Snorri the Priest

The original computer in this house (an old beige Mac G3) has its alerts set to "chu-toy", so every time there's s sytem message, it squeaks like the previously-mentioned sword-impaled monk, and Kali and Snorri go berserk at it.

 

I got them a "Chuckit" for Christmas, but the weather has not been good for testing it yet. We call this ball-launch toy "the Dogapult"

 

Snorri

My two barbarians like things that squeak - it probably reminds them of sticking swords through monks!

 

Snorri

Originally posted by Shetlander:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snorri the Priest:

P.S. - second thoughts: perhaps my two should be referred to as "Barbarian Collies"

I love it! Mind if I borrow the phrase for my little barbarian prince? Be my guest! I'm trying desperately to remember the name of Arnie Schwarzenegger's lady friend in "Conan the Barbarian".

 

I suppose I set the scene for the barbarity of my two by giving them Norse names from the Sagas! If you were to see them falling on their dinner bowls like a horde of rapacious Vikings on a nunnery, you'd know what I mean!

 

Snorri

Welcome! I'm over here in the UK, and I have two mad Border Collies who are just family pets. As this bit of the UK used to belong to Norway/Denmark and still has strong Norse influences, the Boys have Norse saga names:

Dog 1 - Kali (Rognvaldr Kali Kolsson Orkneyjar Jarl)

Dog 2 - Snorri (Snorri Thorgrim Thorgrimsson Helgafellir Godi)

 

They were given the long names so that they would not feel inferior to Kennel-bred dogs with long pedigrees! The original owners of the names were real people!

 

Snorri

P.S. - second thoughts: perhaps my two should be referred to as "Barbarian Collies"

 

Snorri

Originally posted by Roo:

Your dogs are beautiful Snorri. They really look like brothers are they full or half?

They are half-brothers, and worse! They are uncle and nephew as well! One of Kali's litter-brothers ("Roy") did the naughty with his own Mum, and Snorri was the handsomest of the six results! A true farmyard tink!

 

Snorri was the smallest of the litter - the son of the farmer used to be i/c the puppies, but he shot himself not long before Snorri was born. After this, the pups got enough food to keep them going alright, but not really enough to let them grow (ignorance, not neglect): when Snorri arrived here and was given "textbook" feeds, with no competition from brothers, he grew like the proverbial weed, virtually doubling in size by the week. A month after we got him, I took him to a local show (as a spectator!) and met someone who had taken one of Snorri's brothers. To start with, this guy wouldn't believe Snorri was a brother, because he was so big in comparison!

 

All the dogs from that farm (and there are a few!) look pretty much alike - not identical, but there's a definite family "look".

 

Although my Boys are a couple of lazy household pooches, they were born with a good working ancestry. I have no idea how good (or otherwise) they would be. I've had ridiculous offers of cash for them from farmers who seem to think they'd be good, but I have a principle that I don't sell my best pals!

 

Snorri

Welcome, Roo! Greetings from "the other side of the Pond"! This may be just a small island off the north of Scotland, but it's very like "Border Collie Central" As it's a very concentrated agricultural area (lots of smallholdings with varied livestock), Border Collies seem to make up half the dog population! I used to live in Edinburgh, where a BC was a very rare sight (so rare, in fact, that lots of folk didn't even know what they were!) - here, they're as common as dirt :eek:

 

So, when I came here to live, apart from wanting a BC (I'd had one as a kid) anyway, there was a far better chance of a BC than of any other breed!

 

Eventually, I ended up with two of them, brothers (and addictive!) from a local working farm. They've had the occasional success in the local agricultural shows (nothing "formal"), but otherwise, they are just family pets who lead a lazy, work-free life

 

 

The one on the left is Kali (dog senior, nearly 12) and the one on the right is Snorri (dog junior, 8 )

 

I dunno exactly how to classify them - "Farmyard Tinks" seems most appropriate!

 

Snorri

You can tell your mind "No, that's not the way to do things!", but you can't tell your heart.

 

Snorri

My Kali will be 12 on 24 April. The vet says that, in his experience, a farm collie from these parts lives for an average 12-14 years, so I am keeping a good eye on the "oldie" (who is my best friend, to whom I fel I owe a great deal).

 

He's getting a bit deaf, and I don't think he sees as well as he used to, but he seems in good form otherwise (and the vet said last week that his general health was fine). For a while, he was looking slightly "off" (nothing to put a finger on), and a friend (a retired vet) suggested something called "Vivitonin", and my current vet agreed it was worth a try.

 

Now, Kali gets vivitonin, plus a vitamin supplement (SA37) in his dinner. Whichever is doing it, one certainly is having a good effect!

 

Vivitonin is marketed as a medication which "can help to prevent" strokes (to which Border Collies are prone, in later life) by improving circulation in the brain.

 

Kali is now as fully alert and "ready" as his (possibly) failing senses allow. We used to be able to whisper "biscuits!" and have him sitting bolt upright by our feet immediately, now we have to shout, but he's still there, like a lightning flash!

