Huntaway vs Kelpie vs Collie

[Vicki_Ann]

We have one good working collie, one coming into work who sadly won't manage the amount of work on his own due to injury in his first year and a couple of collie 'ornaments' about the place who are lovely pets but not much use for anything else.

Myself and the OH generally are not keen on 'noisy' dogs and this has been the major thing keeping me on collies, BUT when we gather and move 400 sheep off the hill, our quiet dog has to do an awful lot of running and we rely heavily on having a few quads between us as well to bring them down.

We are musing on our next step in the world of working dogs, and the major candidates are these three breeds. I would be really keen to hear from people with sheep and these dogs and how you find them, what their strengths/ weaknesses are and also how they work.

We want to try not to get any more pet dogs about the farm and ideally it would be good to pick a dog based upon their inherent ability to work large numbers of sheep over wide areas without completely knackering themselves out!

 

[neilo]

I would imagine you could end up with ‘pet dogs’ in any breed. Some folk rave about Welsh sheepdogs, but the one back home is nothing but a nice pet for the old fella, and never had a hope of being anything more.

I had a trained (‘ish) Kelpie on trial last Januray. He was a lovely dog, and reasonably quiet for a Kelpie, but I ended up sending him back before he did my head in. They need work, lots of it, and constantly.
From what i’ve Seen of them, Huntaways are a step up again. A guy I know has one that’s a couple of years old now. He’s always been a cracking character, and fantastic helping in the pens, but he runs him to work with a paw tucked into his collar to take the edge off him before work. Again, they need work, and lots of it.

After the Kelpie, I went back and bought a second (trained) collie and I’m very glad I did. Not the cheapest option, but probably cheaper than having a pet about the place. I would say that I wouldn’t want to go back to running one dog now. Having two working is at least three times as effective, not to mention a joy to watch.

I’ll definitely be sticking with collies though.

PS, I have some pups for sale from that last purchase. However, I suspect spending a bit more on a trained/part-trained dog may be more worthwhile in your instance.

 

[sherg]

Shameless plug @neilo although knowing the breeding they do tend to be dogs that are keen to get to work

 

[neilo]

Shameless plug @neilo although knowing the breeding they do tend to be dogs that are keen to get to work

It was very much tongue in cheek.........honest.

Nonetheless, unless you have thousands of sheep to work, every day, personally I think it’s hard to beat a decent collie. Happy dogs do my head in though.

 

[Vicki_Ann]

Very tempted by your pups Neil! Especially knowing the lines are Paul's. He trained both our dogs and his dogs are impressive.

I made sure Holly came out to chip them though, the temptation would have been too great if I'd seen them!

You have confirmed what I already thought, we are probably best off sticking with collies and having more than one to work together to manage the bigger bunches on the hill ground.

 

[neilo]

Very tempted by your pups Neil! Especially knowing the lines are Paul's. He trained both our dogs and his dogs are impressive.

I made sure Holly came out to chip them though, the temptation would have been too great if I'd seen them!

You have confirmed what I already thought, we are probably best off sticking with collies and having more than one to work together to manage the bigger bunches on the hill ground.

I’ve put 2 & 2 together now, I think I wonder if Holly’s legs have recovered yet?

Time to give Paul a ring and see what he has perhaps?

 

[Vicki_Ann]

Haha yes, I think poor Holly's legs have recovered from them now!

We are considering phoning Paul to see what he has. I'd love a pup because I like to bring them up around the farm and around us but the OH would really like a part-trained dog from Paul. We will have to decide what the plan is before we can do much more

 

[Downton_shep]

What you want is a collie x kelpie pup. Best of both


I might even have a couple out in the kennel

 

[GTB]

As said, Kelpies and Huntaways need lots of work and if you don't have enough work for them they can be a pain until they're older and calmer. A good Welsh collie can be a good compromise but as with all breeds and types there are good and bad ones.

