Flocking Together: Hebridean Sheep and Sheepdog Training

I heard, through the ever-reliable grapevine, that this small flock of Hebridean sheep at Aireyholme Farm is being used to train a young sheepdog. Predictably, just before this photo was taken, the dog had had its lesson, and the sheep were beginning to calm down.

Hebridean sheep are apparently the darlings of the sheepdog training world because they move easily yet stick together like a high school clique. Of course, these delicate creatures must be introduced to a dog in carefully managed stages, lest they suffer the horrors of undue stress. Once the routine is established, their allegedly superior intellect kicks in, and they cooperate.¹Hebridean Sheep Society. https://www.hebrideansheep.org.uk/hebridean-sheep/sheepdog#:~:text=Hebridean%20sheep%20are%20increasingly%20used,remain%20together%20as%20a%20flock.&text=However%2C%20Hebs%20need%20to%20get,any%20undue%20stress%20or%20pressure.²Farmers Weekly. https://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/sheepdog-school-whats-the-best-sheep-breed-for-trainee-dogs

In contrast, the poor, uninitiated “undogged” sheep are prone to full-blown hysteria when faced with an untrained dog. They might flee, perform acrobatics over fences, or injure themselves in their terror. Naturally, this is bad news all around—for the sheep, the dog, the handler’s nerves, and the fences. Chaos does not, it seems, produce good sheepdog training outcomes.

The value of a well-trained sheepdog, we are assured, is beyond measure. These loyal farm workers are a farmer’s pride and joy, unless, of course, they have “quirks” that leave their human companions tearing their hair out in frustration.

As for my personal experience with Aireyholme Farm’s dogs, it is anything but glowing. Back in the 1980s, one of their collies thought my tee-shirt would make a fine chew toy. Fast forward to a decade ago, and another of their charming hounds, the same breed, went for our dog—on a lead, no less. She must have been traumatised for, from that day, she snarled in fear every time we neared the place. Needless to say, I began avoiding it altogether. Poignant memories.

Returning to the sheep, the Hebridean breed is a small, clever, and apparently cooperative choice for training purposes. In just a session or two, these brilliant animals become ideal partners for young sheepdogs, demonstrating impressive “flockability”—a lovely term that must bring someone joy. Contrast this with the uncooperative Shetland sheep, which prefer to scatter in every direction. Training with them must be like herding cats.

Heavy, lowland ewes fare no better. Too sluggish to keep moving for long, they resort to sulking in the corner of the field when confronted with a dog. Meanwhile, tups—those aggressive brutes—are best avoided altogether, unless you enjoy watching chaos unfold. What you need, apparently, are light, responsive sheep that play along without sulking or fighting back.

And the Hebrideans, I understand, are the gold standard. They stick to the handler, avoid fences, and provide just the right amount of movement to keep young pups enthusiastic. It is all so perfectly orchestrated, one wonders how sheep ever survived without this rigorous choreography.

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  Hebridean Sheep Society. https://www.hebrideansheep.org.uk/hebridean-sheep/sheepdog#:~:text=Hebridean%20sheep%20are%20increasingly%20used,remain%20together%20as%20a%20flock.&text=However%2C%20Hebs%20need%20to%20get,any%20undue%20stress%20or%20pressure.
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  Farmers Weekly. https://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/sheepdog-school-whats-the-best-sheep-breed-for-trainee-dogs