Cynthia P

I will just add that my version of a "pet' and yours may differ. When we take dogs in that are pet dogs to train I see the following: *your mileage may differ behaviours I wouldn't tolerate out of my allowed at home dogs such as bursting out of the crate, not crate trained, barking at "things" some softness with a correction; and I am by no means harsh; but confused as to what to do when faced with some choices One of the most annoying things is a dog that although crate trained, isn't used to being in a crate while another one is out and fusses and carries on (your point about them always being with you) Too many interactive games such as fetch and tug; my husbands open dog would play fetch all the time if you let him...and I certainly didn't teach him that. Retreiving logs (and I do mean logs) does get a giggle out of me. I have 3 dogs that live full time with me, one has couch privileges, all of the puppies are raised with quite a bit of access to us in the house. But all of them can be crated if necessary. When grown and training they spend a lot more time than any pet person's dog I know in their kennels or crates. They almost all love to come for car rides to the feed store, or more likely that the car ride might lead to sheep work. No one sleeps on the bed unless it is the mini schnauzer and my husband is away. Don't worry about the pedigree too much, unless it is all sports or show bred; I try not to even look at a pedigree until I decide if I like the dog or not So my advice, if you are asking, is to create a working partner. Let them do some thinking on their own, learn to be off leash, be reliable, quiet when you want them to be; a couch potato if you want. Teach them to tie out to something and not bark. Enjoy them and take them to whatever level of training they and you are capable of Cynthia (and 14 border collies, a huntaway and 2 mini schnauzers...5 white dogs....but who is counting)

Dan, Two exposures is nothing; Both of my husbands open dogs are loose eyed; and he does ok (those would be his words...he has won trials and been in Kingston SDT double lift! They also work over 3500 sheep and does ok...so don't take that as they might not make an open level dog. It takes a lot of training and work to get a dog to open level, far more than a very good farm dog. The finesse is taught and practiced. Hope to see you at some trials coming up. As Donald posted, come see us at www.ontariobordercollieclub.com We have a fun day this sunday near Blackstock Ontario and a trial near Lindsay next month. Good luck and keep at it! Cynthia

We train as long as the footing is good. But windchills and temps below -15C or about 5F make me a bit of a weenie; I figure my dogs need a little break in the winter; Good for them

Thanks! I love watching handlers shed; it shows how they read sheep, how they understand sheep; Good sheep handlers seem to make the shed effortless!

We had an interesting conversation this weekend with Michael gallagher; When people say their dog can't hear their whistles, he points out my husband, who mouth whistles, softly...and his dogs do what he wants at 400 yards. Im pretty sure Preacher and Spec aren't super hearers...just listeners Perhaps all the shouting with whistles isn't teaching them to listen. Thanks Donald, always an enjoyable read

You can teach a leave it command. And train it to leave it, with the wire...that being said, it'll happen at least once! My old giant schnauzer never really did learn about the hot wire. or I guess he kept relearning. Everytime he hit it, he turned around ready to give another dog/person hell for what just happened. The border collies learned early with the electric netting...the worst was Boomer who ran about 2 km away after hitting the wire But doomed describes it! Cynthia

I don't think you should give up on her. I have a bitch with lots of eye and I have learned to work her (with the help of trainers) to bring out the good and minimize the stickiness. It took a while but when she is working well, you wouldn't know she had struggles walking up and flanking to kingdom come (very quickly however). Another friend of mine competes with a dog that couldn't move sheep 4 years ago. She was persistent when others said to give up. Really good trainers will be realistic but will help you train her to be better Cynthia

When they are that age, I usually let them out to potty, but not to play; If he were not to pee when you let him out, than I would have put him right back in. I find that they will whine for a potty break until about 16 weeks. Use your common sense and if you think it has been the right number of hours, he probably has to potty Cynthia

I wish I could help. But then I would need volunteers to take care of my farm. My husband is running for his first time in the finals. Will be cheering from Ontario!

