Dr Clive Dalton Approach: Action of a dog when it comes up to sheep. Backing: Action of a dog when it jumps up and walks along the back of sheep to encourage them to move. Bark: To bark on command to frighten stock and make them move. Beardie: Breed or type of Huntaway dog with … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton The Long Head This is a trial for Heading Dogs, where the dog has to ‘sight’ the sheep at a long distance, move them and then bring them to the handler in a straight line. Three sheep are always used in trials in New Zealand as this is the most difficult … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton In New Zealand the term ‘heading dog’ or ‘eye dog’ is used to describe dogs bred to go around sheep and gather them into a group, and then keep a close watch or watch on them to stop them escaping. Origins New Zealand heading dogs have been bred mainly from the … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Meg tied up at her kennel but ‘on alert’ – a good sign.What would she turn out to be?Her genetics were right – would her training complete the job? MEGAround the mid 1980s, Kevin Meredith, a farm manager and keen dog trialist got a new heading bitch pup, and I was … Read more
Impact of importations on New Zealand sheep industry NZ Sheep Breeders Association (NZSBA) registrations What happened to White Headed Mutton, White Headed Marsh? What happened to the Oxford Down, Gotland Pelt, Awassi? By Dr Clive Dalton The impact of the exotic sheep importations There was clearly a massive burst of enthusiasm in the first years … Read more