Beddy x collie

[paulsmithy83 567]

Hi a mate of mine has a collie x bedlington. It doesn't work. just wondered if anyone else has one at if there any good. You don't here of them being bred often so just wondered of the motives behind them. As it can't be much cop for lamping as there's no sighthound in em so really only leaves ferreting and cover work. Whats people views on the cross. And if got pics post em up

Edited May 21, 2011 by paulsmithy83

[paulsmithy83 567]

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[shepp 2,285]

Could be alright, the beddy blood would at least counter some of the nutty collie traits. Would have a good nose and enough prey drive. Possibly would even have the speed for the easier lamped rabbits.

[paulsmithy83 567]

Yes was thinking along the same lines as Was thinking if he was a worker might of made some good base blood for a lurcher. My mates doesn't get the opportunity to work as such just a gentle stroll on a playing field but you can see the prey drive in him. Had a few pheasants off the park and such and odd rabbit just never seen a true field.

[will_rob 3]

Sounds as though the litter may have been accidental

[fielder 18]

Would be interesting to see a picture.

[Neal 1,929]

One of the best articles I ever read in the Shooting News/Countryman's Weekly (not sure how long ago it was but I'm fairly sure it was the former) was an article about collies. It was written by someone called S Merrell (I think, though not sure of the spelling) and concerned using collies a) to breed lurchers (don't know why this has come up as a smiley but it does it every time I do a "b" followed by a bracket) to produce other cross-breds and c) as hunting dogs in their own right.

 

He mentioned a bedlington x collie owned by a friend of his which was a good little worker and a few weeks later a letter appeared on the letters page about another one; called Sally if my memory serves me well.

 

Please don't quote me on any of the next bit as I'm only repeating what I read somewhere but: although today we think of a lurcher as being a dog with sighthound blood (generally) according to Iris Combes in her book "Herding Dogs" the original lurchers were collie crosses BUT the collie was the main part and was simply crossed with whatever was the best local hunting dog. So, in some areas you'd have collie x whippets, some would have collie x greyhounds and others would have collie x terriers etc.

 

As I said, I'm only repeating what I read!

Edited May 22, 2011 by Neal