A Border Collie’s eye – staring down the dog’s herding targets — is an essential part of the dog’s success. Here puppy, Tweed, practices his eye focusing on the family cat.
Author Archives: RogerGafke
Mither’s Clan – its first outing
Our six Border Collie puppies had their first visit to the front yard today (2/3). Click on any image to see a larger picture. Then, click the back arrow on the browser to return to this gallery.
The ‘leave it’ assignment
Telling the dog to ‘leave it’ can be an essential household lesson – there are so many things in one’s house for the dog to leave alone. One can begin to teach the dog to leave things as a part of the primary lesson to ‘get it.’ One must leave it before one can get it – so to speak. The ‘leave it’ assignment is part of the Puppy Kindergarten class in week 4 and the Level 1 class in week 5.
The ‘stand’ exercise
This exercise teaches the dog to focus on the task you have given – in this case get on your feet and remain in place. The lesson is part of teaching the dog to stay on task after you have given the dog an assignment.
The “get it” game
Take advantage of the dog’s prey instinct – to chase. We encourage the dog to chase as a game with the dog eagerly coming back to us for more. We want that eagerness on the dog’s part as an essential element of coming when called. This ‘get it’ game is part of the motivation lesson in week 4 of Puppy Kindergarten and week five in Level 1.
The ‘Relax’ Exercise
This is part of the Puppy Kindergarten and Level 1 class curriculum
Amanda and Border Collie puppies
Granddaughter, Amanda, was present for the birth of a litter of Border Collie puppies and for each step of their first weeks of development – eyes open at two weeks, ears open at three weeks — and first solid food on their third week birthday.
Amanda holds the first born of five Border Collie puppies, April 1, 2017.
Amanda get ‘how to’ instructions from her aunt Marcia
Before eating directly from a bowl, puppy sucks its first solid food from Amanda’s finger.
Amanda (center) and Lauren (right) give the three-week-old Border Collie puppies their first meal of solid food
Join Drill Team and Therapy Service
Imagine your dog among these members of the Drill Team and in therapy service. Here are some pictures. Open to Building Members.
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- Therapy visit at Ellis Library
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- Rudy entertains at Ellis Library
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- New therapy team members
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- After Drill Team performance at Daniel Boone Library
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- Marshall. Mo. performance
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- The group picture in the Jim the Wonder Dog park in Marshall.
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- Walk how far in/on my shoes?
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- Here are the dogs in our holiday show. Join the fun!
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- Egg hunt for Drill Team Dogs
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- Stress relief at Ellis Library during finals week
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- Holiday portriats for your dog
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- Early morning ‘fog’ was part of this drill
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- Safe Kids Day performance
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- Holiday Show cast
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- Chip’s wagon
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- Pulling carts for big and small dogs
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- One of the imaginative wagons from a holiday show
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- Rudy’s wagon from Dec 2012 show
Border Collies have the run of the park
This sunny Thanksgiving afternoon was a great time for a romp in our 10-acre,wooded dog park. The park is open for our Building Members. Dogs have great fun. Our Collies were eager to run when we opened the gate. They continued to explore for the next hour or so – non-stop.
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- Playing at the bridge
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- Who’s been here before?
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- Exploring the woods
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- Herding brothers & sisters
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- A wee dip in the lake
What do dogs learn from each other?
We can see that dogs often play at the same tempo. What else do they learn from each other? How about the ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stand’ and ‘stay’ exercises? Gretel surely seems to be looking toward the other dogs as if she would like some guidance – or – demonstrating the ‘sit’ and expecting the other guys to take a lesson from her.
For an advanced version of the sit – check out how Bart does it.