Normal

I start my puppies at 7 weeks in crates (when I breed so by 10 weeks when they go home they are crate trained) Rule of thumb, 1 hour for every month of age. So at 3 months they could stay for 3 hours without a potty break. By 12 weeks mine can go all night without accidents and about 5 hours during the day. Never too early to start with an hour or two. We feed ours in the crates so they love their crates. Start now, when you can and if you need to leave him for longer put him in the pen

Yes...i'm ashamed I always joke that my dogs all have prick ears, just peer pressure from the Giant Schnauzers (i've had 3 giants and 2 minis). But I don't have any Giants left...is that my penance so now i shall have a hound dog

Those big crowds are hard on a dog that doesn't find that "motivating"! Those sheep at Kingston come from an island with about 1500 ewes. The sheep are a composite of Dorset/Coopworth/NC/Rideau I think...no hair sheep, tough, savy and will measure up a dog! Fly did well in the first run without the giant crowd, but probably found it tough in the second go. At 80 acres, the sheep won more than the dogs! Donald, did you leave your crook? One was left near where you had Mr. and Mrs Dog....I think Amanda may have it now Cynthia

One of my puppies in my litter just has very very houndy ears. It takes everything in me not to tape them (as I did have Giant Schnauzers and have taped many an ear). Spec, the dam, has very large prick ears...and I hope that the puppies ears do something other than be a hound....I'll massage and I'll hold him on the ATV and drive into the wind...but taping, i draw the line! When he works well and sheep respect, i'll get over the hound ears...But many a working /trialling friend of mine has looked at him and said...FREE TO A GOOD HOME! So don't think we don't care how they look...we know we are vain, there isn't a reason such as water resistance or drip resistance or hearing at a distance or...... I'll find a picture when i'm not travelling so you all can make fun of him!

Adding salmon oil will help. Also look up a recipe for Satin balls. That has always helped put weight on. Sometimes boys that are 9 months- 2 years are just skinny. Mine are; feeding them more just results in more poop. And remember, most vets see dogs that are not working dogs, and may not be used to the "buff" shape some of our dogs are in. Cynthia

I'll feed Quinoa and brown rice as well as green beans to add some extra if I think they aren't getting enough. Not all dogs do well on totally grain free

And Flint came to see me. He's grown into a very handsome boy! Didn't get to work sheep as I had to head into Toronto, but it was great to see Kris and Flint. Hope Sport fits in with the clan; go slow and give the old ones their personal attention..they won't care what the younger boys are doing Cynthia

Fly is a girl name. Look on the ISDS site; Never name a dog you are going to work on stock Krash...or I guess in agility! i'm a traditionalist...One syllable, short Pam, Dixie, Libby, Preacher, Dave, Duke, Ted, Sue, Becca, Spec, Finn, Ok Preacher isn't traditional, but it suits him. Love Ben, Dusk, Soot, Ken, Gael (girl name), Moss cynthia

Look up how to boundary train. Very similar to doing with the electric fence flags etc but without the actual electric fence. Put it on a long line for now, put something physical in the grass like flags so the dog has a better idea where he can go and where he can't. Never ever trust them to be alone and respect it, but at least then you have some security in that you did teach the boundary...before they cross it Cynthia

And don't forget exercise. Teach him to run beside the bike. A tired border collie is a good one! Exercise can help many behaviour problems Cynthia

And on the facebook page Bluegrass Classic

Cullable offence. If it gets too "pendulous" as many Dorset udders do, the lambs can starve not finding the nipples so low. We have a couple that need to go this year for udder conformation issues.

Certainly there is progression. I'd be in a bigger field; I don't even start puppies in an area that small. Faster walking, turning good, if they are pushing past you you can do more turns and keep her on her toes. As for focusing on agility: if you want to make the nationals you probably want to do that. Start fresh with Valek in the fall when he is ready to start. It is unlikely to hurt taking a break. Try and find a clinic with a border collie trainer, you'd get a lot out of it! Cynthia

Rachel, We will be having a novice trial (USBCHA style) second weekend in July north of Toronto. About 3 hours from Buffalo; Check out www.ontariobordercollieclub.com Spectators are welcome; Shepherds Crook in Lorneville In AHBA, the HTD course is the most similar, with the outrun in HTDIII and the wear of the HTDI; In novice trials you are generally allowed to go through the panels, but not in AHBA; AHBA is a good starting ground, Welcome aboard!

We tag them within 24 hours using a Shearwell RFID tag. Good tag retention and not too big that it makes the ears droop for months http://www.cansheep.ca/cms/en/tagvideos.aspx