Understanding Border Collies E-Book

Barbara Sykes

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

The Border Collie is an extremely versatile breed, faithful enough to be a loyal friend, honest enough to be a hard worker and intelligent enough to be an asset in rescue and other services. This comprehensive, illustrated book gives essential advice on how to become the pack leader by understanding and interpreting the body language of man's best friend. Topics include: choosing your Border Collie; taking your puppy home; commonsense dog training; nutrition; creating a partnership; training, adolescent and older dogs.

Leseprobe

UnderstandingBorder Collies

Barbara Sykes

Copyright

First published in 1999 by The Crowood Press Ltd, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book edition first published in 2012

© Barbara Sykes 1999

All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

ISBN 978 1 84797 402 0

Dedication This book is dedicated to all the great Sheepdogs of the past, for they are the ancestors of the present day Border Collies, who in turn are the foundation dogs of the future. We owe it to them to make sure their intelligence, loyalty and stamina lives on for future generations to enjoy.

Acknowledgements I would like to thank Malcolm and Maureen for their photographic skills and their patience. Without their help the cover and many of the photographs in this book would not have been possible. I would also like to thank Caroline for her time in reproducing my ‘mental’ pictures so well in her graphics, and Pat Borrows whose poetry can bring a collie to life. I am most grateful to Gilbertson and Page who provided invaluable nutritional support. And last but by no means least I must thank my son and daughter, Gary and Vicki, whose support over the years has given me the courage to stand up for my beliefs.

Photographs supplied by Malcolm and Maureen Merone, Trevor Robinson, Betty Duggan, and the author.

Graphics – Caroline Simpson

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

1 What is a Collie?

2 Finding Your Border Collie

3 Taking Your Puppy Home

4 Common-sense Dog Training

5 Nutrition – Food for Thought!

6 Creating a Partnership

7 Training is Fun

8 The Adolescent or Older Dog

9 Kids, Collies and Misunderstandings

10 The Beginning

Problem-Solving Glossary

Index

The Voices in the Blood

He’s only your pet Collie, romping on a sunlit lawn,

Or sleeping on the rug before the fire.

Though his role in life is just to be friend beyond compare,

He’s a servant more than worthy of his hire.

For if his fate should call him to a dozen different tasks,

He could do each one incomparably well;

Adapting to each changed demand, intelligent and keen,

In all things he is destined to excel.

You might see him in Obedience and watch him winning Crufts,

Or in Working Trials, achieving T.D.ex,

Or racing through Agility, (and he could be a bitch,

For competence does not depend on sex!)

You could mark his patient searching in a devastated town,

Through the ruins that an earthquake leaves behind.

Or proud in his white harness, see him walk the city streets,

A rare, but special Guide Dog for the Blind.

He may never even glimpse the sheep that he was bred to herd,

(As Mountain Rescue Dog he would ignore them!)

But all true collies listen to the voices in their blood

Of ancestors who proudly went before them.

He is able to diversify because of what he is,

From his long history derives his worth.

Guide, searcher, champion, yes! But first of all

The best and wisest herding dog on earth.

So understand him if one day an ancient memory stirs,

And he casts out round a most indignant cat!

And does his level best to bring her in to you, because

His long dead forebears told him to do that.

There are those who would attempt to breed his herding instinct out,

Dismissing it as something they don’t need.

If they don’t want the working genes that make him what he is

They’d do well to find themselves another breed.

Though he’s only your pet Collie, fast asleep before the fire,

Or playing with the children on the lawn;

Still Man has no right to silence those voices in his blood,

That remind him of the reason he was born.

Pat Borrows

Introduction

The Border Collie is a versatile and popular breed, and is capable of adapting to many different lifestyles. This book is not about training for one of the many disciplines, nor is it intended to teach one person’s method of training – just as different dogs need handling in different ways, so handlers need to develop their own style. This individual style rests primarily on the person involved, but must also include the ability to adapt to their dog’s requirements. The Border Collie is a herding dog – a sheepdog – and this must always be taken into account when training. If the intention of a trainer is to ignore or squash these instincts, he is not only depriving the collie of its natural instincts but is subduing it, which will make it submissive rather than biddable.

