Why bedlingtons?

[Ratreeper 441]

Ratreeper and Digger63,

 

reckon your right, adding more greyhound blood or any good running dog blood would certainly speed the cross up. I think that you need to decide what your going to use the dog for really.

When I went for this cross I had had no previous experience with kelpies but had read a bit about them and liked the fact that they sounded very committed and durable dogs with good noses and not short on brains. The ground I work has fields with a lot of quartz, old mine workings, again lots of stone so feet have to be strong. Hedges are full of flailed blackthorn and barbed wire like the somme so thick skin is handy.

A dog with loads of pace and easily torn skin can get fairly bashed up, how long does it take a dog to realize this and start slowing up when it's about to hit cover, a goodun would keep at it but would pick up injuries.

I do sometimes think that they could do with a touch more pace but they catch as well as a mates dogs and they are speed machines so they can't need the extra pace that much.

 

Our dogs dam was a beddy saturated lurcher and the sire a pure kelpie so considering there's so little actual running dog blood there they are pretty capable dogs and not exactly slow. If I had the choice between an absolute flyer or a smart, robust totally committed dog I'd leave the flyer behind every time but that suits my ground and work best in my opinion.

 

Whether kelpies are difficult to work I couldn't really say having only ever having seen ours work in the flesh. (and sleights on the dvds) As everyone knows different strains can vary a lot. Speaking from experience I would say that some may find their approach to life a bit hard to handle it's not that they are difficult to train, by 9 months my bitch was better trained than most spaniels I've seen. I was however training her the same as you would a spaniel but left out a lot of the steadiness training, sitting to a flushed rabbit wouldn't be ideal !! Over enthusiastic is probably a good way to describe them.

 

My advice to anybody getting one is to try and train them as you would a spaniel, think about what it is that you want the dog to do and direct it's energy in that direction, adapt it's training towards the work you want it to do and make sure that you keep it's mind busy don't let them get bored and keep it fun. In my eyes far too many people sell their dogs short, these are very smart dogs and I reckon that if you don't give them something to think about and busy themselves with then you could have snags with them.

 

Just realized that I'm going on a bit and probably boring you shitless.

 

Will get a mate to bang the pic's up as soon as I can,

 

Take it easy fellas, Finn

 

thanks, and not boring at all. Again, can't wait to see the pics. I reckon I know what i am looking for now, but i am going to base the decision of the dog itself on working ability of the genes etc so the % of whats in it might change. As long as its, small, quick, clever, fun then i think i will be happy to give it a home for its lifetime.

[Finn. 0]

[Finn. 0]

Pics of the dogs for Ratreeper and Digger63.

 

Merle bitch, Storm, 22 tts and 38lb. Her dam was Beddy saturated lurcher, Sire Pure kelpie.

 

 

Mole, 23 tts and 30 lb (ish). Her dam was Beddy/whip, Sire Beddy/grey

 

 

Hope you get an idea of the build, couldn't get any pictures of Storms litter brother but hes similar build to storm if slightly lighter build.

 

Cheers chaps,

 

Finn.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Finn.

[digger63 3]

She looks a bit racier than i thought she would and seems to have a fair length in the back,all the kelpie crosses look very hardy dogs,similar to some of the whipp/sheepdog/terrier crosses we used to borrow from neighbours when we were kids,they never got hurt and not knowing any better we hunted in really bad places,in those days.

With all the base blood in her what would you use over her if you were to breed?

 

ps, i like the look of the beddy x bitch,ive already got one ordered when my lad breeds his,depending what he puts it to,its got nearly everything you could want,im very impressed with it,a bit more height and she would be spot on.

Edited April 9, 2009 by digger63

[Finn. 0]

Digger63, she's not over heavy is she. Out of the litter of 3 she's probably the heaviest like I said my mates dog is similar to storm if a touch lighter, there was a little black bitch as well, seen photos of her and she looks stunning like a whippet on steriods so no really cloddy pups at all.

