working stockdogs

[Soapweed]

You keep hangin' around with this bunch and you'll get a hankerin' for a cowdog, Soap. :wink:

Notice how many times you responded just to this thread.

Actually, one winter day a couple years ago, I took the pup General with me feeding. Guess I did have a momentary memory malfunction because for a brief instant I thought it would be cool to "bond" with him and have a buddy to go along feeding. That turned into a real disaster, and he even barfed on the pickup seat. When I got back to the house, he got out of the pickup. I've never invited him to go along since, and he has expressed no desire to accompany me. We still get along pretty good. We have an understanding. He doesn't jump up on me (or anyone else), and I pet his head at least three times a week. Under these conditions we tolerate each other quite well.

gcreek, we really have our work cut out for us to get this guy convinced :lol: . If only General could give us his version of the story...it must have been pretty bad if he ended up barfing all over the seat :lol: .

I agree with you though, as good of a stockman as Soapweed is, once he got it figured out, there would be no telling what all he could get done with a dog :wink: .

What's that Soapweed??? Even with a strong west wind, I think I'm hearing the word "NO" from the east again :lol: .

You heard right.

I am kind of a fickle fellow. This afternoon I loaded up my mule, Willy, and took him to show to a gentleman that was interested in buying. The mule is 62 inches at the withers, and the potential buyer stands only 66 inches, besides being 68 years old. He really liked the mule, but decided Willy was too tall for a short guy. Now after riding and demonstrating the mule this afternoon, I have come to the conclusion I like him too well to sell anyway. :? :???: :roll: :wink:

 

[Soapweed]

What Soap hasn't realized is that if he (Soap) would have got sick on the seat General would have gladly cleaned it up!

I cleaned it up, but not gladly. :roll:

That reminds me of the old-time hymn, "Gladly, the Cross-Eyed Bear."

Do you ever stop to think of all the people that kiss little Poochie, and then think of where little Poochie has placed his puppy lips?

 

[gcreekrch]

What Soap hasn't realized is that if he (Soap) would have got sick on the seat General would have gladly cleaned it up!

I cleaned it up, but not gladly. :roll:

That reminds me of the old-time hymn, "Gladly, the Cross-Eyed Bear."

Do you ever stop to think of all the people that kiss little Poochie, and then think of where little Poochie has placed his puppy lips?

I doubt most of those kind ever give it a thought. If they did their dogs would probably get left at the pound.

One of the first thing our dogs learn is not to lick, that habit drives me mad. I don't accept the insistance of petting either, I prefer them to think that everything is my idea. That way they don't get into as much trouble as pups.

 

[mytfarms]

I will be coming back to the USA this spring and was just feeling out the market to bring back some cattle working dogs. Curly was of the opinion of free is better but....

Just wondering if there is interest in good honest tough Kelpies still in the States.....

If it helps any, I'm looking around for a good, honest, tough stockdog to use but also to be friendly with.
EDIT: Spelling.

 

[kelpies4me]

I know of a Border Collie- a not in your face dog, who simply does what she is asked, and stays out of the way. Recently, I had occasion to watch her break some goats and sheep (dog break, not physically injure, in case you're wondering :lol: ). This little slick coated dog simply got out there and did it. Not only did she do her work, she did it with a Llama coming to stomp her into the ground, and a big livestock guardian dog taking pot shots at her. Never once got herself into trouble, never once worried the stock, she simply took control, and soon learned that if they listened to this little dog, things would go quite nicely. One goat, who likes to fight with dogs, tried it with this little dog. She backed him up. Never had to bite. After all was said and done, she hopped her little butt back into the crate in the truck, and that was that. I think that's what we are getting at here- a good dog will never leave you screaming, and will work whatever you have, and be a help, not a hindrance. The only thing you need is to get to know the dog in the beginning- then you have a top helper for more than a decade. Quite a deal, actually.

