This is a question I've been meaning to ask for some time... - Exclusively Setters2024-03-28T14:03:32Zhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/forum/topics/this-is-a-question-ive-been?commentId=865021%3AComment%3A511265&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noOh, god, my old Irish used to…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-17:865021:Comment:5112652011-03-17T15:11:26.084ZJelena Kreitmayerhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/legosmom
<p>Oh, god, my old Irish used to be a notorious sheep chaser & chicken killer. Would go into the red zone. When we'd take him to the weekend house in the village, the villagers would yell one to another "Lun is here, close up your chickens!!!".. He'd go into the red zone and that was it.</p>
<p>Lego, on the other hand, has no idea what the chicken is, only the wild birds, and I don't think he's ever seen a sheep. Cow- he's afraid of, horses are good. He loves other small animals (including…</p>
<p>Oh, god, my old Irish used to be a notorious sheep chaser & chicken killer. Would go into the red zone. When we'd take him to the weekend house in the village, the villagers would yell one to another "Lun is here, close up your chickens!!!".. He'd go into the red zone and that was it.</p>
<p>Lego, on the other hand, has no idea what the chicken is, only the wild birds, and I don't think he's ever seen a sheep. Cow- he's afraid of, horses are good. He loves other small animals (including mice), but squirrels are starting to get on his nerves as well.</p>
<p>How did I manage it? you just hope the dog's not off the leash when around chickens/sheep :P I used Flexi a lot...</p> That is very scary.I know the…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-17:865021:Comment:5111642011-03-17T14:26:54.744ZHoward Glansfieldhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/HowardGlansfield
That is very scary.I know the law is on the farmer's side but you'd have hoped the farmer would have some compassion especially if his sheep were not being worried.Most farmers that I know ,unfortunately,don't.
That is very scary.I know the law is on the farmer's side but you'd have hoped the farmer would have some compassion especially if his sheep were not being worried.Most farmers that I know ,unfortunately,don't. Hi Catherine
We live on 10 ac…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-16:865021:Comment:5096862011-03-16T09:20:42.693ZPeter Hennighttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/PeterHennig
<p>Hi Catherine</p>
<p>We live on 10 acres we have sheep and a horse and there is a dairy farm across the road so our IS in the past and present are ok with everything as they are used to it all, occasionally my present IS will chase the horse for a short while until I scream at him. we had geese at one stage no one worries them they rule the area</p>
<p>Hi Catherine</p>
<p>We live on 10 acres we have sheep and a horse and there is a dairy farm across the road so our IS in the past and present are ok with everything as they are used to it all, occasionally my present IS will chase the horse for a short while until I scream at him. we had geese at one stage no one worries them they rule the area</p> Catherine, in my humble opini…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-11:865021:Comment:5036962011-03-11T14:36:13.129ZChantal McIlveen-Wrighthttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/ChantalMcIlveenWright
Catherine, in my humble opinion and to be on the safe side, never trust an Irish (and many other dogs) if there is sheep around. You can give him 1 to 1 training if you wish, but it will not change his "basic" instincts to the point that he will be able to go near a sheep without a lead and say hello flock.... so if sheep around, or possibility that they may be some around, Errol should be on lead..... and for the rest of his life :-(
Catherine, in my humble opinion and to be on the safe side, never trust an Irish (and many other dogs) if there is sheep around. You can give him 1 to 1 training if you wish, but it will not change his "basic" instincts to the point that he will be able to go near a sheep without a lead and say hello flock.... so if sheep around, or possibility that they may be some around, Errol should be on lead..... and for the rest of his life :-( Phew, I admit that I am glad…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-11:865021:Comment:5036012011-03-11T13:48:05.671ZKC and the boyshttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/Catherine_and_Errol
<p>Phew, I admit that I am glad to hear that livestock and wildlife chasing is not as uncommon amongst ISs as I had feared. Not that it should be encouraged or considered acceptable behaviour. However, compared to others Errol really seems to have moved over to the <em>Dark Side</em>: when still only 8months old he managed to bring down a lamb! I didn’t see how it happened as he had disappeared out of eyesight. By the time I found them both the lamb was alive but on the ground so it could have…</p>
<p>Phew, I admit that I am glad to hear that livestock and wildlife chasing is not as uncommon amongst ISs as I had feared. Not that it should be encouraged or considered acceptable behaviour. However, compared to others Errol really seems to have moved over to the <em>Dark Side</em>: when still only 8months old he managed to bring down a lamb! I didn’t see how it happened as he had disappeared out of eyesight. By the time I found them both the lamb was alive but on the ground so it could have been simply exhausted or disorientated. Errol was excitedly jumping around barking just as he would trying to animate another dog. Unfortunately it took me ages to get closer – the field was enormous and the wind blowing - so when I finally reached them Errol was about to start tearing at the poor creature’s leg. It was really distressing but somehow I managed to remain calm, asked him to ‘leave’ and ‘sit’ and strangely enough that’s exactly what he did! It was quite surreal. Still the damage was done. It took me ages to locate the owner of the flock as many farmers lease grazing land on the Downs. I got away lightly as the farmer seemed strangely understanding and was just glad I had reported the incidence to him. I’m aware that he could have reported me to the Police and rightly so.