[Jacob-list] Dogs and Sheep

[Paintedrockfarm at aol.com]

Nice to see all the great responses and personal experiences with sheep and  
dogs!
 
I've posted this before about my own experience with stray dogs and my own  
livestock.  If I see the dog ONCE in/near/around my sheep on my own  property, 
it is history.  I do not give a dog an opportunity to return for  a second 
chance on taste testing a sheep.  We have been fortunate NOT to  have lost sheep 
to dogs or coyotes and I'm sure there are multiple  reasons.  My chief concern 
remains highest towards dogs in packs -- NO  MATTER IF THEY ARE SOMEONE'S PET 
or not.  Groups of dogs generally mean  trouble for some thing some where. 
 
We utilize woven wire fencing -- a good deterrent but a determined canine  
can jump over it or climb fence.  Our Jacobs tend to have a dislike  for dogs in 
general.  My basset hound house dog would probably lick one to  pieces while 
my husky mix outdoor dog stands guard beside the barn and pen  areas.  I would 
trust my basset completely but not the husky -- that run  and chase thing 
would be too much for her!  She is penned in a very large  area and her age now 
makes the sheep less interesting to do anything other than  watch.  I still am 
always careful to make sure her pen is secure.  My  dog has gotten loose a 
couple times and, to the best of our knowledge, ran  straight for house to park 
on our front porch.
 
Last summer, I had 3 dogs get into our fencing.  I shot 2 of  them, wounded 
the 3rd but never saw it again.  Just last week, we began  tracking a HUGE dog 
track in the pastures below the barn, even going up/down the  gravel road we 
live on.  Judging from its size, this was a dog that could  have easily done 
some damage if it wanted to.   Fortunately, we  managed to catch it in a trap 
INSIDE THE SHEEP PEN about 3:30am one  morning.  Even from 100 yards away in the 
dark, this dog was snarling and  growling so viciously at my husband that he 
was worried the dog might get away  before he could shoot it.  It was a mixed 
breed (intact male) and it  appeared to be Rott/Shepherd/??? mix of sorts.  
Definitely on the feral  side judging by the animal's general appearance, 
possibly dumped off out here in  the country -- who knows.  Either way, it was 
determined to get to our  livestock and we were just as determined to eliminate 
this predator.
 
Like many have said,  I do think sheep and dogs can co-exist.   Depends on 
both of them as well as what the shepherd(ess) is willing to do (or  
tolerate)should an emergency arise.   I would have a difficult  time even keeping one of 
my own dogs should one of them attack one of our  sheep.  Our "companion" dogs 
are still dogs -- it has only been  within the past 200-250 years that we 
domesticated these animals.   Instincts are animal characteristics designed to 
help an animal  survive.  I honestly feel that any dog(s) left to their own 
devices  would revert back to these "animal instincts" for their own survival.
 
I'm just glad our Jacobs don't willingly roll over to strange dog, offering  
their neck as they surrender like some of the commercialized breeds seem to  
do!
 
Cheryl
 
 
Mike  & Cheryl Terrano
_Painted  Rock Farm_ (http://members.aol.com/paintedrockfarm) 
Route 4 Box 726
Buckhannon, WV  26201-9205
(304) 457-6620 
_paintedrockfarm at aol.com_ (http://paintedrockfarm@aol.com/) 
Breeders of Registered Jacob Sheep & French Angora  Rabbits
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