Peg Haese

Sorry, Bill, but they do indeed look like real live Hungarian Racka sheep. I have seen photos before from someone out east who was trying to import semen for them. Probably because of their fleece as I remember. In fact I think she bought a Racka fleece at one of the fiber fests and was trying to find more.

Nick says, "Ewes in my flock like that have a name: Sausage." Or Dog Food, right? Right now we have Sausage (barren two-year-old), Dog Food (bad mom), and Dog Food #2 (also bad mom) waiting for a trip to the butcher. Lamb Chop (a Katahdin with a malformed teat, not from mastitis) is already in the freezer and she tastes really good.

All sheep are tasty to predators, not just hair sheep (although they may be MORE tasty). Unless you are a wool addict, please consider a nice hair breed like the Katahdin, which does have some flocking instinct. There are a number of good breeders in your part of the country. And good luck with your new flock.

Many whippet and greyhound owners would laugh at this study. Both breeds are well-known as fighters within their own pack structures. Maybe that doesn't count as dog-aggressive? It sure is scary to have two bitches trying to kill each other day after day. I had the problem with several sets of whippets over 25 years. These were well-trained housedogs, with obedience titles, and very competitive racers and lure-coursers. I was the alpha of the pack. Made no difference. They are usually good with dogs outside their own family units. Greyhounds are the same. Very terrier-like in fact. Something is suspicious about this study. Maybe they just talked to pet people who don't have a clue. I always trust chows and mutts the least myself. Now we have ABC-registered, working Border collies and things are calmer. Two litter brothers (one intact, one neutered) do a lot of posturing but little actual fighting. Their mother is the queen. The spayed LGDs co-exist but no fighting with them - yet. That's just a matter of time from what I hear.

Great! Redneck's dam had triplets again this year herself, I will try to get some photos. The weather has been pretty crummy for that this spring.

Sam, are any of these related to Redneck? Our Kat lambs sired by the Hennings' former ram, Barney, have been doing really well. The oldest are about 10 days old. Peg Haese in SW Wisconsin USA PNP Katahdins and commercial wool flock

Beth, I'd like to add that spectating at a clinic first can be a good way to ease into the culture and meet people. Of course jumping in all the way works too. The Shannahan clinic at Portage would be really helpful. Patrick has a great way with new dogs and handlers. Brag mode on: Chico, the dog in my avatar photo, is a litterbrother to Laura L.'s wonderful Brock. Peg Haese and BCs in SW Wisconsin PNP Katahdins and commercial wool flock

Muddy, be sure you start a diary for the family. I'm not kidding. Just a day-by-day listing of dam (and sire if you know), number of lambs, lamb's sex, face or body color, birth weight if you can, and any treatments like shots and worming. This is a good idea for anyone with sheep. You think you can remember, and you can't recall specific details later. I write notes in a little pocket notebook, take it in the house, and enter it in a computer file. You could also just use a legal pad. For eartags, get blank ones and a special pen for writing on them. (We change colors every year. So this year's tags are salmon and start 06-01, 06-02, etc.) They may also need a scrapie tag which you can order for free through your state vet office. Ask for a tag applicator at the same time (should also be free). If you use the same kind of tag for both, you only need one applicator. Ours sheep have two tags each in case one gets pulled out somewhere along the line. That's very common. We use a rubber band elastrator for doing tails and castrating the boys. In your situation, banding the boys would be a VERY good idea. Just be sure to get both testicles, not just one. That may be what happened to the lambs' daddy if he was supposed to be a wether and wasn't. If you don't keep all the lambs, your buyers may be interested in the family details even if you don't think you are. A lot of shepherds started out with sheep just meant for herding and didn't intend to have lambs. You're in good company. Peg Haese and BCs in SW Wisconsin PNP Katahdins and commercial wool flock

Speaking of dewclaws, do many working-bred BCs have rear ones? One of our seven pups had rear ones which were removed when she was a couple of days old. I was afraid they'd get injured out in the field. She eventually went to a pet home. Peg Haese and BCs in SW Wisconsin PNP Katahdins and commercial wool flock

I hope Tess is doing better. Eye problems are nothing to fool around with. Go straight to the nearest veterinary ophthalmologist! Vet schools and specialty clinics have them. My whippet Babs lost both eyes due to glaucoma. Our local vet thought it was a scratched cornea and kept treating it wrong. He never apologized for messing up (scared of liability) and I changed vets. The specialist we finally got referred to had a long talk with him and his partners at a professional meeting. Panda gets half a Uricon tablet twice a day for incontinence. I put them right down her throat and she gets a treat. My dogs come running when they hear a pill bottle rattle because they think it means treat time. I start by giving pretend pills when they're puppies (finger in throat, treat). The cats don't get much oral medicine but when they do, there's milk waiting in the dish. Any kittens we keep get pretend pills, too. Peg Haese and Border collies in SW Wisconsin USA PNP Katahdins and commercial wool flock

Maristela, a lot of dairy farms here in Wisconsin (America's Dairyland) use Border collies or other stock dogs to move the cows. Your dog should learn the twice-a-day (or 3X) routine quickly and be a big help. Cows are smart enough to cooperate with a good dog they already know, and not get stressed. Peg Haese and Border collies in SW Wisconsin, USA PNP Katahdins

Hi, Amber, your dog could easily get hurt! Horses and ponies are very good at kicking dogs - hard. I don't know what you mean by "high kick height" but it doesn't mean your dog would be safe working the ponies. Training for whistles comes after the dog know voice commands really well and you feel comforable working stock together. Peg Haese and Border collies in SW Wisconsin PNP Katahdins

Jade, I went through the same experience when taking two six-month-old BC pups in for their rabies shots. Harpo had both testicles down but Chico only had one. The vet wanted to schedule castration right away but I knew better and declined. The second one eventually dropped. We sold a litter brother, Zeppo, to a retired couple after their old BC died. He came back at nine months because he was "too active." He WAS a handful but also a natural at herding. Unfortunately he had already been castrated due to the late testicle "problem." What a shame. Zeppo was trained to Nursery level by his next owner and eventually went to a dairy farmer. Please wait until your dog is at least a year old before deciding what to do. My other breed is the working whippet. Monorchidism is fairly common in that breed. Many of the castrated males are excellent, competitive racers and coursers. Besides removing the possibility of testicle cancer, castrated males also escape prostate problems. They also don't pee on their front legs as much as intact dogs do. The story about the show dog with three testicles has been around for awhile. The version I heard involved a boxer in the ring for Best in Show. It may be an urban legend. Considering the cosmetic surgeries show dogs may undergo and still compete (ears, jaws, teeth, eyelids, tailsets, knees, hips, ad nauseum), it could well be true. PS: Our pups did not start out being named after the Marx Brothers. "Chico" means "little boy" and he was the runt. It just took off from there. Peg in SW Wisconsin