How kelpies doing?

[Shortstraw 476]

Just wondering how your kelpies are doing........and how you finding their temperament?

[jigsaw 11,863]

ive done very little with mine so far,im constantly working late and 6 days a week,im looking forward to the season ahead,ive been trying to get them used to the rifle shot and it hasnt bothered them at all thankfully,...i was waiting to hear back from a few during the season coming ,so we shall see how they go 

[Neal 1,866]

I was thinking the same thing myself last week and nearly started a similar thread.

On a slightly different tack (as mine is kelpie x kelpie without the greyhound!); my two year old is finally calming down a bit. He's been the most high maintenance kelpie I've had. After telling people for years, "No they're not all nutters, mine are all lovely and calm," I finally got one like everybody else's! But, as I said, he seems to be finally calming down and has started catching squirrels. He's still very friendly but is becoming slightly less likely to jump all over everybody. I've made him sound worse than he is, to be honest, and I'm constantly being complimented on how well behaved he is...I think it's just because I always compare my kelpies to Old Rusty who was definitely one of a kind. Oh well, plenty of years yet. 

Sorry Jigsaw and Shortstraw...back to the lurchers...

Edited July 17, 2020 by Neal
typo

[Neal 1,866]

4 minutes ago, W. Katchum said:

Mine is a tad too friendly with folk she knows, wary of folk she don’t an still has odd bad habit of jumping up on folk who make a fuss of her, she is getting better an I have had to ask few certain folk who are pure arseholes around her, to calm themselves down, she knows tho an is gettin it but that is the only thing I could even think about that ain’t what I’d want, proper switched on now, keen as a bullx an obedient as a collie, nose like a hound, even a mate of mine who works up in peaks on a farm is thinking about trying a full kelpie, I’d love to spend a lot time around a couple full ones

That's what made me switch. After having three different collie crosses of varying types I got a kelpie/collie x greyhound from Dave Sleight's first litter of that cross and his temperament was so much better (for me) than the previous ones that I had a funny five minutes and bought a pure one...and I've not looked back since...though Ned has made me seriously consider changing my mind.

[Shortstraw 476]

2 hours ago, Neal said:

I was thinking the same thing myself last week and nearly started a similar thread.

On a slightly different tack (as mine is kelpie x kelpie without the greyhound!); my two year old is finally calming down a bit. He's been the most high maintenance kelpie I've had. After telling people for years, "No they're not all nutters, mine are all lovely and calm," I finally got one like everybody else's! But, as I said, he seems to be finally calming down and has started catching squirrels. He's still very friendly but is becoming slightly less likely to jump all over everybody. I've made him sound worse than he is, to be honest, and I'm constantly being complimented on how well behaved he is...I think it's just because I always compare my kelpies to Old Rusty who was definitely one of a kind. Oh well, plenty of years yet. 

Sorry Jigsaw and Shortstraw...back to the lurchers...

I’m always interested in pure kelpies as well having worked pure border collies to rabbits many years ago. I love to an underdog grafting if that makes sense, it makes it more rewarding for me when they do catch. Plus you get to see different work styles.

My mom and dad both retired now for some years got a border collie x Jack Russell pup from a farm......both working dogs.....about a year ago ( I may have mentioned before). There always out walking with her, but it’s a few months since I popped out for a walk with her, but when I did it was lovely to watch her hunt so naturally, I mean my parents just walk in the woods and fields, but she’s a natural hunter and has been on the wrong side of a squirrel already. She’s thrown to the collie, lovely short weatherproof coat......probably about 16 inch to the shoulder. Thing is she is proper switched on all the time, I’m sure she might calm down eventually, but by Christ talk about alert. When these two are too old and stiff to work I often wonder what will float my boat. The prices of some dogs now just rattles my cage and I would resent paying so much to someone for a dog.....hence the cheaper accidental matings might be the route i go.....( again).

[SheepChaser 8,083]

Think we’ve got some patterdale x collies on the way  

[SheepChaser 8,083]

Well the fact we having them is the first surprise. 

[Neal 1,866]

14 hours ago, SheepChaser said:

Think we’ve got some patterdale x collies on the way  

It won't be the first time. I've seen two adverts for kelpie x patterdales in the last couple of years.

 

14 hours ago, Shortstraw said:

I’m always interested in pure kelpies as well having worked pure border collies to rabbits many years ago. I love to an underdog grafting if that makes sense, it makes it more rewarding for me when they do catch. Plus you get to see different work styles.

