What do you think? Should I?

[NicoleLJ]

I am excited but trying not to get my hopes to high. We might be able to get the puppies herding instinct evaluated before they go to their new homes. Hubby has two uncles that both have raised Sheep and Sheep Dogs(mainly border collies) for years. He is thinking of asking them if they will evaluate our pups with some of their sheep. I don't have much experience in this but his uncles do. I guess they start evaluating the litters at about 7-9 weeks old just to see if the interest is there and what they do around the sheep and so on. All it will be is an evaluation to see if they might have some of the instint in them at this age. Sometimes, I have been told, it can take longer to come out. But i think it would be something cool to do with teh litter and to give to teh families when they pick up the pups.

What do you all think? If they will should I? I am not sure yet if I want to simply because of my fear of the pups catching something. They will have their first set of shots by then though. Hard to decide.
Nicole & Sheena & Puppies

[Grace]

I know nothing about raising purebred puppies, or what they might catch from a sheep. But there is this picture in my mind of your 6 roly-poly pups mingling with the sheep, and it makes me smile!

If everyone in the know, feels it is safe, I say go for it. And I would pay to see that video :)

[lute]

I don't know of anything the pups can catch from sheep. The pups are still young. I would wait until they are atleast 8-9 weeks old before putting them out with those giant sheep. The sheep may spook and trample them at this age. I don't see anything wrong with it really. I don't know much about herding breeds or evaluations. I'm a working group girl. If anything it's a little socialization for the pups.

[NicoleLJ]

LOL I wouldn't be doing it right now. lol Just setting up a day and it would be when the pups are around 7-9 weeks old. No way would I even consider it at this age. lol Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Hubby and i have been thinking it over and decided to not do it. I wasn't worried about the pups catching anything from the sheep. It was all the stray dogs in those areas, and the diseases they might be carrying and leaving behind, that has me concerned. Where the two uncles farms are are close to native resorvations where they have a HUGE stray dog problem. That is why I was concerned about what they could catch.

Thanks for your opinions all.
Nicole & Sheena & Puppies