 

My first ever BC, "Glen", made it to 19, with no special treatment (there was none available in his day), so my hopes for many more years of Kali are still strong, like him. The longer I can keep him going, without turning him into a vet-dependent stooge, the better-pleased I'll be. He has been a wonderful friend, and he deserves the best I can do for him.

 

Snorri

This has been a bugbear of mine since Snorri-dog had his first attack at the age of three (about the usual time for presenting with idiopathic epilepsy).

His siezures started to accelerate until one night, in October 2001, he had a cluster of four fits in 30 minutes. He was rushed to the vet at 4 a.m., and put on phenobarbitone (2x 30mg per day).

 

I found http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/ extremely helpful and informative.

 

Not long ago, we found a brother with this accursed disease, and his people told us he ("Mickey") had grown out of it by himself. Our vet agreed that this can happen, and that weaning Snorri off the drugs could be tried. A week after stopping the phenobarb, the fits re-started, BUT at least we had found out that half the original dose was enough to keep him OK. (Good news,because Phenobarb can cause liver and kidney damage, over time. The less the dog gets, the better, if the dose is enough to control the fits). Now, he gets 2x15 mg per day.

 

Phenobarb has kept him free for four years, and he is a happy, healthy, alert little dog, just as he should be. He has never had an MRI scan, but he has had blood tests for liver and kidney function and therapeutic levels of phenobarb.

 

He eats the same stuff as his brother - minced offcuts from the local butcher (mainly lamb), plus leftovers and doggy treats.

 

He is a "farmyard tyke" - the offspring of the working dogs on an Orkney dairy farm - no formal pedigree. Epilepsy does run in his family, not that we knew it when we got him (nobody knew) - we found out later, by asking around.

 

Nowadays, there is no way you could tell that there had ever been anything wrong with him: according to the vet, all his insides are working properly and in need of no further tinkering about!

 

We never give him anything which contains excessive salt, and definitely NO CHOCOLATE. Apart from his pills, he gets no special treatment.

 

I think he looks OK......

 

Snorri

 

 

Read up on it, follow your vet's instructions, and DON'T PANIC!

Good grief! This thread makes me realize how lucky I have been with my two nuclear-powered monkeys! Both were "toerags" when they were puppies, but nothing like this! Things got chewed up, but that all stopped when teething was over.

 

It's fortunate that I had taken "early severance" from my job, and was about all day (in fact, dog senior was acquired to beat the boredom I was suffering!), but even I have to go out without dogs sometimes!

 

Nowadays, I'm not fit enough to control a BC on a leash around town (arthritis in both hips and spine), so when we go for the weekly shopping trip, the Boys have to stay home by themselves, for about 4 hours at a time. They seem to manage perfectly for these periods (perhaps because they know there may be a reward for peaceful behaviour?), because I never see blood on the walls, ripped furniture or burst doors!

 

On another board, some of us members have been discussing whether or not it is physically possible to wear out a Border Collie! I find that over half an hour chasing balls on a beach gets me about 15 minutes of quiet.......

 

These lads are from working stock - just the "accidental by-blows" of farmyard skulduggery, with no paperwork whatsoever. One is scared of sheep, the other doesn't see why he should bother making the effort!

 

Sorry to be of no help, I just wanted to say how lucky you made me feel!

 

Snorri

Originally posted by sandra s.:

Snorri, what do you mean by having to stand up and do something? Looks like you're standing already, because there's no room left for you on the sofa

Usually, I get left to lie on the floor (an uncomfortable reversal of roles)!

 

It is beginning to be the case that the dogs own the house and grudgingly let us live in it (after all, someone has to refill the water bowl and sort out the dinner!)

 

We'll let you in this time, we're hungry:

 

Snorri

Border Collies insane and hyperactive? Please don't tell my pair, or they'll think they're missing something, and start trying to live up to it! Then I won't get any more of this:

and I'll have to stand up and DO something!

 

Laid back, or what?

 

Snorri

 

And damn' fine with children!

 

(This is my Snorri, trying to persuade my partner's grandson Josh to play ball. Until then, young Josh had never been this close to a dog - he was only 20 months old himself at the time)!

 

Now, I think little Snorri would lay down his life to save Josh from anything nasty!

 

Snorri

Congratulations on a) deciding on a Border Collie as your new best friend, and signing up here!

 

I wasn't going to plunge right in and say "rescue", but I'll join the existing chorus!

 

Regrettably, it looks as though there may well be a fair number of BC boys and girls looking for a new roof soon . You won't regret supplying one!

 

Be sensible about picking one - BCs who have spent their lives working stock may not take very well to an "indoor, family" life, being so used to the outdoor way (Unlike mine, who haven't the foggiest idea of what "work" is :eek: )

 

They are superb dogs (well, I would say that, wouldn't I? - but not without reason!) and will repay your kindness over and over again with loyalty, dedication and protectiveness. My family rescued one back in the fifties, and I still say that he repaid us by living to over 19 (we think) and being the best possible dog for a family with children. Kids can be very cruel without meaning to be - my Glen used to get his tail pulled, dressed up in silly clothes, and generally pestered, but none of us remember a bite or snap, ever. A true King amongst dogs!

