The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: SophieLeeds on July 31, 2015, 12:04:12 pm
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What breeds of dog do people keep, and why did you choose that breed?
Using this as a generic opportunity for people to upload lots of cute furry pictures please :love: :dog: ;D
We have two Caucasian Shepherds, Mir and Kazak. Bought them to deter the the thieves that were helping themselves within two weeks of our GSDs passing away. They're also livestock dogs, and protect the animals from all intruders (bird, fox, badger, person) but aren't used for driving animals. Not a common dog in the UK, but suit our purposes perfectly. However, wouldn't recommend to anyone who didn't have the ability to give them a 'job,' let them run free all day and would need plenty of previous dog experience.
We also have Hutch, a rescue Husky who I couldn't resist. He has a great time running loose 24/7 on all the land, but isn't trusted with the hens! He has no purpose, except enjoying the good life! Also a little Patterdale named Bandit (not our own choice!) who came from a man who lost the use of his legs in an accident. Bandits sole aim is to see how much bother he can get into with a 24 hour period ;D
Photo's should hopefully be attached :fc:
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I got my present breed after having Cocker rage Syndrome in a lovely red cocker in the 1980's, and wanted a change of breed.
I show my Brittanys, and worked them to the gun until recently(old age and ill health). They are very good berry finders and eaters, are addicted to Hen and Duck TV.
Made up my first Champion in May, and I'm off on a train trip tomorrow to Judge at the National Gundog Championship Show at Malvern, where I will enjoy seeing the hills and the allotments strung over the area.
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We have just one at the moment, a very impractical yorkie x pug. purchased purely for the cute cuddle factor but hardy enough not to get broken on our small holding !
She is a lovely house dog/ companion and loves all the animals and going driving with the pony and carriage.
We are hoping to move in a couple of months to a 50 acre farm so will be on the look out for a new large friend to keep her company and deter unwanted visitors. Always had labs in the past but tempted to a GSD although your shepherd looks beautiful.
I shall follow this post and see what everyone else has :)
Louise
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Always had rescues when I had dogs which were just companions, usually GSD x type. Pic of the last, Horace, attached.
Now I have working collies.
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I have a erm, well.....Milly! She's one of these...... and very special.
She was a rescue and was just a walking buddy for me. Trained her as a gundog and she did a fine job. She's retired now. If all dogs were as easy as this girl, I'd have hundreds!
Other than Milly, I have 3 gundogs. One lab, two springers. All work beating and picking up in the season, then working tests in the spring/summer. (http://)
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Oh my aren't they all gorgeous, especially want the Caucasian Shepherds though, just my type of dog :innocent:
I have 2 labs which are still my favourite breed and when we moved to the smallholding, I adopted 2 more rescues from the rescue I volunteer at, 1 is a Doberman cross and the other Shepherd x mastiff type. They came as a pair, but I just love big cuddle pups who have a big bark and make me feel safe and secure. Also works well as they don't have a big prey instinct either.
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj207/cak29/IMG_0675.jpg) (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/cak29/media/IMG_0675.jpg.html)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj207/cak29/IMG_0683.jpg) (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/cak29/media/IMG_0683.jpg.html)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj207/cak29/a448310b-b5b6-401b-8625-9ab5574fc54d_zps6mxstomv.jpg) (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/cak29/media/a448310b-b5b6-401b-8625-9ab5574fc54d_zps6mxstomv.jpg.html)
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We have a variety of highly trained specialist dogs (!):
Sheep dogs to chase the sheep, whippets to chase rabbits and a german shepherd to chase the postman. We have and will be again soon I hope bred the whippets (the original was an engagement present to my wife) we are on the third generation now, time for a fourth :dog: :dog: :dog: :dog:
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we have 2 King Charles Spaniels. Ive always loved them. They are easily the easiest house dog we have ever had ( had an Irish setter, a poodle and several Labs in the past). They are so easy that they have come to work with us for the last 4 years yet many people in the building don't know it yet!
