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border collie cattle dog sold for $30,000


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Gurdy brought $30,000 in Melba Ia.

 

Pretty little red and white dog. Two year old from Broken Circle Border Collies. Sold at auction.

 

She was owned and trained by a new comer to the dog trial

world. Jeff Clausen. He is a feedlot guy who has working dog experience but hasn't done trials.

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These kind of prices always make me a bit suspicious.

And apart from that even if this is all in order, nice for the seller, but in my humble opinion not a good thing for the stockdog world in general.

Such a price is absurd high, and in no connection with the basic costs this dog has had for it's breeder/previous owner. So it is speculation, maybe hopes for makung money with the stud fees?

I am prepared to pay for a well bred pup, I am prepared to pay more for a started youngster that looks good, and has cost the breeder additional training time/upkeep and so on.

Not in a million years would I put 30.000 dollars on the table; that's more than 3 million isk, the most expensive dogs here have been imported stud dogs, fully trained and proven top dogs for at the most a third of that amount, and that is "all in", dog, import, quarantine etc.

But of course there is a dutch saying that something is worth " wat de gek er voor geeft"; loosely translated " what a fool ( meant as "anybody") is prepared to pay.

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Gurdy ls going to a working cattle ranch.

 

I don't know how much a cattle hand makes a year but probably about what this rancher paid for this dog. The dog can do the work of 2 people. And if she was bred to a really nice dog her puppies would sell for a lot and be in demand. So as long as she doesn't get hurt or sick it really isn't that bad of a deal.

 

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/state/idaho/article197560154.html

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Gurdy ls going to a working cattle ranch.

 

I don't know how much a cattle hand makes a year but probably about what this rancher paid for this dog. The dog can do the work of 2 people. And if she was bred to a really nice dog her puppies would sell for a lot and be in demand. So as long as she doesn't get hurt or sick it really isn't that bad of a deal.

 

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/state/idaho/article197560154.html

You could be right, although I am wondering if this would be accurate, because a cattle hand does a whole lot more than move cattle.

There is equipment to service, and to run, in the business of harvesting a hay or alfalfa crop for feed, there is feeding the cattle in the winter, there is general maintenance like fencing; I could go on and on.

 

A dog can't do all of that, so even the best dog in the world isn't actually going to replace even one ranch hand.

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D Elle: I don't know anything about ranching. You are probably right. I just read that her owner/trainer works a feedlot and said that these dogs can do the work of 2 people. I have seen some videos of those cattle dogs working in close quarters in some of those feedlots and it is really dangerous work. It would really be dangerous for a person. I would be scared to death that my dog would get trampled.

 

For some reason I was of the opinion that working dogs didn't bring a big price in Idaho and Montana. Around KC a nice working bred dog is about $500. But I was thinking they were cheaper out on those huge ranches in the West.

 

If this new owner could get $1,000 a pup - which is probably not unreasonable for this dog - it would only take 3 or 4 litters to get his money back just from puppies.

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I knew a man who worked in a feedlot with his ACD. They were not a real good partnership at first but as the man learned good handling of his dog, they became a team.

 

One day, a cow took exception to that man and began a very credible job of killing him, and that dog saved his life. That dog went from valuable to priceless in that man's mind.

 

It's hard to judge just what value someone else might attach to a dog.

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For inquiring minds a little Red Bluff Bull sale background is in order: 2018 marked its 77th anniversary. Located in Northern CA about half way between the Oregon border and Sacramento (state capital). Initially a showcase for Horned Herefords. Later a host of additional breeds were added, then a QH gelding sale (attendees gladly pay an admission fee) and finally the stock dog sale (primarily BC's but occasionally a smattering of Kelpies. Includes a vast trade, western art/artisans (drawing, paintings saddle makers, silver smiths, all manner of hand made horse gear etc) shows, banquets etc. Billed as a premier source of all of the above. Week long extravaganza. Lots of cash trades hands and lots of ego stroking in the process.

http://redbluffbullsale.com
Click on Videos to see the three sessions of the dogs working. As usual, I failed to be impressed and in most cases, blatantly appalled. Bear in mind & warranted or not, a hard bite is traditionally worth a thousand bucks at Red Bluff.

 

Red is common in western states cattle working lines. 20 dogs consigned, 4 sifted. One of those was also red.

Quote
Not sure what the "Z" signifies.

Breeder's name/prefix or ranch brand in this case Zollman Border Collies. The outfit that purchased that particular dog paid $30,000 for one of the sale geldings as well. BC in front of Gurdy signifies she was bred by Robbin, e.g. Broken Circle, not that she was a BC per se although she was. As in the past, many of the sale dogs were from Robbin's lines.

A number of reasons fo r the record setting prices, not the least being ego. Smalahundur's comments are spot on.More than a few wind up as ornaments, or far worse.

FWIW, cattlemen enjoyed unprecedented high returns (as in an increase of 2-4 x's typically received/lb.) in 2013-2014. Market crashed and the last two years are reminiscent of the 70's cash market wreck.

Also FWIW, I have a 2010 Red Bluff sale dog. Local rancher paid $3600 (a little below average price) for her . Had her a year & gave her to me because she "wouldn't work". Put her on some dog broke yearlings a few days later. Took her 30 minutes to comprehend my stock stick was merely an extension of my arm & I'd had no intention of punishing her with it nor did I intend to strap an E collar around her neck.

She turned out to be modestly talented but devoid of any semblance of scope. Goes without saying, she had zero foundation. The good news: extremely bidable, has enough power to work broke pairs and would do anything to please me. No brag, just fact...had she not fortuitously wound up in my life, she'd likely as not been shortly dispatched to the bone pile on the back forty. Pretty good guess that more than a few sale grades met such a fate.

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Breeder's name/prefix or ranch brand in this case Zollman Border Collies. The outfit that purchased that particular dog paid $30,000 for one of the sale geldings as well. BC in front of Gurdy signifies she was bred by Robbin, e.g. Broken Circle, not that she was a BC per se although she was.

 

Thanks for the explanation. This makes sense and eliminates my confusion. ;)

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She wasn't the only one that sold for $30,000. The buyer of Gurdy also bought a male for a little over $3,000-a thought that runs through my head is, "Are you gonna breed that female to a male that is "worth" 10xs less than your female?"

 

The person who bought the other female, Rose, for $30,000, also bought two geldings for $30,000 a piece. I think someone just came to the sale with a lot of money to spend...

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I knew a man who worked in a feedlot with his ACD. They were not a real good partnership at first but as the man learned good handling of his dog, they became a team.

One day, a cow took exception to that man and began a very credible job of killing him, and that dog saved his life. That dog went from valuable to priceless in that man's mind.

It's hard to judge ju9st what value someone else might attach to a dog.

But "value" is not the same thing as "price".

Take for instance the horse I value most for the roundup; I value him so high that you would have to put an absurd price on the table if you wanted to buy him from me, several times the market value of such a horse.

I have no doubt the same thing would go for this man's dog. Has nothing to do with a realistic price, and if I would shop for a nice working dog trying to buy this dog of him would be a very stupid thing to do.

Just like trying to buy Máni of me...

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Happy to oblige. In many regards, the venue is complex on a multiple of levels. Wanted to put things into perspective and especially for those unfamiliar with livestock in general and particularly, public sales of working dogs.

Greatly appreciate the kind words and accurate insight regarding the salvation of my "throw away" dog. Never been involved with rescue. Your words made me realize otherwise and it brought tears to eyes. Thank you.

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