When I came into trialling there were usually experienced shepherds letting out sheep - one man one dog being the norm. Shepherds in this part of Scotland - mainly hill men, set up courses without fetch gates.Years ago most hill dogs were LINE dogs, capable of fetching/driving sheep straight with few or no commands. With no fetch gates sheep can be picked up anywhere. The general consensus is the less sheep are upset at the top the better.Young dogs especially do not want a lot of activity at the top of a field. They should not have to pick up sheep literally sat on someones feet!Some trials these days have a number of people at the top. A World Trial I watched on television had seven people in a what can only be described as a cul de sac. Sheep for nursery dogs should be let out and dog and handler get back out of the way as far as possible.Shepherds/farm dogs do not see many folk at home. If these dogs are given a fright at the top of the field it can ruin them for life & dont some people know it!!.There is too much emphasis on how a dog LIFTS these days.On the hill dogs learn where to be on sheep. They use their own tactics based on experience, depending on whether sheep are quiet or wild. Intelligent dogs learn to scent, to FEEL sheep out as they drift in for a lift. Nowadays instead of giving dogs time to learn where to be on their sheep, everything is engineered. Same at the pen.What folk need to realise is that like people dogs each have their own unique method & learn by their mistakes if given the opportunity.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 12:23:49 +0000
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