My mom and dad both retired now for some years got a border collie x Jack Russell pup from a farm......both working dogs.....about a year ago ( I may have mentioned before). There always out walking with her, but it’s a few months since I popped out for a walk with her, but when I did it was lovely to watch her hunt so naturally, I mean my parents just walk in the woods and fields, but she’s a natural hunter and has been on the wrong side of a squirrel already. She’s thrown to the collie, lovely short weatherproof coat......probably about 16 inch to the shoulder. Thing is she is proper switched on all the time, I’m sure she might calm down eventually, but by Christ talk about alert. When these two are too old and stiff to work I often wonder what will float my boat. The prices of some dogs now just rattles my cage and I would resent paying so much to someone for a dog.....hence the cheaper accidental matings might be the route i go.....( again).

I often think about whether to stick with the pure kelpies or simply go for an "accident" in future. I've always liked the idea of a small kelpie x whippet but it certainly wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea so I can't see anybody breeding them. Although not my favourite of my previous kelpies, Scout was probably my best hunter and although pure she was only about 18" and looked much more like a whippet x terrier; she even did the whippet shiver whenever she was bored or excited. People always said I should get a coat for her but she even did it in the middle of summer. As soon as I stopped to chat to anyone she'd start shivering, it was simply her way of saying, "Sod this, let's get moving."

Edited July 18, 2020 by Neal
typo

[colliejohn 840]

42 minutes ago, Neal said:

It won't be the first time. I've seen two adverts for kelpie x patterdales in the last couple of years.

 

I often think about whether to stick with the pure kelpies or simply go for an "accident" in future. I've always liked the idea of a small kelpie x whippet but it certainly wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea so I can't see anybody breeding them. Although not my favourite of my previous kelpies, Scout was probably my best hunter and although pure she was only about 18" and looked much more like a whippet x terrier; she even did the whippet shiver whenever she was bored or excited. People always said I should get a coat for her but she even did it in the middle of summer. As soon as I stopped to chat to anyone she'd start shivering, it was simply her way of saying, "Sod this, let's get moving."

Would Dave Sleight not be able to help you out pal, that would be a good cross for you for mooching, ferreting and lamping. Regards Collie John.

[forest of dean redneck 11,591]

14 hours ago, SheepChaser said:

Well the fact we having them is the first surprise. 

Could make some good little bushers or squirrel dogs? 

Could be a train wreck in the making

[Neal 1,866]

54 minutes ago, colliejohn said:

Would Dave Sleight not be able to help you out pal, that would be a good cross for you for mooching, ferreting and lamping. Regards Collie John.

That was the first cross he did with any kelpie blood. He mated his kelpie x collie (Ruby) to a whippet and produced Gem (for himself), a dog which features several times in Jackie Drakeford's books called Roo owned by Rob Moore (Ithink) and I think Phil Lloyd had one too (I'm sure Phil can clarify but I think his was called Moon). After that he mated Ruby's brother to his whippet x greyhound Blue which produced Purdey and then he did several litters from the same dog to greyhounds. My dog (Moss) was from the first of these litters. I contacted him when he bred the Purdey litter in the hope of getting a future whippet x litter but he switched to the greyhound crosses after that which is why I went for that instead. He was a lovely calm, happy dog.

[Shadow100 1,066]

Watched a few videos featuring dave sleight, seemed to me like he was more interested in winning trials & competitions than grafting a dog on a regular basis

Edited July 18, 2020 by Shadow100

[colliejohn 840]

13 minutes ago, Shadow100 said:

Watched a few videos featuring dave sleight, seemed to me like he was more interested in winning trials & competitions than grafting a dog on a regular basis

A very good dog trainer, it’s each to their own pal. Regards Collie John.

[Shadow100 1,066]

9 minutes ago, colliejohn said:

A very good dog trainer, it’s each to their own pal. Regards Collie John.

I didn’t say anything negative about the man, I don’t know him so that would be stupid, just an observation, big difference between a hard working dog & a trialling dog IMO. One has to perform 2/3 times a week the other may only have to perform 2/3 times a year. I wouldn’t want the blood of a competition type dog in a line of workers. 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Shadow100

[Shadow100 1,066]

Just now, baker boy said:

What if they do both, cant see a reason why one couldnt

You’ll get the odd exception, but most men I’ve met that compete with their dogs aren’t working them hard in between events, they do just enough to keep them right but not take the edge off them. If you’ve got a trial or event you really want to win you wouldn’t risk taking your dog in to that tired, sore or carrying an injury would you