Working collie people
- Thread starter Clodagh
- Start date
ycbm
Overwhelmed
Oh my goodness, what a strong dog he's going to be!
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
And yet people still think that training beats genetics 
jrp204
Well-Known Member
What a good pup, just need to add in a good 'stand' and he'll be a cracker!
Moobli
...
I enquired about that pup after the video was shared to me, but it had already been sold - no surprise. A bold and hardy wee thing for sure! 
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
I enquired about that pup after the video was shared to me, but it had already been sold - no surprise. A bold and hardy wee thing for sure!
How old was he, in the video? If he hadn't fronted up to that sheep I assume his entire career would have been over, do sheep remember which individual dog they have got the better of?
Moobli
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7 weeks in the video. Most puppies won't stand up to a sheep like that at such a young age (although personally I wouldn't take such a young pup to sheep for fear of it being injured or scared and put off for life!). They are all different, and actually just because it is bold at that age doesn't necessarily mean it will go on to make a world beater. We certainly have some sheep who recognise a weaker dog the minute it is in the vicinity. They are not as stupid an animal as many people believe.
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Wow, 7 weeks. I do agree, not that I know anything about training collies but if he had been trampled, even accidently, I imagine it takes a lot of getting over.
AmyMay
Situation normal
I enquired about that pup after the video was shared to me, but it had already been sold - no surprise. A bold and hardy wee thing for sure!
And probably sold for thousands. Brilliant little chap.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
I did wonder how people would feel about it when I watched it, yes it all ended great but the capacity for it to go wrong was quite high I felt and I didn't think many would have put them loose to sheep quite so young?
ycbm
Overwhelmed
Friends who train border collies to work sheep certainly wouldn't let a pup that young do that. They tell me that one butt from a braver sheep and they can be put off working sheep for life. But what a cracking dog!
Alec Swan
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No, sheep only recognise weakness, be it two legged or four! A grand pup, no question of that.
Alec.
Alec Swan
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Probably not. The most precocious can sometimes be a disappointment and the late starters can catch them up and overtake them. ……..
That said, with care, that pup will make a cracking work dog, possibly too strong for the trialers (
) but that's down to the handler. In my view pups which are that strong and at such a young age need a dollop of time-out and before they start to earn their keep.Alec.
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
WSD has said before that trialling sheepdogs are like trialling labs and thinking is not to be encouraged. I love that pup but I can see he could go either way, I imagine too hard is like hard mouthed and not a good thing.
Alec Swan
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Trial dogs, be they sheepdogs or gundogs are all so often, a mile apart. The only reason for that is weak and inexperienced handlers. The best Triallers have their dogs as jack/jills of all trades.
It should be borne in mind, that a dog which will stand up to sheep and is courageous is only a part of what's wanted. With work dogs, and I'd argue with Trial dogs too, we really do need a dog which can think for itself. The trick is always the maintenance of 'balance'.
Alec.
It should be borne in mind, that a dog which will stand up to sheep and is courageous is only a part of what's wanted. With work dogs, and I'd argue with Trial dogs too, we really do need a dog which can think for itself. The trick is always the maintenance of 'balance'.
Alec.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
My working collie experience has always been very much a let them get on with it situation, the dogs only ever knew 3 things bring 'em on, lie down and catch it (for lambs). I've always wondered whether trial dogs work much the same in day to day life but know the trials stuff extra or whether my farmers just did less training that most , though it always worked fine .
, though it always worked fine .
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
My Mum used to live in Durham and I used to love to see the farmer wave at his collies and mumble a bit, which they knew meant 'Go three fells over and bring that flock back here' off they went and did the job, amazing.My working collie experience has always been very much a let them get on with it situation, the dogs only ever knew 3 things bring 'em on, lie down and catch it (for lambs). I've always wondered whether trial dogs work much the same in day to day life but know the trials stuff extra or whether my farmers just did less training that most
Moobli
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Yep, it is just something I wouldn't risk.
Moobli
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I agree that the best trial dogs are usually also work dogs - and can do both jobs equally as well. For a lot of trial dogs proper day to day work is not an option as so many triallers these days are hobbyists. I agree that work and trial dogs should be able to think for themselves but all too often nowadays trial dogs are commanded every bit of the way around a trial field and never given the opportunity for dependent thought as they aren't also working for a living.
Apercrumbie
Well-Known Member
Thank you all for sharing your knowledge of sheepdog training. It's certainly not a situation that I would put a pup in but he definitely handled it!