Head butting is both a natural and learned behavior in sheep. Classic head butting among rams is highest during the rutting season which precedes the onset of heat in ewes. It is a way for rams to get into physical shape for the breeding season and to establish (or re-establish) the dominance hierarchy.
Sheep are non-aggressive animals; they'll usually try to flee from any predators or threats. However, ewes with lambs and rams of breeding age are exceptions. An ewe with newborn lambs will often stamp their hoof and adopted an aggressive posture when they feel threatened; they may also try to head-butt the threat.
We do know that dominance hierarchies do exist in domestic sheep flocks. These hierarchies can be bi- directional or non-linear so that dominance over one another is not always absolute. It is a complicated system that deserves to be examined.
Stereotypic Behaviors:
In sheep, stereotypic behaviors include wool-sucking, intersucking, and self-sucking (tails or udder).
Word Spy defines it as "people who are meek, easily persuaded, and tend to follow the crowd (sheep + people)". Merriam-Webster defines the term as "people who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced: people likened to sheep".
Generally speaking, people born in the year of sheep are generous, just and kind, and easily touched by other people's misfortunes. They are meek, and somewhat timid by nature. When everything goes extremely smoothly in their lives, they appear graceful, if they are artists, and are creative, if they are workers.
Professor John Webster of the University of Bristol found that, like humans, sheep visibly express emotions. When they experience stress or isolation, they show signs of depression similar to those that humans show by hanging their heads and avoiding positive actions.
Sheep may express abnormal behaviors such as mouthing bars, chewing slats or chains, biting and chewing pen fixtures, and repetitive butting, although they do not display these behaviors as frequently as other farm species (12) .
Submissive behaviours in sheep include lowering of the head and neck and moving away with a head shake. In wild sheep a dominant ram leads a small flock followed by females, juveniles and lambs.
Sheep are complex and intelligent animals. Sheep are hooved mammals with woolly coats who feel a wide range of emotions, from anger to boredom and happiness. They form strong bonds with one another and can interpret different emotional expressions, which helps them develop their relationships.
A dominant animal is one whose sexual, feeding, aggressive, and other behaviour patterns subsequently occur with relatively little influence from other group members. Subordinate animals are opposite; their behaviour is submissive, and can be relatively easily influenced or inhibited by other group members.
Try to make yourself look as large as possible by standing on your tiptoes and raising your arms above your head. Shout loudly, but do not shout “mint sauce”. All Lake District sheep have heard this threat before and are now immune to it.
Sheep can be affectionate, curious, and playful beings, but there are times when they may prefer to be left alone. Even the most docile sheep in your sanctuary might decide they need some alone time, and it's critical to recognize the signs they're trying to give you before caution turns to agitation, or worse.
It is a way for rams to get into physical shape for the breeding season and to establish (or re-establish) the dominance hierarchy. Sheep are the classical flocking animal. They work out a social order by head butting, poking with horns, shoulder pushing, blocking, and mounting.
Again, because of their instinct to stay close together sheep will move toward another sheep or a perceived friend. Often times a friend can be a person, particularly if the person feeds the sheep. By using this instinct, shepherds have controlled sheep movement for centuries.
When escape is prevented, even a ewe may charge or threaten by hoof stomping. Separation from the flock can cause stress and panic. Isolation from other sheep can cause severe stress and should be avoided.
submissive (or passive) behavior means shying away from saying what you really mean and not seeking to achieve your needs, particularly when someone else has conflicting needs. A submissive person is a shrinking violet, avoiding upsetting others either because they fear them or they fear to hurt their feelings.
Animals develop relationships with intra- and interspecific partners, including humans. In some cases this can lead to strong emotional bonds indicating the existence of attachment. The sheep is well known to develop various forms of social attachment (mothers towards young, lambs towards siblings).
A dominant personality is a personality type that often leads themselves and others into action. It's primarily defined by an overarching motivation for power and a sense of pride. This doesn't mean dominant personalities are always eager to obtain power or behave like tyrants.
People in this year are soft, creative, and artistic. They do tend to be shy and reserved, but they can stand up for themselves. The negative aspect of people with this sign is that they can be rather annoying because they tend to whine, but the up side is that they make great team players.
Moderate heat stress – sheep show fast panting, progressing to mouth slightly open, but the tongue is not extended beyond the lips. Rapid chest movements will be easily observable. Severe heat stress – rapid, open-mouth panting will be seen, with the neck extended, head held up and tongue extended.
When faced with such situations, docile sheep can become agitated and may even rush people who are trying to work with them. Sheep are prey animals and their natural instinct is to flee when in a situation they perceive as dangerous. They use the flight reaction as a way to avoid danger.
Sheep are very gentle animals and were one of the first animals to be domesticated. They can differentiate facial expressions, and prefer a smile to a frown.
As with some other animals such as dogs and monkeys, sheep are social animals that can recognise other sheep as well as familiar humans. Little is known, however, about their overall ability to process faces.