Michael Parkey

This is a perfect title for a thread I could write! Our Buddy is a 10 y.o. Australian shepherd mix, a rescue at the age of 15 months. For years he would wade up to his belly but no farther. He slowly became comfortable following me into swimming-depth water. Then in the last year, he has taken up swimming in a big way, encouraged by BC Levi. He won't do any spectacular jumps as in your wonderful photos, but he gets very excited when he knows we are going to the creek. He goes right into the deep water and swims long distances (for a 10 y.o.). It's great what smart dogs will teac

Great photo! Could the spots be plant sap?

Thanks for posting this interesting article. I don't have any experience with the breeds studied, but my impression of herding breeds is that puberty occurs later than the dogs in study (12 months). My own dogs seemed to have the adolescent behavior phase later, more like 15-18 months. Again, to me is seems that herding breeds are behaviorally mature later than many other breeds. The article also explains the infuriating fact that your disobedient teenager behaves well for an unfamilar trainer you've gone to for help, LOL.

One option is to contact all responsible working dog breeders in your area, and ask them to let you know if a pup they bred is ever returned to them. One of the reasons this happens is that the dog did not perform well for the buyer on the work they wanted the dog to do. Examples would be weak herding drive, works sheep but not cows, is too hard or soft for the stock being worked. You won't get a puppy this way, but you will be giving a home to a dog from a responsible breeder that just didn't make it as a stock dog.

Oy vey!

Levi came to us as an 8 month old, and has both rear dewclaws. As you describe, they are not functional and do not seem to have bone structure. But both of them have large claws which grow in a semicircle. Like most active border collies, Levi keeps all the other claws worn down with no attention from us. But we have to cut the hind dewclaws about once a month. So far, this hasn't caused a problem. But I'm afraid that he will snag one on something and injure himself, so I'm interested in everyone's opinions on this. Cute puppy!

We had a somewhat similar situation with a rescue chihuahua mix, Bob. When we found Bob eating roadkill on a busy street, our vet estimated his age at 7-9. He had a mild heart murmur at that time. For many years he was fine without medication, but when he was about 12 he needed lasix. We tried vetmedin, but the side effects were bad without any discernible benefit. (And it is expensive!) Bob lived a good life until 14-15?, when he had a crisis and we had to euthanize him. He was suffering, disoriented, and stopped eating. Bob was diagnosed with his murmur at a much younger age than

As stated above, health and disposition first! But my aesthetic preference is for semi-long coats. Our two dogs (both rescues) are an interesting contrast. Buddy is an Aussie mix, with a very full but not terribly long coat. He looks great (to my eye) but his coat catches everything! Bur season here in Texas is a nightmare. Buddy's coat is very soft, fine textured, and shiny. Everyone loves to pet him, if he allows it. Levi is a border collie, and his coat is as long as Buddy's, but very different in texture and density. His guard hairs are longer and much more coarse, and hi

I love the photo of them sleeping together. I've never had two dogs that liked each other enough to do that.

Our old mixed breed's full name on vet records was Charles Kirby Walter, but he was always called Puppy until he died at 16. (CKW was also the name on his ordination certificate as a minister, but that is another story.) I remember having a conversation with a similar age girl who thought the name Puppy couldn't possibly be right! She was NOT satisfied until I told her his real name was Charles Kirby Walter.

The reason I like herding breeds as pets is that I like smart, active, responsive dogs! I don't have any experience with AKC border collies (makes face) but I have been able to compare AKC and working Australian shepherds. AKC Aussies are hairier, bigger, dumbed-down versions of the the real thing.

Beautiful!

Owning a young border collie will definitely get you off the couch, LOL. We adopted 8 month old Levi a week after I had hernia surgery, and I was on my feet in no time. A rough start in life and the accompanying stress can suppress behavior normal for the individual dog. One thing I notice in the photos is the fixed gaze or "eye" typical of border collies. She even has one foreleg raised. Also her tail is held low in those photos; border collies usually hold their tails low when working, or thinking about working.

Thanks for adopting! She is a good looking dog. As to whether she is a border collie, behavior will tell you more than looks. If you aren't already familiar with border collie behavior, it is hard to describe LOL.

We are bored and anxious but otherwise OK. One good thing in our suburban neighborhood is the greatly increased number of people and dogs out walking (while maintaining social distance). Most dogs in our area are getting a lot more attention, including our own. But if we go out of the neighborhood, many people are NOT practicing the recommendations from the CDC. I fear that the pandemic will last longer than it must because people are not taking it seriously.