74 replies to this topic

[Piper]

My Piper is scary smart, extremely fast, extremely alert, etc....you described a typical border collie...and for the record my Piper is the best dog in the world and was spayed at 7 months!

Now I'm off to enjoy this October day here in SE Alaska.

Stay with these boards Madison's Mom, you'll learn a lot and hopefully will not breed your BC ( unfortunately I believe you have already made up your mind).

[Madison's Mommy]

Yes, Piper and FlyAway2Me, I think I have made up my mind. For Madison's health and the health of any future puppies, I am going to make an appointment tomorrow to have her neutered as soon as possible. I have already told my parents (who were hoping for one of Madison's puppies) to go to the rescue farm up north of Binghamton, NY and to rescue a BC. Madison is still the best dog in the world (sorry Piper), and that is why I want her to live a long healthy life.

[Keegan's Mom]

Editing to say that I was writing this when you posted last...glad to see that you did make the right decision.

Originally posted by Madison's Mommy:
Btw, we do not own an SUV so we can't hop in it and drive upstate. I think Jason's point was simply that on LI, people that own border collies generally do not live on big farms, and border collie owners on this board have to understand that- it is frankly a little annoying that those that are lucky enough to have places for their dog to work somehow look down on us because we do not, and seem to consider us second class citizens (in the world of border collie owners).

You say this, yet MANY of us do not have farms for our dogs...but we try to find farms for our dogs. I am currently in the process of trying to find a trainer on a regular basis...which for me will be about 2 times a month or so. I will have to drive over an hour, probably, to find someone. I don't have an SUV...I have a small Toyota Corolla.

If you wanted to, you too could find someone to train you and Madison in herding. I don't believe in excuses...you can do anything that you set your mind to or find anything you set your mind to.

Thank you for answering my question on what your dog's parents are prized in. I think that you will find that herding "prizes" are all anyone should base their breeding off of. The history of the dogs is based in herding and not conformation. I think if you did enough reading into the "standards" that conformation encourage, it is just ridicluous (spelling?). Like Brookcove has a 16 inch BC that is much smaller than your typical BC...does it mean that she can't herd because she probably wouldn't meet the AKC standards? But if you talk to an AKC conformation person...like a Sheltie woman I asked...she will tell you that height standards, etc are set up so that you now which dog can do the standard of herding...hog wash!!!! How many Shelties do you know of that still herd sheep...I have seen plenty in conformation but none in herding.

I just implore you to READ, READ, READ!!!! I still have a ton to learn but I have learned a great deal from these boards, these people that work farms, and love the Border Collie. I think that you too will speak out against breeding Border Collies for any other reason than the "right" reason if you learn more about the breed itself. The "right" reason being to improve the working dog.

I truly think that my dog is the best; however, I know that I would never get a carbon copy so I would never try to. I think you will be disappointed. I would definitely suggest going back to the same lines you got your current dog from.

Good luck in your decision making, I trust you will come to the right conclusion.

[urge to herd]

Madison's Mommy,

I just immediately fall in love with just about every border collie I meet. I've been known to stop my car, get out and go ask somebody walking their bc what it's name is and can I pet him/her!

They are all very, very special dogs. You might get an argument from some of us, well, me for one, as to which dog is the best. Samantha, of course! I'm surprised you hadn't heard.

What we all agree on is that border collies are a unique breed, that any other breed is just a dog, and that we all think they are really the only dog to have!

I'm glad you're spaying Madison and doing the right thing by her and by the breed.

Ruth n the Border Trio

[MrSnappy]

Originally posted by Madison's Mommy:
Yes, Piper and FlyAway2Me, I think I have made up my mind. For Madison's health and the health of any future puppies, I am going to make an appointment tomorrow to have her neutered as soon as possible.

Good! There are no shortage of border collies in rescue, and definitely no shortage of can't-herd-anything-from-pet-or-other-stock border collies in rescue either. This is the best thing for Madison, and also the best thing for the breed.

RDM

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

I liked what someone said about rescuing a dog "in their dog's honor". It's the best way to get a companion dog - or even a nice sport or light working dog. My first two dogs were rescues and though they didn't work so well for the type of work I have here, they are still wonderful dogs.

If your father gets a rescue he won't regret it! Thanks for hanging with us and keeping an open mind!

