A Bit Of Background.

[Magpie 102]

I've been asked provide a little background on the pups that I have avdertised, so here go’s.

This particular line of Beardie lurchers started with a half crosses Bitch that came from the Hancock’s yard. She was a neat 23’ black rough coated dog that was sired by their Muirhead line Beardie stud ‘Findley’. Findley being the son of the Hancock’s other Beardie stud ‘Remus’.
In my humble opinion these older Beardie studs that they once had were by far and away better than their current stock. I’m sure some would argue otherwise but having owned bitches from both I know which I prefer.
Not to take anything away from the Hector pups, my own bitch ‘Aura’ has been a great little dog, but she has always been a confidence driven animal that lacks that real punch and desire of my others. Putting her to Keeps’ dog ‘Indie’ proved as I hoped it would to add the drive to the pups that she was lacking.

‘Aura’.



Back to the originall bitch.

‘Dazzle’ was quite something. Full on and highly driver in everything she did. Her owner once told me that in her younger day he would have to push bike the dog around the block a few times on the morning of a hunt just to take the edge off her before taking her up on the Dale to run the Rabbits such was the dogs desire to catch.
I owned the full but slightly old sister to this bitch back in the early nineties. She being the very reason I have committed myself to continuing this blood line. ‘Shannon’ as I called had proved time and again that she was a dog of the highest caliber.
Sickeningly I had to rehome her when my first wife decided life would be better if the dogs and I weren't around anymore. To the best of my knowledge she lived out her days with the old Gamekeeper I gave her to.

‘Shannon’.



‘Dazzle’ went on to whelp two litters. The first produced Panhandle’s bitch ‘Sky’ and Richard Christian’s bitch ‘Vandel’. The second litter to a pure Greyhound of ‘I’m Slippy’ blood lines produce Keeps’ dog ‘Indie’.
‘Indie’ I'm sure needs no introduction. Evidence of this dog’s quality had been well documented through Keeps’ excellent camera skills across the forums for many years. A highly driven and adaptable dog. Now proven stud to boot.

‘Indie’.


Indie’s litter sister ‘Dusk’ has also desplayed her tallents on the forums through Panhandle’s handy work.

‘Dusk’.




The next chapter in this story sees the introduction of a pure Pringle line working Beardie.

http://www.shepherdswithbeardies.com/Shepherds-Farmers/Scotland/Pringle,%20Drew/pringle_drew.htm
I’ll let the link explain more about Drover.

http://www.shepherdswithbeardies.com/Shepherds-Farmers/England/Eddie_Sue/Our%20Dogs/Drover%20Jr/Sire/sire.htm

‘Drover’ a pure working Beardie.



This dog was put over ‘Dusk’ the resulting litter producing my dog ‘Galan’.
I've posted quite a bit on ‘ol baggy’ over the last four or five years so I'll keep this bit short. Suffice to say that he is my number one dog. He comes with me to all the high profile sites we have contractual obligations to as he never lets me down always does his job to the best of his ability.
His temperament as it is with all these dogs is absolutely first class. I can work him along any other dog in any situation and know he will be no trouble at all. I also have two kids under five at home that at times take all manner of liberties with him but he’s just happy to get the extra attention.
No matter how good a worker might be theres no place for it at my gaff if it’s temperament is in any way questionable.

‘Galan’.




Indie was an obvious choice for me when I wanted to breed from Aura, his quality was obvious. He was out of effectively my original bitch and to be honest there wasn't that many straight Beardie bred stud dogs to choose from anyway. Lucky for me he was everything I desired.
I wasn't present at the mating myself. My wife, at the time was doing her best to hang out the birth of our son for as long as she possibly could so my ol’ mate GMG kindly stood in and made the trip north on my behalf for which I will be eternally grateful. Love ya bruv XX

