Collie pups for £1000+...,

[CopperBeech]

Always worked on the basis that any working dog is due it’s retirement time here. And retirement usually means “the dog who brings sheep too and from the holding Croft’s”

I know of 1 person who gave away their 11 year old bitch as she couldn’t manage the moor any longer to someone they thought of as a “friend”. That dog was next seen at a sheepdog sale in Wales and was sold. The fellas son went round too see the “friend” one night and pointed out what a twunt he was and what he’d do too him if he ever set foot on their farm again.

We currently have twelve dogs at the house / yard. Any dog that makes it as far as retirement has earned their place, they dont owe me anything at all. Theres an old lurcher here who's half blind and very cantankerous, who's two roles in life now consist of being my other half jogging partner and wandering the house yard as our guard dog. The other old girl is my main collie, currently ten years old and slowly starting to struggle, she's the best dog I've owned and one of the best dogs I've ever seen (trialling dogs included), can still work 1000 ewes or a couple thousand store lambs and know every part of the job inside out. Sadly never managed to get a pup from her, but she comes everywhere with me, we went to Devon looking at store lambs today. Everyone who meets her loves her and anyone would take her home. But she will live her life out here, have anything she could ever need and I am not ashamed to say I will cry like a small child and go into full on mourning when she goes.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

We currently have twelve dogs at the house / yard. Any dog that makes it as far as retirement has earned their place, they dont owe me anything at all. Theres an old lurcher here who's half blind and very cantankerous, who's two roles in life now consist of being my other half jogging partner and wandering the house yard as our guard dog. The other old girl is my main collie, currently ten years old and slowly starting to struggle, she's the best dog I've owned and one of the best dogs I've ever seen (trialling dogs included), can still work 1000 ewes or a couple thousand store lambs and know every part of the job inside out. Sadly never managed to get a pup from her, but she comes everywhere with me, we went to Devon looking at store lambs today. Everyone who meets her loves her and anyone would take her home. But she will live her life out here, have anything she could ever need and I am not ashamed to say I will cry like a small child and go into full on mourning when she goes.

Yep. Unashamed too say that when my last old girl went off her legs (and she had been a right hard goer) I had to shed a few tears while the hole was dug.

I thought I had enough with 2 retired dogs wandering about!!

 

[CopperBeech]

Yep. Unashamed too say that when my last old girl went off her legs (and she had been a right hard goer) I had to shed a few tears while the hole was dug.

I thought I had enough with 2 retired dogs wandering about!!

I lost one suddenly the year - went into vets for something not too serious, walked in. Had a reaction to the anaesthetic and had a massive heart attack. First time shed ever been to vets for anything but jabs and stuff, and only just 4 year 10 months. It really messed me up for a good month or so. I ask a lot of my dogs and when I get a good one, they mean the world to me.

 

[SteveHants]

very well written and thought provoking post Anymulewilldo , am thinking of getting my first collie but with only a small flock of 200 mule lambs am not sure I will have no where near enough work to stimulate the dog , but trying to get the sods in on your own is nigh on impossible .

I'd look for an older dog. Sometimes older dogs come down the hill because they are are too old to work that kind of terrain, but will do fine on paddocks.

 

[SteveHants]

Not sure how often this happens - I always see adverts with folk wanting to 'give a good home' (have for free) to an older working who can work a couple of hundred ewes and lambs, has sides, stop, quiet in the kennel, rides on quad or in truck, will catch a ewe. . . . .

Wonder how many folk look at their old dog and think, sure off you go.

I picked up my working bitch when she was 5 or so. Bloke who bred her had left her to another feller with a small flock and his own pup coming on.
The breeder didn't want her back because he could no longer work her (she didn't like being shouted at and would just go and hide). She cost me £300 fully trained. Amazing, steady dog. Would gather and drive, split a ewe off for catching, keep lambs and ewe together if I had to catch the ewe or her lambs. You just had to "read her manual" and keep your voice light and sweet.

PTS this March at 15 years old.

 

[Guiggs]

View attachment 923840View attachment 923841this is pip she is 5yrs old cost me £250 as a pup, I trained her to work with no previous experience. She works the sheep and cattle over 2000acres of marshes, she knows every bridge and ditch and I couldn't be without her, she is also a family pet brilliant with my 3 year old and lives indoors, will happily sit on a tractor during the summer. Friends have commented what a fantastic worker she is and they have paid to have all there's trained away. Many people have asked if I would breed from her but I'm not sure if it would spoil her.

She's a beauty!

 

[Guiggs]

Some gundogs (and working breeds) cannot be kept in the dual role of worker/house pet, they are simply too hyper. Fine until they get a whiff of game, then any door or window left open and they are gone! It's not a question of spoiling them so much as the Devil finds work for idle hands. My German shepherds are never on the lead, on the other hand, they are always either kennelled or under my close supervision. Would you really want this smelly lot in the house? They do actually catch the odd rabbit and have a lot of fun trying! But what they really want is a burglar!!

Are they yours?
Lovely powerful shepherds and nice to see they are straight backed and not sloping down like they are in some kind of half sit/ crouch that seems to be how the majority are bred these days!

 

[MRT]

f half sit/ crouch that seems to be how the majority are bred these days!

Borderline criminal/animal welfare offence

 

[SteveHants]

Borderline criminal/animal welfare offence

And essentially why I have no truck with the Kennel club

 

[JSmith]

And essentially why I have no truck with the Kennel club

The ruination of some breeds!!

 

[MRT]

And essentially why I have no truck with the Kennel club

Picked up a lovely working lines GSD pup the other day, the breeder looked really worried and confessed the papers were not there yet from the KC, tbh KC papers hadn't even crossed my mind and I wouldn't have given them a second thought

 

[Yale]

Had our dog as a family dog,from a rescue.

Bonkers for sheep and bonkers fast.

Think he’s a pointer cross collie,great dog.

 

[SteveHants]

The ruination of some breeds!!

I honestly don't understand their approach.
Working dogs aside (because most dogs aren't), dogs have one function- to be companion animals. Why they have to be line bred for useless (and often detrimental) traits is utterly beyond me.
Heterosis could save thousands in vets bills and suffering.

 

[MRT]

I honestly don't understand their approach.
Working dogs aside (because most dogs aren't), dogs have one function- to be companion animals. Why they have to be line bred for useless (and often detrimental) traits is utterly beyond me.
Heterosis could save thousands in vets bills and suffering.

Showing. Some people would do anything, anything, to prance around on a circle of astroturf and win 16p worth of ribbon

 

[CopperBeech]

 

[SteveHants]

 

[unlacedgecko]

Showing. Some people would do anything, anything, to prance around on a circle of astroturf and win 16p worth of ribbon

Exactly. It’s all about social standing.

 

[Dry Rot]

Are they yours?
Lovely powerful shepherds and nice to see they are straight backed and not sloping down like they are in some kind of half sit/ crouch that seems to be how the majority are bred these days!

Yes, dad and his two "pups". The old bitch, not related, was DDR X Slovak and the mother of the pups. Dad is pure Czech. The old bitch was the cleverest dog I have ever own.

Sadly, she got cancer and one night just stood looking at me as if to say, "For god sake, DO something". I could not talk about her to anyone for weeks. The hardest loss I have ever suffered (including my parents, I am ashamed to say). They leave a big hole when they go. Now Max is grey around the muzzle and waiting for me to open gates for him.

Max at 18 months. Watch how his attitude changes when he is told the decoy is a friend.

 

[CopperBeech]

@MRT Check out the sneaky cameo front right first photo.

 

[MRT]

@MRT Check out the sneaky cameo front right first photo.

Already seen it!