SeattleSteve

As long as we are sharing pictures of BC's in the snow, here is my boy "Shake" after our recent storm. He was in heaven. http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3195gw5.jpg

There is a great dog food commercial out right now with a BC whose head is half-white. Gorgeous dog. I just caught a glimpse of it. I don't know if any of you are the same way but frequently I will not be paying attention to commercials and then I'll catch a glimpse of a BC and perk up.

A friend of mine and I were talking this morning about dogs in movies and the effect they sometimes have on their popularity. I know BC's were featured in "Babe" and "the Day After Tomorrow," but were they in any other movies?

My BC "Shake", often referred to as the Shakenator, spends a great deal of time home alone. He manages superbly and I believe there are some reasons why: 1. When I am at home, I keep him close to me and spend quality time with him. 2. I take him everywhere I can take him. He would much prefer to people watch from the car window while I am at the store than remain at home. 3. I take him to the dog park to socialize with other dogs a minimum of 45 minutes a day 2 times each day, one the AM and one in the PM. He positively knows when its time and looks forward to it. 4. I include him in as many family activities as possible. I never relegate him to the garage or laundry room when we have people over. He is always part of things at my house. 5. I reward him on the weekends with hikes or extended stays at the park. He knows a Saturday, trust me. As a result I feel like Shake is a very happy, well-balanced dog. I am not a perfect owner. I often feel guilty when he is alone too long but he always greets with with that huge smile he has. He never chews things or is destructive in the house - never. He is a perfect little boy in that regard and I believe it is because he is smart enough to "anticipate" his reward (trip to the park). And I look at what his options might have been had I not been at the shelter when he was available. All in all, I think he scored. A border collie is work but they are worth it. I think you can commit to a BC even with a tough work schedule. But when you are there, the BC has to know that he/she is part of your life. That's my $.02

I never give Shake bones. He seems to choke on them no matter what.

Adorable Brilliant Caring Mischevious Manipulative Loyal

Shake digs the water BIG TIME

Kali, you must be strong and do what is in the best interests of the pet. Only you really know if the pet is in pain and what qiality of life she has. 14 years is a good, long life for a dog. If she is deaf, blind, arthritic and incontinent, you need no justification for doing what you feel is best. Best of luck.

Will someone now start a thread titled "DIShonest reviews on the book?"

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Don't know about this subject but I saw your name and wanted to show you a picture I took a couple of months ago at Sawyer's Glacier, in Alaska. Cool, huh?

The books say 12-13 years but that sure seems low.

Having fun is what counts. Great shots

Your smooth coated BC is truly a good looking dog, no doubt.

Yeah, maybe. But I'll deal with the BC's coat problems just to enjoy it's beauty. I am much more naturally attracted to longer haired coats than shorter haired coats. Before my BC I was looking at Bearded Collies. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire as far as maintenance goes.

My wife often jokes that Shake only sheds once a year, for 12 months at a time. Thanks for all the great tips. I have been bathing Shake as often as I have just to keep him smelling a little better. The park we go to has a pond that is not the cleanest thing in the world. He loves the water but he kind of stinks when he gets home. Vicki, the vitamins were given in an era when when first picked him up from the shelter and he was a tad undernourished and his coat was dry and skin flaky. He really doesn't need vitamins now, but it was sort of a habit. I take vitamins every day and I guess I feel better when he has them too. I should probably stop. They are not cheap. Thanks for the pic of the shedding rake, Northof49, I'll pick one up. I am guessing Petco has them? Shake looks great, but perhaps he is getting too many baths. I'll try cutting back. We live in an air conditioned house - I had not thought of that as a factor before trailerider, but it could certainly be one.

Thanks for that idea Pipedream. I'll try that one. A mental exercise we use for Shake when we leav him at home alone, is the puzzle ball. Shake is absolutely fascinated with it and it will keep occupied 2-3 hours while we go eat and hit a movie. The puzzle ball a ball within a ball. Each ball has holes just the right size for a treat to fit into. You line up the ball and put several treats inside the inner ball. The dog needs to line up the treat with the two holes to get the treat out. We keep this put up until we need to really keep him occupied then break it out. He has a blast with that thing. He ALWAYS manages to get the treats out but it does take him a while.

thanks MrSnappy. What exactly is a shedding rake? Sorry for the rookie question. I use a brush recommended by the vet but he certainly didn't call it a shedding rake.

My border collie eats a balanced diet, has no allergies we know of and has been taking a regular dose of doggie vitamins from the vet. We brush him at least three times a week and he gets bathed every other week. His shedding still appears excessive to me. Anything we can do?