This book gives an insight into the mind of the Border Collie and how it thinks; the pack instincts are explained in detail and in some cases have been simplified for ease of understanding. Training is not complicated and it is fun if you are working with your dog rather than against it. Whether you are bringing up a puppy or training an older dog, the ‘common sense’ training methods in this book apply to both – they provide a foundation for more advanced training, enabling the reader to continue into any of the disciplines with a sensible, well-educated dog.

You may be a keen competitor or an energetic walker, you may be a sheepdog handler or a first-time dog owner, you may need your dog to work or to be solely a companion. Whatever your intentions, if you love this breed of dog you will be fascinated as you find out not only more about them, but also how to understand them when you take a look inside their minds through the pages of this book.

CHAPTER 1

What is a Collie?

While collies are different to most other breeds of dog, they are still derived from pack origins. We may have some ‘man-made’ breeds which are the result of various crossing or mixing, but the true breeds all originate from a similar source. In all breeds, the training methods should still adhere to what the dog understands and not what we humans think it should understand! The Border Collie is derived from the wolf and has strong pack instincts; our ancestors have taken great care when breeding with their collies to keep these instincts strong to provide a perfect working, shepherding partner. Because of these instincts we have a dual responsibility, one to those people who have, and still do, breed a beautiful, intelligent and strong work dog, to keep the breed true to its origins; and secondly to the dog itself, to understand it and help it to understand us!

Different lifestyles of the Border Collie

We only have to look at the many different lifestyles of the modern-day Border Collie to appreciate how very versatile the breed is. Puppies born of the same litter may lead lives that are totally different, going from the extremes of the hard-working farm dog to the family pet. Let us take a look at a few of these lifestyles and the way a day may start for some collies.

As the dawn mist moves gently across the fellside the shepherd and his two collies leave the warmth of the farm kitchen to tend their flock. The collies bound energetically around their master’s feet. After a hard early morning’s shepherding, in the afternoon they may be displaying their skills competitively at a local sheepdog trial.

Many miles away, on lower land, the dogs’ cousin will use his herding powers for a different kind of shepherding. His skill will be employed to gather a herd of cattle into the farmyard and later in the day he will be accompanying his master in the cattle wagon on the journey to the local market. While these collies are using their natural instincts in everyday life, many more of their ‘family’ will be awakening to completely different lifestyles. Some may already be up, eager with anticipation as their owners pack the car with all the necessary equipment for a show. They will be displaying the collie’s great versatility in agility, obedience, or any other of the popular dog sports. While these dogs are preparing for their sport, still more ‘relations’ will be out working or training for their employment in some of the many services where a dog’s skills are required. Whilst their intelligence and adaptability is used to help mankind in search and rescue and as ‘sniffer’ dogs, their gentleness and sensitivity brings joy to many, in both hospitals and homes for the elderly, where employed as a registered ‘Pat Dog’: therapeutic stroking pleases both dog and patient. Many more collies, all distant relations to our ‘workers on the hill’, will still be in bed; their day will not entail being on anyone’s ‘payroll’, and as companion collies (pets) they will spend an easy day in the house and garden, taking exercise with the family.

A Border Collie using the ‘power of its eye’ while working sheep. Note the front leg raised as it creeps quietly forwards.

We have all seen members of the collie family employed in at least one of the above. Some readers may have a trophy to display, some may be sat on a chewed piece of furniture, and some may be wondering if a collie is the breed they should choose after all. A Border Collie is an extremely versatile breed of dog. He is faithful enough to be a loyal friend, honest enough to be a hard worker, and intelligent enough to be an asset in rescue and other services. He is also humorous and cheeky and will ensure you never have a dull moment!

Is it really possible to understand Border Collies? I believe so, but almost like a marriage a little mystery is not a bad thing, or so I was told! I don’t think it would be in our best interests to know everything; even if it were possible, this breed is intelligent enough to have its own opinions and I think in some cases we may be better off not knowing what they are thinking! What we need to understand is how they work things out and why; for example, what they may happen to think about your choice of friend or your neighbour is not important, but why they have that opinion and how to deal with it is.

Information on the Border Collie as a breed is readily available from many sources, but it is important to remember that this is a sheepdog and as such has instincts which need understanding. If these instincts are not translated by the handler in the manner the dog intends, then mismanagement may occur; on the other hand, if the translation is correct the handler needs to control them in a manner the dog understands. To do this, we need to go back to our ancestral collies and use the time and experience of the past to help us to understand the present-day collies. But first, how much do we know about the dog itself?

