Finding a new working pup

Moors Lad

Member
Location
N Yorks
. My son bought a pup a month ago off one his mates for £100. Not sure how he's bred, doesn't look like a true collie but the little bugger is working really well at sixteen weeks old. Lot of luck involved
First "good `un" I had cost £6 or £8 from a very ordinary farm and very ordinary parents. Saw a litter mate trying to work when very young and just went for it. Very much the luck of the draw....
Managed to train that one when I was very young too. (Disappointed I`ve lost my touch now apparently ;) )
 
First "good `un" I had cost £6 or £8 from a very ordinary farm and very ordinary parents. Saw a litter mate trying to work when very young and just went for it. Very much the luck of the draw....
Managed to train that one when I was very young too. (Disappointed I`ve lost my touch now apparently ;) )
The blue Merle was my first dog when I was 15 and he was £5. This new pup isn't going to win any prizes for style or trials but he got 200 Welsh ewes and their lambs in from fields in to the pens by himself. More of a chainsaw than a scalpel.
 

Cowmansam

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Shropshire
Oh 3 is it. Not only a dog-training expert but also some pretty spooky mind reading powers too. The strangest thing is that some litter-mates in all cases also proved useless bu**ers too, but I`ll sleep much better now that I know the real cause of the problem:banghead: . Very grateful for the encouraging advice by the way.

Short fuse never a good mix with dogs
 

Moors Lad

Member
Location
N Yorks
Short fuse never a good mix with dogs
If I was able to assess dogs that I`d never seen, could assess the handler of said dogs (never having met him and having no knowledge of his experience and knowledge of sheep and dogs) to the point of knowing his temperament I`d consider myself something of a human phenomenon and would expect to be very wealthy and probably pretty famous too.....
(I`d also be watching my back and just hoping people weren`t calling me a clever RICHARD too....);)
A good dog will put a smile on your face every day
That actually sums the job up very well - it`s a real pleasure and very satisfying taking a good dog to do the business so that you can do yours.
I’d sooner pay the extra (a lot extra now) for something that’s properly on it’s way, rather than take the chance on a pup, however good the parents are
This might just be sound advice for the OP - it`s certainly a good idea to get something that`s starting to show interest even if it costs a bit more. Good luck!
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
usually wait until a really good farm dog, has a litter, then pick one. We are in a quandary at the moment, we unfortunately lost our last one, rat poison, at 2, really shaping up well, with cattle, mainly. Son hasn't the time/patience, to bring one on, and l don't think l am fit enough to train another, and we know for a litter, hopefully on it's way, decisions decisions !
Scary when you think back, bought my 1st, trained, 40+ yrs ago, trained on sheep only, great with them, pure evil with cattle, seen her swinging off a bulls nose, legs off the ground, when he didn't want to go, where she/us wanted him to go. Fair credit to her, she soon had the cattle, and bull trained, when you get to that stage, it's sheer bliss !
























=
 
Too many people breed collies on their lines not actual working ability. I want a dog out of two dogs that do what I want to do to a high standard and who in turn were bred out of dogs who would do the job I want mine to do to a high standard. This crap about breeding an 18 month bitch cos she’s out of x dog but hasn’t really worked, or sticking a top stud dog over an average bitch and expecting quality pups is daft. You’ll get some but it’s a gamble. If you breed right, with most dogs, you will get to the point where the vast majority of pups work to a good standard and have similar working traits. Too many people breed sh*t and too many people think they have something really good when it ain’t. Tin hat on 😂
 

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
Ah I know the ones. Some years ago I went and looked at a dog, as soon as the handful of ewes saw the dog they all ran in the pen and packed themselves in the race…be handy if all of mine did that!

I’m also a bit wary given the recent circumstances, puppies for sale everywhere and people trying to make a quick buck. The dog shelters are going to be very busy for the next year or two.

Finding the right fit for me is going to take some work! Thanks for the replies so far
have you thought about a Welsh Sheepdog?
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
bought one from scotland once, met at alnick, spelling, big problem, l couldn't understand much of what he was saying, and he couldn't understand me, dog could though.
 

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
I have to admit I don’t know anything about them, other than I was told they can be quite strong willed…which could be a good or bad thing!
Are they a completely different animal to a border?
they don't use "eye" or set, but work by keeping moving, tail up, and some can bark to command too. Lots of tough hills in Wales, and I guess they have been bred for that. The breed nearly died out, then about 30 years ago a few people who kept them got together and started the society. For a dog to be registered it has to work too, and work in a "welsh" way, ie, not using eye or set. There is a facebook group where they can be contacted.
 

Magik22

Member
Just dragging this one back up again. I see there’s a sale at Dolgellau, just wondered if anyone’s bought a dog/pup out of these sales and how they got on? I’ve had a look through the catalogue and watched some videos of pups being put to sheep, I’m tempted because at least I can see these pups have interest and potential! More than I’d get from picking from a litter. Slightly worried about how high the prices might be though! Thanks again
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Just dragging this one back up again. I see there’s a sale at Dolgellau, just wondered if anyone’s bought a dog/pup out of these sales and how they got on? I’ve had a look through the catalogue and watched some videos of pups being put to sheep, I’m tempted because at least I can see these pups have interest and potential! More than I’d get from picking from a litter. Slightly worried about how high the prices might be though! Thanks again


The bitch that whelped this pup is playing at my feet with her granddaughter as I type this.

Heart to spare, the bitch will work ewes, tups, cattle, pigs etc. Speaks on command and useful in a pen.

If this pup goes for too much for you, there's a brother or 2 from the same litter available here also.
 

Magik22

Member

The bitch that whelped this pup is playing at my feet with her granddaughter as I type this.

Heart to spare, the bitch will work ewes, tups, cattle, pigs etc. Speaks on command and useful in a pen.

If this pup goes for too much for you, there's a brother or 2 from the same litter available here also.
Looks a nice dog! I’ll keep an eye on that one. No bitches from that litter?

Those herdwicks look a bit tired! Did you edit out them being blasted around the field for 20 minutes? :LOL:
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top