Not Enough Bite?

This morning I had to get some of my neighbours cattle in that had gotten mixed up with a few of my recently calved heifers. There are two opposite camps when it comes to working dogs on cattle. There is one mob that doesn't like dogs at all, and then there are these bite crazy people who will even have dogs hanging off the nose of cows with calves. You can actually work cows and calves with dogs, if the cows are used to dogs and if the dogs give them space. Old Heidi has taught me that the prime requisite you should look for in a cattle dog is confidence and calmness. She would never win a sheepdog trial, but she is the best cattledog I have had. All I know about her pedigree is that her father was a black and tan kelpie and her mother had a bit of huntaway in her. Kelpie purist would be outraged I guess, but at the end of the day it is how effective a dog is that counts.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• kelpie
• huntaway
• cows
• and
• calves
• working
• dogs

[tbugger]

In my book a dog has 2 goals.

1. put the cattle where I want them to be.

2. do it without upsetting the cattle.

I hate fixing fences!

[Adnamira]

I definately agree with that. I found blue heelers particularly good at charging in at just the right moment so that cattle panic and flatten the fence.

[debs913]

Excellent!  This is the way cattle should be worked. I appreciate your and your dog's patience when out waiting the one cow who hung back along the fence. Just goes to show you don't need to tear the face off cattle to work them effectively with Kelpies!

[Adnamira]

Patience works particularly well with cows and calves. I am amazed with people who have been around cattle all their life, don't understand that if you keep the right distance from a cow, she will try to take her calf away from you - if you crowd her, she will turn and defend her calf. A lot of people think you can't work cows and calves with dogs, but if you have dogs with presence rather than aggression, they can be quite effective.

[loopsntroops]

Fantastic!!! I grew up with a kelpie by chance but Im really honoured for it!!! Fab breed!!!! Yours are fab herders!!! Much respect!!

[Adnamira]

I am sure my dogs aren't the best cattle dogs around. These are actually sheep dogs, but I have found them to be the best cattle dogs I have had to date. With sheep, I let the dogs do all the work, but on cattle, I use the dogs to bring in the wings and hold the stock when I am pushing them.

[nichins]

It's great seeing dogs moves cattle without stressing them. Stressed cows are no good.

[flagwaver1969]

The hardest things for me to get my dog to do is walk up easy and lie down immediately. He's 13 months at this point.

[TheAnandaXX]

Cattledogs god bless em have a bit to much bravado. Kelpies are constantly thinking and also have a gentler nature, but know when to back it up when needed. Cracking dogs ive got a cattle and a kelpie. Best dogs out

[flagwaver1969]

Trials are trials. Work is work and those are good Kelps who know their job. Thanks for the video.

[hellcats9]

I take you have plenty of time on your hands. If I had kept dogs like that we would never get anything done. I had dog like that who was gutless on cattle so I sold him pretty quick to a dairy farmer.

[RokkitMunkey]

i'll agree with everything you have mentioned. the thing i agree with the most is that pedigrees count for nothing in cattle working dogs. but it never hurts to have a bit of bite in your dogs for bought cattle. my dog used to give room, bluf, and then bite. the old cattle that hated dogs still used to have a look and try him out tho hahaha

[stayingup2late]

Really nice. Just beautifully done. Cute puppy, too.