 

Sorry, I'm in the UK and my US geography is not as good as perhaps it ought to be, so I'm unable to suggest a valid source near you, but I've an idea that the internet will be rife with "orphaned" BCs before long. And keep on coming here - the folks that use this board will come up with some possibilities, I've no doubt.

 

Best of luck with your collie-hunt; remember, they're probably hunting for you, too, but don't have the computer skills to ask!

 

Snorri

Both my boys came from a working farm outside the little town of Stromness, here in Orkney (they're brothers, different ages). They weren't exactly bred , it would be more accurate to say that they occurred

 

The BC with whom I grew up was rescued from a police pound back in the days when the police used to shoot unwanted dogs after 7 days; we took Glen in on his seventh day.

 

Snorri

:cool:

My two boys are very gracious, in that they allow me and Mrs S to stay in the house with them - after all, someone has to prepare the food and light the stove.

 

If we are very lucky and have been very, very good, they allow us occasional use of the sofa, but we are aware that this is a privilege and not something that we are to expect every day.

 

Another thing the Boys find handy about allowing us in the house is that they don't have to shout so loudly to summon a chauffeur to take them to the beach, or to get their personal butler to fetch a biscuit.

 

All in all, they find it a suitable enough arrangement.

 

Snorri

Kali

 

Mr Kolsson

Nidget (old word = good-for-nothing cowardy-custard)

Puppydog

****forbrains

Cuddlycollie number 1

and various other things when he misbehaves!

 

Snorri

 

Batlugs (he has very noticeable ears)

Mr Priest

Pretty-boy Priest

 

and my other half calls him:

 

Sweetheart

Baby

Sweetiepie

and other equally soppy things!

 

And the two of them get called "Spoiled ********" on occasion!

 

Snorri

:cool:

The last time we had thunder here, Kali just looked puzzled, Snorri-dog ran back into the house (not terrified, just taking no chances!).

 

What really freaks them out, however, is low-level flyovers by military jets. Orkney's Scapa Flow is a popular place for NATO combined exercises and we get Tornado strike planes zapping over our roof at stupidly low heights (legally not under 250 feet, but try proving it....). The last time one of those machines went over, it took me 25 minutes to get the dogs out from under the table. My friend's horses all broke their tethers and two sheep aborted.

 

Thunder is as nothing compared to the havoc the Royal Air Force creates!

 

Snorri

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I have two (obviously, I'm deprived! ), I get the occasional squabble, but no serious trouble. I have wondered a few times whether the fact that they are brothers (different ages) made any difference?

 

There's definitely a hierarchy between them, but both seem to recognise human authority, and a loud shout of "SHUT UP!" is usually enough to get their attention when they argue.

 

I think that, in the long run, it's down to what you think you can handle - much as I would like a third, I have to appreciate that, in my dilapidated condition, it would be one too many (sniffle) - and Ihave names all ready, too

 

Snorri

My Snorri-dog doesn't like other dogs, either. We used to think that his behaviour was the result of fear, but now we think it's mixed with jealousy - "You go find your own people, these ones are MINE!"

 

Snorri doesn't attack, as such. What he does is to gallop up to what he thinks is a safe distance (usually about 3 feet) and hurl doggy insults at the "interloper", in the hope that the other dog will just go away - he hasn't got the "bottle" for a fight!

 

The "major" worries are that a) someday, another dog will take his insults seriously and give him a proper trashing and we don't want to have to keep on apologising for him!

 

He's 6, and lives with his older brother (10).

 

Snorri

:confused:

Now, this has been interesting! I've wondered, from time to time, if my Kali had a touch of SA. Now I can see that he hasn't - he's just hacked-off at not getting his own way! Once I'm out of sight, he annexes the sofa and goes to sleep (We videoed him )

 

I have a much better idea of what this SA problem is, now - thanks, all!

 

Snorri

:cool:

Hmmm, awkward!

 

When you say his growl is "protective", do you mean he is tring to protect your children, you, or himself?

 

Not at all sure I can help, but I'll give it some thought!

 

Snorri

(The newbie strikes again!)

 

My Snorri dog has a jaw defect from birth - his upper jaw is longer than the lower, so he is unable to lick his top front teeth.

 

We noticed that he was suffering from gum recession as a result, so, with vet advice, we started brushing almost daily (about 13 days out of every 14 or thereabouts). It has not stopped the recession, but it has slowed it down considerably. We are fairly sure that the front teeth will have to be removed eventually, but not yet. A pity, because they are just about perfect in every other way. Of course, in the interests of fairness, the other dog gets his done at the same time.

 

It's not an easy task; it takes two of us to get it done as they don't like it at all - I have to get on my knees and keep the dog in a "headlock" while "Mrs S" wields the brush. We use medium toothbrushes and a brand of dog t/paste called "Virbac", which tastes of chicken.

 

They get dental chews afterwards, to take off any muck which the paste has softened, but not removed. Our vet is delighted, and comments very favourably, particularly on the teeth of our older dog (Kali), who is nearly 10.

 

My view is that we get our dogs to be our friends and companions; we should do what we can to preserve every aspect of their health (even if it does mean getting rows of dents in the fingers!). JMHO!

 

Snorri