agilityrunningdogs

Going to kill the moment here but; Honestly, I think my schnauzer Komet, is smarter than my Border Collie, Mal. Komet's incredibly witty, has a wicked sense of humor, and if he thinks it's in his best interest, can pick up on a trick in no time flat. But, I think that Mal is more inclined to learn what I have to teach him than Komet, who is very self-centered. But then again, my measure of intelligence might be different than somebody who herds, or somebody who does barn-hunting in which case each breed would rank differently. I can only judge based on our lifestyle. I have to add though, that Komet has seriously got a screw loose, he's very nuerotic and overall freaky. While Mal is very adaptable and stable, and just an overall GOOD dog. So while Border Collies are intelligent, very much towards the top of the list of smartest dog breeds, perhaps it is their biddability that pushes them into #1.

I agree with you Tim, I don't like the word, and would never use it myself, but when I hear it associated with dogs I just go with it. I prefer to call mine a female, but she really acts like a b*tch so if anybody were to call her that I wouldn't be too mad.

I agree with you whole-heartedly. I've had greyhounds and schnauzers, and just got my Border Collie 10 months ago. They are almost a different species. It's breathtaking to watch him flat out run and then turn and switch directions without any hesitation. His flying lead changes are so smooth and his jumping arc is so natural. What a breed!

I apologize in advance for any incorrect terminology/lack of knowledge about sheep. I admit I know next to nothing. Feel free to correct me. So the lady I work for has decided to take her ram to market, but we were joking the other night about processing him and feeding it to her dogs, since he's caused them so much trouble. However she doesn't feed raw, so she offered him to me. I just laughed at first, but now that I think about it, that might actually not be a bad idea. I've talked with another friend who feeds raw and if this goes through, we will split it, since I can't store the all of it. As far as I know, he's at least 3 years old, probably older and maybe as big as a great dane, filled out of course. Since he was never intended for human consumption, so no weird hormone injections or anything, he just been fed hay and left to graze at his will. It's difficult for me to find cheap meat, the butcher I went to for a little bit was shut down this week because they found salmonella in their chicken; so this opportunity now sounds too good for me to just blow off. Now for the questions; Would be ok for canine consumption? What price range am I looking at (sorry, I really don't know how much he weighs)? Anything I should be worried about? Anybody have any experience feeding sheep, what parts are good/bad? Thanks so much!

Reason I hear alot: Oh, he does know how to sit, I just don't have a cookie right now. Training a Border Collie is an eye-opening experience to me. The Schnauzers learn gradually, they understand bit by bit and I can see their progress; I've found Mal learns by epiphany. I worked for about 2 weeks trying to get him to weave 4 poles. I was getting incredibly frustrated because he would make random mistakes all over the place. Then, suddenly, he got it. And within 5 minutes he learned all 12. I was amazed. He doesn't get it, doesn't get it, and then it all clicks. It IS magic! He's a ton of fun because of that though. It's very exhilerating when he understands a new trick. I was playing with him earlier today and I had him do something (drop, peak etc) before I threw the ball and even though I taught him everything, I was still impressed by his vocabulary and by the fact that he knew what each of the words meant at the drop of a hat, what a stunning breed. I think it's that initial period that people can't stand. They lure their dog into a sit 20 times and are confused that the dog can't sit without their hand over their head. If they hung in there, without an instructor doing it for them, I think it would revolutionize how they think of their dog - as learners, not as dumb followers.

I think it's because JRTs are common that she'll be popular. When Komet was the height dog for our team, there weren't a whole lot of Schnauzers, but now those are aren't so rare anymore down here. Although I must say that Flyball has gotten noisier these past few years, maybe there's a correlation.

I know NAFA allows small and regular sized tennis balls. When I did it with Komet, there was a maltese on the team who got a small ball and boy was he good!

I agree that the PAT test provides a great guideline for a well-behaved dog, not just in public but in life. I started Mal on it when I got him back in January, and now he is just FUN to take places. The schnauzers are a pain in the butt to go anywhere, people like them because they are cute, but I wish they would just behave and not act like loonies - and it's not like I haven't tried, they are terriers through and through. We can't go through a door or a gate without Komet screaming, it's just some weird obsession he has, he barks when he walks through doorways at home too. Strange dog. Anyway, I love taking Mal places. If I'm going someplace like Home Depot that allows pets, he's coming. And while he is a more mellow, adaptable dog, I believe it was because I specifically trained to the PAT that he will lay down at my feet when I'm eating or will sit quietly with a slack lead while I'm checking out. It is such a relief to be able to walk through a crowd and not have to worry about my dog jumping on some kid, or sniffing somebody's crotch or snag some tasty something off the ground. I always smile when I see parents trying to wrangle their unruly kid and I've got my puppy walking not a hare's breadth from me.

I also go the unconventional way of off-lead first, then leash is clipped on. It's alot easier to transition from to a heel while walking freely next to me, to a heel next to me with a leash than the other way around. Like Mary though, I also start at the local baseball fields which are 100% fenced in so they have no chance of running off.

I'veonly had 1 zero point run with my Masters dog (situation described earlier), but my Starters dog and I have been initiated in the 0/1 club many, many times. He's kind of a nut.

I was going to be there competing in Agility with Annie, but she hurt her back at the USDAA show last weekend, so she's "retired" and now just doing Performance.

I've heard that this was a problem in the Clan Abby (conformation) line. Although Mal has been missing a top right premolar since I got him when he was puppy, so for him, it must have been congenital.

Mal also has a high tail-set, and a long-haired, feather-duster type tail. He carries it over his back like a Spitz, but he's a Border Collie through and through.

In addition, at a trial last year in Master Snooker, there was a chute barrel against the side of the ring not in use. I was going for a Super-Q, and the 7 was of course at the back while the reds were in the front. I set Annie up in front of a red and lead out halfway into the ring. My goal was for her to jump the red, then we take the outside loop around everything to get to the 7. Released Annie, she's running to me, veers off to run through the chute barrel, we do the 7 and were whistled off. Why? Because according to the judge she chose the chute at her next obstacle, even though it wasn't even part of the course and the fabric wasn't attached. I was fairly upset but it will never again happen to me or my dogs. So, just be warned that equipment off to the side can still count.

A few months ago, somebody called Mal a Barbie Collie, behind my back, but it made it's rounds. I was horribly offended, partly because he's not, and partly because it's mean to call anybody's dog a derogatory name. I don't think the term is meant to mean 'beautiful', it's intended meaning is more along the lines of 'fake, plastic, lifeless', which is just rude. I've meet Show Collies, and while they couldn't do their breed's purpose, they do have emotions. They're playful and happy and like learning tricks, they can act sad when you hide the tennis ball or they can bounce up and down when you bring it back out again, they are not just duds that stand there and look pretty. The difference is just that the instinct has been bred out of them, which is a shame.