The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: waterbuffalofarmer on May 31, 2016, 12:47:45 pm

Title: working dogs
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on May 31, 2016, 12:47:45 pm
Has anyone had any experience with these at all?
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/115024956/rare-catahoula-leopard-x-puppies.html?link=%2Fadverts%2Flist%3Fkeyword%3Dcattle%26page%3D5 (http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/115024956/rare-catahoula-leopard-x-puppies.html?link=%2Fadverts%2Flist%3Fkeyword%3Dcattle%26page%3D5)
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: doganjo on May 31, 2016, 12:55:04 pm
So what is the father? 
A 'blue terrier' what the hell is that? 
Kerry Blue or Bedlington - they're sometimes classed as blue; or a cross?  In which case these are mongrels - £500 each?

If he brought it in from the States I doubt if there are many others!
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on May 31, 2016, 01:03:20 pm
ahhhh this is it.
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=catahoula+dogs (https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=catahoula+dogs)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catahoula_Cur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catahoula_Cur)
I wanted a canaan dog once but discovered they where basically mongrels made into pedigrees, but then a lot of dog breeds probably where at one time mongrels and just hybridized a bit. There are however a lot which have been bred that way for hundreds of years, it really depends which one you buy I suppose.
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: shygirl on May 31, 2016, 01:29:02 pm
is leopard the colour?
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: Fleecewife on May 31, 2016, 01:53:45 pm
She's very  attractive but you wonder why she's being sold.  Wiki says that these dogs need thorough training as they are assertive.  Presumably the one advertised has behavioural problems. Mongrel or purebred, registered or not is no guarantee of the quality of the dog - each would need to be examined individually.

Are you thinking of acquiring her WBF?
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on May 31, 2016, 03:08:25 pm
No, but I was intrigued by the looks. I think if I go for a big dog it would be a Bernese mountain dog or a huntaway, biggish they are, this is my favourite dog of them all though
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucovina_Shepherd_Dog
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: shygirl on May 31, 2016, 03:47:35 pm
theres a BMD in our village, it isn't really that big. not as big as a st Bernard.
saying that, my beardie is v small so I guess they vary.
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on May 31, 2016, 04:19:12 pm
same here, is she a working beardie?
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: doganjo on May 31, 2016, 05:36:32 pm
She's very  attractive but you wonder why she's being sold.  Wiki says that these dogs need thorough training as they are assertive.  Presumably the one advertised has behavioural problems. Mongrel or purebred, registered or not is no guarantee of the quality of the dog - each would need to be examined individually.

Are you thinking of acquiring her WBF?
Is she being sold as well as the pups? I didn't realise that
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: Marches Farmer on May 31, 2016, 07:30:08 pm
She's very  attractive but you wonder why she's being sold.  Wiki says that these dogs need thorough training as they are assertive. 

Ah, "assertive", eh?  Hmm.....
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: Old Shep on May 31, 2016, 09:54:15 pm
I know someone with one - its a big dog - not great dane size but big setter size, very strong on the lead and surprisingly "assertive" even as a puppy. Freaky eyes too! Not for beginner dog people I think!
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on June 02, 2016, 07:23:24 pm
I found another breed the scotch collie has anyone had any experience with this breed? This is according to wiki and apparently it is an ancient breed of dog used for working
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_Collie
What I would like to know is 1 are there any breeders of them, namely as working animals, in the UK?
and 2 how much would I be expecting to pay for a pup?
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 02, 2016, 08:53:44 pm
Do you mean the Lassie type collie?  http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=5119 (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=5119)
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: HappyHippy on June 02, 2016, 10:23:05 pm
Ah, Shelties  :love: my dad had one called laddie (a boy, funnily enough  ;)) never worked a day in his life, but did travel round all the local farms visiting  :innocent:
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: harmony on June 02, 2016, 10:57:07 pm
The bitch has a look of what I would call a Blue Merle. When you consider the cost of a pedigree puppy then if these are so rare £500 seems cheap. Two words spring to mind BUYER BEWARE!
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on June 02, 2016, 11:49:47 pm
Do you mean the Lassie type collie?  http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=5119 (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=5119)
no,  apparently this is a breed in its own right. I compared the pics and theyre 2 different dogs. Not sure if there are any UK breeders though. Can you get working shelties any more or has the instinct been bred out?
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 03, 2016, 12:27:58 am
Shelties - Shetland Sheepdogs - abound in Shetland, as one might expect.  Whether any of them still work, I don't know.  I expect so.