Ruby ( a rescued ex-puppy farm dog) would rather just stay indoors, but she's getting on a bit now. Archie "helps" a lot round the place....he particularly likes helping to collect eggs, which he generally carries in his stomach >:(
No, they aren't farm dogs. They are purely our much-adored pets. ive not been well this last week and spent most of one day in bed ( when not throwing up)....the dogs stayed with me all day, only leaving for a quick pee then back to cuddle me. I know Im being terribly soppy etc etc but they really were a huge comfort to me :love:
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We have a pack here. . . . .
Collie,
Whippet,
Lurcher,
Hound,
Terrier,
Cocker Spaniel.
All have a job, apart from the 17 year old terrier who has earned his retirement!
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We have a 14 year old Border Collie called Meg. She's off working stock but is a pet. And in about 48 hours, we'll have a 3 month old Cardigan Welsh Corgi called Bryn. Off to Wales tomorrow to pick him up. :excited: :excited: :excited: :excited:
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Collies here :) First dog was a Papillon but a neighbour had BCs and I learnt to love the breed. Considered a setter for my next dog but stuck to the familar.
2 Black and a Red. Want (need?!) a tri and/or merle next. All just pets due to circumstance although they dabble in breed showing, agility and obedience too. This is a bit of an old pic but my 3 :) Bookends are my girlies and my lad is in the middle
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/v/t1.0-9/578141_10150892781434941_1433072933_n.jpg?oh=a40fa9713b2d3a946002fa029440180c&oe=5650BA6E&__gda__=1447485987_00c0e938150d9f7be706cc39c517ae5c)
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We have a 14 year old Border Collie called Meg. She's off working stock but is a pet. And in about 48 hours, we'll have a 3 month old Cardigan Welsh Corgi called Bryn. Off to Wales tomorrow to pick him up. :excited: :excited: :excited: :excited:
I'll wave as I pass by on the train - on my way to Malvern :wave:
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We have 2 BT's :dog: :dog:
Beinn is 4 years old and is a sap ;D
Isla is 9 months and is CRAZY MAD :tired:
I wanted a BT for ages and then we got Beinn. They are great dog's - friendly, active when they want to be and they are great for keeping you warm when lying next/on top of you on the sofa during the winter. They come with me to work everyday - wouldn't be without them.
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Labradors, 3 fox red and a black, Sasha, Ella, Jess and Max
Lurchers, 1 bull cross and one deerhound/greyhound cross, Jet and Larna
One German Wire Haired Pointer, Mia
Two Jack Russells, 1 old and 1 very old, Finnegan and Hamish
One Deerhound, Aggie
One Patterdale, Moll
One Collie, Meg, the youngest at 13 weeks
Moll makes the most noise and gets up to the most mischief. Had to be dug out of two holes on one walk!
Aggie clearly the biggest but the most gentle.
Labs just want to please and always happy.
Lurchers very loyal and very serious but fun.
Jack Russells now too old to cause trouble but all ours have been large dogs in a small package!
Mia is my shadow and has been nanny to many of the others and she is brilliant at it. Not so good at being left. Has demolished many kennel parts, jumped out of windows and chewed 2 seat belts! I feel generally we have been very lucky with her as she is otherwise well behaved and not as strong willed as many german pointers but I would think twice about another.
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Workers?
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Yes most work. Our newest, the collie, will save me calling on a neighbour to dog my small flock of sheep! It's a long time since I had a collie and with my first I didn't have sheep. I had forgotton just how much they watch you, even at that young age to see what you might want next.
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Gwen
(http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n623/Ideation123/Ideation123061/IMG_4112_zpsjwqtkpgi.jpg) (http://s1143.photobucket.com/user/Ideation123/media/Ideation123061/IMG_4112_zpsjwqtkpgi.jpg.html)
Finn
(http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n623/Ideation123/IMG_0932_zps3cf8e403.jpg) (http://s1143.photobucket.com/user/Ideation123/media/IMG_0932_zps3cf8e403.jpg.html)
Twig
(http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n623/Ideation123/Ideation123064/IMG_3914_zpslev80pr0.jpg) (http://s1143.photobucket.com/user/Ideation123/media/Ideation123064/IMG_3914_zpslev80pr0.jpg.html)
Bree
(http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n623/Ideation123/Ideation123065/photo_zps8zmrgnte.jpg) (http://s1143.photobucket.com/user/Ideation123/media/Ideation123065/photo_zps8zmrgnte.jpg.html)
Cant find any recent photos of the old terrier or the cocker, but ill try to dig some up later.
