then try to go in and get a grip on them.   Our German Shepherd (who isn't much of a shepherd... more of a butcher.)  could also do some major damage (if not kill) one of our ewes.  Both of our dogs are very high prey drive, and aren't your average dog.  I've pulled them off sheep a couple of times (and finally learend my lesson, about letting them in with the sheep, or having them out when the sheep are out.) and you can pound on them with your fists and scream your head off, but they'll just keep holding on.  I have to sit on there heads and sort of pry there jawas to get them off.  Now don't get me wrong, our dogs are not these maniac dogs that eat everything that moves.  They are VERY sweet, with people, and love little kids.  They get along with our five cats, and the German Shepherd will even let the cats knead on her.  (Zion does enjoy a little chase, but he never hurts them on purpose, even if they're cornered.)  Sheep just happen to be one of the things we can't trust them with.  They do serve a purpose of protecting the sheep (little do they know. :) ).  Zion tore his ACL chasing off a pack or stray dogs a 3 or 4 weeks ago, and I have witnessed them chasing off a coyote.  When the coyotes howl off in the distance, our dogs will howl and bark, which alot of times gets the coyotes quiet (I don't know if it's coincidence, but it is pretty funny.)  Also, as long as the sheep are on one side of the fence and the dogs on the other, every'body's happy. :) (for the most part :) )
  
It just depends on the dog I guess.  I know with some of the game-bred pitbulls, a sheep wouldn't be able to stop them.  They use some of the game-bred ones for wild boar hunting, and boars can be pretty nasty.  SO never undersestimate a single dog.  It all depends on the dogs size, and mainly its drive, but then again I'm sure there are high drive dogs that are very gentle with sheep, so it also depends on the temperament.

Sorry, I just had to chime in here.  I love dogs, and have spent alot of time reseaching them and been on various message boards (especially for working dogs.), and let me tell you, alot of the working dogs (especially in the bull and mastiff family and alot of the working line Shepherds.) are tough as nails.  You have to remember, that alot of them were originally bred for fighting bulls, bears, boar, and other dogs.  And nowadays, the Shepherds aren't used much for herding, but for police work (which requires high-drive dogs).
Matthew
Peaceful Valley Farm
Ringgold, GA
www.peacefulvalleyfarm.com 
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