Walking yesterday morning with Lady and we were making our way through a field with 8 rams all in a group doing what blokes like to do. Vegging out, chewing the cud and generally relaxing in the spring air. Lady is pretty good and generally ignores sheep. Then ..... A young Golden Retriever she knows well spotted her in the field and charged through the kissing gate to greet Lady, spotted the rams and charged after them. Some really vigorous yells from his owner stopped him, but only just! Talking to his owner afterwards, she said he'd done the same thing yesterday and received a good butting in the side from one of the rams. Seems he didn't learn from the experience so I guess Labs must be smarter than Golden Retrievers - well this Golden Retriver at any rate. ;D
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep Well David, even after a good butt I think Lady is probably just too irresistable to resist for the Golden Retriever ;D We had a sheep experience this week but a little different to yours. Hattie and I were walking through a paddock where there are about 10 Ewes waiting to lamb, Hattie is very calm around sheep as she is very used to them, we continued to walk on lead of course when a sheep came right upto us and allowed me to stroke it's head, Hattie just sat next to me without any movement or sound. I find that the sheep are not at all bothered by her and never scatter maybe because they think she is a black sheep, they even follow us or walk right next to us. It's lovely
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep [quote author=Oberon link=topic=5262.msg66241#msg66241 date=1396715812] Lady is definitely one smart gal. No ifs or butts about it. [/quote] Grooooaaaaaaan But you're right Lady is super smart
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep Charlie is such a good dog, Helen. You must be very proud of him. None of the sheep we meet would approach us like that. They sometimes gang up on us though and do a kind of face off with the dog.
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep [quote author=David link=topic=5262.msg66288#msg66288 date=1396720839] Charlie is such a good dog, Helen. You must be very proud of him. None of the sheep we meet would approach us like that. They sometimes gang up on us though and do a kind of face off with the dog. [/quote] Charlie is a good dog David thank you, but it was Hattie that encountered the sheep and I am very proud of her - thank you ;D
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep OK that's what I call a distraction, but a lovely one . This is Ollie I take it? When is your son and his new wife home from honeymoon?
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep [quote author=David link=topic=5262.msg66365#msg66365 date=1396732913] Number 1 grandson aged 1 and 11 months! [/quote] Excuses, David. He should be tucked up in bed by now
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep That's a good excuse - bedtime and all that. You will be needing a holiday
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep Your tale reminds me of a You Tube footage of a Labrador called Benton that went viral a few years ago. There but the grace of God go I! Roger
Re: Dog intelligence and sheep But these rams have attitude and I'd give one of them in particular a wide birth. I'll take a photo tomorrow if I get the chance and you'll see what I mean. ;D
