euston Posted February 21, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 21, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! This is a photo of my best friend taken nine years ago, some months after he left the Dogs Trust to come and live with us. He was in a very poor state when he was picked up as a stray. Fortunately, he was sent to the Dogs Trust Newbury and their excellent veterinary care set him on the road to recovery. By the time this picture was taken, he was restored to the robust good health that he has enjoyed ever since. We are grateful to the Dogs Trust for everything they did for him and for all the dogs they rescue and rehome. If you like happy endings, I think you’ll enjoy their latest TV advert: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/whats-happening/blog/2016/introducing-our-new-special-someone-tv-ad Please pass it on! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! This is a photo of my best friend taken nine years ago, some months after he left the Dogs Trust to come and live with us. He was in a very poor state when he was picked up as a stray. Fortunately, he was sent to the Dogs Trust Newbury and their excellent veterinary care set him on the road to recovery. By the time this picture was taken, he was restored to the robust good health that he has enjoyed ever since. We are grateful to the Dogs Trust for everything they did for him and for all the dogs they rescue and rehome. If you like happy endings, I think you’ll enjoy their latest TV advert: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/whats-happening/blog/2016/introducing-our-new-special-someone-tv-ad Please pass it on! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/257152-specialsomeone/?do=findComment&comment=2993682'>More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted February 21, 2016 Share #2 Posted February 21, 2016 Terrific picture. Great story. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 21, 2016 Share #3 Posted February 21, 2016 Your best friend looks like a purebred black and tan Kelpie, as a large working farm with sheep we have half a dozen Kelpies (both the black and tan and red variety) and rely on them completely. It would be impossible to overstate their value, they are also delightful personalities in their own right, well loved and much appreciated and with a home for life. Do you find your friend exhibits the herding and working instinct so strong in all Kelpies? Nice portrait by the way and a heart warming story as well! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
euston Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted February 22, 2016 Thanks, Dee. That's interesting. He was described by the Dogs Trust as a Collie Cross, probably mainly Welsh Collie. But he’s identical to some of the pictures of Australian Kelpies I’ve just been looking at on the web. Evidently, two very similar dogs, named differently in different countries. He is good natured, quick to respond to training and we often see signs of his herding instinct but he doesn’t have any sheep to exercise it on. The Dogs Trust called him Spike but we renamed him Strider after the character in Lord of the Rings, on account of his noble bearing and long stride. I couldn’t wish for a better companion on a country walk. This is his favourite spot when he’s not taking me for a walk or chasing tennis balls around the countryside: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/257152-specialsomeone/?do=findComment&comment=2994171'>More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 22, 2016 Share #5 Posted February 22, 2016 I don't mean to belabour the point....but I am certain Strider is a classic example of a purebred black and tan Australian Kelpie. We have been privileged to know many of these miraculously intelligent dogs and his appearance is typical of the breed. The Kelpie was originally a mixed breed dog and does trace it's lineage back to several Collie breeds brought to Australia with the first sheep and shepherds. There is also a rumour that there is some Dingo (Australian native dog) in their makeup as Kelpies are naturally resistant to ticks, who knows? In any case they long ago became a clearly identifiable breed of their own, your Strider is one of them, and far from home...how wonderful that you found each other! Here is a photo of our current black and tan Kelpie, her name is Bay, as you can see she and Strider are a match. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/257152-specialsomeone/?do=findComment&comment=2994768'>More sharing options...