Knowing is part way to understanding. If we pay little or no attention to the background of the breed we only have the present for information, and can we really rely on facts that may be based on human assumption rather than on the actual history of the breed? If we take time to find out about the dog’s instincts, how it communicates and why it responds to certain situations and commands we are beginning to meet our dog ‘halfway’, the first steps to a partnership. There are so many questions and each one has a multitude of answers but, if we find out more, the correct answers are not too hard to find.

We know the Border Collie is an intelligent breed of dog with strong working instincts. He is very quick to learn – often too quick, leaving his unsuspecting handler in a whirl! From this knowledge we can be prepared for the dog to learn bad habits quickly and probably without the handler realizing until it is too late. The breed is known for the power of its eye, which we will discuss in a later chapter, but this knowledge should advise us to respect the dog’s ‘eye’ and not have a confrontation. Herding is a natural instinct, so if the young dog is taken to where sheep, ducks or other livestock are roaming before adequate training has been given expect nature to take its course! It is also a breed full of stamina and great endurance, so it would be wise not to be misguided into walking miles everyday or an athletic collie will be produced which may be hard to keep up with. Most information on collies leads prospective owners to believe they must be prepared to walk miles to keep their dog exercised, but although a collie needs exercise, it does not need to be excessive – exercise of the mind is just as important. We know the breed is derived from pack origins and a pack dog does not set out to take long energetic walks everyday. They roam, graze (yes, graze) and idle. A pack dog also understands its own nutritional requirements and domestic collies are often fed on a diet which is far too energy-giving, resulting in a hyperactive dog and a distressed owner. A pack dog has one of two positions in the pack, that of pack leader or pack member, and we should know automatically that we need to be pack leader and the leader of any pack is always in front. So now we understand that we need to keep our dog behind us to establish our position.

Just look at how many questions we have answered and we have hardly begun! Some of those answers will probably have taken you a little by surprise. Some of the ‘typical’ collie facts have been explained in a different manner and we will handle them in a different way.

The reasons for wanting a collie are many and varied. They are intelligent, nice to look at and are faithful, but it is important to know what kind of intelligence you will be dealing with and how the collie’s mind works. To learn how to do this, for a moment we must disregard the politics of registration, stud books or work versus pet and look at the collie himself, his instincts and how strongly they affect his behaviour.

The modern day Border Collie still carries a strong resemblance to its predatorial ancestors and has the ability to concentrate for long periods of time.

The intelligence, loyalty, gentleness and stamina of Border Collies gives them natural beauty.

Derived from pack origins, the collie’s natural instincts are akin to that of the wolf, a predator. All stalking and herding instincts would culminate in the killing of the prey to appease the appetite. Through the years, man has channelled these instincts to form an intelligent, loyal shepherding assistant. From this information we can draw a picture of the collie throughout his formative years. Without going into the technical side of breeding and explained simply, our ancestors needed assistance in shepherding their stock and a cur without herding instinct was as useless as a predator that killed. Sheep needed then, as now, firm, gentle handling at close quarters and speed and stamina at a distance; above all, the shepherds needed a dog with brain. Unable to run a hillside and gather sheep themselves, it became obvious to our ancestors that they needed a dog who had the stamina to run a mountain, the speed to outrun wayward sheep, and the courage to turn truculent ewes. In addition, they needed loyalty to work side by side with man, enduring long hours often in severe weather conditions, and the intelligence to understand a situation and act accordingly when alone with sheep miles from home. It mattered not what this dog looked like – colour, size (although too large a dog was not favourable), ears, coat length and texture, all were unimportant. The quality of the brain and nimbleness of body, coupled with loyalty, gentleness and stamina, became the criteria. Hence we have the working sheepdog now known as the Border Collie.

Having begun to understand why and how he was bred, let us now look at the Border Collie’s way of life for the past century, and make the picture of him a little clearer. To do this, we must go back to before the days of cars, cattlewagons, portable races and other similar appliances that the modern-day shepherd has at his service. Our ancestral One Man with his Dogs would be equipped with a good pair of footwear and a crook; his day would begin at dawn and finish at dusk. Both man and dogs would be on their feet for most of their shepherding hours, walking round the flocks, gathering, lambing. Their working hours spent as a team, they would become inseparable. Some days would be easier than others, but often the hardest and most taxing demands were when the weather was at its unkindest.

