Sheep Proof Your Dog

22/08/2024

Under 2 weeks until I will be sheep proofing in the Brecon Beacons. If your dog has chased sheep, or you can't call it off from chasing wildlife, come and learn how to control your dog in one session. People are always amazed that it takes one session, but with me you can learn the principles, and have peaceful walks. To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sheep-proof-your-dog-in-brecon-tickets-976092919197
also has a campsite, very close to Pen y Fan.

07/08/2024

Wise advice below over the summer holidays. I often see more dogs in September, as people's dogs have chased sheep over the summer holidays.

We're big fans of dogs, especially ones that know to when out in the South Downs National Park.

Be sure to keep your doggos on the lead, especially if near livestock.

Also look out for signs indicating groundnesting birds and put your dog on the lead to avoid disturbing their nests.

06/08/2024

A chicken proof dog, and one VERY brave chicken!

01/08/2024

I had quite a contrast in dog sizes today. A huge Leonburger, and 2 terriers. All 3 were very well behaved, and a pleasure to train.

23/07/2024

This poor chicken was just attacked by a dog on the footpath. She ran up to the dog kennels for safety, as she obviously realises that although Clyde will stalk her, he won't try to kill her. So, for all dog walkers who can't get keep your dog under control, please come and see me, or keep it on a lead. You never know what animals you will come across in the countryside.

15/07/2024

Last week I received the email below, which was very satisfying to receive. The dog in question was one of the dogs nearest the top of this year's naughty list, and I thought we hadn't got very far with him. After training him my voice was hoarse, trying to keep him under control. Clyde, in the picture, the collie I took on last year, was much the same, and at times I wondered if I had made a bad decision, but persistence pays off.

Hi Tobin,
I don't know if you remember Toby. He is a black retriever / spaniel cross, whom you said was one of the worst you've worked with.

Well, there were quite a few sheep on the common when we went for our walk this morning. Whilst Toby kept a close eye on them he didn't bark, and he didn't try to chase them. In fact, he seemed to want to get passed them as quickly as possible.

Maybe your methods had a greater impact than we thought at the time!

Thanks for your help.

30/06/2024

Saturday was a hot day for sheep proofing. I think this week should thankfully be cooler. At least there is a trough to cool off in!

22/06/2024

Some positive news to potentially help prosecute owners of dogs that attack sheep.

Officers hope the technique being trialled will allow them to prosecute those responsible in the future.

18/05/2024

🐕 Tobin Bird, a sheep farmer at Woodside Farm in Cranbrook, said he had seen first-hand the effect of sheep worrying and wanted to take action by offering training courses for dog owners.

Find out more ⬇️
https://www.farmersguardian.com/news/4201135/kent-farmer-encourages-dog-owners-undertake-training-order-alleviate-livestock-worrying-burden-farm-businesses

Sheep Proof Your Dog

03/05/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuM8-hKKKIU

Great video produced by Farming Britain YouTube channel.

27/04/2024

Clyde with his new friend! Last year when I bought him as an 8 month old dog, he wanted to eat lambs!

So can you stop your dog from chasing sheep and wildlife?

Not long now till I will be sheep proofing dogs in the Ashdown Forest in Sussex on 8th May 2024. The 20 minute sessions cost £37.07, and will be training dogs to not chase livestock and wildlife and also equipping their owners with the skills to control them. For booking see: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/copy-of-sheep-proof-your-dog-in-ashdown-forest-tickets-863044929617

I have now been running these sessions for over 10 years, with hundreds of dogs and grateful owners visiting me there, and on my sheep farm in Kent.

Venue: Cat's Protection Centre in Chelwood Gate

23/04/2024

Can you stop your dog from chasing sheep and wildlife?

Not long now till I will be sheep proofing dogs in the Ashdown Forest in Sussex on 8th May 2024. The 20 minute sessions cost £37.07, and will be training dogs to not chase livestock and wildlife and also equipping their owners with the skills to control them. For booking see: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/copy-of-sheep-proof-your-dog-in-ashdown-forest-tickets-863044929617

I have now been running these sessions for over 10 years, with hundreds of dogs and grateful owners visiting me there, and on my sheep farm in Kent.

Venue: Cat's Protection Centre in Chelwood Gate

Concerned your dog may, or has chased sheep?

16/04/2024

Many people do not realise the damage a dog bite can do to lambs. These 2 lambs were probably attacked by a fox, one sadly killed, the other had a serious neck injury, but if an animal the size of a small dog can do this, just think what any dog can do. Please feel free to visit me at the farm for sheep proofing, or I will be in the on 8th May for a day of sheep proofing. See https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/copy-of-sheep-proof-your-dog-in-ashdown-forest-tickets-863044929617

08/04/2024

Jo Burn from the BBC was here on the farm last week, highlighting sheep safety at this time of year, which is very commendable. It all helps.

Tobin Bird helped train 500 pets last year after losing livestock to dog attacks in the past.

02/04/2024

4 terriers came to visit today, and all were very well behaved. Poppy, my collie, being on heat, had to say hello, just in case there were any eligible young men there. Thankfully not!

