The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Other => Topic started by: langdon on February 07, 2010, 10:12:05 pm
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any hugh fans on site?
i think he is great, reason why me and my wife decided to go smallholding.
he challenges you in everyway e.g. animal wellbeing, do we care where our food comes from etc.
i would love to up to the grounds its self
one day i hope ;)
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We have kept hens for years now, but it was after his first programs that i decided that i wanted to rear my own food, hopefully getting Lambs OR pigs, later this year, just the small problem of persuading parents, we have looked after pigs and lambs for various neighbours and friends for many reasons, but i would like my own, and it is programs like his that are making me more certain it is what i want. ;D
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I have always enjoyed his programmes and the ethos, but I'm afraid I was disappointed in him breeding mongrel dogs because he thought a friend's Wemaraner mated to his Springer bitch would be a good idea - and he called me a snob because I told him it could well be a mistake. I wouldn't question his knowledge or integrity in his field yet he questioned mine. That said I would still watch him, he has charisma I think.
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he called you a snob?
online,over the phone or face to face?
i find that hard to believe!!!!
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By email - long time ago.
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well well well thats crazy.
that he should not have done,but i still love the guy.
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Doesn't bother me now - did at the time because I was right about not mixing those two breeds, but nowadays anyone crosses anything with anything, calls it designer, takes their high prices, and leaves the new owners to sort out their temperament and health problems! Never guess I'm a dog snob, would you? ;)
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I like some of his stuff but I think he sold out on other things like the River Cottage HQ - just a plug for his restaurant. But all idols have feet of clay, and on balance, I think he's OK. Like he cares what I think ;D
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i preferred his very early stuff.
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on tele its showing river cottage in its early days, the setting up of the place etc.
cant remember what night, but good entertainment.
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Annie, just out of interest, why is it a bad idea to cross a Weimaraner with a springer spaniel? (besides the pups looking rather odd, that is)
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Temperament! Weims are HPR's - basically a high spirited working dog, headstrong and can be sharp with both humans and other dogs as can many HPRs (continental breeds). Working Springers, and some show lines too, are inclined to be the same. Springers have a reputation for being destructive, high spirited, and are obsessive workers as well. So you are doubling up on high spirits, obsessivenes, plus throwing in a possible temperament fault, not to speak of any health issues. Personally I wouldn't cross breed anyway - my opinion is that there are plenty of pure bred dogs where you have a pretty good idea what you are going to get in health (the KC have laid down the health checks required for all breeds - readily available on their website), temperament, size, shape, ability without mixing them.
Contrary to public belief, for instance, you can't get more labradoodles by mating a doodle to another doodle - you just get mongrels because they don't breed true to type - even 30 years down the line from when it was first done by supposed breeding experts with the Guide dogs for the Blind! And also contrary to beliefs they aren't all hypoallergenic either! There's a chap on here who has a rather charming doodle, and he is absolutely lovely but he has a heavy coat.
Sorry, a particular soap box stance of mine - rant over. :-[
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or save your money and get a mongrel. our best dogs have always been a mut. lots of rescue dogs in need. peds are nice but why then mess them up.
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Its when they are messed up that you get mongrels. I have nothing against H 57s, just against the idiots who breed them deliberately and the unknowledgable who buy them for extorionate prices. I wouldn't have a mongrel now as I know what I will get by breeding my own, but if I hadn't been given a well bred pedigree Cocker way back in the 70's I might have. The KC are asking the Government to extend the Accredited Breeder Scheme to breeding of ALL dogs not just perigree ones, and to be honest I hope they take the dog licence back to pay for policing it.
Over in America there is an organisation called PETA whose stated aim is to stop ANYONE having pet animals of any kind - so be vigilant - even per pigs could be under threat!
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I think the worst cross breed i have seen was a purpose bred, Pug crossed with a GSP. Why do people go around breeding ridiculous "designer breeds", it's pointless if you ask me
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I'm a dog snob too, sorry!!
I think mixing breeds can lead to too many temperament issues!
My only mongrel is my wee Jack Russell.
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I see the government are planning to introduce "dog asbos". I wonder what the Police think of that. Our dog warden, sorry Animal Welfare Officer, is useless - more interested in playing with his agility class than doing what he's paid to do. The Police were more concerned about the dog that killed or chooks than the chooks. When I said I wanted the dog put down, the policeman said it was a shame for the dog. Which it is, but my chooks were dead and he didn't seem too bothered about them.
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Because there are stupid idiots to buy them who think they are getting 'hybrid vigour' or hypo allergenic hair. No such thing! If you breed a Lab with hip dysplasia to a poodle with hip dysplasia - guess what you get? A labradoodle with severe hip dysplasia! If you breed a healthy Lab to a healthy poodle waht do you get - probably from a litter of 6, one hypo coat and 5 non.