I could go on about the virtues of a good dog, but until you've seen it, you can't fully appreciate it. And, those who have good dogs already know this

 

[Soapweed]

I know of a Border Collie- a not in your face dog, who simply does what she is asked, and stays out of the way. Recently, I had occasion to watch her break some goats and sheep (dog break, not physically injure, in case you're wondering :lol: ). This little slick coated dog simply got out there and did it. Not only did she do her work, she did it with a Llama coming to stomp her into the ground, and a big livestock guardian dog taking pot shots at her. Never once got herself into trouble, never once worried the stock, she simply took control, and soon learned that if they listened to this little dog, things would go quite nicely. One goat, who likes to fight with dogs, tried it with this little dog. She backed him up. Never had to bite. After all was said and done, she hopped her little butt back into the crate in the truck, and that was that. I think that's what we are getting at here- a good dog will never leave you screaming, and will work whatever you have, and be a help, not a hindrance. The only thing you need is to get to know the dog in the beginning- then you have a top helper for more than a decade. Quite a deal, actually.

I could go on about the virtues of a good dog, but until you've seen it, you can't fully appreciate it. And, those who have good dogs already know this

I am sure a good dog would be a delight, but I have seen two hundred not-very-good dogs for every one good dog. There lies the problem. And the "good dog" syndrome is largely based on pride of ownership. Every owner has a good dog, in their own eyes. :roll:

Ah, but it is Christmas. Everyone have yourself a Merry Christmas, and tell your favorite Poochie that old Uncle Soapweed wishes them to have a Merry Christmas, too.

 

[kelpies4me]

Yeah, I know soapweed- eye of the beholder and all that :roll: :lol:
And, there are a lot of not so good dogs, but if you get just one good one, you are ahead of the game!

You have a Merry Christmas too, and I will tell that wee lass to keep up the good work, so uncle soapweed can be coverted!

 

[sic 'em reds]

I used to be a dog hater until I a guy gave me an Aussie when I was a senior in high school. I grew up with blue heelers and swore I would never like cowdogs because of those things.

Anyways, this Aussie was smart. I let him go with me everywhere and he just learned on his own to stay out of the way. One day we had a cow that would come down off a steep hill that I couldn't get up. I had "Tick" with me, and all the sudden he went up around that cow and brought her down to me. I thought that was pretty cool. I never had to give him much direction and he was awesome in the corral, would clean pens and push cattle up the chute alley. Then one day at school he was in my truck to go with me after school. Some jerk was messing with him and he got bit. My choices were to put him down or get rid of him. I didn't pay any attention to anyone and kept him anyways. Brought him to school again and when I came out, I found him dead in my truck. I think someone had poisoned him, probably the kid he bit. It would be fun to find a breeder with real good Aussie's, unfortunately the AKC has pretty well ruined the breed.

After that it took me a long time to want a dog. Few years ago I got my first pure Border Collie and it has been a tidal pool since and we now have 5. It's kind of like Lay's potato chips, "you can't have just one".

I really would be lost without mine and really depend on them somedays.

But I can see where Soapweed is coming from. Somedays when other's people's dog's are around, I wish I packed a pistol. A bad dog is better than no dog at all, and I have been around plenty of bad dogs

 

[PureCountry]

Had to find this thread and add a tidbit story to it. Every year we have big toboggan parties in our river hills. Invite all the neighbours and family, roast various things over the firepit, drink various things around the firepit, and use the relatives snowmobiles to pull the kids back up the hill. This year my Aunt and Uncle made it, they run a small feedlot across the river from us. My Uncle has a real small slick-haired Border Collie female that they brought along, and I must say, is the most well-mannered and obviously well-trained dog I have maybe ever seen.

He told us how he works backgrounders and fats through their working corrals all by himself, with nobody but little Maggie helping out. He works cattle with her almost every day, and the whole time he's telling us these stories, she's running around playing with 20-30 kids. She's one of a rare kind that can just flick a switch when it's time to work, and the rest of the time, she truly is a man's best friend.

