Bungalocity

How's this for picking up an old post. Denise, wondering if you're still in here - lost my beautiful boy in Dec to heart disease, his lines were nothing from trial this champ that but this time around I'm researching breeder choices to death. The Dart Board is maybe the most well illustrated narrative I think I've come across yet. One thing that surprises me now, is how helpful and 'not insecure' breeders and competitors are. Some top trial champs well known have been selfless with advice, referring me to trainers regionally (Chicagoland) for more advice. From what I can tell, there's little monetary value in the best 'red circle' pups and all the value is in proven prospects. So a Gallagher's Cap pup may wind up in an Alberta ranch, worked with other crosses, and perhaps that will train superbly, or not, maybe good enough to be sold for $6k as a yearling useful for commercial stock handling. The Yellow Circle spinoffs raised by family breeders will still enjoy producing Agility, Goosing, Disc, family pets and active lifestyles. They're pretty far removed from Red Dot pedigree by this point and while possible they'll be winning trials in USBCHA meets, it's unlikely. Commercial is still the top-game because it demands top efficiency. All the fun across the dart board by all works. It's just a matter of what your intended goals are across that board. A trainer in Kansas might acquire a pup or yearling from champ sire and dam, maybe cross them himself, get them to an excellent level to make them commercially viable as employees of a ranch or farm, then just like cattle auctions for longhorns, the astute purchaser knows what they're looking for and then a $1500 pup is now $15k. The Red Dot is safe and well. Just as a cattle rancher may incorporate a more rugged dog to choose for breeding, and sheep farm may choose for light and nimble. Rancher may select 'nice bite front and rear' and those traits may evolve 'west of Iowa' while east of Missouri we'll see more agile and lighter 40# males. If you'd like a trick dog female that bounces off your shoe to do flips, then you'll see the breeders for agility etc. hovering in the orange-yellow rings and while still ABCA, CBCA, or ISDS - and with 95% of the classic Border Collie traits of mind, drive, focus, and brilliance - they're still a Border Collie. As long as the Red Dot thrives, and the education like this and other resources is available, the purity of the breed will stay tops.

Oreo lasted a week and is in a fantastic home in Iowa with trails and a jogging/athletics family - Thanks!

Thanks MBC! He deserved a better start in life, and yet he's super sweet. Confidence building every day. Already have a potential interest on him

Have had Oreo for a week now, a 4yo from rural Missouri. Am fostering on behalf of All Herding Breed Dog Rescue, IL. Heard he was born of cattle-herding Border Collies on a ranch, and given to a family ill-equipped to comprehend the awesomeness of a breed like this. Please LIKE my foster page if you want to see more in the future, or receive Oreo updates. Plenty of videos in action as well as pro-caliber action shots. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1041663009185492.1073741836.920841427934318&type=3

Chandra took the last girl I posted here and TRANSFORMED her into one amazing BC and is on her way to a wonderful education!

Hi all, ISDS Chairman in a video about Bob Fraser said Bob bred for everyday work and not the Trials. Of course we're going back to mid-century Mindrum line of BC's. Anyone like to share their thoughts on exactly what YOU think this means, or in a modern day context? Stamina? Speed? Versatility? As many different opinions welcome....

Hi All! Will be attempting my 3rd Foster attempt this weekend and this one is ABCA! Coming in from NoLa on a transport of 3, Sky has definitely got it going on. You know, the stare, the eyes, the crouching prone... Take a look, be a fan. I'm a photographer so lot's of juicy eye-candy (which is kind of like cheating when it's a BC) -enjoy https://www.facebook.com/pages/Schademanns-Foster-for-Adoption-Page/920841427934318

I'm not going to name breeds specifically, but I can simply say after what I've seen at the dog park, (when we went) and very nice loving owners, i have no problem with certain breeds neutered out of existence. Tried to have an open mind, I really did...

We did Puppy 1 at Petco! And at graduation this was offered to us, I was like thanks but no!

Haha thanks! Just glad to know this thread isn't totally dead. Not a lot of Gooseherd info out there except by links on professional services websites.... Hope the contirbutors to this are still active!

OK!!! So I know I'm about 4 years too late on this post but hey, I just got my first BC in Jan as a pup and he just turned 1. He's an OBSSESSIVE disc dog, and chuckit fetcher. When I say obssessive I mean when either of those tools are in my hand I am the pied piper. He'll follow me and my movements wherever I go. One night in August at the ball diamond, I was finally able to trap a hare between us and the fence! And the only way I could pry his attention from me was to say "Jilly! Get Jilly!" (my cat). So he looks around, spots the rabbit and goes from skulking trot to slow as mollases crouching prowl. All the ABCA DNA kicked in and when the bunny spotted us and took off, he ran AHEAD of it, stopped on a dime and herded it towards the tracks where it found it's hole in the fence and that was that. But it was huge because I knew he was the real deal. Fast Forward now. I've discovered a giant park near me that's kind of border line ghetto so nobody goes there lol. They have a 9-hole course, lagoons, woods and a monster Goose problem. You can play a round without 100 geese between you and the green! About 8 times I've called off the tees, got him out there and he does huge circlular sweeps at full jet until every bird is airborne. The golfers tell me the next day they never returned on their game. We went to a herding lesson one time, and while it wasn't a disaster, the HIT writeup was pretty much that Brodie has a very very strong eye, no interest in cooperating with me, and wants to go right at the sheep and only after 5 minutes of leash down did he begin circular sweeps and it was beautiful to watch, but maybe the hour ride to the farm pent up his gusto, hence the 'enthusiasm'. So we have almost no training, BUT, when the Chuckit's in my hand, he'll always come back. When I say GOOSE! he knows and clicks into crouching stare mode. He only charges when he's close enough that they start to take flight, and the instant they're all up, he's like the little kid that just made gas and cleared a room, big huge smile and runs back right to me, recall or not. Where on earth do we go from here? The lagoons have froze over the past week (dangerously no less), the GM and staff is gone for the season, and I'd like to practice on this course and park. I have a contact number as it's a city park district course but not really sure what to say? I shoot weddings for a living, and have many contacts at courses that had the receptions. I also know the president of the Cemetery Assn. of America or whatever it's called. Brodie's amazing with people, and when he's clocked-in for work, (ie Chuckit/Hero Disc) not a thing in the world can distract him except for GOOSE! lol!! Do I REALLY need to get more lessons in since he does this so naturally and we've been successful right out of the gate? Thanks so much for your time, if this post is still alive! -matt (and Brodie)