The Rough Collie looks a bit like a large version of the Sheltie, but is a distinct breed.  They're quite large, much bigger than Welsh Collies or Border Collies.

There's a Smooth Collie, too, which is the same as the Rough but short-haired.

I've no idea if anyone is still working either Rough or Smooth Collies.

I'm not sure whether this is the breed you were asking about, or not.  The Wiki article you linked to seemed to be about an original working collie, which has evolved into the Border Collie as well as the Rough Collie and Shetland Sheepdog.

Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: in the hills on June 03, 2016, 11:52:17 am
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across 'BC Museum:the Welsh Sheepdog'... sorry can't do links.

Quite interesting to read about the variety of 'regonal' type collies that were believed to have existed once upon a time and the reasons for their diversity to suit terrain etc.

Thought those of you with interest in dogs might enjoy a read.
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: lord flynn on June 10, 2016, 09:24:44 pm
I've ben researching smooth collies as my potential new dog. Noone's working them these days (not in the UK) although a very few of them do agility and search and rescue. Like other herding breeds, the MDR-1 gene is very prevalent (also in Shelties and Roughs) which can make them a bit of a liability around livestock. Not many breeders trying to breed it out int he UK either as they are now mainly show dogs. Lovely, lovely dogs and if I can find a clear one I'll be tempted.
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: Luke_H on June 11, 2016, 11:56:46 am
Having a rough and a smooth I thought I'd just add in, a huge number of breeders in both do test for MDR and some breeders do have totally clear lines or carrier only, as with CEA. But with both breeds the gene pools aren't huge, particularly the smooths due to being so rare but roughs became so heavily overbred that they are a genetic bottleneck--or where before certain breeders imported stock resulting in 0 percent inbreeding COI and bringing in clear eye/MD genes. To not breed from affected dogs would impoverish the gene pool even further, both breeds (well variety, every other county they're bred together soon which probably helps the whole genetic diversity business too!) would result in even more of a bottleneck (I feel anyway) and i think many feel we can't afford to narrow the gene pool anymore.
They are both fanastic though, the modern fluffy type rough is a world away in temperament and personality to a classic type rough and to smooths. Smooths are a little more headstrong I find, and free thinking. Both can be quite independent and both are very very noisy but it's part of the charm, I don't just mean barking but they grown and chuff and make all sorts of Wookie type noises! Very expressive! Very chilled though, couldn't have anything else now.
Title: Re: working dogs
Post by: lord flynn on June 11, 2016, 10:31:47 pm
Yes, most breeders are testing (Smooths) but not many are seemingly doing much about it-there seems to be much breeding of the same dogs in the middle of the UK whereas there are more dogs that are clear available in Europe. Research shows there is a much higher prevalence of it in the UK than mainland Europe and breeding from dogs in mainland Europe is not that difficult. Carrier only, as I'm sure you are aware, doesn't mean they are not affected-just that they are less affected. I have found very few breeders with clear lines-please let me know of any you know of.




As I said, I would love one but save for one breeder, I've not found one yet that have really addressed my questions on the matter and most seem completely unbothered by it. But I am surrounded by sheep and cattle and while a small risk, its a risk that would have to be managed for 12 years. Thats quite apart from limiting treatment options for other diseases.


It's a shame they are not more popular, I feel if more people knew about them they surely would be!