Jellyblush Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 It's on right now :) It's not a show I would normally have any faith in, but any story about how people should choose their pets more carefully is alright by me. They have a shelter manager and RSPCA rep talking about the volumes of Kelpies dumped after Red Dog came out, due to being totally unsuited to many suburban owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crickets Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 sadly any breed featured in film usually goes through a popularity spike and unscrupulous breeders come on board pretty fast to meet demand and they don't care about quality or who buys them. I can think of Huskies & Dogues off the top of my head, both fairly specialised breeds not for the faint hearted or less than committed owner.... and now Kelpies. I hope to dog my breed never stars in a movie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellyblush Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 The story said the same thing happened to pigs after Babe came out. People are idiots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chezy Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 (edited) It is shame, but yes very common after movies featuring dogs . I wonder if the people who do this once do it again and again every time a new breed becomes the must have Edited February 19, 2013 by Chezy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Yes, the lovely Hugh. And for once, he was correct. However, I think that the breeders of the dogs are responsible. Why would they sell to people in the clutch of the current craze? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzy82 Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Hah, his comment about how as long as you're the pack leader the dog will be ok ruined the story. People really need to stop saying that, showing a dog "who's boss" doesn't mean you don't need to provide stimulation and train them. It started out well, but the punch line was "be the alpha". Stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*kirty* Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I'm sure Red Dog hasn't helped, but Kelpies and Kelpie crosses have been up there with the most commonly dumped dogs for many many years. They are cheap and easy to source and they are not suitable for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 (edited) Hah, his comment about how as long as you're the pack leader the dog will be ok ruined the story. People really need to stop saying that, showing a dog "who's boss" doesn't mean you don't need to provide stimulation and train them. It started out well, but the punch line was "be the alpha". Stupid. Especially for a kelpie! Most will turn themselves inside out for you if you are clear about what you want :) Direct, to-the-point training will get you awesomeness in a fur coat if you want it. I was talking to a friend very recently (another DOLer) who had to give someone else a telling because they wanted a "red dog", despite this person not being qualified to own a goldfish apparently. Heartbreaking Edited February 19, 2013 by TheLBD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kelpies Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Especially for a kelpie! Most will turn themselves inside out for you if you are clear about what you want :) Direct, to-the-point training will get you awesomeness in a fur coat if you want it. So true! I thought there was too much emphasis on kilometres, being boss etc. and not enough about giving the dog company and plenty of mental stimulation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I thought there was too much emphasis on kilometres, being boss etc. and not enough about giving the dog company and plenty of mental stimulation. I just watched it online and I agree - I don't think mine have ever run 60km in a day! And now that I'm at home more I don't even walk them every day Training, play and attention are the real crack for them ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 (edited) I'm still dubious about Red Dog really leading to that many more dumped Kelpies. As someone above has mentioned, Kelpies and Kelpie mixes have always been represented in pounds in fairly high numbers. Red Dog certainly led to increased interest in Kelpies but most of the dogs being dumped are still black and tans and red and tans. I actually see very few solid red Kelpies like Coco in rescue - one would have thought that if people wanted the 'movie dog' they'd want a dog that looks like Coco. Also, I cringe at the myth that Kelpies need to run 25 km a day and need two walks a day - it mistakenly makes people think that all you need to do is throw exercise at a Kelpie. It also makes people feel like 'failures' if they exercise their dog a lot and it still plays up. It also makes a lot of people reject the idea of adopting a Kelpie for the wrong reasons. We have a Kelpie and two Kelpie mixes, all from working lines and all living very happily in our suburban backyard. They definitely do not get a walk every day and it would be absolutely impossible to tire them out - but with sufficient training, human time and intellectual stimulation, they're extremely laid back and non-destructive. They're left alone in the house without destroying it - sure they could run 80k a day if you let them and when you see them at the dog park you'd find it hard to reconcile them with the couch potatoes you see when they're at home. ETA: I don't think any dog does well if just dumped in a backyard, but a neglected Kelpie tends to be worse because they're such smart dogs that they get frustrated and make up their own entertainment if you don't keep them enriched. Edited February 19, 2013 by koalathebear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdogs Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I'm