Concentration Span Of Collies Etc.

[Neal 1,932]

I remember reading a thread on here sometime during the last year asking why people added collie (beardie or border as well as kelpie, cattle dog, malinois etc) to a lurcher mix other than for intelligence.

 

One of the benefits mentioned was concentration span, particularly with regards to ferreting so I thought I'd give an example I witnessed yesterday.

 

I spent most of yesterday in the garden with my five year old son, two year old daughter and three kelpies (aged fourteen, six and fourteen weeks). I'd made a raised veg bed for my son last year but it had gradually turned into a digging pit/race track/dinosaur enclosure but yesterday he decided to reinstate it as a veg patch thanks to the two horse chestnuts he's growing in there. Meanwhile, I was digging out a bed next to it which had become overgrown with hedge garlic, mint and numerous weeds. Every time I filled the wheelbarrow I'd wheel it to the back of the garden and tip it behind the dog run in our "wildlife area." It used to be the chicken run until I got fed up with the numerous visits from Tod.

 

Early in the day, I spotted Scout pointing underneath the run and so, presuming a rat had been there recently as I'd caught a couple of young ones recently, I rattled a stick under the base and then went into the run to jump up and down a bit while she got excited around the back (if you pardon the expression). When I reappeared from inside the run, she'd threaded her way through several old mesh and fence panels to point at a section of the hedge in the far corner of the garden.

 

Anyway, several hours later we were called in for tea and I called the dogs into their box (or waved in one case as the old boy's now deaf). As Scout didn't come trotting down the garden with the others I presumed she was already in bed but upon investigating I discovered she wasn't...she was still marking the hedge.

 

Now, initially I was amazed by this but then, when I gave it some more thought I realised I'd read dozens of reports of droving kelpies in Australia looking after one flock of sheep in an unfenced area while the drover went ahead with more kelpies to round up the remainder further on, or even the opposite i.e. sending one ahead to collect some runners and expecting them to hold them until he arrived the following day.

[nothernlite 18,268]

Had a border collie x that would mark a burrow for hours was a right pain in the ass had to go over and put a lead on it to get it away

[tb25 4,627]

We have a fox earth next to our garden ..the terrier sits and stares st the fence for f***ing hours..don't move just stares..lol

[bird 10,016]

A good+ nice post , yeh some of the herding blood dogs deff have good nose+ concentration on them .Both my dogs will mark berry's and wont move until , something pops out from the hole, or you drag the dog away .lol .And it must be strong instinct in them, because my young dog , only been out 1-2 times ferreting, and he is marking berry's all the while when just on a dog walk.Its a shame really because he telling you something at home, but have to drag him away,lol and don't keep stinkers anyway . All dogs can+will have good nose+conentration levels , but as you say it seem strong instinct in the herding types ,as to other breeds .!

[socks 32,253]

I have got loads of examples of this but one that comes to mind happened a few years back ... We were ferreting in December and were parked right next to a small warren we were working ... We had a stubborn rabbit that was refusing to bolt and was rattling around the warren with the ferrets trying their best to shift it ... After about 10 minuets the weather changed and what can only be described as a blizzard hit us ... After about five minuets of what felt like 50 mile an hour winds and real heavy snow we decided tit in the truck and watch the warren from the dry and warmth of the truck .... We all got in except Tegan my first cross collie grey she was intent on watching the warren so I let her crack on .... She must have been out there for another 30 minuets in that weather not moving just watching the three holes that she was convinced the rabbit was going to bolt from .... With the wind blowing the snow from one direction one side of her was three inches thick with snow but she never flinched until the rabbit bolted which thankfully she caught .... I always look back at that and think what concentration that must have took in horrendous bad weather ..........

