One man and his dog

Years ago we had a collie dog that used to watch the programme from beginning to end. We used to video it and put it on for her to watch when we went out. I don't think she even knew we had left.

I am looking forward to introducing my cat to it, course he thinks all dogs are idiots but he may be impressed (or try to work out how to catch a sheep).

I'm in, just about to teach my kids what owning a border collie is all about....for real, not that 'hi dog, i am too busy playing the computer to walk you, but i Do love you' rubbish

Could call it one dog and it's owner?

They've got computer graphics!!!

Actually it really helps, though why they are herding small white pebbles I don't know.

Sooo important with this breed, we have a neighbour, lovely chap but has a very disturbed border collie as a pet - fixated with shadows and showing all sorts of strange behaviour, they need so much stimulation and play it's difficult to keep one amused unless you devote a lot of time.

I used to love it when everything went pear shaped and they just about got the sheep in the pen, when they all bolted for freedom! Or another favourite was when they just wouldn't move at all, the dog started biting there heels or the sheep attacked the dog!

My ex-neighbour has one. It rounds up the Chickens. It rounds up his Son and friends on their bikes. It tries to round up the wheelbarrow or lawnmower if you dare to push one down the garden. Everything it does, even fetching a ball is done in a series of circles!

Never gets walked, or any attention - why get it in the first place?

Could be because it's left legs are shorter than it's right legs!

i am on my third, after swearing after the first never again, mind you we lived in a flat then and both worked, he was going mental, and i found him a home on a smallholding.

second one was a cross, which would have been ok, but he was crossed with a donkey, he was MASSIVE, and after him dragging me 50 yards along a grass verge with my heels dug into the mud like some sort of frantic skier, i gave up, the kids were too small and i had to re-home him, again to a smallholder that had the space.

and so to Rocket, and i was SO not going for another border collie, but some flamin numpty down the round thought he would make a good pet, she has 5 children ( 2 to 10) she can't control at all, and added him ( and his brother)to the mix.
I rescued him the day she told everyone he had bitten her 2 year old (snapped at, not connected with skin), but neglected to mention said two year old had a habit of sinking his teeth into the dogs back, he was hours away from being put down when two friends grabbed him and bought him to me, he was 4 months old
we walk........ 2 hours a day....... we work, ALL day, mental stimulation can wear him out faster than a run in the park.
he is stupid cos he thinks you can herd cats, but they just look at him and figure 'oh well, as long as it keeps you occupied', he has never bitten me and mine, although he still snaps if you touch his back unexpectedly, we have that under control though by being very careful never to surprise him, he is 2 now, and couldn't be a better dog.

I have no patience with people that get a working dog, and then don't work it.

That depends whether it goes clockwise or anti clockwise!!

Yeah, it doesn't have to be obviously 'work', but the dog MUST have mental exercise. If you don't give a smart dog things to think about, he'll think for himself, and that nearly always leads to trouble. Collies are top of the list, GSD are not far behind, and beng bigger the mischief they find when bored is more dangerous. The collie I had for 11 years was 'working bred', but then I had the sheep farm at the time, and he did get a bit of sheep work, as well as lots of 'pet work' (obedience and tricks). Only dog I ever met that would throw a ball for himself to chase (in the kitchen where the wooden floor made a satisfying bouncing noise.......).
Gemma (greyhound x GSD, we think) was about 18 months when I got her from a rescue centre. My suspicion is that her previous owners got scared when she became 'strong minded' and kept her shut in a shed where they often forgot to feed her. She was well underweight when they brought her to be rehomed, and didn't know how to run when we first let her off the lead.

I now it sux, i never wanted working dogs, i was brought up with springers, i knew what needed to be done, thing is I always get them, cos i am a sucker for rescue dogs, and its always the working dogs that are the most misunderstood , better a home with me, who does understand them, than the vets and a quick injection.

thats not a reflection on rescue centres, but on owners who are stupid enough to get the dog, then too 'embarassed' to take them to the Dogs trust or the RSPCA and would rather lie to a vet and have them put down than admit they took on more than they could handle.

Heard a goodun today. My allotment neighbour has just bought a Jack Russell X Chiwawa cross dog! He's on about taking it to the vets to have the snip!
His other dog is a rotweiller bitch!