Finnsheep and Shetland Sheep

Sue K

Sue K

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Not yet, but I will. :)

How do shetlands tend to act around dogs that are their size? I'm only looking for two small sheep for my backyard (it's big), but we do have two dogs that are non agressive to most any animal they've encountered. I will fence off and rotate dogs/sheep if necessary, but they're mainly indoor dogs anyway.

I spin, so I figured (hope) that some of the grass can be eaten down instead of mowing all the time, and I get a couple of fleece once or twice a year too! (yea, me?)

Sue
 
purplequeenvt

purplequeenvt

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Shetlands as a general rule have a VERY strong dislike for dogs. They can and do get use to calm non-threatening dogs, but be prepared for them to get defensive and butt the dogs.

Question.....when you say you are looking for "miniature Shetlands", are you looking for regular size Shetlands or something smaller? There is no such thing as a mini Shetland. If someone is trying to sell you one, either they are deceived themselves or they are selling you a potentially stunted or genetically messed up animal.

Shetlands are about 80-100 lbs full grown.
 
Sue K

Sue K

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According to a google search of "miniature shetland sheep", there's three websites on the first search page that advertises minature shetlands. I know they're smaller than your "average" sheep, however. I'm not looking to breed, just manage lawn/weeds/etc, and some wool for me. I'm having a great deal of fun reading on the shetland website that was suggested. :)
 
MrsCedarstone

MrsCedarstone

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I see the ones you are referring to. The sheep on those 3 sites are just normal Shetland sheep but in comparison to other sheep breeds they are miniature sheep which is why they must be calling them that. I have 3 sheep for that same purpose you mentioned Sue K. I started out looking for small sheep but then got surprised with sheep from a neighbor who didn't want to raise them anymore. Got a good deal on some unregistered Jacob sheep. Since you don't want to breed, I recommend trying to find some unregistered in your area because their price will be lower.
 
Sue K

Sue K

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I did find someone selling a couple of ram lambs not to far from me..... I just don't know about that 'horn' thing. I think I'd worry about them growing too close to their faces. What's the incidence of that actually happening? If it does happen, are you able to trim or train the horns? I don't know much about that part of things, but I think they have a blood supply that runs in them (?)
 
Sue K

Sue K

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Here's a picture of the two from this year.
01111_5m6WPRp9GB7_600x450.jpg
 
MrsCedarstone

MrsCedarstone

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Their horns look good. I doesn't seem like they will have the danger of their horns growing into their faces but they are still young, chances are pretty good they'll be okay though. Even if one horn does start turning you could have it cut, which is okay to do. Horns are made of the same stuff fingernails are. When cutting or removing horns, think cutting or removing fingernails, you do it when you have to. Buying rams would be okay if you wether them, if you don't intend to breed it's best not to keep an intact male.
 
Sue K

Sue K

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Oh, well thanks for letting me know. I feel better about those two photos then. I'm not looking to get anything till this next spring tho. I want to make sure we have the yard set up proper first.

Thank you for all of your help!
Sue
 
ohiogoatgirl

ohiogoatgirl

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x2 horns are usually fine and people breed away from ones that have the problems of growing into/too close etc.

horns are like hooves, only different and on the head! lol. the outside of a horn is basically the same as fingernail material and growth. (if only toenail clippings were worth as much as ivory eh?) they can be sawn and burned but from what I understand it is half surgical type process.
 
Roving Jacobs

Roving Jacobs

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The one on the right is a bit close and I would watch it (if you were hypothetically buying these particular sheep) but the left one has nice wide horns. The tip of the horn can be cut with a bit of effort but there is a blood supply that runs through them and if you go too deep it bleeds like crazy. It's not usually dangerous but it can be upsetting to see. Plenty of shetlands come polled if you are concerned about horns. I like horns but not everyone does and they do make fencing more challenging.
 
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