OT: An Unusual Request

[Chad Thorne]

I've been trying to keep my OTs down, but really want to reach a nation-wide audience with this request:

 

Yesterday I was obliged to let my dear border collie companion of many years, Bonnie, be humanely put to sleep to end her suffering from a terminal illness. I have to believe what I heard once: "There must be dogs in heaven, because if there are no dogs, it's not heaven."

 

Anyway, already a woman in my extended network of border collie owner/handlers has offered me a lovely year-old female to fill the space created by Bonnie's passing. The problem: 1) She's in Reno, NV, and I'm in Maine; 2) She's apparently very sensitive to loud noises (a BC trait) and flying on a noisy plane would probably be too stressful. She needs to ride in a car/truck.

 

So - by any chance - does anybody know anybody who knows somebody who might be out West, or headed West, coming East, who could help Bree get to her new home?

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this! Here's Bree:

 

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/cft3/bree2.jpg

[Caevan O'Shite]

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

 

Nothin' like a good friend that happens to be a dog. Had a few, myself. Generally good people, dogs.

 

Best of luck with that, here's a bump for the thread...

[d halfnote]

I really empathize, Chad.

Currently I have a 19 year old "fuzzy pal" apparently slowly on her way out due to a tumor. While she's not in acute pain, waiting & watching makes it hard to keep the joy of current life in mind.

 

I can't help you with this particular task but I really wonder...

all over the world there are animals available & in need of adoption.

While it's laudable to want to take in this animal, consider those in your locality that may well be in situations that require their being adopted "or else"...

 

We can't individually help everyone & I really don't intend to put you on a guilt trip but do consider the option of finding a new friend closer to home.

 

[Chad Thorne]

I feel ya, d, and agree 100%. Both Bonnie and her predecessor were rescue dogs. If Bonnie had been, or if the next dog would be, just a companion (a noble calling I don't mean to denigrate by saying "just") it would be easier to fill the bill. I farm and raise sheep and need a working partner as well as a companion. If I could, or can, find a young female border collie closer to home, I'd be happy to adopt her. It'd be an easier (not to say cheaper) process!

 

If it helps, Bree's current owner does sheepdog trials and apparently Bree isn't making the cut. Doesn't mean she can't work, just maybe not a successful competitor. Owner wants me to commit to spaying her if I take her and I have a hunch Bree would wind up euthanized if a home can't be found.

[d halfnote]

Hey, I know your intentions are good & I meant no criticism, as I think you realize.

Best luck on it, C.

 

Hey, I know sheep often need defenders, not just herders, but can some alpha types be trained to boss the flock ?

[Chad Thorne]

...Hey, I know sheep often need defenders, not just herders, but can some alpha types be trained to boss the flock ?

In a sheep flock, like in any social group, there are different personalities and, yep, some sheep can be bossier than others. In my flock Maisie is the benevolent dictator. The other ewes follow her around, not because she bosses them, but because they love her. They also look up to her because she always knows where to get chow...Another ewe, Daisy, a bit on the timid side, bawls "Maaaa!!!" whenever Maisie is out of sight.

 

That said, sheep are not the brightest of God's little creatures and, beyond instinctive behavior based on temperament, I'd be surprised if a sheep could be trained to be "alpha." Even alpha dogs and wolves have that position in the pack by virtue of temperament and strength. A more submissive dog can't really be trained to be alpha.

[Chad Thorne]

Here ya go, d, a local candidate. How do you like this guy's looks?

 

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/cft3/billyjack.jpg

 

Named "Billy Jack" (name to be changed immediately if I adopt him - "one tin soldier" indeed). 1.5 years old. Neutered. Young family with young kids whom, it is said, he "herds." Family lives in a trailer park. Sounds like he's dominant and a bit fear-aggressive. Could be a match made in Heaven!

 

Going up to see him tonight.

[d halfnote]

Good luck!

[Chad Thorne]

Well, d, I tried, I really did. Billy Jack's people decided to keep him a while longer. So I bought this ABCA-registered pup and named him "Dru" (a Scottish word meaning "oak." We have big oak trees that we love on our farm).

 

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/cft3/HPIM9041.jpg

[Caevan O'Shite]

Here's to Dru! And here's to hoping that things turn out well for Bree, as well!

 

Dogs are good people, and particularly good dogs make the world a better place! (Gheeze, even so-so nice dogs do!)

[Strategery]

Hi Chad,

 

Man, that is one cute puppy!

