Sheep herders need to protect themselves against coyotes.
Sheep herding is a means of moving a group of sheep from one area to another in search of food, shelter, or even competition. One of the oldest types of domestic animals, sheep have a natural herd instinct and therefore generally prefer to stay with a group and follow the movement of dominant sheep or grazing animals. Still practiced in many agricultural societies, the basics of sheep herding provide only a brief introduction to the complex skill set of caring for domestic sheep that has evolved over 11,000 years.
To be a successful sheep herder, it is important to understand the behavior of sheep.
To understand the basics of sheep herding, it is first important to understand the behavior and mechanism of sheep. Sheep tend to have excellent hearing and eyesight, which makes them alert to potential predators. This means that shepherds and their grazing and guard animals must walk a fine line between controlling sheep and scaring them away. Like herd animals, sheep rely on the safety of numbers, which means that if one sheep gets away, the rest are likely to follow. Keeping sheep calm and docile is an important part of herding sheep.
Donkeys can be used to protect sheep from predator attacks.
Sheep are believed to have poor depth perception, which means it is vital for herders to know and understand the terrain. Sheep in a panic have been known to run off cliffs, and even a distracted sheep can end up in life-threatening situations due to this problem. Sheep generally graze on pasture where this is not a problem, but sheep grazing in hilly areas or on mountains should be carefully watched and guided over any dangerous precipices.
Sheep have excellent hearing and eyesight.
One of the main components of sheep herding is the use of herd animals. Some species of dogs have sheep herding instincts, such as border collies, Old English Sheepdogs, and Australian Shepherds. While these dogs require extensive training to ensure they follow commands, many become extremely adept at keeping a pack and leading it in the right directions. Sheepdog competitions are popular competitions in which the best of the best sheepdogs must guide a group of sheep through a series of obstacles in a specific order, competing for the best time and accuracy.
It is believed to have poor depth perception, but sheep often run off cliffs when panicked.
In addition to herd animals, many herders rely on guard animals to protect sheep from natural predators, including wolves, bears, and coyotes. While dogs are also often used for protection, some amazing animals make excellent protectors of sheep. In South America, llamas have been used for centuries to protect sheep from predator attacks. In some areas donkeys are also used.