Doug Boyder

I love disciplined Bull Terriers. The working Bull Terrier is just as impressive as a working BC in its own way. I recommend reading the tales of "Jock of the Bushveld", a classic tale of a working Bull Terrier during the Gold Rush in South Africa. Jock lived a fascinating life, bringing down kudu, wildebeeste, and even crocodiles! Jock was prized for his balance of obedience and aggression. Undisciplined dogs were usually shot because they would steal food, or ruin the hunt by closing in before commanded to do so. I'd hate to think what Jock would have done with sheep!

Congratulations Solo! You showed them... Everyone knows Red dogs are braver

Me too!

The Border Collie has a history of herding sheep since 126BC. I don't think a few decades of Conformation/Sports breeding has completely ruined the breed, but I certainly don't think it has done much good. Coat colours are interesting, particularly in the Border Collie, but it is a poor substitute for a working sheep dog. I actually agree with a few of the things Bill has to say these days, despite his bluntness.

Just brought Chardi back from the Vet tonight. She was having her third eyelids examined for allergic conjunctivitis, which now appears to be cured *yay*!!! Our Vet gave Chardi lots of dried liver and (human) chocolate, and allowed himself to be licked all over the face througout the examination. Perhaps you should ask your Vet to make examinations a little more pleasurable for your Border Collie. Or else.

Does anyone actually have a lilac Border Collie? I've never seen one. I think you can register a lilac or chocolate tri, but you can't show them in Conformation. Nothing can prevent them from working, or competing in sporting events...

I couldn't possibly keep another dog, but I'd fly Zoe over to Perth if I could. What a beautiful dog!!!! >>Sometimes the choices in these type of situations are not up to me. My parents don't want a deaf dog. I have attempted to show them information pulled from google.com searches as well as deafdogs.org, to no avail. Pitty you can't get rid of your parents when they have something wrong with them...

The litter should produce Black/White puppies. Both Blue (dd) and Chocolate (bb) are recessive, and will have to be present in both parents to be expressed in phenotype.

A Pedigree is registered with a breed regulatory body. A pedigree usually refers to a line of purebred dogs, but it can have outcrosses to improve certain characteristics e.g Herding ability. Purebreds dogs have only individuals of the same breed in its family tree, with no outcrossings. A Mixed Breed dog can have a Pedigree, but will not be Purebred.

I'd better break the news to my dogs gently Bill. Not sure how they'll react...

Hypothetical questions: 1. If an AKC dog has been shown in Conformation, but has not achieved the required number of points for a Championship title, then the dog can still remain registered with the ABCA? 2. If a dog arrives from Australia with an ANKC Championship title in Conformation, or from the UK with a ShCh Title, then it can be registered with the ABCA? I have had a stern word with my dogs and have told them that NO Doggie Modelling will be allowed!

The Halti is similar to the halter of a horse. It prevents lunging by transferring the forward motion into a sideways head turn. A Halti prevents a dog from pulling because it brings the dog's head around towards you, making it impossible for him to guide you anywhere...

Merlot used to get terribly car sick. He would drool, and dribble, and go very quiet... He was also quite smelly. It was hell getting him to his first Obedience classes because he was an absolute mess when we got there. Our car didn't look too good either! We ended up having to put him in the car (without the engine running) for increasing periods of time, giving him small treats and spoiling him rotten. Merlot would have to be cuddled during car trips, and we would aim his nose out of the window so that he could watch interesting sights, get fresh air, and not throw up on us!! Try to make your car trips fun. Be patient... There is also medication for car sickness, although we did not have to resort to this. Merlot loves the car now and actually jumps inside. Good luck Luke!

The word "Border" refers to the border between Scotland and England. I believe "Collie" is Anglo-Saxon for Coal, or Black? The "Border Collie" name could almost be described as Appearance-Based. I would like to take credit for the term "Herder Collie" though Do I need to patent this?

Oh yes, Chardi's temperature is normal and she is not suffering from any flue-like symptoms... The mucous is yellow and thick, and seems to originate from the soft tissue inside the eye...

