If you can essentially do join-up with deer, can I apply the same principles to my sheep? Or, will they just keep running? I can't picture that sheep are MORE flight oriented than deer, but are sheep's motivators the same? Would they CARE? They DO flock, sort of (Jacob sheep -- low flocking instinct), but they don't have a true leader, unlike horse herds...
What do you think? I'm curious, and it would be great for the sheep to put that much trust in me, but I'm not sure it's in their makeup. Nor do I want to experiment with join-up to a flight animal that would just result in major flight stress.
I don't see why Join-Up cannot be applied to sheep. In Bible times, the sheep would follow the shepherd, and they did not need to be herded like they are today. Try it, see if it works.
Not sure about this one although I was raised on a sheep property. She are very much herd animals and they do have their leaders in the mob. I think it would be difficult to do join up with sheep as they would be very fearful of been separated. However the basic animal language is the same - eyes down, move away from the mob if it gets spooked then move up again. With a single pet lamb join up would work but then join up would not be necessary as it would have already adopted you as its Mum. I think the easiest way to have a mob of sheep follow you is to feed them special hay every time you go into their paddock. Our sheep used to always come to us if we called them as we fed them additional food during winter. I had a mob of 20 pet lambs and even once they were grown up and had lambs of their own they would always come to me and follow me. They used to camp on a hill outside my attic window and I would say good night to them as I went to bed and they would bleat back. Soo not sure. Use the basic animal (Monty's Equus) with your sheep coupled with hand feeding and you will get great results with the mob as a whole.
Oops typos - first line "sheep" plus end of third last line "animal language (Monty's Equus)"
Just an add on - I think you can gain "join up" with most herd animals by using the basic animal language which Monty high lights in all his dealings with horses. However the way you join up I believe will differ with cows and sheep than with horses as their language is slightly different. With cows and sheep I do not think you could separate them, send them away and then expect them to eventually come to you (join up) as we can horses - that's the special language of horses and you will notice this language being used when you have a number of horses in the same paddock. I am sure we have all experienced the agony of having to watch what happens when a new addition to the group arrives. Sheep and cattle will tend to start head on fights with the newcomer and continue doing so until they are submissive. Sometimes the new comer will run from the mob but then the mob tends to follow them rather than just chase them out as horses do. Soo ... with sheep and cattle the basic language remains the same but the actual process of join up will differ. I don't think any of us would care to have head on fights with our cattle or sheep so we have to think of other ways of gaining their respect and also their trust. I believe hand feeding these animals with eyes down etc and scratching them in their facourite places is the best way to gain their trust. Always remember to move back if the animal becomes concerned about your presence. Initially it will be just placing feed on the ground and then moving back until you can progress to the stage that they eat out of your hand. When weaning calves I always keep them in an enclosed area until they will eat from my hand and let me move through them without fear.
I agree with Horse addict. Hope it works for you!
Beck, let us know how it worked!
Tried it. TOTAL fail. i don't think they come back to u in some big circle like horses or deer. They just keep going. Or maybe i'm not doing it right. let me know how it goes
sorry about that mimi :(
Beck
They are sheep not horses. Being their Shepard you provide food water and safety. The sheep follow you because you provide this to them. You can't do join up with all animals.
The concept of non violent relations is the basis of Join Up and they way you do join up is the language that horses understand, not necessarily other animals.
At least you tried.
Cheers
Hi Beck - its good you tried but I am afraid the results were predictable - NB my earlier response. Hate to be one of those people who say "told you so"! Sheep hate being separated from the mob which makes some people think they are very dumb animals but they are quite bright in their own way. Although actual "join-up" is not possible you can make your MOB of sheep very quiet and friendly via the shepard approach as indicated by Dennis and basic animal language as in by my earlier response. Good luck with it. I am sure that if you persevere you will soon have a mob of sheep that follow you in the paddock asking for food. If later you have lambs then try to adopt a couple of pets and when they grow up they can become your leaders as they will follow you automatically. Sheep, like cows and horses are such beautiful animals and they respond well to kindness.