29/03/2024

Bored collies amusing themselves in the lambing shed at night.

22/03/2024

Lambing has started at Woodside Farm, but it is still time to think of . I will be Sheep Proofing dogs in the Ashdown Forest on 8th May at the Cat's Protection Centre in Chelwood Gate. To book a place go to Eventbrite.co.uk, or the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/copy-of-sheep-proof-your-dog-in-ashdown-forest-tickets-863047015857?aff=oddtdtcreator

15/03/2024

Reluctant Labrador not keen to go near sheep, but happy to put her muddy paws all over her owner!

28/02/2024

Another Bavarian Mountain Hound visited yesterday, having had another pair visit recently. Lovely looking dogs. Meanwhile, my 2 hounds in the background are waiting to pounce!

24/02/2024

These 2 spaniels behaved very well yesterday, after a very noisy start, with 2 happy owners. Sadly though, before they came to the farm, a different local dog was doing its regular walk around the farm, but this time it jumped the cattle grid, and chased my sheep, having never done so before. Please don't take previous good behaviour for granted. All dogs have the potential to chase sheep, even if they have previously shown no interest. Please keep your dog on the lead, and feel free to visit me (but I will be lambing soon!).

17/02/2024

2 rather rare visitors this week; Bavarian mountain hounds. I don't often see this breed.

14/02/2024

Happy as a pig in hay.

05/02/2024

A large dark brown Labrador dog wearing a red collar has been witnessed chasing deer and livestock several times over the last week in land adjacent to Ashdown Forest (near Tabell Ghyll, Ridge and Dumpys car parks). Sadly, yesterday a dead deer was found with large wounds consistent with a dog attack. The deer was found in a field home to our pregnant Hebridean ewes. We have made the police aware of these incidents.

The free-roaming sheep and cattle may not be out on the Forest yet, but there are many areas neighbouring Ashdown Forest which are home to livestock.

Please remember that many grazing animals are currently pregnant and a dog chasing or even chasing animals nearby can cause enough stress for ewes to abort their lambs. The owner of a dog caught worrying livestock runs the risk of their dog being shot, and prosecution. (The Animals Act, 1971)

When you are walking your dog in the countryside, please:

1. Keep your dog in sight at all times, and don’t let them off the lead if you aren’t confident in their recall (even a normally responsive dog can struggle with recall when they see running deer or livestock).

2. If you can see livestock in the area that you are walking, keep your dog on a short lead but release them if you are chased by cattle.

3. If you witness a dog chasing deer or livestock on Ashdown Forest or the land adjoining it, please report it to us on 01342 822846.

Thank you.

31/01/2024

Today I had the most difficult dog I have had in ages, and in fact, I was about to send it home early, but we pressed on and got a degree of control, which was a huge relief. are about to interview me about sheep worrying for this evening's news, and this dog would have been a good dog for them see.

29/01/2024

Sometimes people come back to me a second time, or I hear of people who give up on controlling the prey drive in their dogs, so today I was very pleased to receive the message below, and maybe those with "difficult" dogs will be encouraged to persist in training. Please have a read:
"Hi. Have waited to message you in case Mythos let me down but I cracked his penchant for deer hunting!
Thanks to you giving me the belief that persistence would eventually work along with him growing up a bit! I really persisted on every walk!
I literally found a herd of deer regularly and applied the 'No!' and bottle .
He now comes to find me if he spots a deer.
Of course there may be a lapse but I am suddenly feeling pretty confident.
I basically have a dog that is nearly always in sight and is no longer desperately trying to hunt!
Thank you.
I hope my message isn't followed by a relapse! I am the person who came back to you a year after the first time and mythos wouldn't react to your sheep or chase anything we tried."

01/12/2023

This French bulldog came to visit today, and was very well behaved, following on after 3 naughty Kerry Blue terriers. It's been a great day to be outside.

10/11/2023

One of the rams busy with his wives this morning.

21/10/2023

This is a group of happy sheep, but another small group was, I think, chased this morning by a dog, despite warning signs being put up. No major harm was done, except that the sheep were stressed and wouldn't eat their food, and another lamb had jumped a fence, and I had to spend some time looking for it, when I was rather busy. Sadly, sometimes it is only when people hear about a dog being shot that they really start to take care when walking their dogs. So, if your dog has chased my sheep, or someone else's, please come and see me so I can help.

20/10/2023

Clyde, after much hard work, is becoming more responsive and obedient. Some dogs just take a lot of effort, but it is worth it. So take heart if your dog is a struggle!

26/08/2023

I will be back at Cat's Protection, Chelwood Gate in the Ashdown Forest sheep proofing dogs on Wednesday 20th September. To book a space on Eventbrite please follow the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sheep-proof-your-dog-in-ashdown-forest-tickets-705962210977?aff=oddtdtcreator
Any problems with the link, please let me know. Now is a good time to be training your dog to be controlled around livestock and wildlife, as it gives you time to practice before the lambs arrive in spring time.