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Post by Tringa on Feb 2, 2018 16:04:39 GMT
Having read, and contributed to, Helen's thread - Saw something new about Bank Voles - in the Mammal section I thought I'd add this link about Lakeland and other working terriers and crosses - www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/dogs/the-lakeland-terrier-a-hard-working-handful-162973Country Life is not my magazine of choice and there is quite a bit in the article on the working aspects of the dogs but it provides an insight to these delightful dogs if strong willed dogs. Dave
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Post by rowanberry on Feb 2, 2018 17:54:56 GMT
I had to agree with this statement in the article... Mr Norman isn’t a fan of what he terms ‘pedigree Lakies’. ‘Once the KC recognises a breed, it’s gone out of the window,’ he believes. ‘Pedigree Lakies have poor coats, long, weak heads and over-exaggerated conformation. They were still workable dogs in the 1950s and 1960s, but not anymore.’ Sadly the same thing has been done to the German Shepherd, one of my very favourite dogs. I think Crufts took some stick over that just last year, so let's hope the times are a changing when it comes to pedigree dogs.
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Post by Tringa on Feb 2, 2018 20:06:30 GMT
I agree, RowanB.
Many years ago (as in about 55ish) I watched Crufts and thought it was great because I liked dogs. Over the intervening years I have changed my view.
I am appalled by what is now acceptable for some breeds.
About 30 years ago we had a Bearded Collie who, apart from appearing to think every sentient being on the planet was her friend, was a fast, rough coated beast that looked if she could be a useful working dog. Many Beardies I see now look like trophy dogs.
A couple of the comments in the Country Life article resonated with me -
‘but all fell terriers are long on the leg, narrow and hard as nails.'
'Kim sleeps in the house and is good as gold, but she has a brother called Asbo that I wouldn’t trust out of my sight.’
Our Fell is a delight in the house but outside we cannot let him off the lead. He is not keen on other dogs but we think that is more lack of socialisation when he was much younger. The main problem is his prey response. The scent, and especially the sight, of a small animal - rat, cat, squirrel, fox - then he is unstoppable.
Dave
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Post by rowanberry on Feb 3, 2018 21:56:15 GMT
We always enjoy watching Crufts, but I do prefer the agility trials... I love seeing how amazingly well-trained some of those dogs are! And I think Clare Balding is great- that woman could talk to anyone like she's known them half her life.
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Post by Tringa on Feb 4, 2018 14:25:38 GMT
I agree about the agility trials and Claire Balding - she seems to relate to people easily. Yesterday our little dear had an interesting encounter. In the house this is fairly typical of what he does - He is always robust in reacting to any one or any sound at the front door and hits the door accompanied by barking that punches well above his 10kg. Sometime yesterday he did this to one of the small panes of glass - Dave BTW He survived without any injury.
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Post by NellyDee on Feb 4, 2018 16:24:58 GMT
Interesting article Dave. I think Dram (dog referring to in my post) must be a stunted version of a Lakeland. Legs not very long, but certainly had a very think double coat, nothing distracted him from his vole surveillance. I like the way the Dykers every now and then threw snow balls for him to chase and was obviously a well love companion in the hills.
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Post by rowanberry on Feb 4, 2018 21:17:37 GMT
That's a great photo of a blissed-out dog, Dave. He's obviously a force to be reckoned with, judging by that broken door pane. I'm glad he wasn't injured!
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Post by Tringa on Feb 5, 2018 23:10:50 GMT
That is a fairly normal position for him when asleep. We think somewhere in his ancestry there are some the genes of a sight hound as he has quite a few lurcher like characteristics - eg sleeping in positions that look as if he has had a nasty accident, being vocal with lots of grunting noises and wowing, 'nest making' when going to bed.
He was lucky he wasn't hurt and I hadn't noticed the broken pane until I thought it was feeling a bit chilly by the front door.
Dave
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Post by accipiter on Feb 6, 2018 14:33:11 GMT
One of the little owl locations I go to have two border terriers whom always greet Alan in the same way e.g. walk slowly towards me look me up and down wag their short tails a few times turn round and walk back to where they came from with not a care in the world.
Alan
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Post by Tringa on Feb 11, 2018 19:36:06 GMT
For some terriers that is about anyone who is even vaguely a 'stranger' will get, Alan.
We have to be very careful with our dog. I don't know if he would bite someone he did not know who came into the house, even if we invited them in, but we never risk it.
When we have visitors we ask them to meet us outside the house. We take Dino out, as in going for a walk, and meet them before we return. Even then he is not entirely happy and he grumbles a lot. It usually takes about three visits before he is completely comfortable.
We would love to know what happened in his first six or seven months of life.
Dave
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