Morgan brand Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 So, My partner and I own a 2 year old desexed male Sharpei he is our baby but he has a serious issue chasing sheep. He has grown up on land and has started chasing the sheep since he saw our kelpies do it. We currently live with his parents so they decided they would chain him up to stop him chasing sheep. It is cruel but necessary as their fences are extremely bad and almost non existant. My Partner and I are moving out of home in a few weeks onto a vineyard which my uncle owns. He only just lost 2 sheep to some dogs yesterday and warned me if our sharpei chases or kills the sheep he has to go which is understanding. The property is fully fenced with ringlock and barbwire which is currently being done. Our pei never touched the sheep when they were in the front paddock of our house which is ringlock fencing. I want to take extra precautions in ensuring he will not go near any sheep. I am under the understanding the sheep will be in the vineyards and our sharpei will most likely not even be able to see them as his eye sight is very poor. The only time he will be able to see them is if the sheep come up to the house fence. I am wanting to build him a dog run to have him in while we are at work and let him out supervised while we are at home. While we get it organised is it cruel to leave him in the house of a day while we are at work? I really need some advice on if anyone else has had a similar problem and what I can do to ensure there is no way he can get to any sheep.Because i am so stressed out at the moment and really need some reassurance and help! Please help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillybob Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 No it isn't cruel at all, my dogs are always inside when Im not home. You could put an electric wire on your house fence, it will only take a few hits for him to realise its not worth it. Your doing the right thing for your dog and the sheep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Definitely build a LARGE enclosure ..and make it interesting , with paddle pool/sandpit /toys/shade , etc :) this is a MUCH better option that chasing sheep . :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan brand Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 I want to keep him inside while I'm at work until the enclosure is built because building a pen is not only costly but time consuming and my partner drives trucks for a living so doesn't have much time to spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canisbellum Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 You could always just teach him that chasing sheep is bad. I suggest you contact Steve Courtney at K9pro and discuss this with him. I have a Shar Pei with insane prey drive but I am slowly getting control over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 You could always just teach him that chasing sheep is bad. I suggest you contact Steve Courtney at K9pro and discuss this with him. I have a Shar Pei with insane prey drive but I am slowly getting control over it. great idea ! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Pei are a guarding breed so he might see the sheep as some kind of threat to his household? Because of the summer heat my three dogs (including a pei) are often kept inside (air cond on) while we are at work. They seem to just sleep the time away and don't find it stressful at all! Maybe once you are at your new property and can get an idea of where the sheep are in relation to where your boy's yard and you can get a better idea on whether it is a guarding behaviour or a prey drive issue. I also second getting K9 Pro in (rather than spending the money on building an enclosure just yet). I've seen the positive changes in Canetoad's pei. I've also been seeing a behaviourist who works with Steve Courtney and we've had instant results with our pei girl's behavioural problems. Fences might keep the two species seperated but it wont resolve the behaviours and it could be the same all over again if you ever move to your parents property or another place without adequate dog fencing so why not see if you can address the issue rather than band aid it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) It's not cruel to leave your dog inside for the day. My pei would much prefer to be inside, particularly during bad weather. Agree though that it would be better to fix the problem for peace of mind. Edited January 7, 2016 by Cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan brand Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 I would love to hire a trainer but money is an issue. I'm only 19 moving out of home for the first time and also studying animals at tafe. Does anyone have any suggestions I really want to work on his recall. The thing that stumps me is when I take him to my parents house their fences aren't great and they have cattle always in the paddocks and he doesn't even bat an eye at them I think it's because my parents have border collies and he really enjoys the company of other dogs because h has never really been able to play freely unless I take him to mum and dads because my partners family all their dogs have sheep issue so it's sad that they are all chained up. I hate seeing animals live like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) My dogs are always inside when we are out - they are super comfortable with it. We are on a very steep block and I just don't trust my Springers as they will go through a fence if they're hunting. My Dally is much more relaxed inside too. Edited January 7, 2016 by The Spotted Devil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 I will play Devil's Advocate here. My behaviouralist visit cost $380 (travel costs were also involved as she doesn't live close). I spent another $100 on two metal crates and some training toys and made everything else (treat dispensing aids and some specialised tug toys). Everything else I had, including my time to implement the things suggested to me. The vet fees for the fight that prompted this behaviouralist visit cost me $5000 so you do the math on which outlay I preferred. Even if you build your own dog enclosure or install your own electric fence the materials could cost you what a good behaviouralist will. We have had instant results to implementing the recommendations and we haven't even done them all. The changes are easy to live with and really don't take much extra time out of the day. I am not yet at the point where I am not stressing about something else happening but I am vigilant without angst. I feel more in control and the dogs are benefitting from that. People on here can make suggestions (NILIF is a useful one and maybe your boy would also benefit from more mental stimulation like my girl) but these suggestions wont be targetted to your actual dog and you are risking losing your dog if it attacks more sheep at your new rental and your dog right now doesn't know attacking the sheep is wrong. And where will he go? Surrendered to a rescue where he goes in knowing he is animal aggressive? His future might not be great for rehoming and a lot of pei really suffer the loss of the owners they have bonded to. You are choosing to live in an environment that triggers your dog's known behaviour so you need to take some responsibility for that. Sorry if I sound harsh but like Canetoad the amount of pei I've seen come into rescue with unaddressed behavioural issues is heartbreakingly horrible. CT and I both have rescue pei with certain problems (who we adore) that regardless of their ages we have to continue to address. It's not our dog's fault. I think you are worried about an immediate problem and it might be better focussing on a longer term solution. If you moved to the suburbs you might find the problem just shifts to cats or something else. Why not at least ring or email some behaviourists and find out about prices and payment options before you go the DIY route? They can see things us owners can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) It is exceptionally difficult to train a dog not to follow its instincts and indulge in self rewarding behaviour when you are not around. Stock chasing generally would involve the use of strong aversives to extinguish. Even then it's no sure thing. I don't care how good the training is, with the exception of livestock guardian dogs, no one I know trusts a dogs to their own devices in the country. Spend the money on a decent run. Most are portable. Your dog's live may depend on it. Stock chasers often get shot. Edited January 7, 2016 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 A physical barrier would always be my choice over any attempt to train such instincts out of a dog. Even dogs in the country should be contained anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan brand Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 I'm hoping the newly built fences is all that we need. He won't go out of his way to jump or dig to get to them he is a pretty lazy dog that's happy to just sniff around and lay in the sun. We will build a secure run for him to be in while we are at work which will give us some piece of mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan brand Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 I'm hoping the newly built fences is all that we need. He won't go out of his way to jump or dig to get to them he is a pretty lazy dog that's happy to just sniff around and lay in the sun. We will build a secure run for him to be in while we are at work which will give us some piece of mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 I'm hoping the newly built fences is all that we need. He won't go out of his way to jump or dig to get to them he is a pretty lazy dog that's happy to just sniff around and lay in the sun. We will build a secure run for him to be in while we are at work which will give us some piece of mind Hope all goes well, and that you remember to spend lots of time with him , keeping that brain occupied , so it's MUCH more fun than figuring out how to get past a fence ;) oh .. and make sure his microchip details are up-to-date !! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) Frankly, I would put the best you can in now as it may save you a lot of expense and grief later. Particularly as you know your dog is a stock chaser. Something like this is handy and can be taken with you if you move: http://www.vebopet.c...-run-fence.html Edited January 7, 2016 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazydoglady99 Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 No advice from me. I just wanted to applaud you for being so responsible. Good on you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan brand Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Thanks for the link I have already looked at a few and awaiting a response from one company. I've found a 4x4 one which is 1.83m high which we are definitely getting but we want to ensure he has enough room during the day so maybe we could get 2 and then place them together to make a bigger run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan brand Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 No advice from me. I just wanted to applaud you for being so responsible. Good on you! Thank you! My boy is my life and would do anything to keep him and the livestock safe even if it means he has to be inside of a day for a week or so until we have his run ready Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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