An example of Border Collie obedience?!?
Two days ago it was in the high 80s. I was complaining about how hot it was. Yesterday and today, raining and in the 40s. Yup. Cold and damp. Most uncomfortable.
Bella and I just walked out on our front porch to look at the rain and smell the crisp clean air. Normally when I say "Down" or give the hand command for "Down" you can hear the thud noise as either BC hits the floor.
Remember what I said about 40s?? Our front porch has a tile floor. Obviously those tiles are in the 40s also. Bella doesn't like having a cold tummy!!
I said "Down"! Bella walked about 5 feet to the side so she could go down on the rug not on the tiles.
Bella gave me this look that was kind of like "Why are you looking at me like that, I went down didn't I??"
Often with Border Collies closeys count!!😁
Border Collies are always interesting!!!
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I have always loved Border Collies but have never owned one. Came close a time or two but after our first Golden Retriever I never looked back. Goldens just love to lay their bellies on COLD hard places! During the winter months they will roll around in the snow where their fur gets chocked full of the stuff. They then will come inside and shake it all over the house! In the fall, doing the same thing except all the leaves cling to them. Come inside and........😁
I get a really big smile from them after they see the disgusted look on my face! Have owned several and they all are cut from the very same cloth!
Most people are not good enough dog people to get along with a Border Collie. Once upon a time I was really good with BCs but old age and a stroke mean that much of the time my BCs are out smarting me. Their behavior is great if on leash but they know I can't do anything if they are off leash. But I would never have another breed.
I will concede that having your dog regularly outsmart you is a little embarrassing!!😂
I will keep you posted... I talked with my friend in Oregon last night. Has 10 day old Border Collie puppies. One has my name on it, waiting for pictures to see if it's what we want ❤️❤️
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
Remember, a BC has to have a master/mistress or the BC will be the boss!! A firm hand is needed!
I say, not being that person anymore!!
About 8 to 10 years give or take it was a damp rainy day I was in the garage tinkering around
My wife tells me there was a stray dog wondering around said she saw the neighbor chase it away
I seen it and called to it it was soaking wet came to me
Any way it was a BC scared and wet
Friendly as all get out I got her cleaned up and fed and tookher in we searched a week or more posting notices calling local shelters and sheriff no one claimed her. Our guess some one dumped her not uncomon
By now we have all become pals At that time my youngest son's GF was staying at our house
She fell in love with gypsy the name she gave her .when her and my son split up several months later she ask to keep the dog
with a lot of reluctance and the promise if for any reason what so ever she had to or decided she could not keep the dog she would return the dog to us
For several years my wife was on FB
The girl was truly attached to gypsy evey post she had the dog with her sharing time with her new pal so we knew she was loved
That was yrs ago we lost contact but I know the dog was well loved and taken care of
My only experience with a BC and it was a lasting memory
she was as smart as they come and truly a loving dog
We went to a herding dog competition at Virginia Tech several years ago. It was amazing what those border collies could do.
The trainers stood on the hill and whistled or gave hand signals. The dogs would go out 300 yards and bring back eight or ten sheep back through gates and put them in a pen.
I'd never seen anything like it.
Sorta like this:
I truly believe that border collies are smarter than most people.
And one of the breeds most liked by people.
When I was a kid a stray Border Collie showed up in town. I went over to it and pet him, and he followed me home. I found out that he liked to play tag. He would run up behind you and poke you in the butt with his nose. Then he would drop away from you and wait for you to chase him and tag him.
Repeat the process ad nauseum until we were both worn out.
Sadly 2 days later the local cop saw him in our front yard and said he ran away from the owner and he had been looking for him all week.
That was one of my saddest childhood days.
Joe
I am starting to believe that even good ole mutts are smarter than most people these days
A good breed for young folks with a lot of time and energy to spend together. Sadly, not so good for older slow pokes like myself. 😔
...I had a Border Collie for years, Tweek...fantastic best buddy, and like about all Border Collies, as smart as they come...think about & miss her everyday still...Border Collies are considered the most intelligent of all breeds...unbelievable livestock animals...
...my brother had 3 decorative life size deer in an area behind his house...my brother, Tweek and I, were at one of his barns about 300 yards from the deer...just pointed and gave an "out" command...Tweek took off like the wind and about every 50 yards she would give me a quick glance over her shoulder, still running...to see me to see if I was still pointing at the deer...when she got about 20-30 feet from 'em she crouched & stopped...when I motioned her to come back, she jumped up and blazed a trail back to me...she is missed...
Not a full blood, but I had a half breed Border Collie once. I say had, but actually, he had us as temporary owners. There was a grocery store called Wade's near where I worked. I stopped there sometimes when I got off work. There was a dog hanging out there and the girls that worked there think he followed a hiker there from the Appalachian Trail.
I left my number and took him home and named him Wade.
That dog was legendary. He was his own dog and was headstrong. He would round up my cows and hold them. The only way I could call him off was to open the truck door and he would jump in and stay until I drug him out.
He would hear the kids at the elementary school playing outside and make a bee line there to play with them. Every kid in the school knew his name. The principal would call us to come get him.
He once jumped into a car full of Jehovahs Witnesses and wouldn't get out.
When it thundered , he would run up the road and hide under my neighbor's trailer. They had kids who loved him so I gave him to them.
Once I saw him riding on the dad's towed boat, heading to the river. He loved the water.
Months later, he came to visit for a few minutes and then returned to his new home.
That was 20 years ago and I still miss him.
You just have to be very careful about what you say around one of those SMART dogs!
😁
You sir are close. The event was and is still held at the fields just south west of the entrance to Grandfather Mountain on Hwy 221.
Never been. Don't think a kilt would look good on me. Now on 84, that might be something to see.
Traffic in Linville and surround areas is almost at a standstill from mid day Thursday through Saturday.
They have the "bear " foot race from Linville to top of GFMTN on Thursday evening. Sad time last year at starting line. Racer was run over by a out of control driver. DRT. May have ended that part event.
Love watching working dogs. So smart, so disciplined
Joe, You would be surprised at how much FIRM discipline it takes to get a Border Collie to be a truly disciplined working dog. Once you become a Border Collies master not only is life so much easier but you now are "owned" by the best dog in the universe. Love given to you in amounts you cannot comprehend until you experience it!!
My best ever Border Collie loved me so much I miss her to this day even after 30+ years.😔
I ran across this beautiful painting a few days ago and just had to save it in my documents file. I remember how my kids could watch that PIG movie "BABE" on VHS again and again! I also have a soft place in my heart for that movie and the Border Collies as well!
That was a great video. I watched the whole thing. I found my self running around the computer room. Stopping and changing directions, every time I heard the man holler , and whistle. Ha..
Those dogs are so intelligent