All photos and articles are copyright ©1999, ©2000, ©2001, ©2002, ©2003, ©2004, ©2005, ©2006, ©2007 by Diane Pagel. Written permission must obtained for photos, artwork, wording and anything else on the Deltabluez site
WORKING LAMBS..............
Tess has been working ewes and lambs for 6 years. She is very good at it. She will hold her ground and ease off her power and turn her head to release the pressure. In the series of pictures you will see Tess holding her ground, but take a close look at her head and body stance. She will turn her head very slightly in some of the pictures and that will make the ewe feel less threatened. Then the ewe will move with her lamb.
If you have too hard of a dog, the ewe will put up a defensive stance and may charge the dog. Then it is a battle as the ewe is very protective to her lambs.
If you have too weak of a dog, the ewe will never move and the dog is unable to do anything.
Some dogs will not work ewes and lambs. I train all of my dogs to move the ewes and lambs so they will learn how to apply and release pressure. Sometimes they will have to move 30 plus ewes and 60 plus lambs, ranging from a few hours old to a few weeks old all in the same group. So a dog will have to be able to move the newest borne as well as lambs that are 1 plus week old.
Lambs are not afraid of dogs so sometime they will run up to Tess and nuzzle her. She is very gentle with the lambs and will nudge them with her nose to get them moving. She will never grip a new lamb. I have seen her sometimes lead the lamb back to the flock.
When I let the flock free range on the lawn, Tess will lie down and tend the flock. Then some lambs will play on or next to her and she is very patient with them. The ewes seem to sense that their lambs are not in danger with Tess and let them be.
If you have too hard of a dog, the ewe will put up a defensive stance and may charge the dog. Then it is a battle as the ewe is very protective to her lambs.
If you have too weak of a dog, the ewe will never move and the dog is unable to do anything.
Some dogs will not work ewes and lambs. I train all of my dogs to move the ewes and lambs so they will learn how to apply and release pressure. Sometimes they will have to move 30 plus ewes and 60 plus lambs, ranging from a few hours old to a few weeks old all in the same group. So a dog will have to be able to move the newest borne as well as lambs that are 1 plus week old.
Lambs are not afraid of dogs so sometime they will run up to Tess and nuzzle her. She is very gentle with the lambs and will nudge them with her nose to get them moving. She will never grip a new lamb. I have seen her sometimes lead the lamb back to the flock.
When I let the flock free range on the lawn, Tess will lie down and tend the flock. Then some lambs will play on or next to her and she is very patient with them. The ewes seem to sense that their lambs are not in danger with Tess and let them be.
First walk up....first first meeting the ewe to turning and moving the ewe took about 2-3 minutes...all very patient and quiet work
Ewe checking on her lamb
Tess taking one step in and standing still
Tess lifting one foot off the ground and holding the stance
Ewe taking one step to Tess and Tess just bends her body away from the ewe just slightly
Tess repositioning herself just one step to catch the ewe's eye
Now Tess is leaning forward into the ewe
Notice Tess has turned her head AWAY from the ewe but still holding her position
The ewe is feeling less threatened and now is looking to leave and Tess has moved her face towards the ewe. Notice in the last three pictures her foot is still in the air--FROZEN!!
Oh wait, a quick drink for the lamb...everyone FREEZE...Tess patiently waits for the lamb to finish nursing
Tess is now turning her head into the ewe
Tess walking up to the ewe
Notice the ewe is turning away from Tess at this point. Tess is holding her position
Here are close ups of Tess turning her head ever so slightly..Note she just hardly turns her head but it make a big difference
Here is a time when the ewe took a charge at Tess. Tess held her ground and the ewe backed off. As you can see, Tess is being patient but means business
DeltaBluez Stockdogs