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Obviously since then sheep were a no-go area but it seems impossible to avoid them around here. Most recently Errol managed to get through a large hole in a fence onto a field which had always been used for cattle grazing (which he fears) but suddenly there they were: sheep. He chased the flock and separated a ewe but ran back towards me when he was confronted by another walker with a Staffie and I was able to put him on the leash. The fellow walker gave me a stern lecture and accused me of having walked my dog off leash through the herd which was completely fabricated. I was so angry, both with myself, the dog and the whole situation… I’m also highly embarrassed about my stupidity and experienced dog owners will no doubt tell me off for being irresponsible but in my defence I did not know that the livestock had been rotated and I had considered the area to be safe.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rest assured I’m no longer taking any chances and have signed up for 1-2-1 tuition with a dog trainer with focus on recall, distraction and desensitisation. Errol is currently getting used to wearing a Citronella Spray Collar – well, I’d say he’s used to it already. He stretched his neck out willingly this morning even though the thing fits really tight. We have yet to put it into action though. I really am not sure whether my efforts will help in any way or whether I’m just wasting my money here but anything is worth a try. In the meantime it’s the long line only for the young man….</p> My young dog actually caught…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-10:865021:Comment:5032952011-03-10T22:36:49.837ZCarmel Stringfellowhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/Bridgnorth
My young dog actually caught a pigeon the other day. I don't know how he managed it but thankfully he hasn't gone after the chickens.... yet!
My young dog actually caught a pigeon the other day. I don't know how he managed it but thankfully he hasn't gone after the chickens.... yet! I didn't think birds would co…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-10:865021:Comment:5032922011-03-10T21:40:38.488ZHoward Glansfieldhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/HowardGlansfield
I didn't think birds would count as they are gun dogs! Fred has caught a blackbird but dropped it when I realised,it flew away.Ellie has caught a squirrel, to her and the squirrel's surprise! The squirrel was unhurt.Arthur,as yet,hasn't caught anything but is fascinated by pigeons and will chase them as they fly across the sky,he has learnt his lesson though as the last time he was so busy looking skywards that he ran straight into a fence! He looked at me as if it was my fault!
I didn't think birds would count as they are gun dogs! Fred has caught a blackbird but dropped it when I realised,it flew away.Ellie has caught a squirrel, to her and the squirrel's surprise! The squirrel was unhurt.Arthur,as yet,hasn't caught anything but is fascinated by pigeons and will chase them as they fly across the sky,he has learnt his lesson though as the last time he was so busy looking skywards that he ran straight into a fence! He looked at me as if it was my fault! Hi Catherine,
Ours stalk pidg…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-10:865021:Comment:5033742011-03-10T20:34:36.405ZDavid Wyatthttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/DavidWyatt
<p>Hi Catherine,</p>
<p>Ours stalk pidgeons and gulls in the garden, thankfully they have not caught any yet. Murphy is fine but Meg will chase rabbits till she drops if given the chance.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dave </p>
<p>Hi Catherine,</p>
<p>Ours stalk pidgeons and gulls in the garden, thankfully they have not caught any yet. Murphy is fine but Meg will chase rabbits till she drops if given the chance.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dave </p> My dogs have never come acros…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-09:865021:Comment:5026872011-03-09T21:35:20.778ZCarmel Stringfellowhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/Bridgnorth
My dogs have never come across sheep so I don't know what they would do. I have one who was a dreadful chicken killler but I caught her at it a few times and now I can call her off when she gets that look in her eye. She is a very brave dog though and once took on a rodeo bull that the neighboring farmer had put in his paddock. I didn't realise it was there and it started to come after me and she grabbed it's tail and was sort of swinging off it. The bull was distracted and tried to get around…
My dogs have never come across sheep so I don't know what they would do. I have one who was a dreadful chicken killler but I caught her at it a few times and now I can call her off when she gets that look in her eye. She is a very brave dog though and once took on a rodeo bull that the neighboring farmer had put in his paddock. I didn't realise it was there and it started to come after me and she grabbed it's tail and was sort of swinging off it. The bull was distracted and tried to get around at her but she was too fast. I still don't know how she managed to get away without being hurt but we both got out safely. Didn't go for a walk in that paddock again!! The only time we have had a p…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-09:865021:Comment:5027752011-03-09T20:20:26.044ZLeigh Richardsonhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/LeighRichardson
The only time we have had a problem like this was once on holiday, we decided to go to 'the official Dog Walk' there were a few of us and all together about 10 dogs (irish, red & whites, a lab and a crossbreed), the dogs were all running off the lead and there were also lots of sheep. I cant remember much of what happened except chaos!!!!!!!!!!!
The only time we have had a problem like this was once on holiday, we decided to go to 'the official Dog Walk' there were a few of us and all together about 10 dogs (irish, red & whites, a lab and a crossbreed), the dogs were all running off the lead and there were also lots of sheep. I cant remember much of what happened except chaos!!!!!!!!!!!