 

[yellowbelly]

PS, I have some pups for sale from that last purchase

What you want is a collie x kelpie pup. Best of both


I might even have a couple out in the kennel

FFS. What's this? A dogs for sale thread

The poor girl comes here with a genuine question and you two hardened TFF posters are straight in with the sales pitch

Don't you just love it

 

[Estate fencing.]

I don't think you will ever beat a collie, my older one will work 1000's of sheep in a day or be just as happy wondering around a field when in fencing. We have a kelpie where I work and he's constantly barking when he's he not working and winding him self up. Also I once worked with someone with a huntaway and the barking all day drove me mad! When he drove home at night the thing would still be barking!!

 

[newbie]

Just to confirm that there's an exception to every generalisation. I have a Huntaway x Collie and I couldn't be happier with him. He is only 6mths and I haven't had him on sheep yet so can't comment on the working ability but he is generally very quiet and shuts up on command. He is quite happy to laze around as long as he has some exercise and he is fantastic with my kids.
He can cover the ground fast and effortlessly with huge bounds and is really keen to learn. His basic obedience is coming on excellently.
I intend to train him to the sheep once I'm done lambing so time will tell on that front. Just make sure you teach the quiet command as well as the speak up!
I also can't abide a dog who barks incessantly.
Good luck with whatever you decide on x

 

[Woolless]

Just to confirm that there's an exception to every generalisation. I have a Huntaway x Collie and I couldn't be happier with him. He is only 6mths and I haven't had him on sheep yet so can't comment on the working ability but he is generally very quiet and shuts up on command. He is quite happy to laze around as long as he has some exercise and he is fantastic with my kids.
He can cover the ground fast and effortlessly with huge bounds and is really keen to learn. His basic obedience is coming on excellently.
I intend to train him to the sheep once I'm done lambing so time will tell on that front. Just make sure you teach the quiet command as well as the speak up!
I also can't abide a dog who barks incessantly.
Good luck with whatever you decide on x

I also have two Collie x Huntaways, as above lovely natures and keen as mustard for work but will also accept the quieter life as long as exercised. Will do any job.

If I was gathering hills regularly, I would think a Huntaway would be a big help? Also better in the pens than a collie?

 

[foobar]

Welsh Sheepdog - contact the society, they should be able to sort you out with a dog that excels at hill gathering.

 

[Highcountryshepherd]

Disagree about the Huntaway being on a different level needing work all the time and constant barking , it's like any dog you get out what you put in I run two Huntaways and a couple ofcollies . I contract Shephered and lamb there as good as a collie. the trouble with a lot of collies nowadays there two soft and sticky on the sheep especially big dopey breeds it's knowing when to pressure with a bark and when not to as to switch off button have no problems here

 

[cheviot53]

Tried a huntaway and didn't like it , great in the pens /loading lorry / driving no big out run always on the move and continually told to be quiet , went to a hill farm who already had 2 huntaways . Have a beardie x collie who does the same job ,great to gather the hill just barking on command

 

[Bob the beef]

Tried a huntaway and didn't like it , great in the pens /loading lorry / driving no big out run always on the move and continually told to be quiet , went to a hill farm who already had 2 huntaways . Have a beardie x collie who does the same job ,great to gather the hill just barking on command

Have to agree. Got a Huntaway bitch 18 months ago. Can move any amount of sheep , but not much of an out run, and the noise.
Lovely nature dog, but the constant barking is doing my head in. Next dog will definitely be another collie

 

[Hilly]

Ive a huntaway and have full control over the barking its well handy, drive you mental if you cant train the barking.

 

[heyfarm]

I have a kelpie and love it! best of both worlds. works well in the yards and in the field (most of the time!). Just need to train them to talk on command, mine soon picked up the speak up command.

 

[CopperBeech]

I often think that half the folk that have huntaways ..... don’t need them! It’s a romanticised idea.

You hear people talking of pen dogs etc etc in situations when a plastic bag would probably be more useful!

Also a lot of the hubtaways I see are barely half trained, they just bark at sheep. Surely you should be able to send them out, stop them and make them speak directionally and move forward, guiding the sheep where you want them to go?