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Finn
(http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n623/Ideation123/IMG_0932_zps3cf8e403.jpg) (http://s1143.photobucket.com/user/Ideation123/media/IMG_0932_zps3cf8e403.jpg.html)
Are you aware your dog appears to be the Egyptian god of death?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Tutanhkamun_jackal.jpg) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anubis#/media/File:Tutanhkamun_jackal.jpg)
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Anubis. . . . . he does bear a striking resemblance. . . . . and it would be a very very apt comparison to be fair!
He's six now, and has travelled all over the country with me, and has filled many freezers a long the way!
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Anubis. . . . . he does bear a striking resemblance. . . . . and it would be a very very apt comparison to be fair!
He's six now, and has travelled all over the country with me, and has filled many freezers a long the way!
Death and also lurv... ?
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Aye Finns definatly a lover and a fighter. .. . .
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Irish Terriers - Erin and Willow - mum and daughter - companions - OH family had them over 45 years - They are described by an old Irish writer as being the poor man's sentinel, the farmer's friend, and the gentleman's favourite. Ideal family pet - good smallholding dog
Irish Water Spaniel - Duana - OH allergic to lots of other breeds so suited coat - very cute, bit of a handful - more so than the terriers but lovely never the less. Loves dykes - not so good with the stock as the terriers
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I keep red welsh and have done for over 12 years. First dog was a border, kept her as a pet. The reason I bought my red welsh is that I loved the look of them and their ability in thinking for themselves when rounding up sheep. I got a beardie last year which is more of a guard dog than a sheep rounder upper, but she's still eager to learn so I'll teach her.
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Reduced now to....
1 ancient Greyhound
1 ditto Ibizan
6 middle-aged whippets
1 young pug
1 ancient tiny Yorkie
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In my young days when first married I started with Irish Setters a breed I adore. After losing two to cancer I then became the owner of a German Shepherd. over the years I had 4 more all taught to work. I also had the Jack Russell and now we have a Border Collie and a cross bred collie.
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We've 3 show cockers (an orange roan, a blue roan & a black & tan) we've also got a young rescue lurcher I bought off Facebook for £40.
We wanted a family dog so after lots of research we got our first cocker Holly (she's not long had her second litter - photo attached, off to new homes next week :'( I'm going to miss them so much) I do a bit of showing at companion shows and love them all to bits.
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Oh N&C....orange roan cocker ( sigh)...Id love one.
But next time we get a dog Ive been promised a Clumber spaniel :love:
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We have a Murphy. Mum was a terrier of some sort. Dad unknown. He has a natural herding instinct and has been on several training courses, he's also a perfect family pet. Would love to know what his Dad was though!
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I needed an easy dog due to parents agging problems taking up my time so when my GSD died I got a retired racing greyhound, then a second...
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In my young days when first married I started with Irish Setters a breed I adore. After losing two to cancer I then became the owner of a German Shepherd. over the years I had 4 more all taught to work. I also had the Jack Russell and now we have a Border Collie and a cross bred collie.
I really want an Irish Setter next.. Gorgeous dogs :)
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I have 2 working terriers and they clear farms of vermin!
Rats and mice have no look-in and they catch rabbits for me to prepare them meals.
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Although I have an elderly rescue lurcher (Jess) at the moment who I adore, I always have a preference for a good old fashioned mongrel. Not one of those daft 'poo' things just a Heinz 57, over the years they have never let me down. They have been great family dogs, good guards and steadfast companions.
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Welsh Sheepdog, cos I live in Wales and I needed a dog for my sheep! :)
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The gang! 2 Gordons because I love them and wanted to work them. Jock on the left has done grouse counting and been shot over and is my bestest friend. Jenny the other setter was way too hard for me to control! Lovely temperament and is a sweetie. The collie at the back is Dottie, again a beautiful temperament, works sheep very nicely unless her head says otherwise ( she is epileptic). Rico the boy is a rescue and an agility star - has gone from grade 1 to grade 5 in 2 years! Also does a fairly good impression of a sheepdog sometimes! Lad at the front is only 5 months and is a lovely cuddly soft puppy. May do sheep work, may do agility, may not do either, but will always be very much loved because he is such a softy!
