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| Notice Nick, on the right, carefully not looking at Mike so they don't have to fight. Also avoiding the hated camera. Do all BCs hate cameras? |
Recently spent some gift money at Amazon. It may have been unwise. I used the whole shootin' match for dog books by Don McCaig.
Known as the Mark Twain of dog writers, Mr. McCaig not only gets it about dogs in general, and working border collies in particular; he is also able to put it in words so the reader gets it too.
Or if you once had border collies and don't any more, he makes you wonder why. Not that I don't love Daisy and all....
But he wrote in A Useful Dog, of how the BCs were careful not to look at bum lambs brought into the house on a particularly cold night. If they didn't look, they didn't see them. If they didn't see them, then their delicate sense of order and propriety was not offended. And they didn't have to do anything about them.
Yes, I remember that...not about lambs, but about things they knew were awry, but beyond their control. That careful not-looking, the opposite of the intensity of their actual eye.
As if they knew and understood the power they possessed and held it in careful abeyance.
All the chapters of the little book were like that. A great deal said using few words. Much understanding within small covers.
I am saving Mr. and Mrs. Dog, which just came the other day, for camp, and waiting for Eminent Dogs and Dangerous Men. I have had Nop's Trials and Nop's Hope for a very long time....and read and reread them. They are all good, but I like the non-fiction better....
These are solid dog books that deserve a read if you are a dog person. I know I will enjoy the other two.
However, now I want a puppy. I am not sure how wise that is, but I miss the three collies that used to call this place home. Maybe it is finally time.
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| Mike, a good dog |
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6 comments:
It's time, Marianne, time to get a BC puppy. You know you want to...
Aw, go ahead. :)
It's time! I'll have to have one when I lose Fuzzy. Not that Boomer isn't a ton of fun.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Jan, maybe after camp I will look...a little. I really miss the intense connection formed between handler and BC.
Rev. Paul, maybe....
Linda, hard times coming huh? So sad. He is such a great old guy.
Well, the pup would be better for it, but then you sound like 1) you don't NEED a working dog 2) you aren't SURE you are up to the challenge 3) once you have the pup and the purpose - do you have the years to match the adventure, without that final good-bye at the end of the pup's life?
That is beyond your ken, so get a pup that wants you - work it out.
Earl, that is it exactly! Do I have enough energy? Will I have enough energy? But I miss that bond. Daisy is a wonderful little dog, for all her naughtiness, but she is a hound with all that independence, and I am her third owner. I think she keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. Not only do I miss the bond, I miss the cows knowing that if they don't mind and come when wanted and leave when told, that the dog will come and enforce the rules....
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