learning_to_love_BCs

You don't say what has caused your dog's blindness, but if it's cataracts, you might think of trying Ocluvet eye drops. They aren't cheap, but they are quite miraculous, at least they were for my old girl. She was about 14 and had lost most of her sight (and a lot of her enthusiasm for walks as a result). The Ocluvet drops restored her sight to almost normal. It was amazing. I swear, if cataract surgery weren't such a big business for humans, they would come up with something like this for us as well.

Hi, I'm just reading McConnell's For the Love of a Dog and she mentions giving her BCs corncobs to chew on. I've never heard of that, so I'm wondering if anyone here gives their dogs corncobs, and if so, do you give them the eaten cob or the ear of corn, do you cook it or give it raw? Is it OK if they eat the cob -- I'm pretty sure mine would do that. No way they'd just stop with eating the corn! Thanks for your insights!

I completely understand how you feel. I got Silver and Mack (my two rescue BCs) about 4 weeks after having lost my heart dog of 15 years. It was too soon, but Mack and Silver needed a home and I was terribly lonely without Allegra. I was still grieving for her and was afraid that I'd never bond with Mack and Silver. It took several months for my heart to be ready to love them as they deserved. I worried that I wasn't being fair to them -- but I was really their only chance at a home so I never considered returning them. Now, 2+ years later, I adore my funny active quirky dogs. I still miss Allegra, probably always will. But I also LOVE Silver and Mack and wouldn't give them up for anything. Hang in there. Give it time...and then maybe give it some more time. Eventually, your heart will be ready to love again. And your pup will be there waiting for you.

A friend sent this to me when I lost my dear girl. It made me smile and cry. I hope it does the same for you. _______________________ Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent; Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

I have a license plate holder on my car (from Cafepress.com) that has pictures of border collies all around the frame and says Bordercolliemobile.

First dog as a child: Cocker Spaniel. We were "puppies" together and I lost her when she was 17. First dog as an adult: Terrier mix named Spot (no spots on her ). She walked into the open door of my studio apartment when I was at college, announced she was staying--and stayed with me for 14 years. Why a BC? I had recently lost my 15-year old "soul mate" GSD/Doberman mix Allegra and was hating the emptiness in the house (and my heart). I thought it would be nice to get two dogs this time so they could keep each other company when I had to be away from home, so was looking on the shelter boards for dogs that needed to be adopted together because they were so bonded. And there were Silver and Mack--maybe pure smooth-coat bcs, maybe mixes, no way to know. They had been up at a sanctuary for over a year and really weren't adoptable (though I didn't know that until after I had adopted them). But I fell for their stories and their cute faces. I didn't know anything about bcs, but wanted active dogs because I love to hike and run. So I had them brought down from the sanctuary (about 150 miles from me) and adopted them sight unseen. Did you do research? Not before. But definitely after. That's what brought me to these boards, the need to understand about border collies. First BC: Silver and Mack What made you want to get another? Well, I got both at the same time. But I've been thinking I might start fostering in another 6 months or so. What have you done with your dogs? We've done obedience with a personal trainer. Neither dog would have been able to work in a class environment, and Mack was fear aggressive, especially with men. He still isn't happy around strangers and wouldn't allow one to work with him. I think they're probably both too old (Silver is almost 5 and Mack is almost 3) to do Agility and neither show any interest in balls or Frisbee or anything like that. They love to hike and run and play on the beach. I figure with their hard luck pasts, they have a ticket to ride.... How many BC's? 2 How many do you have now? 2 What "quirks" have you noticed with all your dogs? They are crazy obsessive. If I'd let them, they would spend the entire day out in the backyard running from one end to the other chasing squirrels. Completely silent, completely focused, tireless, back and forth and back and forth and back and forth, following the squirrels as they jump from tree to tree. It's amazing. I have to call them in and close the door to get them to take a break for awhile. They're also fruit fiends. They pick up apples and plums and pears and persimmons that have dropped and eat them. Again, I have to stop them or they'd eat so many they'd get sick. City dog or country dog? City Would you ever get another breed? Oh sure. I'm not a kid anymore. I figure I'll have Silver and Mack for at least 10 years. At that point, I'll probably be too old to get young dogs. I won't be able to give them what they need in terms of exercise. So, I'll be looking for older rescues. Whoever steals my heart will come home with me.

I have two rescue BCs. One of them has nightmares, much like you describe. I don't know his past, but am quite sure he was a stray/abused during his early life because he was fear aggressive when I got him and didn't seem to have had much experience with houses or normal doggie things. He's come a long way in the 6 months we've been together, but we're still working on his "nightmares." They only happen when he's up on the bed with me and Silver (his inseparable companion BC). He'll be cuddling next to me, sleeping, then all of a sudden he jumps up like he's been shocked. When this first started happening, his eyes were crazy and he growled, then jumped off the bed and went into another room. Now, we've gotten so that he still jumps up and looks scared, but his eyes are with me, he doesn't growl, and he settles down again. I have no idea what experience(s) caused this terror, but he obviously feels in real danger. The good news is that it does seem to be fading with time and as he becomes more secure. I hope that happens with Jackson too!

Try http://www.dogfriendly.com They list all kinds of places throughout the US (beaches, parks, cities, etc.).

My last dog (Shepard/Dobie mix) had cataracts during the last years of her life (she was 15 when she finally had to leave me). She had lost most of her vision when my vet recommended I try using Ocluvet eye drops. Within a couple of weeks, her vision had cleared amazingly. She could see across the street again, could recognize people approaching her. By giving her the drops daily, her vision continued to be good for the rest of her life. You might try those instead of surgery. Here's a link to the Ocluvet web site: http://www.ocluvet.com/%20" target="_blank"> http://www.ocluvet.com/

I am so sorry for your sadness. When I lost my 15-year old about 6 months ago, a friend sent me this: ___________________ Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

One of my two recently adopted border collies has similar problems with the vet and I've been dreading having to take him back. Mack is fear aggressive anyway, and having a strange man (or woman) touch him, hurt him, etc. is just not something he can tolerate. He goes into a panic state and becomes completely unmanageable by anyone (though I can get him to calm down if we're alone in a room together). It's awful. I'm wondering why you say that ACE is bad. This is what I've now been told to use by everyone (vets, the Milo Foundation from whom I adopted Mack, etc.). I just figured I'd have to will myself to sedate him heavily, put the muzzle on -- and then get through it. But I've really worried about what I would do if he were hurt out on the trail or something like that. I carry a muzzle and ACE in my car--but still.... So, I completely empathize. But since a dog only needs to go to the vet very infrequently anyway, it seems like something could be worked out. Can he be sedated by you enough to get there and then given a shot to completely knock him out once he's at the vet's? I agree that before euthanizing him you should look into the rescue foundataions (Milo, Best Friends, etc.) who might be willing to take him.

Oh, and thanks for the kitty pate idea! I'll definitely try that!

I started looking up information about McNabs after a biker stopped me on the trail and was certain that Silver was a McNab. I'd never heard of them before that. There isn't much available, but the outstanding traits seem to be a short smooth coat (bred that way because of the warmer winter and all the grass burrs/foxtails, etc. in Mendocino County), long legs and small catlike paws. McNabs supposedly run like a cat (which Silver certain does), with their paws close together. It's strikingly different from the way Mack (or other dogs I've known) run. Also, they're usually a bit bigger, averaging 45-50 pounds, but sometimes up to 70. That's about all I know.