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I have a 4-5 month Border Collie (right) and a 1year old half border collie, half spaniel x staffie (left) both are absolutely crazy, love training, running and anything as long as its done at 100mph! Storm the cross does agility and obedience (she's good but still quite young and a bit strong headed), when we got her we said we wanted the calmer nature of a staffie, friendliness of a spaniel and intelligence of a collie, I think instead we got the stubbornness of a staffie, the attention span of a spaniel and the energy of a collie!!!! We love her to bits though and wouldn't have her any other way. I have always loved the border collie breed and we finally got one (Cooper, not our name choice) almost 2 weeks ago. He's a lot sweeter and gentler than storm but also a bit madder!!! Will have to see how he turns out when he's older :)
My dad used to have a greyhound and he adores the breed. She was a lovely gentle dog but mostly bonded with my dad and didn't give a damn about anyone else! Also had little interest in food or toys and NO interest in training of any kind! I think they are great dogs for people who have little time for exercise and just want a dog to keep them company in a flat. Star was great with all animals, including our crazy rescue cat even though she used to be a racing dog, however I hear a lot are very prey driven and so can be a problem around small animals and dogs.
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The gang! 2 Gordons because I love them...
Although I love our BT's, I do really like Gordon and English Setters. Sadly our cottage doesn't lend itself to a large dog and also the boss said no :huff:
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7 siberian huskies, 1x 15year old, 5x8years old and 1x5months old, why because i love this breed and i also love to work train this breed
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1 x Dalmatian - never again!
1 x huntaway x collie - working
1 x collie - scared of sheep
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What was wrong with the dalmatian, if you don't mind me asking?
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don't get me wrong, I love my poor old Oscar but no I wouldn't choose another Dalmatian.
The puppy phase lasted for YEARS and no word of a lie, he was exhausting! Had him snipped within a year but that didn't calm him down until he was probably 7 or 8, he would get under any fence and wander off for hours, he's 13 in October.
oh and the hair!!!.....all year round snowstorm of short hair that sticks like velcro to EVERYTHING. Tried brushing him every day in one place to contain it but as soon as he brushed past something your left with a carpet of hair.
He is a lovely dog, never a wrong growl from him but he will bark at anything and everything. He can't go 3 miles in the car without vomiting so can't take him anywhere unless its an emergency. But to be fair to him, he's never messed in the house but then he can open doors which lets the hens in and they mess everywhere.
He's been a massive part of this family, and we all love him and in that respect he is irreplacable but I won't miss the constant hoovering and picking hair out of clothes with tweezers
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:llama:Can't answer for FRH but we had a collie and a Dalmatian once. When they were given a command the collie would look at you as if to say - oh yes, and what would you like me to do next? The Dalmatian would say - you and whose army? We managed to lose the collie but gained a jack russel and even that is noticeably more responsive although not necessarily better behaved.
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ha ha yes, our Oscar is like that too. I blamed ourselves for humanising him, he has brilliant facial expressions! You can shout him and you know he can hear you but he he takes one look over his shoulder, head down and off he goes!
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2 Labradors and a wee lurcher.
1 lab is 13 and retired and very old and smelly but I love her to bits.
1 lab is 2 and my ace picking up dog. Super fast, loves her job. The sweetest little dog possible. Totally spoilt!
Twiggy my lurcher is 9 and my soul mate. Totally useless for anything apart from chasing deer, cats, hares etc when she is NOT allowed!! Squeaks if you tread on her toes, bump into her, touch her too hard, has the pain threshold of a knat!! Is my total shadow and gets away with murder!!
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2 Labradors and a wee lurcher.
1 lab is 13 and retired and very old and smelly but I love her to bits.
1 lab is 2 and my ace picking up dog. Super fast, loves her job. The sweetest little dog possible. Totally spoilt!
Twiggy my lurcher is 9 and my soul mate. Totally useless for anything apart from chasing deer, cats, hares etc when she is NOT allowed!! Squeaks if you tread on her toes, bump into her, touch her too hard, has the pain threshold of a knat!! Is my total shadow and gets away with murder!!