[bird 10,016]

I have got loads of examples of this but one that comes to mind happened a few years back ... We were ferreting in December and were parked right next to a small warren we were working ... We had a stubborn rabbit that was refusing to bolt and was rattling around the warren with the ferrets trying their best to shift it ... After about 10 minuets the weather changed and what can only be described as a blizzard hit us ... After about five minuets of what felt like 50 mile an hour winds and real heavy snow we decided tit in the truck and watch the warren from the dry and warmth of the truck .... We all got in except Tegan my first cross collie grey she was intent on watching the warren so I let her crack on .... She must have been out there for another 30 minuets in that weather not moving just watching the three holes that she was convinced the rabbit was going to bolt from .... With the wind blowing the snow from one direction one side of her was three inches thick with snow but she never flinched until the rabbit bolted which thankfully she caught .... I always look back at that and think what concentration that must have took in horrendous bad weather ..........

good dog that ken

[socks 32,253]

 

I have got loads of examples of this but one that comes to mind happened a few years back ... We were ferreting in December and were parked right next to a small warren we were working ... We had a stubborn rabbit that was refusing to bolt and was rattling around the warren with the ferrets trying their best to shift it ... After about 10 minuets the weather changed and what can only be described as a blizzard hit us ... After about five minuets of what felt like 50 mile an hour winds and real heavy snow we decided tit in the truck and watch the warren from the dry and warmth of the truck .... We all got in except Tegan my first cross collie grey she was intent on watching the warren so I let her crack on .... She must have been out there for another 30 minuets in that weather not moving just watching the three holes that she was convinced the rabbit was going to bolt from .... With the wind blowing the snow from one direction one side of her was three inches thick with snow but she never flinched until the rabbit bolted which thankfully she caught .... I always look back at that and think what concentration that must have took in horrendous bad weather ..........

 

good dog that ken

She has been a good honest ferreting dog ray and has put some game in the bag ..........

[bird 10,016]

 

 

I have got loads of examples of this but one that comes to mind happened a few years back ... We were ferreting in December and were parked right next to a small warren we were working ... We had a stubborn rabbit that was refusing to bolt and was rattling around the warren with the ferrets trying their best to shift it ... After about 10 minuets the weather changed and what can only be described as a blizzard hit us ... After about five minuets of what felt like 50 mile an hour winds and real heavy snow we decided tit in the truck and watch the warren from the dry and warmth of the truck .... We all got in except Tegan my first cross collie grey she was intent on watching the warren so I let her crack on .... She must have been out there for another 30 minuets in that weather not moving just watching the three holes that she was convinced the rabbit was going to bolt from .... With the wind blowing the snow from one direction one side of her was three inches thick with snow but she never flinched until the rabbit bolted which thankfully she caught .... I always look back at that and think what concentration that must have took in horrendous bad weather ..........

good dog that ken

She has been a good honest ferreting dog ray and has put some game in the bag ..........

 

yeh I know mate, dogs like her deff make the ferret job 100% easier ,Bryn my dog great at the ferret job , vin will tell you the same, and considering I don't keep stinkers it just goes to show how good these type dog are with there nose+ concentration . same with my Buck young dog

[Neal 1,932]

I think it shows the difference in character of the owners too...some of us see that kind of marking as an asset whereas others will find it bl**dy annoying.

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I think it shows the difference in character of the owners too...some of us see that kind of marking as an asset whereas others will find it bl**dy annoying.

Could you call her away if you were out mooching?

[Phil Lloyd 10,740]

In my opinion,...no canine has the concentration span of the selectively bred herders...

Edited May 27, 2014 by Phil Lloyd

[Neal 1,932]

Gaz: I can, but I sometimes have to ask twice and, to be a bit anthropomorphic, she always seems a bit peed off.

 

I remember once, when she was a pup, I lost her in a local wood for about five minutes; not long by most people's standards but mine tend not to wander too far for very long. I only found her when I heard some grunting and discovered her tail sticking out of a rabbit hole where she was trying to rip out a root which was in her way...I had to ask more than twice on that occasion.

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Gaz: I can, but I sometimes have to ask twice and, to be a bit anthropomorphic, she always seems a bit peed off.

 

I remember once, when she was a pup, I lost her in a local wood for about five minutes; not long by most people's standards but mine tend not to wander too far for very long. I only found her when I heard some grunting and discovered her tail sticking out of a rabbit hole where she was trying to rip out a root which was in her way...I had to ask more than twice on that occasion.

Haha fair enough mate. Sounds like there are more positives than negatives to it. As long as you can get them away then all good. I often have to ask twice to get mine to do anything