Living with a Border Collie.
When
asked to write this article in 2009 I thought no problem, I will say how great a
breed they are. loyal, versatile, energetic, trainable – the list is endless.
But then I though all of this could be read in the numerous Border Collie breed
books available in the shops, libraries and internet. So I decided to do it like
this.................................................................
Living with my Border
Collies means there is never a dull day.
J
Logan (known as Logan to Die For) is 9 years old and is just retired from
working the top Obedience class (due to arthritis in his feet), Jaro (also known
as Mad Ted) is 6 years old and works the top Obedience class and his son Ryac (Jaro
and Ryac are collectively known as Team Asbo) 17 months and will be gracing the
Obedience ring later this year.
I walk them at least one hour a day which will include road walking and
free running, (Logan may get less depending on how his feet are), and train the
younger two as well. No matter how
much exercise they get they are always up for more, even though their
tongues are touching the floor panting.
Logan is
happy to lie on my lap while I am watching television (all 21 kg of him).
No matter what I do he doesn’t mind so long as he can ‘help’ by being by
my side. Never interfering, just
overseeing and giving the occasional lick when he thinks I need encouragement.
Nothing appears to phase him.
Jaro is like a shaking a
bottle of soda, just waiting to explode.
He is always ready to ‘do’ something and a total wind up merchant.
He brings me things constantly, when I am preparing my dinner he will
come into the kitchen with the entire contents of my bedside unit.
He appears in the kitchen ‘smiling’ with a deodorant bottle in his mouth
or a biro etc. Before I ‘Jaro
proofed’ my underwear drawer he would bring me socks, knickers etc, unless it is
tied down, locked away or out of reach Jaro will ‘fetch’ it and present it to me
– trading off!!! Yes I could
stop him and teach him not to do it BUT it is part of his character.
J
No matter what he is doing he will do it at 150 miles per hour.
He is
scared of my phone ringing and will leave the room post haste when it rings.
He was in the front garden with me the other day and the phone rang in
the house. He cleared the 3 ft
wall, separating mine and my neighbour’s house, ran out of their driveway and
came back into my garden – all done in a split second - reacting without
thinking.
He was 3
years of age before he was capable of settling down in my living room at night
and going to sleep while I watched the television or read a book. Even now at 6
years of age he resists the urge to relax – I think his batteries are self
charging.
Ryac
is his ‘father’s son’, himself and Jaro are like ‘peas in a pod’ in many ways.
However, he has jealously issues with his father and is not happy if I am
hugging Jaro or giving him attention – Ryac has had to learn to live with it!
He stalks Jaro when out running loose and in the house in never too happy
if Jaro is beside me. When I am not
around he will lie quite happily beside Jaro as if there was no problem.
He was 9
months of age before I could leave him without him howling the place down.
At 17 months of age he still has to sleep in a crate at night as he chews
everything he can get his teeth into.
All three boys have got
wonderful temperaments, happy and love people.
Logan is not too comfortable around strange dogs, Jaro isn’t really
interested in other dogs and Ryac loves to play if the other dog is agreeable.
They are ‘soft’ in many ways but can be determined if it suits them.
Although they are related – Jaro is Ryac’s dad and Logan’s sister is his
mum they are all very different.
Logan would be a perfect house pet while Jaro and Ryac need to work to keep them
out of mischief.
J
Before
buying a border collie (or indeed any breed) you should be careful to
investigate the breed fully.
Although they are a great dog they are not suitable for everyone. Buying from a
reputable breeder is the first step to ensuring you are getting a pup who has
been bred and reared carefully.