Working Dog

[Loch Valley Fold]

Took our new pup Diesel out to meet the cows yesterday at 11 weeks old we've not had time to see if he has what it takes to make a working dog, heres a couple of pics don't think we need to worry. I'm there with him as "back up" should one of the cows/ calves become a little too pushy. He already shows that he's going to have force - maybe too much for the sheep but we'll worry about that later

 

[wbvs58]

Is he a Kelpie?
Ken

 

[Loch Valley Fold]

Hi Ken
He is a mix of Kelpie & Border Collie, parents don't work but grandparents were bred & worked on a dairy farm. This is a cross that I really like

 

[branguscowgirl]

Looks like he has a lot of promise! What kind of cattle do you raise?

 

[Loch Valley Fold]

We breed mostly Angus, we've started selling a couple of bulls as well lately as they the quality that I would breed with. We've just started playing around with Dexters for milking we've used a Jersey bull over the entire herd this year as I didn't want the hassle of running 2 bulls. The cow pictured is the most protective mamma we have she just didn't want to back off & her calves are 9 mths old

 

[Rosielou]

I hope he does well for you! Looks like he is off to a great start. Interesting coloration of the cattle, the red/black. Are those highlands, too? How well do they mix with the bulls and how is their temperament? I've never been around any so it's neat to see them!

 

[Loch Valley Fold]

Diesel should do alright, he has some big boots to fill he is going to be compared to our other dog Rocky. The red/black are Jersey x Angus & were in our dairy herd until they got too old for milking, than got retired to our farm to raise calves for a few more years yet. The highlands are the last 2 we kept from our purebred herd we had kept 3 but Flora passed away a couple of months ago from natural causes (she was about 20yrs) we culled the rest as my step daughter was afraid of them & the bull produced some real feral tempered calves. Their x-bred calves don't have as much hair as the purebreds, do in summer/spring they slick right up & look like any other Angus. These cows will wean calves up to 70 -80 % of their bodyweight temperaments are great & they are no hassle with any of the other cows

 

[Chuckie]

Ken,
If Diesel was sitting in front of you at the picture show in the dark, he would look like Bo or Jed, so don't be thumping anybodies ears when you go!! :lol2:
It might get embarrassing. :shock: