I was raised with puppies and cow dogs under foot and have worked dogs for many years now. I decided about 20 years ago to breed my own pups to sell to folks that needed a good cow dog to work their cattle and to be able to keep a new young pup of my own around to work. I do not compete in stock dog trials, but love to use a good working cow dog out in the hills and mountains that surround our ran
ch, putting them in 'real' situations where they can help me roundup and trail cattle. I decided to mix cow dog (and working dogs in general) breeds instead of raising Pure-breds that seemed to be more and more 'in-bred' and loaded with health problems because of that in-breeding and the all mighty push to have papered dogs. My dogs are not perfect, but they are at least colorful, athletic, hard working dogs that like to move cattle. They are also loyal pets and keep their barn yard and garden clear of unwanted varmints and other such trouble makers. I do not guarantee hips, health or even that a pup will work for sure. That would be ridiculous to guarantee an animal that has a mind and body of it's own. I usually sell them any time after they have been weaned from their mother's milk and started on puppy chow. Some of them are Head dogs and some are better at the tail or Heel end. Given the proper training by their new owner, they will herd cattle out on the trail. As I train my own, I know that it is purely up to the owner to make a pup into a good cow dog. The experiences that a pup has while young and the technical training that an owner gives it will all determine the final outcome. I have never owned or raised a pup that did not want to work...given some time to grow up and learn how it's done. Nevertheless, I have sold pups to many folks that did not have an older dog around to train them. None of the true cattlemen and women, dog lovers and/or owners that understand dogs that I have sold to have ever reported that their pup did not work when it was mature and ready to go to work on it's own time schedule. Some have reported that their pup did not work when they wanted it to at an early age, but that's just plain foolishness. A pup will work when it's ready to work and not on their master's time table. I do believe that many pups are ruined by owners in a rush to push them into doing too much before they are ready. It's a free country. Experience comes with time spent in the field. Lots of old photos and previous puppy litters of mine are posted on my horse website at http://www.brokenbackranchqh.com , see on 'Lynette's Stock Dogs' pages. I do now have a small home website for my puppies...
www.lynettesstockdogs.com