I hear what Soap says about seeing lots of bad ones. One neighbour has a bad one that got me run over a few years back. But a good one like this Collie makes me want a cowdog more than ever. I just have to keep myself honest and remember that I haven't been making as much time as I should for a saddle horse, so I've really got to get it together if I think there's time for a pup too.

 

[kolanuraven]

The reason some people say they have never seen a good dog is that dogs can sense if the person likes them or not and they respond in kind.

Raise your dogs as you raise your kids. Practically the same rules apply....don't pee in the house....STOP when I say so.....listen to what I say......when we work- we work, when we play- we play.

Some people want too make things harder than they are.

 

[DOC HARRIS]

kolanuraven-

You are so right! Because animals cannot speak human words, they must rely on their "perceptive" senses - and believe me, they have more perceptive senses than humans do! Any "good" dog trainer will tell you that the important factors in training dogs are Genetics and Training the Owner!

Soapweed doesn't like dogs for a variety of reasons, and all the dogs that he comes into contact with know those facts within three seconds of coming into contact with Soapweed! The "Genetics" part of any animal, whether it be cattle or dogs or cats or human beings, is critical in understanding the Psychology of that individual, what it is capable of doing and producing, and how it's Training and Reproducing capabilities may be developed, utilized and improved to the benefit of those around it.

In order to capitalize on the characteristics of a beef animal, the Genetics and other factors it possesses must be understood and "managed" to bring out the best in that individual. Human beings work the same way - whether it be kids, wives, husbands, or fellow workers. Train a man how to train a dog, and you will have a valuable team. Train a man how to understand EPD's, and dominant and recessive traits, and you will have a MORE successful cow-calf operation than one without the complete understanding of "HOW DO THEY DO THAT??"

A dog with forebears who were easily trained, successful cattle dogs will ALSO be successful if the human 'trainer' knows how to capitalize on the traits that the dog possesses. A good dog doesn't "just happen!" A good, productive cow-calf operation doesn't "just happen!" They ALL can be improved upon with a little training and effort. My old "Lady" Border Collie was smarter than I was. Too bad it took me longer to learn than she had years to live.

DOC HARRIS

 

[kolanuraven]

kolanuraven-

You are so right!

PEOPLE.. Please note this statement from this learned and noble man!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


I see ' bad dogs' a lot as I'm the one who gets the rejected cattle dogs from the dudes who move here, think they are cool looking riding in their new pick ups, then when the dog eats the couch cause it has no job or discipline.......I seem to end up with them.

Some are real nut cases and it may take me years to work them out,those I usually keep.

But I find homes for most of them....the RIGHT home.



There is no such thing as a dumb animal, they have reasons for what they do, you just have to understand their language. But, there are dumb people....by the boatloads!!

 

[Soapweed]

kolanuraven-

You are so right!

PEOPLE.. Please note this statement from this learned and noble man!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


I see ' bad dogs' a lot as I'm the one who gets the rejected cattle dogs from the dudes who move here, think they are cool looking riding in their new pick ups, then when the dog eats the couch cause it has no job or discipline.......I seem to end up with them.

Some are real nut cases and it may take me years to work them out,those I usually keep.

But I find homes for most of them....the RIGHT home.



There is no such thing as a dumb animal, they have reasons for what they do, you just have to understand their language. But, there are dumb people....by the boatloads!!

Liberals come by the boatload, and they qualify. :wink:

 

[Faster horses]

Same song, second verse... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

All the dog lovers on this site since at least 2005 (including me) has tried
to change Soapweed's mind...to no avail... :???:

One thing about it, he's never tried to convince the rest of us NOT to like dogs, so dontcha think we should pay him the same respect?


After all, it's wasted space trying to convince him otherwise. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I wonder what Soap would think of the movie, "Marley and Me"?
Now that Lab was a project...and ongoing...but they loved him
to the end. I don't think I could have been able to keep that dog
with all the problems he caused. 'Course I read the book first and they
tamed it some for the movie. He tore up enough stuff that it cost a
small fortune to replace.

OOPS, Not telling any more, you gotta read the book
or see the movie. :shock: