Kate@JIm

I competed way back in the 80's early 90's and I had a border collie jump just like the video. She didn't have a health or genetic problem, she was just a poor jumper. She was always thinking what was coming next, not focusing on what she was doing, was a deep thinker. I'm relieved to know she had ETS! She earned her OTCH by the way, jumping just like the video and we had a blast!

Hey thanks for that, I've been giving my dog collards now for the last year, knew the nutritional benefits, but not the others. I'm planting my veggie garden next week, I'll add a few more collards, so easy to grow!

Thanks for the reply, tumor in the pancreas.......yikes! His blood work came back normal for pancreas......my vet is a little stumped, that's why she thought we'd start with diet first.

Hello, thought I'd post to see if anyone has any experience with low blood sugar in their dogs. Background: - 5 year old neutered border collie had 2 grand mal seizures 5 months apart. ( both at the same time, right before dinner) After the second seizure had blood work done and found blood sugar at 26. (50 is normal) Urinalysis was normal. Very healthy dog otherwise, gets homemade diet with added kibble. Veterinarian didn't suspect epilepsy, but not ruled out. Checked with parents, grand-parents and siblings, no epilepsy. My veterinarian said to add more carbs, - barley, oatmeal, brown rice. ( I recently cut down on grain) She also said to add sweet potato, more carrots and fruit to his diet. Instead of 2 meals a day, 3-4 smaller meals are preferred, with healthy treats in-between. This dog showed no signs of being "off", high energy happy dog. So was very surprised to find this unbalance. Anyone with advice or experience. Thank-you, Kate

Wonderful tribute to a life long special friend............Thank-you for posting, below, our Holly grandson. Kate

I only have a quick moment, and didn't read any of the replies, but wanted to add. Last year a friend "a huge golden retriever lover" saw a golden while vacationing out on a chain. Heartbroken, she watched this dog for days and decided to just go knock on the door and ask about the golden. It was 5 years old, always been on a chain, never walked, no toys, only to veterinarian when a puppy. "They said, take the dog,we don't want him" Without thinking ( which was good) she took the dog home with her after vacation was over. He turned out to be the most wonderful golden she has ever had. He took right away to being in the house, sleeping on a dog bed, and all the comforts of "home". I went to see him a few days after she got him, it was amazing, like he was living in a house his whole life, he goes outside with the other golden, learned how to play ball, and wrestle with her other dog. Five years out on a chain, it wasn't too late! It was a win - win situation on both accounts. This dog turned out to be very special, he looks right into your soul when you look at him. - He knows he's been saved! I say go for it, nothing to loose. He may surprise you..... Good luck, and thank-you!

We had wonderful results with acupuncture and Synovi 3 (Synovi G3 Chewable Tablets -- glucosamine, MSM, creatine, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. SynoviG3 contains antioxidants to break the degenerating free radical chain reaction as well as a synergistic anti-inflammatory combination of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and MSM.) Also, I use a homemade diet. K.

My first border collie came to me in 1983, I knew very little about the breed. This is before agility, animal planet, the internet etc. To this day, she was the best border collie I've had, no other border collie has been as close to me as her. She lived to 18, and lived very well to the end. We shared many years of working, playing, and just hanging out together, she taught me more then any other border collie since. So, my first was a wonderful gift, I don't think she'll ever be replaced. I've had many wonderful border collies since, not a bad one in the bunch, but my first was the very best.

I have a Fieldstone dog, he is the best dog there ever was... I have seen a few dogs from the Deschambeault's, - herding, agility, obedience, nice dogs... I can't help you decide, thats entirely up to you....but a little partial to Fieldstone....

Nepsa, I visited my friends over Christmas holiday, her dog came down with parvo at 5 months, he is now 14 1/2 and thriving!! He had and (has) a very active (normal) life! - Hang in there, there is hope! Kate

cooked liver - hot dogs cheddar cheese & apples cheddar cheese & bacon Cheerios with frozen yogurt - bananas & yogurt - frozen hamburger & rice frozen chicken & rice Leftover's from the night before - just freeze, and give the next night...