Photos please Trish!
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3 Dalmatians!!!!
Absolutely love them and one of them is a PAT dog, he visits a local Nursing Home. I'm very proud of him as he is only 2 1/2 and everyone said I would never be able to do it with a Dally. They are great with the horses, funny with the donkeys, dodgy with the hens (!!) and one of them licks the inside of the sheeps ears clean which they seem to like as they come over to him to have it done...very funny to watch but yet to catch it on camera! Agree with their attitude to doing things though.....always had labs before...so.. if you threw something and said "Fetch' it would do just that, if I throw something and ask one of the Dalmatians to do that, I get a disdainful look and a fairly obvious "if you wanted it, why did you throw it away!!" or a "do I look like a retriever?"!
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My poodle Archie and just because I love him to bits.
Here he is in his new bed which was a present from my neighbours.
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I have had a variety of different breeds over the years but my all time favourite is the Australian Cattle Dog. I liked them primarily because of their 'rugged' looks - they aren't your normal show dog! They are quirky, full on, can be hugely irritating and not for the faint hearted. But they are always entertaining, easily trained (although they can have their own 'take' on things), very loyal and wonderful companions for an active lifestyle.
Mine also prove their worth keeping a watchful eye on my premises - traveller types would come past regularly and ask if I had any spare scrap/wanted trees felling/painting work done, while eyeing up the outbuildings. But since the dogs run free in the yard, I don't have those requests any more!
My three - Woody, Ruby and Indie (Indie is totally deaf but you wouldn't know it!)
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[member=23842]Remy[/member] I looked at ACDs for my next dog after meeting a couple of loving their spunk but kept hearing about how prevalent epilepsy is in the breed. Is this true or is it certain lines or? I'd appreciate some more info please - by pm is fine :)
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I've only just joined this forum today... moving to my first smallholding in a few weeks, but have plenty of experience in dogs!!
I currently have 5 labradors ranging from 10 to 19 months in age, Danny, Jake, Millie, Lola and Lenny. 3 of which are related (Millie is Lola's mum and Lola is Lenny's mum) I show and work them (to varying degrees), but Lola is my special one as she was the first girl I bred, and became a full UK Champion 2 years ago. I am now campaigning her son Lenny in the show-ring, although his gundog work is somewhat behind the standard to which they usually are at his age! LOL
I am hoping to have another litter from Lola at some point after we've moved and got settled, and hopefully keep another girl to keep my line going :fc:
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I have working gundogs
2 Labs (mother & daughter)
1 Wirehaired Vizsla
1 Springer Spaniel
1 retired Lurcher
I pick up on 3 pheasant shoots beat on a grouse moor, help run our own DIY pheasant shoot and Duck flight every other week.
So they get plenty of work, ha.
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2 sprockers- 1 is 1/2 springer 1/2 working cocker, the other is out of the first with a working cocker dad. We wanted something small but with lots of energy to come out on the farm with us and also to train up to work, they are nuts :roflanim:
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Two German shepherds - one who works, the other who guards
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/kirsty4172/Zak/a0178fe8-5ad7-4077-b500-6cb62f9a84a4_zps93931880.jpg)
And currently 9 working border collies (with a litter due from our red bitch in a month)
I won't add a photo of every single one ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/kirsty4172/Tip/006_zps0b1409f4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/kirsty4172/Skye/8bcec953-8dd5-4eef-b3a8-6ea7ee16b8b4_zpsimqhaems.jpg)
And one of our youngest dogs coming on nicely - Joe at 9 months
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCiOck7KZQM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCiOck7KZQM)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49rAlJntNw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49rAlJntNw)
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Gorgeous pics, my next dog is going to be a decent working collie...
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Bryn. I honestly don't know why these dogs aren't more popular. He's a cracker. Would have no hesitation in having a second once Bryn's a bit older.
Doesn't slaver, has a proper big dog bark, non-stick coat (I tipped a barrowload of manure over him the other day by accident and it had no effect. Should have called him Tefal), likes being part of the pack, reasonably biddable; likes cats, sheep, ponies, children, other dogs.
And he's awful bonny. (This is an old photo)