Frequently asked Questions

Where can our team herd the sheep?

In a scenic place through forests and across meadows. The animals do not come to the team, but the team to the animals. Usually the starting point is a 30-45 minute drive from the city. Sometimes a little further away. The sheep always wander to where the grass is greenest. Therefore, the exact starting point depends on the exact date and the expected weather. When you sign up for the team building, therefore, only the approximate meeting point is clear: at plus or minus 10 km. Three to four days before the team building you will then receive the exact meeting point. The sheep are always on the move.

Is the team building with sheep feasible at any time of the year/ in any weather?

Basically we can always start. However, this also varies from place to place, because each shepherdess has different capacities, grazing areas, lambing times.... The sheep can also be herded in winter. Most of the time, the animals are on pastures all year round. Fortunately, the weather forecasts two to three days before the team building event are already very precise and reliable. If very bad weather is predicted, the event can be cancelled or postponed without you incurring any costs.

Are there any animal transports for the team building event?

No. The flock of sheep walks where they would walk without the team. The team comes to the sheep.

How many sheep are herded?

The sheep flocks are very large. Maximum 1500 sheep, minimum 400-500 sheep. This varies depending on the shepherd, the lambing times and slaughter dates, but also on the size of the grazing area. One sheep needs about 10 kg of grass per day. Sometimes the flocks have to be divided and distributed to different regions if there is not enough rain and the grass grows sparsely.

Is the shepherd with his dog around?

Yes. The shepherd and his herding dog are on alert in the background and step in when the situation gets out of control and the health of animals and people is threatened. We work with very nice and friendly shepherds who are happy to meet visitors and tell them all about their life and work in nature and with the animals. The herding dogs are also very affectionate and happy to demonstrate their skills. One good dog replaces 10 shepherds.

Are the participants insured?

All participants are insured for the team building by the organizer’s insurance. So far, nothing serious has ever happened. However, it is possible to fall down, trip over a root or collide with a sheep. So far, no dangerous situations have arisen.

What is the exact procedure?

The team meets with the team-building coach at the agreed time. After a few words of welcome and a short introduction, we start with a first simple herding exercise. This is followed by a team discussion in which the team learns from mistakes and reorganizes itself. After three or four herding exercises and team discussions, most of the teams have got the hang of it and are now moving as a team and with the flock of sheep from A to B through the open landscape. Again with breaks, tasty snacks and a cold beer or coffee in between. The whole thing takes three to five hours, depending on the fitness of the team. At the end we can have a nice barbecue and celebrate in open nature.

Do all teams manage to lead the sheep from A to B?

Yes, it doesn't depend on top athletic performance, but more on calmness in the team, coordination and knowing how. You should be fit enough to walk for three to four hours through the forest and across meadows. Through coaching and the odd bit of help, after a few attempts the knot is broken and the sheep follow the team and not the other way round. However, you should have a bit of stamina. The teambuilding event is unpredictable and the sheep do not necessarily do what the people want. Sometimes the sheep are particularly stubborn when they realise that they are dealing with beginners. But the team learns quickly and with a little persistence, the team gains the upper hand.

How sustainable is the team building with sheep?

The beauty of it is that the sheep bring to light every discrepancy and dysfunctionality in the team. Cause and effect are thus quite obvious. So you can talk about it. And this is the first step towards improving teamwork. Many situations can be transferred one-to-one to the work situation. Since the animals have to be led to the fresh pasture to eat, there is no other choice but to learn and to cooperate as a team. Because only together will you make it. And you will make it. In the optional workshop afterwards, video material can be used to shed more light on why and how the team actually managed the impossible. Many conclusions can be drawn from this for everyday life. The result is concrete plans and rules on how to work together more effectively and efficiently in the team and achieve the common goals.

What about the costs?

That depends on the location, the time of the year and the size of the group. Please send us an email. In any case, we are in the low four-figure range for an event. 1000 sheep cannot be provided for free. We share the profit fairly with the shepherd.

What is the ideal group size?

Ideally 10-20 people. But even 5 people have successfully led the sheep from A to B. It's not the quantity that counts, but the quality. Groups of 20 or more are also okay. In such a case, the large group is divided into smaller groups. While one group herds, the other watches over a coffee or a beer and learns from the mistakes of the others. Afterwards, the roles are swapped. This also gives the participants more time to recover. As in a relay race, the sheep are handed over from one team to the other at a predetermined location.

Can I bring dogs or children along?

Children are very welcome. Children and young people have excelled at sheep herding. They are probably more relaxed and uninhibited and thus manage effortlessly what we adults often find difficult. Dogs, unfortunately, only in exceptional cases and after consultation, because the sheep, as prey animals, are usually afraid of dogs and the herding dogs would be distracted.

How does the transfer of the participants work out?

The participants usually travel by bus or in private cars. Public transport sometimes works as well, if the last few kilometres are covered by taxi. After leading the sheep from A to B, the organiser will organise the transfer back to the bus or cars.

Are there toilets along the way?

At the first meeting point, where the participants are picked up by the organiser, there is usually still a toilet available. After that, there are usually no more, as we are in the great outdoors.

How much physical fitness is needed to participate in the team building with the sheep?

Basically, you should be able to manage a four-hour normal hike. Herding sheep is not about speed and athletic performance, but more about attention, empathy, strategy and tactics. Therefore, people with physical disabilities can also participate. However, you also need people who can make an intermediate sprint because the sheep are running away. So it's all about the mix. Diversity!

Who is the organiser?

Hanspeter Etzold had the idea for teambuilding with the sheep 5 years ago. He noticed the enthusiastic faces of the participants and has continued to develop the team building with sheep. After many hundreds of events, he knows what it takes to make the team, sheep and shepherds happy. Etzold studied communication sciences and used to work for Google.