bcnewe2

I've "set up" three small farms. Best I can say is get there don't do anything or make it temp. till you live there the rainy season. It's amazing how water changes things. This place has been one of the hardest. We do live on a steep hill with our pasture on the top of hill and house at the bottom. My dream would be sell the house at the bottom and build at the top. Water has been an on going battle. Good luck and...see ya soon!

Let's hope she has some other things like her GrandmaBess too! Cutie!

Not a senior yet but not a young guy anymore either. I notice changes in body and mind at about 9+/- years. Mick has gotten way more attention seeking. He even comes up for massages and maybe treat or something off our plates. Things he never did before. I would try not to worry about it, set it up again like Brenda mentioned just to see if it's going to be an on going thing. Could of just been an off day.

Sounds like she is blowing them more from nerves? Are you saying she goes from not smelling to stink butt all of a sudden? I had a female that I got as an adult. She was a kernel dog. She would stress over lots of things. Always in the car. I would definitely have her checked for a uti though. That can be stinky too.

Micks are a dark clear liquid with a bit of gunk once in a while but mainly clear dark liquid. I had an old girl whose was always thick opaque looking. We thought she had an infection but that was just her. Ive seen way to much anal glad juice than 1 person should have to for not being in the business. Every dogs has been different. Let me know if grain free makes a difference. Is your dog a nervous type dog? Mick isnt but training was stressful due to his strength and my greeness in working dogs.

Poor Mick was the same reason. He had Lyme and rocky mountain, took 4 vets for proper diagnosis (it was a while ago and vets were not as versed as they are now) so he got poked, prodded, and finally acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments. He was just tired of going to vets. The close your eyes for nail trims was just his way of dealing with it. Works for us.

Good luck Donald and Fly! May the sheepdog God's smile upon you both with your adventures!

Call me immature (I love it) but it makes me giggle every time! Mick sticks his head in the corner and shuts his eyes when we go to the vet. The vet always asks me what's wrong. I tell him, if Mick can't see you, you can't see him! That's still how we do nails. He shuts his eyes. Funny little dogs!

Well I guess hard is a relative term. It was harder than when I fed kibble. But at that time I was feeding less quality kibble so maybe that was the difference. FWIW Mick and Dew both have hard little poos now. Dark in color. Specially compared to the dog I was keeping here who's owner brought me cheap dog food. His poop was yellow and squishy and whoonasty stinky. I switched him to the better food and when I gave him back the man thought something was wrong cause his poop was dark and hard(er). And less stinky. So these terms can mean something to one person and something different to another.

Mick has suffered anal glad issues his whole life. Used to be I had to express about once a week or he'd get impacted. I switched him to raw and they got way better. Maybe once a month. Now that he's older I can't afford raw anymore so he's on a good quality food. But I do think there are some grains in it. Just not corn (not that that's the issue) and he's much more laid back and so are his anal glands. I think the change to raw did really help get them under control. His poop was really hard when he ate raw. I really think the difference is nerves or stress for Mick. He was a hard dog to train, I was a green handler. Lots of tension. Now he lives the life of riley. No training, he doesn't really like to go anywhere and only works stock when he wants to and how he wants to. I do them when someone else comes over and asks me to check their dogs bum. It reminds me to do his. My friends think I'm the professional dog butt lady! It's an easy thing to learn to do. I never did them internally and I got good enough that I hardly ever get anything on me or the dog. Mick actually has a command for doing them. "let me see your butt" puts him right between my legs with his bum facing out. It's one of his parlor tricks! LOL I forgot....I had a different dog long ago. she was a nervous dog too. Every time we'd go in the car she'd blow her anal glands and whew....we'd be baling out of the car quick. Mick never blew his glands but this dog would actually get nervous and blow them. You couldn't really see any residue (she was an outside dog) but you'd go from no smell to wowza yuck in a second.

Is this for flea control? I used to feed a garlic pill, even took it myself. Didn't work for us. But we all stunk nicely the same! So is this working for your guys?

I have a bad story about a dog going through the surgery. I would opt for conservative therapy first. The dog I knew was a bro to my 12 year old Mick. Mick has horrible spondilosis with quite a bit of fusing. I retired him at a very young age (under 5 yrs old) to maintain his health. He also suffered from some debilitating tick diseases at a young age that didn't help. He is doing good. He's never had a rupture or herniated disk. Just major fusing. He works a tad and stays active but no hard work. His brother had a disc rupture, the surgery was a failure, He was wheelchair bound for 5 years. Something I worry about all the time. Good luck Hope your boy get better.

From what I understand you put the vicks on the male not the female.

I've heard lots of people say they use vick's vapor-rub on their males nose. I have females, and never had the need.

This is so me. We have to work on socializing our dogs here. I have people over, so they are good with strangers but hardly do they go places like they used to when we lived closer to the city.

I have no recommendations but, I to find the idea of a nicely bred border collie living in an apartment not an issue. They live well anywhere as long as the owners interact with their dogs in a manner fit for a border collie. There were a few years in my life where I was restricted by circumstance to not be active with my dogs. None of us suffered in the least. We prefer the farm life but don't find it an absolute must. Just are preference. While not being really active my dogs were still the center of my life. Good luck with your search.

I truly did get a chuckle out of this, only in my head I had all kinds of words to put with "I Lean"! I am one that is in the short easy name side of the camp. Heck with g-kids, kids, hubs and multiple dogs sometimes I call them all the same thing. "hey you" or "knock it off" But reading Eileen's post #56 really did explain to me why non KC people prefer to use short names. More so than the standard answer I've heard of "easy to use out in the field". Thanks for the chuckle of the day Eileen....

So sorry Kristine. What a hard thing to have to face so soon after Speedy. Prayers and hugs to you and your family. Run free Sammie, say hi to Speedy

Fwiw I prefer to bring in a puppy vs. an adult dog. I've had old dogs, they all have quirky relationships. Its easier for me to work in a pup to our pack rather than an adult or even young adult who comes with its own quirks or habits. That being said im sure you can find some nice pups in both rescue or a working dog breeder.

Wonder if he's getting into something on his feet then, when he licks off whatever it might be it's causing a reaction with his mouth.

Im with Donald if I get the pup young they are off lead right off the bat. Last pup was 4 months old when I got her. As soon as she knew I was her buddy and the other dogs were her pack she was off lead. Maybe 4 days or so. Recall is started immediately with other trained dogs. If out in public I use a leash for safety. But they could probably be off if they had to be. The older dogs dont need a leash out in public but I choose to use one so I dont have to be aware of them 100% of the time but the lead is usually dragging behind them. Mine get fence tie training early. Keeps um from running the fence line when working other dogs.

In that last picture I sure see Golden and Mastiff. Don't cha think odds of finding the unusual dog breeds in a shelter pup are a bit of a stretch? Maybe back in the pups heritage but not right up front. I didn't know Golden's carry the brindle color. Learn something new every day.... I do love big dogs!

if that's the case will you continue to use her at home? Brings the question to my mind...how old is to old for major changes to take place.

as far as my ludicrous or tongue in cheek comment. I figured it would be taken in a non serious manner simply for the impossibility that it would present. but... please see my siggy line below. Guess I need to Sign off for a while or refrain from posting for some time, least I post something that is taken differently than it's true meaning. What ever that maybe.

And Mick is unfortunately one of those studly males who has been neutered for years.