Wonderful news!!, animals continue to teach us things, even when we least expect it. Kate~

I can relate to your story. Several years ago my border collie "Kelly" at 17 1/2 had a stroke. I called my wonderful holistic veterinarian, thinking I'd bring her to the pretty field aside of the vet's office and have her put to sleep outside in the sunshine. I took her there and my wonderful vet said "she's not ready" even though she couldn't walk or stand on her own. She said - if you're willing ( which of course I was ! ) "take her home and love her up and see what happens".... "She's in no pain, and is peaceful." Kelly's eye's were warm and content, so I did. She did some acupuncture and sent me on my way..........what a nice drive HOME!! Five days later she was up and "running" literally! I couldn't believe it! My wonderful Kelly wanted to live. She lived 7 more months, and lived very well, enjoying life each day. Each day was a treasure and it gave me time to realize her time would come.... But those 7 extra months with her I treasured each day. - ( I still thank my vet for that ) So, hang in there, your dog may surprise you. These days now and ahead, treasure with your beloved Sara. Even if it's just one more day...... Kate

We've been grating in fresh garlic cloves in our dogs homemade food for over 20 years. Our dogs would come home from the fields loaded with ticks. When we switched to a homemade diet with garlic, ticks on the dogs dropped dramatically. We also have tried some homemade recipes from time to time that you spray on the dogs before going in the woods and fields. One was a citrus concoction made on the stove with lemon, orange peel, ( forget the other ingredients ) would keep in a spray bottle. I remember it "helping". Right now I have "Rose Geranium drops" - been using all summer, now I don't know if we've just been lucky with our dogs, but we only had a few ticks in early spring, not one since. Dear ticks are prevalent around here, so I do routinely check in the evening when they get brushed. Friends of ours say their dogs are loaded with ticks, so I do know they're around. Garlic with homemade diet works for us. Of course I have no "scientific evidence" to prove it, but after 20 some years, many dogs, I'm not changing a thing. Kate

I have a Fieldstone Holly x Coon grandson. This is Rudy above. He's a love. He was on sheep years ago, ( we don't have sheep anymore) He learned very quick, natural balance, pace, very eager to please. No griping here, a little too soft, but always trying. He is extremely sweet, loves all people, ( except men in hats ) kids, other dogs. He's our hiking companion now. I've never seen Coon in person work, but have seen some cattle dog videos. You could probably get a hold of some videos to see him work.

"The options I have now are to neuter and rehome him with a more experienced owner that is willing to work on his issues, or to put him down." Autumn Yes, neuter him, now. Find experienced behaviorist's and trainers in your area. Seek out Holistic veterinarian. If they don't work, find others, keep trying. Feed him in his crate. Keep working with him, he's still young.

My answer is not going to be popular, but I never could crate a border collie all day while at work. I think when crates became popular to use ( yes I go back that far) they were just for house braking puppies. Now people are crating all day long - And at night! I have to confess, that makes me very sad. Not what a dogs life should be, sorry if that sounds harsh, but thats MY opinion. I hear all kinds of stories why people do, but basically I think people are getting lazy about exercising & training. - ( that comment is not directed at anyone) When we have puppies, they're crated at night by our bed, and during the day fenced off in the kitchen with plenty to do, stuffed Kong's, bones, frozen Boota-bones, toys, treats hidden. We get up an hour earlier to exercise before going to work, with walks, play, training. Home for lunch for walks, potty & play. We've had many dogs come through here, and had chewers too, ( one tried chewing the woodwork, but we solved it by spraying the woodwork with vinegar water before leaving. Gradually they are left loose in the house, small increments at a time, till they're trust worthy. It's the way I feel, I hate when I hear people crate all day and then again at night, sorry, doesn't sit well with me, not the way dogs should be treated. Now, before you all jump on me, this comment is not directed at people that have problem dogs, separation anxiety, etc. And not directed at anyone in particular. It's a general statement.

Wow, what a load of crap... "We know that AKC puppies and our breeders are the best. They are the “Gold Standard” in the marketplace. We need to continue to reinforce that. Let’s not allow those other registries to weaken us or put us out of business. Let’s not allow them to make AKC a nostalgic memory as well."

