Are collie crosses too clever for the average lurcherman??.

[mackay 3,330]

One of the criticisms levelled at collie crosses is that they don't always try and are too picky regarding quarry. Now I like collie blooded dogs, but even being a fan and most of the dogs I've owned have been collie influenced I can still understand why some people are slightly disillusioned with them. Until you get to 3/4 1/4 no matter how game (another subject) your unlikely to have a dog with a gung ho attitude, but they go about their business and put game in the bag. Over the years I've had a walk out with people and dogs of various breeding and whilst they buzz about looking busy at the end of the day the collie cross has actually contributed more to the tally. I had a first cross bitch who when retieving a rabbit on the lamp would ignore a rabbit running across her bows and stick with the rabbit she had, in fact heading back with a rabbit if she spotted a squatter she would give it a wide berth, deposit the rabbit with me and head out for said squatter. She and one other did this although to be fair the rest were dilluted with other blood and had less collie. The rest would (and did) spit the caught rabbit out and take up the gauntlet so to speak often missing the fresh rabbit and if the one they were carrying was live then on occasion they scuttled off to. Again until you get to 3/4 1/4very few are pleasing to the eye although beauty is in the eye of the beholder and me, well I like a solid workmanlike dog as opposed to say a whippety type. Are they now in this present day too bright, where sport is taking precedence over the catch??. Are these traits and many more desirable now??. I know people like to see a dog busting a gut so to speak and often walk home with a sighthound saturated dog that has ran riot and caught little or nothing whilst a collie type dog has filled the bag but looked less than impressive but that's what they prefer. Obviously now most lurcher owners are sport orientated than years gone by, but would you trade quarry for a die hard and possibly miss attitude or is the humble collie bag filler still as popular.

[Ideation 8,216]

I'd say amongst certain groups of folk, the collie blooded cur is as popular as ever. FOr the land we work and the kind of work we do, a thickset, heavily collie blooded dog is great, and will put more game in the bag than a racy speed machine (most of the time). They also don't break as easily.

[dublin dezzy 1,023]

good post there mackay,not big into the lurchers and have only keep this cross,find them highly intelligent animal and will use them for marking earths aswell as a bit of lamping,all in all a good all rounder

[undisputed 1,664]

I would reverse it and say the majority of the collie x owners are to thick for the average collie x. Your right it's more sport orientated now and most dogs have to hit the ground running so to speak and the dogs dont get time to learn their trade properly. I've always thought you need a certain temperment to get along with them...theyre not everybody's cup of T same as other x's don't suit certain individuals.

Edited February 12, 2012 by undisputed

[mackay 3,330]

I'd say amongst certain groups of folk, the collie blooded cur is as popular as ever. FOr the land we work and the kind of work we do, a thickset, heavily collie blooded dog is great, and will put more game in the bag than a racy speed machine (most of the time). They also don't break as easily.

 

Yep, missed that point, take the knocks better, rarely injured, tougher hides and good feet,more so than their racier counterparts.

[poacher3161 1,766]

I like them [bANNED TEXT] crossed back to other lurcher types and imho they take some beating for allround lurchers on edible quarry.

[Ideation 8,216]

I'd say amongst certain groups of folk, the collie blooded cur is as popular as ever. FOr the land we work and the kind of work we do, a thickset, heavily collie blooded dog is great, and will put more game in the bag than a racy speed machine (most of the time). They also don't break as easily.

 

Yep, missed that point, take the knocks better, rarely injured, tougher hides and good feet,more so than their racier counterparts.

 

And feck me, when you need to mention the patience. All the best ferreting dogs i have seen have been collie blooded and so much ofthat has been their patience, and brain, being able to read whats going on and do what is needed without command, becaue they are thinkingitthrough, not just reacting to your commands.

[Big Jim101 29]

so would you say the 1/4 collie 3/4 grey is too much sighthound? would you prefer a 1st cross??

[mackay 3,330]

so would you say the 1/4 collie 3/4 grey is too much sighthound? would you prefer a 1st cross??

 

I would say that a 3/4 greyhound 1/4 collie would suit more people than a first cross, they have brains as well as speed, but, in the right hands in rougher ground I think a first cross comes into it's own. I've owned both mate and both have their special qualities so to speak. My preference, I'd say a racier type first cross.

[Casso 1,261]

I like them [bANNED TEXT] crossed back to other lurcher types and imho they take some beating for allround lurchers on edible quarry.

i completely agree with this, the reason i like a bit of collie in a running dog is because the collie is an animal bred to listen and take instruction from man unlike a lot of sighthound and terrier crosses,

a lurcher with collie blood can still be in drive and keep his owner in his frame of reference, same as a working sheepdog with the ability to focus on his task (herding sheep) while still listening to commands from his shepherd,

[Ideation 8,216]

so would you say the 1/4 collie 3/4 grey is too much sighthound? would you prefer a 1st cross??

 

I would say that a 3/4 greyhound 1/4 collie would suit more people than a first cross, they have brains as well as speed, but, in the right hands in rougher ground I think a first cross comes into it's own. I've owned both mate and both have their special qualities so to speak. My preference, I'd say a racier type first cross.

 

What are your thoughts on the difference between half x and 3/4 bred and lurcher to lurcher bred dogs that work out as half x or 3/4, if that makes sense. My 1st choicewould be lurcher to lurcher, that works out about half / half.

[rocky070707 30]

there are to clever for them self

[darbo 4,774]

quite a few line bred collie lurchers. look how many generations david james dogs carried on.

[shepp 2,285]

Collie crosses are often cleverer than the average lurcher man.

[wuyang 513]

The little bit of beardie in my border collie greyhound made all the difference.

Edited February 13, 2012 by wuyang