Nick
Rev. Paul has a post about the Iditarod. If we can just get to the other side of this whole winter thing we have that to look forward to. I do love sled dog racing and the Iditarod is the big one. We used to go to sled dog races all the time around here. We would stand in snow banks with freezing toes, watching the dogs go by on silent feet, only the sound of their breath and the swish of the runners to mar the silence of the winter woods...nothing like snowmobiles that deafen everybody for miles around. I miss it.
That Amish fellow that we heard wanted to mate my Nick with his dog has come forward and contacted me. I am afraid I am getting cold feet about the whole deal. Nick is a good dog and well worthy of passing on his traits, but I wonder what will happen with the resulting pups. One would come to me, but what about the rest of them? Will they be stock dogs on his sheep farm or dumped on the pet market, where good working border collies do not belong? I am going to have to talk to him some more I think. Meanwhile Liz picked me up a DHL booster and I vaccinated Nick, just in case.
I do want a puppy...and a puppy from the bloodlines we have worked here for nearly two decades would be perfect but.....
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13 comments:
I'm so glad you're thinking about the other puppies and their futures.
So many homeless, family-less dogs out there already.
Nick looks like he is just a tad bored and hates his picture taken!
Ditto June! What a wonderful heart you have girlfriend!
I think having a puppy come from the same bloodline is a great way to go.
It was that same reason we brought Jiggy home. Ollie was such a beautiful bright light, and we're so very blessed to have his brother.
What would it cost me for one? Been awhile since I've had a GOOD Border Collie.
I'd love another pup and I wish you lived closer. You NEED a pup and maybe she'd only have two;)one for him and one for you.
You could just buy all of his puppies.
I'm probably not much help.
June, I have such a love for border collies and they are simply not the right dog for everyone. I actually looked into taking a rescue dog...thinking that with lifelong experience with dogs and a history with BCs I would be a good candidate. Alas they cost more than high quality puppies from a reputable breeder and require fenced yards and home visits etc. I will either go this route with the Amishman or look for a good pup in the spring
Lisa, he was waiting for the next wave so he could bite it. lol BCs love to herd water
Dani, thank you, I am waiting for a call back from the Amish guy and still wondering which way to go with this. I love your pups. They are everything a poodle should be.
JB, I am not sure. If we go through with it I will ask the guy. I am just...if I do it...taking a pup as stud feed. This dog is not his best dog. He has a better one that he wants to pursue the same course with. She would probably be a better one to have a pup from...Liz says she shows lots of eye and wants to work. He has a sheep dairy but has not worked dogs a lot so...
Linda, that would work, wouldn't it? We had eight pups from Gael when I bred her to get Nick. I was lucky enough to find proper homes for all of them. I still get a Christmas card from the other male in the litter every year. He was very laid back and lazy, so I took a chance and sold him into a pet home. The people had always had border collies so they knew what to expect. I don't think he would have been much of a herding dog, but Flint is wonderful with his family. Three of the pups became therapy dogs, one as far away as Arizona.
Jan, lol, yeah, but I like the way you think. It was SO hard to part with Gael's pups when we bred her to get Nick. They went to great homes, had great careers, but letting go was awful. We had spent so much time socializing them that they seemed like family.
You are so amazing! I love how you approach life and how caring you are about all the critters in your care. I agree with June there are way too many homeless and dumped dogs out there.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
So many wise comments.
You have a good heart.
I so understand your concern, particularly regarding Border Collies.
Keith's colleague had to euthanize his. They are not a dog for the suburbs and families that don't have the time to work with them.
i love my friend's bc, but i am just gone too much to have ANY dog, much less one as active, intelligent and "let's go, let's go, let's go!" as a border collie. sigh.
another friend had a rescued bc that he got to be a working dog on his farm, and it had been abused and was TERRIFIED of sheep. so he bought another bc for the sheep and the rescue herded the ducks, geese, people, and cats. it worked out all right but it was a lesson.
i know nothing of this, but it kinda sounds like you'd be better off waiting for the other, better (?) dog. have you used nick for stud before? does he throw true?
Linda, thanks for your kind words. When I went on the rescue sites and saw what happened to the border collies there I was sick. They are not the dogs for everyone as I know you know. I really wish I could have at least fostered one, but we don't have a fenced yard.
Cathy, thanks, they are fantastic dogs. After getting our first I was spoiled for other dogs, but they are so not for everybody. I made enough mistakes with my wonderful Mike to write a book about and that was with a professional bc trainer helping me through it. What a shame about Keith's colleague's dog...
Ericka, that story sounds so familiar! lol When I got Mike, I picked out a different pup. I was an amateur...a trial person came along and wanted the one I picked so I ended up with Mike, who ended up being the best dog his father ever sired. You never know. Nick has never been bred, but is a good worker and very biddable himself. He has the credentials as well, coming from imported British, Scottish and Welsh working bc's and his grandpa ran in the national.
I only have female border collies, and only breed them if I have at least 6 good homes lined up beforehand. I was quite surprised when Tess had 10 pups with her first litter!I did manage to get very good homes for all of them. If I ever breed her again, I will need to have at least 8 of them spoken for before I would breed her.
Shirley, I like the way you think. Gael surprised us with eight, but we were fortunate in finding good homes. We almost kept a second one because we liked her so well...and I kind of wish we had. However, she is a therapy dog in Arizona now, so all is good.
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