Although both strong and powerful when working sheep, a collie is still capable of being both gentle and graceful in its movements.

The picture we need to imagine here is not of the croft fireside and steaming mugs of cocoa, with ‘old Shep’ asleep at our feet, nor the other extreme of the cold, wet collie chained to the yard kennel. We must look at the collie’s lifestyle in general, for it is the careful, conscientious shepherds and breeders of yesterday who gave us our collie of today. These men revered their four-legged workmates and gave them the respect they so rightfully deserved. At the end of each working day the dogs retired to their own domain, be it a snug dry kennel, a cosy byre or a corner of a kitchen or outhouse, where they would retire to eat, sleep and clean themselves. They would not be disturbed, for just as they knew not to intrude upon or disturb the hand that fed and cared for them during their ‘quiet time’, they could be assured that when at rest humans would not disturb their peace and thinking time. Their beds would be simple; in fact, the dogs often preferred to revert to instinct and dig and burrow their own domain (today’s collie when presented with a nice warm bed of human acceptability will often surprise his owner by moving bag and baggage to the most unlikely place!). Their diet would be basic – gruel, maize and meat, depending on availability, and many shepherds would make their own ‘mix’, adding and subtracting according to condition and work. Those dogs fed on a more meagre diet would seek their own ‘supplements’ by foraging, finding their own minerals and vitamins in the surrounding vegetation, just as their pack ancestors did. Fortunately, feeding has improved over the years and the choices now are many and varied but with this comes problems for the non-working collie. It is important to remember that although the diet of these ancestral collies was basic the dogs not only thrived but also had the stamina they needed for the work asked of them. An important factor is that many of these dogs were allowed the freedom to choose their own sleeping quarters and to forage. These dogs were educated enough not to kill the flocks they tended, but the strong survival and pack instinct taught them how to find any supplements they may be lacking. An animal at one with nature instinctively knows how and where to acquire vitamins and minerals. What is important is that the ancestral collie’s way of life and living conditions may have been different from that of today’s collie, but the degree of intelligence, stamina and hardiness has not lessened.

Bred for speed and stamina. This dog’s mind is concentrating on his work while his back legs are propelling his body forwards at great speed.

Rugged, honest, hard-working and loyal. Thanks to careful breeding these attributes have been passed down through generations of collies.

Now we have a mental picture of the collie at the turn of the century. His colour, coat and general appearance varied, but he was a rugged chap, honest, hardworking and loyal. The ancestral collie presented an economical little package capable of great stamina and intelligent enough to be able to work on his own initiative. A picture of today’s collie, apart from the quality of the photography, will vary little from the hardy creature of earlier years. Far from deteriorating, his breeding, through careful thought, has improved, giving us better-sighted, more versatile collies able to turn their skills to all areas of work rather than specialize in just one aspect.

We have drawn a picture of the collie in his original environment, from pack dog to the working, shepherding collie. So does this same dog readily adapt to pet life? Should he be asked to do so? Can we overcome those strong herding instincts or should we try to eliminate them for the sake of the pet dog?

A breed with years of history behind it. This collie waiting patiently to continue with its work is lost in its own thoughts.