euston Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted February 23, 2016 She’s a good looking dog, Dee! Strider’s coat is a little longer but the colouring is the same and the eyebrows are the clincher. Bay and Strider certainly look as though they have ancestry in common. We're proud to have a Kelpie about the place. I'll have to wear my Akubra hat more often! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/257152-specialsomeone/?do=findComment&comment=2994885'>More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 23, 2016 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Lovely Kelpie photos! Just to note that in my shot Bay is wearing her summer coat which will start to lengthen and thicken as winter approaches. Strider on the other hand was doubtless born in your northern climate and his coat has adapted accordingly to be always slightly thicker. I would love to know the circumstances involved in a purebred Australian Kelpie sheep dog wandering homeless in England. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iduna Posted February 26, 2016 Share #8 Posted February 26, 2016 Euston, Dee, your exchange and expertise about Strider's origin is most interesting. I have a friend, who is taking care of a dog with a history in Greece where she, the dog, was in charge of sheep. Now she is recovering from a very miserable health state. What I noticed is the same way of watchful look and action following only when it is required and no extra effort. I noticed in both your dogs this attentive look and maybe both also have this controlled behaviour. Enjoy that faithful company! Euston, thanks for sharing this nice story! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 27, 2016 Share #9 Posted February 27, 2016 Hi Iduna, I'm glad you have enjoyed the doggie chit chat! That these bred-in-the-bone working sheep dogs have a certain attentive attitude and 'look' is very true, they stand ready to spring into action at a moments notice, always watchful and keeping an ear out for the command to go....they truly live for their work and are worth their weight in gold to their owners. The Kelpie in my photo was bred by my sister (who also owned her mother, another brilliant worker) she is an invaluable asset to the management of the many thousands of sheep that run here. There is an old saying that "Australia rode on the sheep's back"....meaning that originally the prosperity of this country depended on it's wool industry....but in truth the success of that was all thanks to our working dogs! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted March 1, 2016 Share #10 Posted March 1, 2016 Dee, we'd love to see a picture of a Kelpie, "riding on the sheep's back" when in the stockyards. Perhaps you'd remember next muster. I've had a couple of Kelpie's too...so much joy of life, intelligence and total loyalty. Lovely pics by you and Euston, and other contributing discussions. cheers Dave S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted March 1, 2016 Share #11 Posted March 1, 2016 Dave, Nice to hear from you, I trust all is well? I haven't any any photos of a Kelpie backing, probably because at the time I've been otherwise employed, on a gate or trying to be handy elsewhere, all hands on deck etc.....I'll have to keep it in mind for the future. Regards, Dee Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted March 2, 2016 Share #12 Posted March 2, 2016 Thanks Dee...a "worker" fooling around with a camera wouldn't be too regarded when it's so busy. But please, if in the future... All well, just being (unusually) quiet. I'm still watching over my favourites... all best Dave S perhaps you have some more working dog pictures?? I love them...but now have an urban pooch...a Dachshund named by a committee..."Mr Pepper Banger"...he welcomes me home in paroxysms of delight, even if I've only been gone 15 minutes! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted March 2, 2016 Share #13 Posted March 2, 2016 Dave, (particularly for someone with a rangefinder) the working dogs actually working are really difficult subjects to photograph, very fast moving targets and such a messy situation...plus I've been a bit lazy probably. Next time they're on the job I'll see what I can do. It's still foully hot here so we're doing as little sheep work as possible to avoid stressing them and the dogs....not to mention the poor old humans. BTW what is a Pepper Banger...or shouldn't I ask? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted March 2, 2016 Share #14 Posted March 2, 2016 We're going a bit off topic here Dee (as we do)...so I hope Euston will indulge us...lets face it we all love dogs. "Pepper" is a Dachshund, bred for Badger hunting; Doxie, Wiener, Weenie, Hot Dog, but in Australia the immensely popular Sausage Dog...hence Banger. (For the internationals, what we call a sausage!) He is a wire cross and so has a rather coarse hair ...not your ultra smooth and sleek tans. They also come as long hairs. Just great house dogs...very clean. Ours is a Standard...they come as Miniatures too...people like them as lap dogs...but I don't go that far...they are still dogs... scratch, fart and smell. He loves carrots. Phew! I'll just put it down to the heat you are suffering in a normally cool climate... regards Dave S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted March 2, 2016 Share #15 Posted March 2, 2016 Any more dog pictures.? Anyone? No budgies or cats... Gibbo's recent, "I'm keeping my eye on you"; I really enjoyed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted March 3, 2016 Share #16 Posted March 3, 2016 Delightful Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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