Yesterday, Pete called and said he'd heard there was a young bearded collie at the animal control pound in Pinedale, but he wasn't going to be anywhere near the western Wyoming town. Jim was just outside of Pinedale, so he stopped in, and low and behold, look what came home with him last night. We'll keep the five-month old pup for a few days while he calms down and learns a few manners (from Rena). Pete's herders will put him to work and soon he'll have a new mission in life. He sure is cute.
11 comments:
Did the shelter know for sure that's a beardie pup? From the pics I'd be suspicious of his parentage...flat looking feet, high tail, fluffy coat. Good luck with him anyway, he is pretty.
He looks very similar to other beardies on the ranch - that's the only herding dogs we use. His herding instinct is strong as well, with that wonderfully soft mouth we appreciate. He has puppy teeth and the fluffy coat is one of the fuzzy puppy coats, fresh from being washed in flea shampoo.
My experiences with people working in shelters, at veterinarian clinics(including the vets themselves), and others who adopt strays they find, have a tendency to get a dog breed book, find some really exotic, rare breed that sorta looks like their mutt, and decide then and there it IS that breed, despite the chances that a Transylvanian Hound, or a Munsterlander has about a zero chance of being in the local U. S. general mutt population! Amazing how various mutt combos can end up looking like exotic, often EXPENSIVE purebreds--hmmmmm. Makes you wonder about the origins of many of these "purebreds" in the first place! And boy howdy, once the owners of these strays have fixated on that exotic identity, especially if a vet told them that, or a shelter worker(trying to get dogs adopted any way they can!), DON'T DARE EVEN SUGGEST that it might not be so! I have made THAT mistake more than once! Whew! Not that I think this cute pup isn't a Beardie or mostly Beardie--just reminded me of this phenomenon. Hey, if it herds good and works out, what difference does it make? Having mutts is especially fun because you can make up your own breed and breed history--among my many other "purebreds", I have, I also have two mongrel rescues which have been transformed into exotic breeds--one is a "Former Yugoslavian Weasel Hound", except when he becomes a "Brazilian Monkey Hound", which transformation can occur without warning. I also have a "Uwharrian Rock Terrier", especially bred to drive coyotes and Red Wolves from their dens(she's too big for foxes). She goes to ground in big holes instinctively--IF you throw a biscuit down there! I often have to blatantly tell people I am JOKING when I mention these exotic breeds--people are so quick and eager to believe! Not hard to see how some of these "ancient purebreds" got their start!......L.B.
Lane:
I'm with you, if it works, I just don't care. In this case, the animal control officer also owns beardies (cousins of ours) so she knew who to call when one came through the door. Again, not that it matters, because this babe has a desire to herd.
Cat, you especially might enjoy and actually "get" a conversation I had many years ago with a wolf-hybrid breeder(while we are on the subject of crossbreeds, which we sorta are). I met him at one of those fascinating(for watching the people attending as well as the animals!) "Wolf-Hybrid Rendezvous" that used to be held here and there periodically.(Are they still???) Anyway, this one fellow had BEAUTIFUL animals--very large and very "wolfy" looking--reminded me of the descriptions and old photos of the Plains "Buffalo Wolves". I asked him what they were crossed with, and turns out, their dog blood was Great Pyrenees! I HAD to laugh, and commented that I bet a lot of his first crosses(F-1's) were suicides! The fellow did not get my joke(sigh...I seem to always be unintentionally insulting people!). but can't you just see these hybrids dilemma--"KILL-THE-SHEEP--NO!!!-PROTECT-THE-SHEEP!"--so they ultimetely commit suicide! Well, I thought it was funny!.....L.B.
Those would be amazing "outbred" hybrids though (not like with huskies or laikas)-- I wonder if the Pyrenees might well dominate the behavior. There are persistent rumors out of Asia of wolf crosses with LGDs which i have always doubted but....
Those would be amazing "outbred" hybrids though (not like with huskies or laikas)-- I wonder if the Pyrenees might well dominate the behavior. There are persistent rumors out of Asia of wolf crosses with LGDs which i have always doubted but....
I can tell you that a LGD crossed with a herding dog is generally a dog that should be eliminated from the population - they can be dangerous and hell on sheep. We know of wolves breeding with LGDs but never heard of anyone keeping the pups from that event.
I was curious at the time, so I asked this fellow why the choice of a Great Pyrenees for a cross, and he said it was for the size and color(white wolf hybrids being popular)--I'm not saying that's a proven genetic method to get these characteristics--this is just what I was told. When I made my joke about his pups commiting suicide, he didn't seem to get it, I think, because he was solely concerned with a Pyrenees for appearances sake; function, temperment, working ability was not part of the equation--just an exotic looking pet. When I tried to explain my joke(I never seem to know quite when to just shut up and move along!), he still was not much amused! I have read of natural occurring matings between LGD's and wolves in Northern Italy(with Maremmas?, Abruzzis?), which is definetely NOT desired by the shepherds, but happens occaisionally anyway--sorta like "sleeping with the enemy"! But the usual, purposeful matings in modern times tends to be with German Shepherds, Malamutes, Siberians, and other Nordic breeds to try and preserve that "wolfy" appearance--all about looks, and not actual work or ability--although I have had some discussions with wolf-hybrid breeders that indicated they preferred Siberians as the cross, for instance, to get a friendly, less aggressive(towards humans) temperment--so at least SOME functional thought(as a pet/companion) goes into some of these breedings(sometimes...). As for a LGD--I'm sure the addition of wolf blood would NOT be helpful in trustworthiness around livestock, although I also wouldn't doubt somewhere, some stand-out exception to this might exist. I can personally verify that wolf hybrids can make VERY effective hunting partners for the pot--of wild AND domestic animals! Boy, THAT can get you into trouble with modern, civilized society but quick!......L.B.
what is LGD?
LGD = "Livestock Guardian Dog", of which the Great Pyrenees is one of many.....L.B.
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