 

As to what I would put over storm, well to be honest I just don't know. I've never bred a litter yet so don't know if I've got that eye that some people seem to have where they just know which is the right dog for a particular bitch.

 

All I do know is that the dog would need all the qualities that I find appealing, Good nose, brains, robustness and total commitment to the job in hand. Check out the Kelpie and ACD thread on here and look at Mikes big dog. Something like that would be ideal in my eyes but would need to do home work on it, he's a 1/2 cross so would need advice from them in the know as to whether this would be a viable cross or would they throw too many really heavy pups, like I said I'm far from being an expert.

 

I have thought of a big hard working whippet to add speed and keep the drive. I even thought about one of the wheaton crosses they sound as though they got a pretty high prey drive but are a touch lighter than say a bull cross.

 

Who knows what will happen. So impressed with this strain, that when the chance came up to have a 3/4 kelpie 1/4 collie out of storms sire on both sides, I believe, that I jumped at the chance, she's only 11 months old but maybe in time if she proves herself I'll keep the line going that way as well !!

 

All the best,

 

Finn.

[Finn. 0]

Ratreeper, sorry if it appears I've hi jacked the thread, if I'm going off topic too much just say and I'll try and start a new thread.

 

Apologies,

 

Finn.

[digger63 3]

Finn

Im no expert myself mate,and ive got to admit to making some bad decisions on breeding,but you learn from it[hopefully].

 

You probably know this but Merle can be tricky if you put 2 dogs together that carry the gene,and you cant allways tell its in a dog.

 

I would probably play safe and put a straight running dog over the bitch,afterall if you used anything with wheaton/bull blood you wouldn't know what direct contribution your bitch had made to the ability of the pups,and they could still end up being on the heavy side,i would have thought to see what qualities she could pass on a good grew would be the best bet or a big whippet would be an option,but even then most racing grews and some strains of whippet contain other things

 

As for adding anymore Kelpie i dont think its a good idea at this stage,the toughness and drive/brains should carry even to a pure whippet,maybe someone has bred a similar bitch? could save you a lot of grief to ask on here before you breed her?

 

Not trying to influence you mate,just airing a few thoughts,atb steve.

[Finn. 0]

Cheers Digger, couple of good points you made there.

 

I am aware that there can be problems with mating two dogs with the merle gene but not exactly sure how these problems manifest themselves. Can anyone explain for me ?

 

Think that if I do breed from her then a real strong hard grafting whippet or greyhound would be the way ahead. I've seen some crackers on this site and particularly like the look of Mike Browns stuff. I'm not a big fan of breeding for the sake of it but storms 4 1/2 now so it's maybe time to start thinking about it a bit seriously. Mates who've seen her work tell me I'd be stupid not to have a litter from her as she's proved herself no end of times. Good running dog blood would help keen the blood clean and give that extra pace but I'd still want to keep a decent bit of size and durability in the line as well as her no messing sort of attitude when it comes to the rough and tumble side of things. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Cheers, Finn.

[poacher3161 1,766]

if the dog you ar looking to use is either whippet or greyhound a good freind of mine owns a dog called bigland boy racing name and is producing good pups he is a mixture of whippet and greyhound he is makeing his mark in the non pedd whippet racing scene and from wat i can gather the working lurcher scene as well i have a pup out of him back to a greyhound bedlington.i am not going to bull the dog up because a freind owns him as i think his offspring will do the talking for him.atvb poacher3161

[digger63 3]

Cheers Digger, couple of good points you made there.

 

I am aware that there can be problems with mating two dogs with the merle gene but not exactly sure how these problems manifest themselves. Can anyone explain for me ?

 

Think that if I do breed from her then a real strong hard grafting whippet or greyhound would be the way ahead. I've seen some crackers on this site and particularly like the look of Mike Browns stuff. I'm not a big fan of breeding for the sake of it but storms 4 1/2 now so it's maybe time to start thinking about it a bit seriously. Mates who've seen her work tell me I'd be stupid not to have a litter from her as she's proved herself no end of times. Good running dog blood would help keen the blood clean and give that extra pace but I'd still want to keep a decent bit of size and durability in the line as well as her no messing sort of attitude when it comes to the rough and tumble side of things. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Cheers, Finn.

 

FINN

 

The mixing of merle genes can produce deafness and other defects,not a good idea to try it.

 

As poacher3161 says bigland boy is produceing,his pups have plenty of drive and the dog is well proven,unlike some racing types they have steady tempraments as well,couldn't recomend a better dog of this type being honest.

My coursing bred whippet goes back to Mike's breeding,but mixed with out and out coursing stock,i think the dogs he has now are very different to mine,but by all accounts they do have plenty of drive,its probably a safe bet to use his blood if you go the whippet route.

Personally i wouldn't use a straight greyhound over her,lack of stamina can be a problem due to muscle mass,you can produce good dogs this way but recovery rate when lamping for instance will be affected,a mate once bred from a runner up in the Waterloo cup,they were good dogs but the greyhoundy pups in the litter were slow to recover when run hard.

I know another lad who has a very well bred grew that is doing the business,he's about a 1/4 whippet 3/4 grey his stamina seems way better than a straight greyhound and his owner is over the moon with him.

If you want more detailed info please feel free to pm,atb steve.

[Ratreeper 441]

Cheers Digger, couple of good points you made there.

 

I am aware that there can be problems with mating two dogs with the merle gene but not exactly sure how these problems manifest themselves. Can anyone explain for me ?

 

Think that if I do breed from her then a real strong hard grafting whippet or greyhound would be the way ahead. I've seen some crackers on this site and particularly like the look of Mike Browns stuff. I'm not a big fan of breeding for the sake of it but storms 4 1/2 now so it's maybe time to start thinking about it a bit seriously. Mates who've seen her work tell me I'd be stupid not to have a litter from her as she's proved herself no end of times. Good running dog blood would help keen the blood clean and give that extra pace but I'd still want to keep a decent bit of size and durability in the line as well as her no messing sort of attitude when it comes to the rough and tumble side of things. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Cheers, Finn.

 

I like the look of storm, when do you think you would consider a litter i would be very interested to see how the pups come out. If you are crossing with a good whippet/grey i might have to put my name down for a pup if i can.

 

Don't worry about any hi-jacking this is all interesting stuff to read.

[Finn. 0]

Ratreeper, have to say that I find the whole idea of having a litter a bit daunting really. If I wasn't so fond of the way the dog works I wouldn't even consider it.

 

That said I think that the earliest would be this time next year, as fond of her as I am, there's still a few things I would like to try the dog at first then I would really know what the way forward would be. I want to make sure that she's really capable of being consistent at a variety of tasks.

 

The main goal at the end of the day would be a to produce a smart, robust, mid sized pup that would give it's all on any suitable quarry.

 

However she performs if I do decide to breed from her I think that a good whip/grey would be the way ahead.

 

Are there any photos of Bigland Boy around and any performance reports that I could see ?? Have heard a bit about the dog previous to this thread but would love to hear more.

 

Good health all,

 

Finn.

[digger63 3]

FINN

 

There's lads on here with pups out of him,a got pups out of "bigland boy" thread would probably tell you what you want to know,when your mate owns him and bred him you dont like to say to much,but its what you are looking for imo,he throws very strong pups and is not a frail whippety dog,plenty of drive comes to mind,there's some pups in the ads section,i saw the litter and they were belters[beddy x grey dam]his owner knows more about running dogs than most,very genuine man.

His track bred offspring are doing really well but the difference between a winner and loser on the track is split seconds,they all have more than enough speed for what we want.

The beddy x grey is a repeat mating,lads on here have got pups from the first litter,my mates got one from the latest litter,very nice pup,plenty of bottle and learns quick he says.

Cant say much more on open forum mate if you understand,atb steve.

[Finn. 0]

Done !! Sorry fellas, still trying to get my head round the whole computer thing, !!!

 

Finn.