The answer cannot be simple as the collie varies widely in temperament and character. The question, ‘Should these dogs be in any other than a working home?’ is irrelevant – the fact is that they are, and are also capable of adapting to most situations. With the recognition of the sheepdog by the Kennel Club many changes have evolved, and the collie is now officially the Border Collie, with a popularity that means he is found in many different walks of life. This is not going to change, and so we must all work in unity for the benefit of the breed and its intelligence. It is the intelligence, humour and versatility of the ancestral collie that handlers outside shepherding homes have seen and taken into their lives. We must not downgrade the dogs of working parents who have been labelled ‘not good enough to work’. It means that they were not able to do the particular job in question (for example, not all dogs will work cattle but they may excel with sheep), were not given adequate training or were bred incorrectly. We now understand that it has taken years of careful breeding to produce this wonderful breed, but it can be weakened by careless mistakes or lack of knowledge of the genetic make-up of the ancestors. Only a foolish person blames a breed of dog for failing to come up to expectations. It is we humans who are responsible for doing ‘the homework’ and making sure we breed a dog worthy of his ancestors. If the ingredients of an original recipe are altered, the end product is never the same quality. Similarly, if we vary the genetics of breeding too much we may have a collie who has lost his original qualities. We now have the answer to, ‘Should we eliminate these instincts for the pet collie?’ If we are prepared to alter the breed for the sake of easier handling we are changing the breed, a breed with years of history behind it – it’s far better to understand it or view it from afar! Just as careful breeding provided us with the collie of today, similar care must be taken to ensure that our working collie can be introduced safely into most environments without losing his original qualities! Although quality rests heavily with the breeders, so too must potential owners share this responsibility. Too many collies purchased as puppies without care being taken about breeding, feeding, care and management become problem adolescents. A percentage of the problems can be genetical, but a large proportion is mismanagement, or a failure to understand the dog’s requirements. The emphasis has to be on what the collie really needs to be content, and not what the human element may think he needs.

Having drawn this mental image of a special dog – the Border Collie – only you can decide whether you are ready to share your life with one. The cost, other than financial, is an extra being to consider, its welfare and how to educate it. The reward, if done correctly, is a loyal family member with both intelligence and humour.

Having discovered what a Border Collie is, the next step is where to find it.

The Border Collie as a Breed

Border Collies are strong-minded intelligent individuals. They are bred to work, and by developing the natural instincts to produce a sheepdog we have also produced a dog so versatile it is capable of adapting to other lifestyles. It is important to retain the strong natural instincts to keep the Border Collie true to its original breeding. These strong instincts, when understood and handled correctly, are the very instincts that give the collie the humour, versatility and loyalty it is renowned for.

CHAPTER 2

Finding Your Border Collie

Finding a Border Collie may not be difficult, but before you rush out and buy the first cuddly puppy you see, stop, and take a long, hard look at what you really want. For you are not just going out and looking for a dog, you are looking for the dog, one that will be a part of your life for a long time, so before you go searching try to make sure that you have an idea of what you are looking for.

You know you are looking for a particular breed, but these are very individual dogs, so you need to make sure that your choice will fit in with your lifestyle and be compatible to your requirements. So what are your requirements?

What do You Want from Your Dog?

Before you take that all-important step, why do you want a Border Collie? Do you want a family dog, a guard dog or a working dog? How much time will you be able to devote to it each day? Are all the family committed to having an extra responsibility? Will there be any children involved in the dog’s life? If you live on your own, will your dog be left unattended for any length of time? Are you intending to participate in any competitions and if so what kind? Do you want a puppy or an older dog?

If you are looking for a dog for the sole reason of its being a guard dog, a Border Collie will not only take unkindly to any restrictions which may be imposed upon it, but it will also suffer if it is denied contact with its human partner. A collie will naturally protect its own if it can identify with its own ‘pack’ – for example, a family dog will also be protector should the occasion arise. If you are looking for a dog to work, you will need to make sure that it has breed lines which are favourable to your kind of work. For example, a herdsman looking for a dog for his cattle would be foolish to buy a dog from parents who were not strong cattle dogs.

If your dog is to be competitive, you will need to know the requirements of that particular sport. A quiet dog from shy parents may not be the best choice for agility or obedience, as not all dogs like to be noticed and not all dogs like crowds.

First of all, what have you set your heart on, a puppy or an older dog? If you feel you would like a puppy you need to know as much as possible about training before you bring it into your home, and you must also be sure that you are in a position to give the time needed to raise a puppy. If you are working and the house is going to be empty for a large part of each day, then it would be unfair to ask a puppy to adapt to your life when you are not really in a position to adapt to his. If you have small children or a baby, do you have the time to take on an extra responsibility? Remember that the person who is prepared to exercise the dog is not always the person who is left looking after it all day, and all members of a family must be prepared and able to look after, teach and be responsible for the puppy. You may have cats or rabbits or other pets which a puppy may try to ‘hunt’, so can you guarantee them a ‘safe house’? However, if you do choose a puppy you will have the satisfaction of being able to train it the way you want, and you will not only have lots of fun and laughter but also some lovely memories.