I haven't watched the whole series yet, but enough to be appalled. Years ago we wanted a Cavalier king Charles Spaniel. We researched and knew about heart problems and contacted a breeder, she said " we did have one Cavalier without heart problems but couldn't breed her because of the wrong color". - We never did find a healthy Cavalier. I will forward to KC people I know. I also forwarded it to my Veterinarian friend. Thank-you for posting this. Kate

I wasn't talking about stock dogs, sport dogs, or any particular breeding. Just in *general* I didn't see re-homing that often. If you read my post, I'm from the background of obedience, tracking, I started in the late 1970's and last competing in 1997. Like I said, it was *my* experience, - meaning, I saw very little re-homing of dogs that didn't work out in obedience. I'm talking *all* dogs, not just border collies. Melanie asked about obedience people in a few posts back, that is what I'm commenting on. I have NO problem with what you said; "If we don't or can't re home dogs that don't work out stock work-wise, we're "settling" for what we have in the kennel instead of trying to get the best, train the best, and breed the best."

I wasn't commenting on working/sport breeding, but people re-homing dogs if they didn't work out,- no matter what venue they're in. But then again, maybe I'm wrong...? It was just *my* experience.

QUOTE(SoloRiver @ Aug 27 2008, 01:35 PM) "There is? That has not been my experience. I would actually say it has been the opposite, or at least I've heard plenty of people talking about it, but I don't know what happened to those dogs." My experience, was very few performance people re- homed their dogs if they didn't work out. I competed for 20 years, in obedience, tracking, several UD's and OTCH. I found the opposite, most of the people competing had dogs that were breeder so called rejects, too tall, not right carriage, whatever that meant. These performance People loved their dogs first, competing was second. In 20 years only one person I knew "personally" re-homed, and it was for a good reason. Yes, I've heard "stories" of other people, but never knew first hand. Just as I "heard" stories of those bad "OTCH" people, but found it very different when I competed with them. They were not greedy hungry, title grabbing people, but people just out to have good time competing with their dog, - sit ring side with friends, share some good stories, eat some junk food and enjoy a "day with the dogs" . "Those" horrible OTCH people were the first to help me, give encouragement, or congratulations. Pretty much the same as what I found in the sheep trailing community. We all love our dogs first, competing second. I didn't find going for "titles" wrong, it's all about the journey, the people you meet along the way, your deepened bond with your dog. I drove home from many competitions with tears, not because of a win, but the shear joy my dog displayed that day, and the deepened bond. If we got a title, trophy that day, fine, but that's not what drove the majority of people I knew. I do know the person you refer to that did very well with a Pekingese, Keeshond, Pomeranian and some other - "not so popular dogs." - I competed along side her ) - She was famous in that community and well known, with books and seminars. What you don't know, are the so called not so famous people that did very well with rescues, odd breeds, breeder odd balls, the dog nobody else wants. - There were MANY! But you don't hear of them, because they don't write books, or give seminars. Most people do it quietly and don't want recognition. I want you to know there are many of this kind. Now, I've been out of the game for sometime, but I can't imagine it being all that different now. We're all here to enjoy our dogs first, no matter what venue.

Yes, I tried a few things, giving cheese when turning on the oven, ( his favorite treat) I did it in a quiet manner. Played ball with the oven on in the kitchen, but you can tell he really wasn't too into it. I think it actually drew more attention to it. I decided to "just let him be" he hangs out in the bathroom when the oven clicks on. And yes, they all get to lick the bowls and plates when we're done with dinner. - and there is always some leftover's for them. We make dog treats a lot and home cook dog food ( I make a batch each month) He knows the food in the oven is his! But still heads to the bathroom. He knows when the oven is off and comes out! Now that I'm semi-retired, I have more time to cook and experiment. So, he's spending more time in the bathroom! I've now had several border collies since the late 70's, they all except one, had a few quirks. This is a first with the oven though - I can live with this, no big deal. kate, Here's the big baby...

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