Sorry to hear about your loss, I too am a pet fan although I'm more of a cat fanatic.

 

Looks like you've got a new best friend.

Best of luck!

 

OK, WUMB folk radio.

Is that near Lake Wobegone?

 

Randy

[Chad Thorne]

I talked Brie's (sic) owner out of giving her to me. She was going to part with her because she felt Brie was too sensitive to correction to make a good trialer. But she also talked to me about B.'s drive and intelligence. I wondered, in an e-mail, why she wouldn't take a little more time w/a 1 y.o. dog, see if she wouldn't improve a bit. She e-mailed back, "You talked me out of it! I guess I'll keep her."

 

I did a similar thing with Billy Jack's people. They talked to me about some difficulties they had with him. I talked to them candidly about the ways in which border collies are different from some other breeds, and the kind of training/handling/life they need to be non-squirrely. THEY decided to keep Billy and get some training and education!

 

But then there was this ad for a litter of puppies out of American Border Collie Association (a working dog registry) parents. Dru will be registered, too, as soon as the rest of the litter is sold.

 

Doesn't he just look like a champion?

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/cft3/HPIM9051.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/reifspano/Smileys/lol-045.gif

 

Randy, WUMB (www.wumb.org) is the radio station of the University of Massachusetts at Boston, my alma mater. All they play is folk and acoustic music, contemporary and otherwise. That radio station kept me sane through undergraduate school and now I listen to it online when I want to get all sensitive and mellow. The Lake Wobegone station is WLT ("With Lettuce and Tomato").

 

Gotta go. Dru is bugging one of the older dogs and is about to get his ass kicked.

[Fumblyfingers]

That is a fine looking young 'un right there Chad. I see some spoor back there...what is that...goat..... sheep....large hamster......?

[d halfnote]

At risk of seeming to invoke Monty Python, all life is worthy...

Hope you have years of good times !

[Eric Iverson]

Sorry for your loss Chad.

 

Reminding me of a former bandleader who plays flute and saxes. When he practices alto sax, he has to put his dog out, because the animal sings along with him! (Not sure if it's in the right key!)

 

Any similar stories from you guys?

[The Geoff]

When you train the dogs with the sheep, Chad, do you use the whistle or the voice?

 

G.

[Chad Thorne]

That is a fine looking young 'un right there Chad. I see some spoor back there...what is that...goat..... sheep....large hamster......?

Sheep. My ram was in there, but not with Dru! Prior to. In keeping the ram away from the ewes until a bit later in the season (so they'll lamb in the spring, not the winter), I sometimes put him in the pen behind my house usually reserved for the dogs. When he eats all the grass down, as he has just done, I shift him to a new patch.

[Chad Thorne]

When you train the dogs with the sheep, Chad, do you use the whistle or the voice?

 

G.

This will be my first time training a dog to sheep, Geoff, but I intend to use voice. The whistle is a whole other skill, and neither my farm nor my flock is so big that I'd need to use it.

 

Besides, I like talking to my dogs rather than just using a "signal."

[Terrell]

Hey - The urge to heard in those dogs is SO strong isn't it? And, SO SMART!

 

I have a mix BC... It loves to play ball with my lab. It's aboslutely not intersted in the ball, but loves to heard the lab while it fetches...

[The Geoff]

We had a prog. on BBC called 'One Man and His Dog' which was a competition amongst sheep farmers where they worked with their dog to round up, bring down & pen a small flock. The Shepherd had to stand at the pen and the sheep were over 200m away. The dog had to collect & bring then help pen. Invariably they used whistle to command over distance. It was fascinating (for a while).

 

It was introduced by the wonderfully named Phil Drabble.

 

G.

[Chad Thorne]

The competition you describe is a sheepdog trial, Geoff, and it's quite a popular pastime. I suppose if I ever try to do a trial I might find I need to use a whistle, but right now I just want a dog who'll keep the sheep from wandering off from one grazing area to another. Pains in the ass...

[Terrell]

There's a dog trial event at most every live stock show here in Texas.

[Chad Thorne]

Hijacking my own thread for a minute: Terrell, I just now noticed you're in Dripping Springs. Is Willie still a neighbor of yours out there?

[rickygclef]

That's a nice looking pup.

Dru will help ease your loss.

 

All the best

[Terrell]

Hijacking my own thread for a minute: Terrell, I just now noticed you're in Dripping Springs. Is Willie still a neighbor of yours out there?

 

He's out in Bee Cave last I heard. Lance Armstrong lives here...