‘Delta’ was the bitch I kept back from the union.
I kinda knew that this little bitch would never reach old bones or have a full and fruitful working life. Dogs with her desire rarely do, especially round these parts where there’s all manner of things for a dog to come to grief on.
Well last November the 21st at around 22.30 Delta had the accident that would effectively end her working career.
I guess it had been coming. We had been out lamping three nights a week for the best part of two months steadily building her up until she was catch very respectable bags.
On the night in question we had nipped out just for a couple of hours before the next big rain storm was due to hit.
We walked the first two fields but found nothing to run. Switching to the other side of the road I spied a rabbit sitting in amongst the puddles at about fifty yards. Delta had trouble spotting the rabbit at first as the lamp light was reflecting up off of the water. I left the ditch line and walked her out closer to it so she could see it better. As soon as it jumped she was on it. It cut straight back to the ditch line and cut right. Delta attempted the same maneuver but as the lamp light had not lit the ditch bottom she hadn't seen the drop. She slammed hard into the opposite bank.
I waited a few seconds half expecting to see her bound out of the ditch with the Rabbit in her mouth as she done on numerous occasions in the past. It soon became clear on this occasion that that wasn't going to happen.
I arrived at the scene to see Delta struggling to keep her head out of the water. I dived in and lifted the dog clear up on to the top of the bank. She couldn't stand and had no feeling down the right hand side of her body. I then carried her as fast as I could back to the vehicle and dashed for home. All the way home I pinched her feet to try and raise a reaction but nothing.
In my heart of hearts I knew she was done.
Skycat and Fenman came up to see if they could help but there was little they could do. It all looked so bleak. I swallowed hard and made the call.
It was while on the phone that Skycat noticed a change and a faint reaction was noted when she pinched Deltas foot. Off to the vets at warp speed. She was sedated and I left her there.
To be honest I still wasn't convinced that I'd be bringing her home alive. She was paralyzed for fecks sake. What I hadn't counted on was the fight in the dog.
The ex rays showed no obvious signs of damage and the only real way of knowing what had gone wrong would have been to have had an MRI. At the cost of £1300 that just wasn't an option besides my view was that it would solve anything anyway. You don't need a weatherman to tell you it’s raining do you.
I picked her up from the vets the following day. My mind was made up so I just wanted her to be comfortable at home when the time came. I cried buckets I don't mind telling you, I was devastated. She had been well on the way to being the best dog I'd ever owned and now she going all in the flash of lamp.
One of my neighbours who as it happens is also a vet had kindly offered to do the deed for me. On seeing the dog he thought I should give her a few days to see if she would show any kind of recovery. Being a horse vet attached to our local course I guess he’s seen one or two similar injuries. This was backed up by GMG so reluctantly I agreed. For me at that exact time I couldn't help but think that it was just delaying the inevitable.
I can sit here now and say that I'm bloody glad I did.
Over the next couple of days that little dog fought back and was soon standing again albeit gingerly. Visible signs of recovery could be seen every day and I began to feel hopeful that she would make a full recovery.
I had her up to a canine sports specialist vet who was quite confident that she would make a reasonable recovery.
Delta has now recovered incredibly well from her injury but not enough for a full on working life. She is still catching Rabbits and pulling down the occasional ‘Shot’ Muntjak but she won't be able to stand up to a full working life. Gutted… she had so much potential.

‘Delta’.




This litter wasn’t supposed to happen for at least another two or three years. I had had no need for another dog until Delta’s accident. I was quite happy with what I’d got.
Having had her checked out I took what was always going to be a gamble and lined her to Galan. What else could I do? Sure I could go back to square one and line Aura to Indie again but Aura had found the whole puppy thing far too stressful and at eight years of age I didn't want to put her through that again. I could wait and hope that a likely litter would turn up or go back to Hancocks neither option was particularly viable. So I held my breath and prayed.
Nine nervous weeks past and then finally she popped them all out in just over two hours with very little intervention from myself. And she’s doted on them ever since.



I have two dogs and 2 bitches. I ain’t after a lot for them good permanent homes are more important to me than money. If anyone is interested and would like to know more just drop me a PM and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

[Magpie 102]

Could I please ask a mod to sort this out for me please. I can't see why it's duplicated itself. It was a simple cut and paste operation.

 

Thank you.

[Hot Meat 3,109]

good read that cheers, i like the look of that galad dog

[Hot Meat 3,109]

galan*

[freelance 448]

Great post great pics and write up and great pups Cheers Atb

[dodger 2,765]

Crackin post that best of look with the pups

[paulus 26]

Could I please ask a mod to sort this out for me please. I can't see why it's duplicated itself. It was a simple cut and paste operation.

 

Thank you.

sorted

[Magpie 102]

Many thanks Paulus.

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

Wish you all the best with these pups. Top class....

[nothernlite 18,089]

top class pups for some one good luck good write up had a we beardie x years ago cracking we bitch

[MikeTheDog 153]

Excellent post Magpie!..

[skycat 6,173]

No axe to grind whatsoever, so I'll say that these dogs are tough as old boots, temperaments to die for, and hard willing workers as well who can turn their hands to most things. Proper lurchers. Great write up there from someone who really does live for his dogs.

[bird 9,944]

good post, and well bred lurchers and best of luck with getting good homes for them

[Magpie 102]

Thanks for your comments folks.

[birddog 1,354]

top class in every respect