Collie Brains

[TOMO 26,067]

Weasel,,, I don't think bulls get enough credit,,in the brains department,,,some of them are incredibly intelligent ,,,in fact more often than not,,more intelligent than the other end of the lead,,,lol

[johnny boy68 11,726]

The collie "brains" as been refined over the years while working with an human handler(the shepherd), this translates to a dog understanding what the handler wants to a higher degree than most other breeds.

 

Lots of breeds are intelligent they just use that intelligence in a different way.

[weasle 1,119]

Must admit was shocked myself,never had to show it anything twice.

[TOMO 26,067]

Good friend of mine always like to have a bull cross about,,,usually a first cross,,,he always has the lightest bitch in a litter,,,and he uses them for everything ,,,,brainy little things they are,,,,ok I know you get Chavy street kids with them,,,but growing up,,, the amount of mates that had staffies,,doing all sorts of tricks,,just shows there not that dumb

[TOMO 26,067]

Another one I seen was a 5/8 3/8 bitch that rob Reynolds off mooches had ,,,beautiful looking creature,,,and really knew its job around the ferrets

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Good friend of mine always like to have a bull cross about,,,usually a first cross,,,he always has the lightest bitch in a litter,,,and he uses them for everything ,,,,brainy little things they are,,,,ok I know you get Chavy street kids with them,,,but growing up,,, the amount of mates that had staffies,,doing all sorts of tricks,,just shows there not that dumb

Thats right mate, its how you harness that brain power. GSD's are another breed that are renowned for intelligence, I just think certain breeds interact with the handler better and a large percentage are pastoral types hence why they get touted as being "brainy" dogs.

[tsteve9999 456]

My half x is 5 months old now and is incredably easy to train so far. I'm only just beginning to do any serious stuff but it took me all of 2 minutes to teach him to heel and the other basics like recall and retieving have come without training at all. He is however the biggest pain in the arse pup I've ever had, if I'm not keeping him occupied he's digging the garden up or chewing stuff up none stop and he's at it all day long.

[Stabs 3]

Nice to read that people recognise the intelligence that some bulls possess. They don't get the credit they deserve at times

[Bosun11 537]

In this lurcher saturated world, there are far more examples of bad collie brain than good IMO because though I am certainly getting a bit better with age, harnessing that brain right ain't every ones forte and for the layman, most collie crosses are a damn sight harder to handle than other crosses. They can be simply too much dog!

Edited to add, personally, I'd rather have, some of the other good points from these crosses, feet, stamina, coat, frame and bone. To me the collie brings more to the table than brain alone when crossed with your speed machines.

Oh yer, Stabs and Tomo are dead right IMO, don't underestimate the brain on your bull bloods, they may surprise a few.

[Stabs 3]

Absolutely right Bosun, but how often do you hear them touted as the ideal first lurcher?

My first collie lurcher had me wanting to commit murders

[TOMO 26,067]

Agreed chaps,,,,I have never thought a first cross collie or heavy saturated collie type,,,is the ideal first lurcher for your average young chap,,,,far better with a bitsa,,,with a good chunk of running dog in

[weasle 1,119]

So while they suit some lads,It isnt some magical ingreadiant lads would have you believe

As some one touched on salukis wouldnt touch a pure with barge pole,Yet i had a bitza with a large dollop of saluki and she could read her quarry,second to non,Once behind a rabbit ears pricked it was like slow motion,and was very lucky to get away,Good ferreting dog too.Long time since she was around but can still watch her run in my mind :cray:lol

[KittleRox 2,147]

some good points about tractability etc lads, I think if we were only adding collie for brains alone we wouldn't bother lol, its the other stuff they bring, the general toughness can't be under estimated

 

ps Weasle > I like saying CUR

[Stabs 3]

In no particular order.....feet, cunning, hardiness, nose, sagacity, tractability, coat, adaptability, intelligence, and plain old 'hunt'

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

I've kept crossbred herding dogs,..all my life,...used other types, for other business, and enjoyed them immensely, but I always return to the mongrel curs..As for brains,.well,... I've seen some reet dumb pastoral types, and one should never equate high intelligence with easy training,.cos it just ain't so...

A collie lurcher, that truly favours the collie, in its general outlook,.is not an easy animal for the tyro hunter to handle..Truth is, I've seen lurchers bred from generations of herding dog, that were silly as rooks and even first crosses , half and half,..that in reality, were no brighter that semi-gazehounds..

This reputed collie cleverness is not always guaranteed,..same as not all Bull bloods will go,..and not all Salukis catch hares,...I have found that if you require a particular quality from a lurcher, it is best to breed from animals that exhibit , that chosen quality,.be it physique, speed or ...brains...in other words, be selective...

As a moucher,.I don't need a top dog or anything mind blowing,...I just require a keen wee thing,..who can find a rabbit,..or a pheasant.

 

In conclusion,.if a jukel can twig on to what you want,...in my mind,.he is plenty brainy enough,.and it don't matter to me if he is bred from Billy Big Balls,..the Skull Crusher,..or from Shep the fecking Sheepdog

 

Edited April 10, 2014 by Phil Lloyd