still dubious about Red Dog really leading to that many more dumped Kelpies. As someone above has mentioned, Kelpies and Kelpie mixes have always been represented in pounds in fairly high numbers. Red Dog certainly led to increased interest in Kelpies but most of the dogs being dumped are still black and tans and red and tans. I actually see very few solid red Kelpies like Coco in rescue - one would have thought that if people wanted the 'movie dog' they'd want a dog that looks like Coco. Also, I cringe at the myth that Kelpies need to run 25 km a day and need two walks a day - it mistakenly makes people think that all you need to do is throw exercise at a Kelpie. It also makes people feel like 'failures' if they exercise their dog a lot and it still plays up. It also makes a lot of people reject the idea of adopting a Kelpie for the wrong reasons. We have a Kelpie and two Kelpie mixes, all from working lines and all living very happily in our suburban backyard. They definitely do not get a walk every day and it would be absolutely impossible to tire them out - but with sufficient training, human time and intellectual stimulation, they're extremely laid back and non-destructive. They're left alone in the house without destroying it - sure they could run 80k a day if you let them and when you see them at the dog park you'd find it hard to reconcile them with the couch potatoes you see when they're at home. ETA: I don't think any dog does well if just dumped in a backyard, but a neglected Kelpie tends to be worse because they're such smart dogs that they get frustrated and make up their own entertainment if you don't keep them enriched. Well said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Well said! Thanks. I see so many people who would actually make great Kelpie owners who have been deterred by the scary stories. I don't even try to tire my dogs out anymore - it's just not possible. At the end of an hour of agility, when all the other dogs are tired and losing focus, Elbie and Hoover are still raring to go and energetic - not tired out at all but very enriched so not destructive. We placed one of our foster Kelpies with a guy who runs triathlon and he has tried so hard to tire his Kelpie out but it never happens :D That being said, all his Kelpie really wants is to hang out with 'mum' and 'dad' and be part of the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasha Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 The number of Kelpie and Kelpie crosses are also very misrepresented. Basically a medium sized black, black and tan, red or red and tan, red and white short hair or black and white short haired ones are called kelpie crosses. Some of them have no other similarities to the Kelpie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantis Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Yes, the lovely Hugh. And for once, he was correct. However, I think that the breeders of the dogs are responsible. Why would they sell to people in the clutch of the current craze? I thought we were rid of this attention whore. This story is closing the barn door, after the horse has bolted though. It reminds me how St Bernard's popularity dropped after the movie Cujo, yet they became popular again after Beethoven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 The number of Kelpie and Kelpie crosses are also very misrepresented. Basically a medium sized black, black and tan, red or red and tan, red and white short hair or black and white short haired ones are called kelpie crosses. Some of them have no other similarities to the Kelpie. There may be plenty of Kelpies and crosses in country pounds but it has always amazed me that so many basic dog shaped, medium sized, pricked eared, smooth coated dogs in city shelters have been dubbed Kelpie cross, despite the fact that I don't think I have ever seen a Kelpie running loose or being walked in suburbia. If there are no Kelpies then there are not going to be any crosses. Mongrels eventually end up as the basic shape of a Kelpie if you keep crossing enough breeds as it is nature's default dog shape but they may not actually have any Kelpie in them. I'm sure "Red Dog" has been responsible for a rise in dumped Kelpies though, because the same thing happened with Dalmations, Huskies and Border Collies after they featured in movies. We used to get enquiries for "Babe" dogs and we would tell them Babe was a pig not a dog. Half of them had no idea what the breed was even called. Sadly a lot of fly by night new breeders popped up to take advantage of the demand and disappeared just as quickly and I am sure this has happened with Kelpies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 It was hardly a block buster, so I doubt it impacted much at all on the dumpage rates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I'm sure Red Dog hasn't helped, but Kelpies and Kelpie crosses have been up there with the most commonly dumped dogs for many many years. They are cheap and easy to source and they are not suitable for everyone. Yes and not just this, but thery seem to hold a special place in people's hearts as being quintessentially Australian, which seems to lead to many people getting one even though they can't provide for its needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kelpies Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 It was hardly a block buster, so I doubt it impacted much at all on the dumpage rates And considering that Red Dog had such a flatulence problem, I can't see too many people wanting a dog just like him for a pet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I agree with KTB. I watch the pound and rescue threads and I have not seen an increase in Kelpies in pounds - they have always been very highly represented Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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