[summermeadows]

I have a working kelpie x pedigree black lab that I wish to breed from. I am looking for someone who wants to breed from their kelpie/kelpie x bitch to produce working pups, of which I could choose one as a stud fee.

Bruno is short-haired, black and tan with white chest blaze, very kelpie looking but with the droopy ears of the lab. He has worked our flock of sheep very well and saves our legs on the hills due to his speed and agility. He jumps gates with ease and absolutely loves his work. He does go in and have a little nip when pushing the sheep into the race, but without aggression. The sheep like him much more than the grumpy old collie we had prior to him! Along with his working skills, he has the soft, loving side of the labrador. I think this combination would work well if crossed back with kelpie or kelpie/collie x or such. INTERESTED?

[Nina]

Hmmm... Interesting to hear of his work - Being a lab x! 

First port of call, I'd suggest, would be to get his hips scored before breeding - Labs are very prone to HD, and it is getting more prevalent in kelpies and other such breeds that haven't historically been hip scored...

I do know of kelpie breeders, and some in your area, but whether they'd be interesting in putting a pure or x bitch to a half herder/half gundog, I doubt it as you can't be too sure what you'd get in terms of working ability - Not that it's ever a given - But when buying my kelpies I've ensured they're from working lines through and through...  Wouldn't want a splash of lab (pedigree or not!) in there!

Anyway, and if you don't find a bitch and are ever looking for a kelpie or x, I can help with finding breeders or rescues...

[summermeadows]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I've had a lab in the past with the said hip problem, but my kelpie/lab x has never showed a single sign of it, I expect this could be due to hybrid vigour. I am in some ways more a fan of mixing breeds a little than keeping to pure blood-lines, for this very reason, but I am prepared to be proved wrong being new to these things. I am clearly not a "proper" breeder or I wouldn't be posting this ad - but I am interested in carrying on my brilliant dog's bloodlines and I figure if I breed him with a full working bitch, either kelpie, collie or kelpie/collie, any pups will be 3/4 working genes and therefore I've a good chance that many of the litter will prove to be workers. I suppose this risk might make my dog unattractive as a stud dog, so I am favouring buying a bitch so I can do the breeding and risk-taking, but I thought this ad was worth a punt just in case there is a like-minded person out there!  Hope that wasn't too waffly!

[doganjo]

I do hope you will do as suggested and have the hips tested of both your cross lab/kelpie and any bitch you find to breed to him.  Even though he hasn't shown any signs, if his parents were high scored then he may be too and if the same applies to the bitch then you have double the possibility of hip problems.

I must agree that I personally wouldn't use an unproven dog at stud - even if he was my own.  Sorry, but I work on the premise that if you want to breed the best you use the best to breed from.  Yes he may be proven working in your eyes, but unless tested as labs are in the field then there is no proof. The same goes for any Gundog.  I wouldn't promote my dogs as workers, since they haven't as yet taken any Gundog tests even though they are worked satisfactorily for my purposes, but they have multiple show awards which balances things out.  Not what you want to hear I am sure so I wish you luck in your search for what you yourself want.