Thought I'd weigh in on this one. I live in central California and yes dogs can be very expensive here. However, if you are patient you can often find some very good pups from working parents for little to nothing. You won't be getting papered animals, but I'd much rather have the smarts than the papers. I am currently training a year old Queensland Heeler that I have had since about six weeks of age. Though he prefers working the cattle, he has learned to be patient and gentle with the sheep and is really fun to watch. I hadn't used a herding dog in years and I now wonder what I did without one. As far as training goes, I've learned to be patient and not try to overwork him. 10 to 15 minutes a day leaves him wanting to do more and try to please more each day. In short, I guess what I'm saying is you shouldn't be discouraged by what the breeders are asking for their dogs. With a little research you can get a good one and with a little patience you can make him work the way you want him to.
Ray DeSa Farms Los Banos Ca --- On Mon, 7/9/12, Carol Elkins <celk...@critterhaven.biz> wrote: From: Carol Elkins <celk...@critterhaven.biz> Subject: [Blackbelly] herding dogs -- was Re: Can we trim horns To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Date: Monday, July 9, 2012, 11:06 AM At 10:05 PM 7/7/2012, you wrote: > I wonder how in our state, people can actually pay that kind of money and > make it pencil out? When I found myself in a situation where I was a single-person flock owner, I decided to bite the bullet and purchase a "started" Border Collie. Best decision I ever made. Yes, he cost $1500, and I traded several sheep to offset the out-of-pocket cash situation a bit. He knew his basic commands. I knew nothing. It was like getting a brand new sports car with no owner manual. The seller did tell me the commands she trained him on, and she spent a couple hours helping me learn to work him. That dog knew more about sheep handling than I'll ever know. I still have no training and I know "lie down," "get back," "come by," "away," and "you damned dog." The dog, now almost 9, was never elegant, always runs the sheep at top speed when he can get away with it, and pretty much has always done things the way he thinks is best. He was never given any training past his initial commands. But he is the best dog I've ever had. He does exactly what I need him to do, which is to bring the sheep to me or help me move sheep to a different pasture. I could micro-manage him when I needed to put him between me and the ram that wanted to kill me. So the point of my story is that at least for me, getting a "started" dog was the smart thing to do, and neither he nor I ever learned anything more but we always got the job done. I couldn't have done it without him. He allows me to enjoy my sheep because I can manage them without stressing either them or myself. I can't put a dollar figure to that. The dog was worth every penny (and sheep) I paid for him. Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
