Thread: Photos of your dog

I think Heading Dogs have strong Border Collie lineage but the NZ Heading Dogs have other breeds I'm there as well.
They look a bit different.

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

I think Heading Dogs have strong Border Collie lineage but the NZ Heading Dogs have other breeds I'm there as well.
They look a bit different.

Quite a few times I've been out for walks and cross paths with people and other dogs. Nikau will start showing a strong eye and lock his head on the other dog, he'll drop low and stalk in slowly. dropping to his belly on every "noho" (sit) command, waiting for me to allow him forward to the dog. Which leads to some interesting conversations. "ooohhh, look he's submitting to my dog", "is he aggressive, he looks like he's going to attack", "why is he so skinny? do you feel your dog enough", "What breed is he?"

While i get a read on their dog i normally respond with, "This is Nikau, he's a heading dog, this is his nature and he's not aggressive, but he is still whole. Is it OK if the dogs say Hello?"

"He looks like a huntaway, are you sure he's a heading dog. He looks like he's got something else in him?"

Make me want to ask them as a joke, "Are you sure you're from New Zealand? you look like you have Nazi in you.... "

Photo of Nikau during a local bush walk. Going for his 1st hunt tomorrow, hopefully all goes well.

From what I recall the origins of our heading dogs were 2 border collie types called Dictator and Dell. Back when the Scottish shepherds first came to nz. There is bound to be infusions of other breeds including kelpie in our current smooth hair heading dog. During the late 60's 70's they were pretty much stabilised around mainly Garry Brennan's strain which were smooth haired and tri coloured. This is the dominant type now.

When I first went to the East Coast farming in '74 there was a well known trialist back crossing heading dogs with Gordon Setters to breed a handy strain. There is strong Gordon Setter blood in our huntaways. The Hugh Griffith black huntaway strain was bound to have Labrador in it. And so on.

the blur on they eye isnt a blur, eye is brown top and blue lower. kinda neat

Asleep on the job.

"mouse" is now settled in, cant wait till weekend to get her bathed. has to be that long so i dont hurt the stiches where she was speyed.
first dog i have owned that wasnt a bull breed, but couldnt handle that after bo died.

Is he still intact? He might be good to put over my girl.

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Is he still intact? He might be good to put over my girl.

Yeah, I'm keeping him whole for the mean time. He has great sheep dog trial blood lines, I'm only hoping his hunting is as good.
His nature is good, although he's still in that stage of understanding why some male dogs wanted to fight him. They'll try stand over him and now he get defensive sometimes because of it. The hair on his neck starts to stand up more often now, which im trying to get out of him. The tail still wags fast and wants to play more than often.

We'll be looking to stud him out eventually @Chur Bay

Spud: Why we sitting out here in the cold when I told you the deer are down there in the bush Dad?
Dad: Because they'll come out of the bush soon and they'll be a easy shot.
Spud: Where's the fun in that? It's boring here.
Dad: Just wait you'll see.
1 hour later
Spud: I don't think they are com........
Dad: Shut up

Well Nikau had his 1st attempt in the bush, hunting fallow in a small local doc ballot block. It'd been a couple years since I'd hunted the area. But the last time there was plenty of sign and I was hopeful.

Nikau started out testing my nerves, he was too keen and I felt like all the training was pointless. He was pushing his boundaries very early, the long line came out along with a couple smacks on the rump. He got the message and in return some freedom off the line.

It took a couple hours but he'd finally settled down. He would check his dance regularly. And even if he tracked out of sight he'd wait or come back to me. He sat on command, or at least freeze a scout ahead thinking I'd spotted something. He worked ground scent well and followed trails, if the breeze picked up I'd stop him, he'd naturally lift his nose and work the wind. I tried to put all my faith in him and follow his lead, but with no sign it seemed like there was no animals in the area. But it seemed like he knew what we were in the bush for and he was trying his hardest.

My little mate Pip

Originally Posted by Shootm

Attachment 245969
Attachment 245970

My little mate Pip

Nice looking terrier Shootm. Hard case dogs, I had one as a kid and went everywhere on the motorbike with me shooting.

A couple more I found.

I took my whippet out into the Tararuas yesterday for the first time. When we encountered a stag she did very well, stayed still, was scenting the air so she knows the smell now. It was the opposite of what she does when there's a rabbit nearby (imagine a starving dog with food just out of reach).
Covid took most of my sense of smell so it was great to have someone doing the smelling for me. She also followed ground trails after the stag winded us.
Here's a couple of pics of Candace doing her thing while we camped out in a likely spot. That nose got a good workout.


Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

Originally Posted by Eat Meater

I took my whippet out into the Tararuas yesterday for the first time. When we encountered a stag she did very well, stayed still, was scenting the air so she knows the smell now. It was the opposite of what she does when there's a rabbit nearby (imagine a starving dog with food just out of reach).
Covid took most of my sense of smell so it was great to have someone doing the smelling for me. She also followed ground trails after the stag winded us.
Here's a couple of pics of Candace doing her thing while we camped out in a likely spot. That nose got a good workout.


Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

Cool looking dog, what breed{s} is it?