Shooting Times & Country Magazine
CASHING IN ON COLLIES
Working dog fetches world record price at auction
In the gundog world, there’s no tradition of top field-trial dogs being sold at great prices, though occasionally one hears of individual dogs being sold for sizeable sums. I recall a bitch that won the Cocker Championship being sold to America for a reputed £20,000. Many triallers will sell off dogs that don’t quite make the grade but they generally keep their champions.
One thing the gundog world doesn’t have is the equivalent of the workingdog sales that are an annual feature of the sheepdog world. A working border collie bitch from Wales sold recently for £19,451, a world-record price. Called Sally, she was 19 months old and was bought in an online sale of 86 dogs, with 15 commanding prices of more than £4,000.
Many British-bred collies are exported as we have the reputation for breeding the best working collies in the world. Sally, however, was sold to a Uk-based buyer.
Like all sports, sheepdog trialling has been hard hit by coronavirus. The World Sheepdog Trials are the pinnacle of the trialling world and are held every three years. This year, the trials were due to be held on the Castle Howard estate in Yorkshire in September, but have been postponed to 16 to 19 September 2021.
It will be 10 years since the trials were last held in England. The most recent event was held in the Netherlands and was won for the first time by a handler from outside the British Isles — Jaran Knive from Norway with his dog, Gin.
Compared with trialling gundogs, trialling sheepdogs tend to have simple names. The previous winners of the World Championship were called Bob, Becca, Roy, York and another Bob. The International Sheepdog Society has a section on its website advising on names, suggesting that the best are “not something that can be confused with other everyday words you may use, for example the name ‘Bo’ sounds like ‘No’.” Sensible advice indeed.
Even more effective than cold tiles are cooling mats — like the cool coats, another new idea. There’s a variety of these mats available now, with prices ranging from £5 to £25. Most feature a non-toxic gel that doesn’t have to be frozen or chilled but works by absorbing the dog’s heat.
If you have to transport your dog in a car on a hot day these mats are a great way to keep it cool and comfortable (though never leave your dog in the car when it’s hot, even with the windows wide open). They can also be used in dog beds at night — an effective way to keep the dog comfortable if it sleeps in a hot or airless room. Do also consider a portable air conditioner for the dog’s sleeping quarters — prices start at as little as £100.
Feeding frozen meat
One idea I like but have yet to try is feeding bone-broth lollipops. If you feed raw, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give a dog a frozen chicken wing. There’s a common misconception that dogs shouldn’t be given frozen food but wolves frequently eat frozen meat, and what’s good for a wolf is unlikely to harm a dog.
Lastly, if you have a hairy dog, do groom it, or even consider having it stripped out. Shorn spaniels may look funny but they are more comfortable when the temperature soars.