I do know there's a very nice handler up there who teaches folks with all kinds of dogs, who are interested in learning to work sheep (or ducks). Yes, if you get that 100 acre farm in PEI, you'll probably find Madison comes a bit short in working ability, but you needn't let that discourage you from trying it out.

And of course, agility will be ever so much fun when you're not worrying about heat cycles (they ALWAYS come at the worst times) and other reproductive issues. Jen is already starting to forgive me, I think. She's been sleeping on my bed (in a crate so she doesn't jump down) and I keep telling her how much fun she's going to have now that she doesn't have to be locked up half the year.

[INU]

*BIG HUGS* to Madison's Mom

I had a crappy day at work, my Yuki being sick and my co-worker started talking about breeding his mutt to another mutt to 'start a new breed'. I almost got in an argument. Your last post made my day. It proves how much you really love your dog.

[AK dog doc]

What a good idea to suggest rescue to your parents! Not only do they then become part of the solution, they also have the opportunity to select a dog whose temperament and activity level will match up with their own. I've bonded very intensely with all of my rescue BCs (of which there have been 3), so bonding shouldn't be a problem. Apart from which, rearing a BC puppy is NOT for the faint of heart, as you no doubt discovered the hard way! (At least, that's how I learned it - first hand, from Finn. The rescues have been SOOOOO much easier!)

I'm so happy for you that you've come to this very difficult decision. Madison will live a longer, healthier life as a result, and your relationship with her will not be interrupted or sidetracked by the whole brood-o-puppies thing, which can be QUITE a distraction.

Speaking of distractions, my dogs are all hungry from racing wildly over hill and dale in the "balmy" October sun, so I'd better go feed...

[Borderco1]

Hi Maddison's mommy, This is my very first post on this board, so hello to everyone else. I have been reading it for a while now and enjoy it very much. You said you are refering your parents to rescue. I am not sure which one you where going to but Glen Highland Farm is wonderful. The care they give the dogs and all the work they put in, we have adopted from them when they where still in CT. Good choice on not breeding your girl. If you do make it up to the farm you will see the very reason not to. Also you might enjoy reading Jon Katz books, I finished his new one and all are wonderful.

[Sue R]

Madison's Mom - Terrific!!! You will not regret it.

As for training, we travel once or twice a month, three hours each way. I have no sheep (I have to admit we have cattle and can't afford sheep fencing (by we are trying to figure out how). We train on sheep and then work on cattle at home.

We have two purebred Border Collies. One, purchased from a working lines, is the better working dog. The other, adopted (she was an impulse buy by a young man without a suitable situation for her) is a light in our lives. Both are neutered, and I have never, ever regretted it.

Bless you for your choice, and for your interest in rescue. Folks who rescue and adopt rescue dogs are true heroes.

[Woodenlion]

Kudos to all! This board does make a difference.

Toni

[Shoofly]

Kristen (Flywaytome) - can you email me? I have a question about your Mac dog. Thanks!

shooflyf @ yahoo.com

[KrisK]

Madison's Mom.......... I am so happy to hear that you are going to have her spayed. I'm on the board of a shelter and there are SO many dogs who need a loving and good home. While our shelter is not strictly BC's...we get our share of them. It's heartbreaking to see. Congratulations again on making the best decision you could have made! Have a great time with her...and stay with the boards. The people here will give you their honest opinions...and to me, an honest opinion is worth its weight in gold!

[nancy in AZ]

Originally posted by Madison's Mommy:
I have already told my parents (who were hoping for one of Madison's puppies) to go to the rescue farm up north of Binghamton, NY and to rescue a BC. Madison is still the best dog in the world (sorry Piper), and that is why I want her to live a long healthy life.

I am tearing up as I read this. Many who read this board or are just coming to it are still on a learning curve. Bless you for having the courage and the will to progress so quickly on it.
I think of my Kit who is one of the most loving companions I've ever had the good fortune to know, and who was tossed away into shelters twice in her young life before she adopted me, and I commend you for having the compassion to do the right thing by your own beloved dog and for the breed.

[Madison's Mommy]

Her doctor's appointment is Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. Thanks to everyone on this board for giving me advice. Even though Madison is apparently not a working dog (and comes from a show breeding line), she still means the absolute world to us and she literally has saved my life. Our life has been HELL since February (for reasons I cannot go into), and getting her has been the best thing possible. She is our heart, our love, our life. I cannot even express enough in words how much we love her. All I want to do is what is best for Madision. Madison is the best.