Fate brought us together

Moobli

...
Joined
13 June 2013
Messages
6,142
Visit site
Well, sort of ;)

We haven't been looking for a new collie puppy and weren't planning on getting one this year at all, but I was chatting to a local shepherd last week and hubby asked me to ask him how his last year nursery bitch was doing (as she looks and works very like our own black dog, Joe) and whether he had any plans to breed her in the future. Lo and behold she has actually had a litter and the pups were 8 weeks old on asking! He did say that he was swithering about keeping more than one but if he decided not to then there would be one dog pup available.

So, this is the dog pup available and we are collecting him later this week when lambing duties allow.

Sweep

2qujk00.jpg
 
He is named after Jock Richardson's Sweep, and was kennel mate to the famous Wiston Cap when Jock lived on one of the farms we now shepherd - so it seemed fitting.

(Sweep is the black dog on the left)

k03qkk.jpg
 
If we aren't careful we might end up with a whole team of black dogs as well as blackie sheep :D

Caleb

23igqb4.jpg


Joe

14b2owl.jpg


and now Sweep too.
 
How gorgeous, and definitely meant to be! Now I have a dog and am browsing the AAD section for the first time I am living all the collies, young and old that are on here. Keep the pictures coming!
 
Gorgeous little chap! Love his white paws 😍
Do you start working them straight away as puppies or work on basic training and being a working dog a bit later?
 
He is gorgeous! Serendipitous, for sure. Thought you weren’t looking just now!! Yo7 couldn’t possibly turn h8m down, tho. Absolutely gorgeous.
 
Gorgeous little chap! Love his white paws ��
Do you start working them straight away as puppies or work on basic training and being a working dog a bit later?

No, we don't tend to take pups to sheep until they are fast enough to get around them, so 8-12 months on average (and then with an older, trained dog to hold the sheep up). There is a risk of the sheep hurting a pup and putting it off for life so far better to wait imo.
 
He is gorgeous! Serendipitous, for sure. Thought you weren’t looking just now!! Yo7 couldn’t possibly turn h8m down, tho. Absolutely gorgeous.

Definitely wasn't looking! It is so unfair - pups seem to appear when you aren't looking! OH has had two pups in two years and I have to wait another couple of years for my next GSD pup (my own choice though really).
 
A quick update on Sweep. He is fab. Settled in brilliantly. I usually like to rear the collie pups in the house for the first 6-12 months before they go to live outside in kennels, but my OH decided it would be better almost straightaway and with the weather being as warm I didn't mind too much. Sweep was immediately very independent and bold, not at all bothered about being in his kennel and run, and didn't cry at all. I think it helps that he is kenneled next to a kindly older dog and they can see, sniff each other through the mesh. I have been working on recall and lie down commands initially. I don't like to do too much formal obedience with the working pups as the need to be watching the sheep not always looking to me and need to think for themselves a wee bit. He has decided chasing the hens and geese is fun so am putting a stop to that. He won't go to sheep for a while yet but I will update when he does.

214h7o.jpg


1g1wtv.jpg


2rpbh3a.jpg
 
Lovely to hear how Sweep is doing, we don’t get much chance to follow a proper working sheepdog. Most I know do agility or obedience.
I hope you will tell us more as he progresses.
 
He looks like a real cracker. I’d love you to do updates on his training, I’d love to follow his progress from puppy to working sheepdog.
 
I think Sweep is a fab name and suits him really well. he looks great now too.

the vids are amazing, I'm clueless when it comes to sheep herding and working dogs and love seeing it. I think its amazing to see so many dogs and humans working together in unison with the same goal in mind. and not a word of language spoken between them!

Can't wait to hear more about Sweep!
 
Thanks EC. My husband is the expert when it comes to sheepdogs. I just muddle along. Glad you enjoyed the videos 😊
 
Top