Yep, unfortunately dogs do get pink eye (conjunctivitis)... I don?t know how she?s done this, but our Chardi has developed a case of persistent conjunctivitis ? in one eye only. I suspect some sort of mechanical injury, but our vet has not been able to find anything. After an unsuccessful course of chloramphenicol, our vet did a bacterial culture, which proved that the chloramphenicol should have worked. Chardi is now on a course of Fusidic acid (Conoptal), which also does not seem to be working? The infection is in one eye only, so I?ll probably have to take Chardi to see a specialist if it does not clear up. Have any of you seen this sort of problem before, in only one eye? Is there anything else we can try? We have been keeping Chardi indoors as much as possible to avoid dirt from making the infection worse?

Okay, I have just found your pics of Tor in another post... I love tricolours too! He does look more orange than tan though...

Spike is lovely... All that snow!!! Don't forget to post us a picture of Tor sometime

Tor has reached the "Socialisation" phase of his development. New experiences will exert a maximal effect on his personality and temperament. Puppy preschool classes are an excellent idea! Be careful not to undersocialise or oversocialise him because he might become either fearful, or overanxious. This is the optimum time for bonding with other pets and humans, even children (under your supervision, of course). Introduce Tor in a non-threatening way to vacuum cleaners, crowds of strangers, visitors in your house, cars, water, road surfaces etc. Teach him to watch you eat without being fed first. Prevent play biting every time it occurs. Teach him that it is okay to be separated from you. Physically handle Tor to ensure he will not become fearful or aggressive. Make him work for everything: Nothing should be given to a dog for free... He should be expected to work! Most of all have fun...!

I don't think my dogs would like to be East Asian wolves again. Food is too scarce, and it sucks being hungry and cold all the time, having to survive on huge fat stores from the last meal. My dogs prefer warmth and an easy, balanced meal, at least once a day thank you, with snacks...

I use tent pegs to pin sheets of chicken wire down into the tempting patches of sand. It is almost impossible for a puppy to dig through chicken wire

I would like to thank Denise for her informative summary on Border Collie Herding Characteristics: http://www.stilhope.com/heritabilitysummary.htm The Burns (1969) study discussed a number of dominant and co-dominant Herding Characteristics, but I would like to discuss "clapping" in a little more detail (if anyone else is interested)... Brief Summary: "Clapping" is when a dog faces the sheep with its stomach close to the ground. It is believed to be a dominant characteristic. "Upstanding" dogs stay on their feet in a crouched position when facing the sheep. As far as I can tell, few other breeds of herding dogs exhibit ?clapping? behaviour when herding. John Holmes (I.S.D.S.) states that ?At one time regarded as stylish, trial men, no doubt having realized how impractical it was, now dislike this style of working, and at many trials a special prize is offered for ?the best upstanding style?.? Do the members of this board believe that "clapping" style is important enough to preserve, as a unique herding "characteristic" of the Border Collie, regardless of its practicality when working?

Dogs are HEURISTIC learners. This means that dogs will remember consistent negative or positive experiences. Anyone who has done Obedience Training will know that re-enforced habits can be difficult to re-train. Border Collies also seem to have early LINGUISTIC ability. Rico and Benji could associate hundreds of different words with objects, demonstrating Early Childhood-level language ability. By Middle Childhood, the abstract thinking and symbolic language required of a human would probably exceed the abilities of a dog, even Rico and Benji. "Rico probably has the general ability to connect things - not a language ability" (Alex Kacelnik, Oxford University, UK). Border Collies have inbuilt ABSTRACT ability, which could explain why they are so good at herding - organizing patterns of sheep into groups (I know you?ll correct me if you think I?m wrong). Interesting study though...

Your puppy might not play with her toys unless you are playing with them too? Bounce a ball about the room and look excited. Try to keep the ball away from your puppy. The puppy will try to take it from you. Tease the puppy with the ball for a few days, but don't let her have it for very long... Never punish or reprimand the dog. Before long, she?ll be bringing the toy to you?

I am not a crate trainer (This might be an American thing?)... I supervise the puppy everytime it is indoors, and give it plenty of opportunities to poo outside. My dogs sleep inside, so I make them sleep inside the bedroom (with the doors closed). The aim is to catch the puppy in the act and make him go (in a posive and happy way, with treats) outdoors to relieve himself... Puppies hate to poo in the area where they sleep. NEVER let a puppy roam around the house unsupervised!