Handling sheep stress

Researcher Ngaio Beausoleil has discovered sheep really are scared of dogs, writes DAVE WILLIAMS.

It may seem obvious. Sheep are scared of dogs, and that is why dogs are so handy for herding sheep.

Domestication has changed the relationship between animals and man.

Selection by man over thousands and thousands of years has reduced sheep's fear of humans. But domestic sheep still show signs of fear around humans, so just how afraid are sheep of humans these days and does it matter? Has domestication changed sheep's fear of dogs? And are they more afraid of dogs than humans? MORE>>