HOW TO: Handle Your Sheep
Updated: Sep 1, 2021
Sheep must always be treated with respect. Which means avoiding raising arousal to the point that sheep respond in a self-protective manner.
In general, handling will produce a flight response in sheep, as handlers and dogs are seen as a significant threat.
Keep calm and talk gently at all times.
Maintain a flight zone - this zone can be minimized by staying quiet and calm.
Exploit the ability of the sheep to negotiate a plan instead of using fear as a motivator.
Familiarize the yard and race layout with sheep.
Try to decrease any treatment's severity.
Take the experience of the animal into consideration.
Don't grab sheep by their wool – it's going to cause bruising.