fostbcmag

  B order Collies have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and during the latter part of the twentieth century the breed has diversified into so many different disciplines and lifestyles that it has become known as the Versatile Border Collie. Opinions vary greatly about the breed, how it works, how working dogs live, whether they should be in pet homes and, probably the one very close to my heart, can working dogs live inside? My dogs cannot all live inside, there are far too many of them, but the golden oldies do, young dogs do and any infirm or problem dogs do. My dogs are a part of my life, they work, live and laugh with me, they have a wonderful sense of humour and incredible loyalty. As well as a love of the breed I have a great respect for it and if I can bring people just a little closer to the heart and soul of a collie and its heritage through words, books, or my website then I will consider some of the love given to me by dogs repaid. Border Collie...

  The Border Collie and its Future I keep thinking about the question which not only goes around in my head but, when I talk to other like-minded people, I find that they too ponder on the same subject. Where is the Border Collie going and what is its future? I suppose that right now it may seem pretty secure. But is it really and are we going to have a genuine Border Collie decades from now or just a faint resemblance?    The past years have seen so much change, not just in the breed of dog but in our way of life. Sheep farming has changed dramatically in the last few years, regulations, quotas and paper work have caused the smaller farmer to think carefully about his future, and the farmers of larger concerns are involved in a more commercial type of farming rather than a way of life. The quad bike, the four track and indoor lambing are all part of the commercial scene. The walking, shepherding and long cold nights are something we may remember but prefer not to have ...

Teaching Dogs Alternative Behaviour Dogs need to be able to understand what we require of them, if they don’t understand then we can’t expect them do as we ask and quite often without realising it we send them mixed messages which they find confusing. When a dog barks at a knock on the door it can be seen as doing what a dog might be expected to do, so it receives praise for it. Good dog for barking and letting me know there is someone trying to get into my house. To begin with the dog may be allowed to greet the visitor and as far as the dog is concerned this has now set a pattern for all future visitors. But with each visitor the greeting gets a little more exuberant and the dog begins to think that maybe the visitors are really only there for his benefit, and while he thinks he’s in charge his owner is becoming more exasperated. The dog has been told clearly that he is a good dog for barking and then he’s been told ‘no, leave, down,’ and countless other commands, coupled wit...

A Dog’s Worth Over the years rescue and rehoming has changed, and not all changes have been for the better. The dogs that came in to rescue were mainly dogs that had been neglected, abused, or found as strays. The few dogs that came from private homes were usually homeless due to family bereavement or a change of circumstances. Those cases now often struggle to find a rescue space as kennels are full of dogs that people have acquired and no longer want. Does that sound harsh and does it sound almost unbelievable? Probably but then you will be one of the people who will stick by your dog no matter what, because you love your dog. Three words describe everything about breeding, obtaining, and living with a dog. Care, Love and Respect. Care enough to breed and home sensibly. Care enough to take time to learn about and understand the dog you take home. Love the dog you are breeding with; it is not a commodity. Love the dog you take into you home, whether it is a pup or a rescue dog y...

A Christmas Story She had never been able to have puppies, she had tried so hard to mother every fluffy thing she saw, slippers, woolly socks, kittens and even chickens had been used as substitute offspring but none had ever been able to stay with her. Clothes had quickly been returned to their owners, kittens went back to their own mothers and everyone seemed to think she would eventually harm the chickens so she was shut away from them. Time had managed to dull her ache to be a mother, she was twelve now and even if she did get friendly with the new farm dog and this time it worked, she really was too old to be bringing a litter into the world……………   The puppy was dehydrated and its chances of survival were slim, her mother had died shortly after she was born, she had been a young fit dog and her death had been both a tragedy and a shock to her owners. They had done everything in their power to keep her alive but fate seemed to have decreed that healthy or not she was onl...