A good looking sheepdog and a great worker too

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Andy
Border collie sheepdog watching her sheep
Not just a pretty face, Carew is a very promising trainee sheepdog
Close up of sheep with a sheepdog in the background

Carew has a very sensible head on very young shoulders. See how she's keeping well back from the sheep.

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Just you wait till I get this plaster off!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Andy
Sheepdog puppy Lupin with her leg in plaster, eyeing the sheep through a fence

Lupin watches the sheep closely. Note the plaster cast on her right rear leg. (Click to enlarge).

This is Lupin with her leg in plaster, the day before she went back to the vet to have it removed.

She broke her tibia in two places and there was a fold in the fibula on the 31st of January – after she was caught-up in some rough play between Ezra and Brad – two of Mel and Eli’s pups (now just under a year old).

Poor Lupin has been severely restricted since the accident and clearly can’t wait to get back to normal.

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Security alert at Kings Green Farm

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Andy
Two dogs on the bonnet of a car in frosty weather

When Midge (left) and Ezra are around, it's not a good idea to park your car in our yard. (Click to enlarge).

With things the way they are these days, you can’t be too careful. Security is the buzz-word, so if you come to one of our sheepdog training courses, be sure to park where we tell you to, otherwise Midge and Ezra might take it upon themselves to check your car out.

A couple of days ago, I brought our old Peugeot 406 into the yard and the pair immediately recognised it as a security risk and gave it the ‘once-over’. Ezra was first on the case, but his half sister, Midge quickly realised he needed backup. She quickly covered the bonnet area, while Ezra ‘sussed-out’ the roof!

They repeated the operation this morning but it wasn’t easy because the car was covered in ice. Undaunted, Ezra scrabbled and scrambled until the task was complete. (Anybody know the number for Autoglass)?

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Only a short spell of snow thank goodness

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Andy
Eli in the foreground with his daughter Midge looking on

Eli's a handsome dog whose pups are proving exceptional. (Click to enlarge).

We took the dogs out for their morning run today, hoping to get some nice pictures of them in the snow but it was rapidly thawing thanks to the mild temperature.

I must admit, I like to see snow – but it causes us all kinds of inconvenience. Our yard is on a slope, and easily becomes slippery during bad weather. This year, we even invested in some rock salt but I don’t like to use it where the dogs will be walking – just in case it harms the dogs in some way.

Maybe I’m over-reacting, but can’t be much fun having salty feet – and who knows what the salt will do if the dogs lick it off.

Mick loves to jump things - here he's jumping the sheep hurdles in the snow.

Mick loves to jump things, whether it's other dogs, or as seen here, the sheep hurdles in the snow.

As a photographer, of course, snow provides an excellent opportunity to take unusual photographs, and I love to take advantage of that, but to be honest, the sooner the white stuff has melted and disappeared, the better for me.

The sheep don’t enjoy it either. We’re feeding them daily now, because we have very little grass and of course, when it’s covered with snow, it makes food harder to find for the poor sheep.

Border collies and puppies just love the snow. When it’s falling they watch excitedly, and the puppies quite often bark at it.

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It may be bitterly cold, but the dogs love it

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Andy
Some of the collie sheepdogs running along the bridleway in the morning sunlight

The dogs don't care how clod it is as long as they get their morning and evening run. (Click to enlarge).

The dog’s don’t seem to mind how cold the weather is, as long as they can enjoy a good run morning and evening. I took this picture yesterday morning while we were on the bridleway that goes alongside our local wood.

Luckily for us, when the dogs are in a pack like this, the puppies and youngsters all follow the example of the leaders, so when we change direction, or go somewhere new, all we have to do is whistle, or call “this way” and they all come running at high speed.

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Border Collie Sheepdog Traffic Jam in the Woods

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Andy
Lots of Border Collie dogs and pups out walking in the woods

OK - which way now guys? (Click to enlarge).

What a great morning for walking the dogs! Sometimes, I think I have the best job in the world (but the pay’s nothing to shout about).

We seem to have a great number of puppies at the moment, so it’s especially good fun to get them out with the other dogs along the bridleways and through the woods. This morning’s walk was especially pleasant after the hard frost last night.

Bathed in brilliant sunshine, the dogs had a wonderful time – but the youngsters couldn’t understand why their usual watering places seemed to have dried up.

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Accidents will happen

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Gill

Every litter of puppies seems to have its own way of playing and, even as adolescents and young adults, litter mates continue to enjoy each other’s company more than that of any other similarly aged dog. It’s no surprise to us then, that Carew, Brad and Ezra (despite living apart, and having good relationships with our other young dogs) still enjoy bustling around as a gang of three, and being generally riotous together.

Black and white collie puppy wearing a purple plaster, but enjoying the chance to sit out in the garden

Free access to the garden and all its interesting sights and smells are only a few of the advantages of being Very Special

The usual “victim” is Brad who, being of a gentler and slower temperament than his brother and sister, is an easy target. Poor Brad, the combination of Carew’s guile, Ezra’s bulk and their combined effrontery often leave him with little alternative, but to seek protection by the legs of the nearest human. From this refuge he feels able to launch his own attack – as well as he can with Ezra hanging onto his tail anyway. Of course, just as with children, dog play can get out of hand (paw?) and someone who wasn’t actually involved can come off worst, entirely by accident.

That’s what happened on Monday. Lupin, one of our youngest puppies and quite a character, found herself in the path of three whirling dervishes who didn’t even notice she was there. Brad and Ezra ran straight over her, and poor Lupin let out a pitiful squeal.

Now it has to be said that Lupin making a bit of a racket isn’t exactly news. She has a broad vocal range, and is the first dog we’ve ever known who can keep up a running commentary on a half-hour walk without repeating herself, so although I scooped her up and gave her a hug I wasn’t expecting there was any damage. How wrong I was. As soon as I put her down again, and saw the sickening angle of her right back leg, I knew it was bad news. Horribly twisted at the back, it looked (to my unpracticed eye) like a dislocation – and perhaps worse.

We’re lucky that a local(ish) vet to us is an extremely sought after and skilled orthopedic specialist. It was Jock who mended Mel all those years ago (see Mel’s chapter in “Sheepdogs – Off Duty“) and we had no hesitation in taking Lupin straight to him to see what was the problem, and what could be done.

Black and white puppy Lupin finds her plastered back leg sometimes won't go where she wants it

Is that MY leg? How'd it get there?

Lupin is now getting used to life with her back leg in a plaster cast and a (rather fetching) purple bandage. She has a fractured tibia but, at her age and still growing fast, is expected to make a complete recovery – so long as she’s sensible. She’s living in the porch by the kitchen, where she has plenty of space to wander if she feels like it, and enough corners to hide those all-important chews, bones and treasures that invalids collect around them. It also means that, for those spells when she’s restricted by her Buster collar, she has room to manoeuvre to get a drink and we can leave the door open to the garden for her.

We’re very impressed by her philosophical attitude to the inconvenience, but she’s only been in plaster for 24 hours. It’s still the honeymoon period. One thing’s for sure, with Lupin’s vocabulary, she’ll let us know as soon as the novelty’s worn off!

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News from the DVD shop

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Gill

Last October I added “Rocky Mountain Cowboys” to the online shop and it proved to be a popular title over Christmas. If any blog readers have watched it, then you might be interested in an email we received shortly after it went online:

I have been looking through your website, as tomorrow morning I will be collecting my Border Collie Kelpie x puppy from quarantine, and I was looking for some tips. I have been working on a ranch in Montana/Wyoming, and Murphy was born there in August, one of a litter of 5 pups out of great cow-working parents. I decided to bring him home to (attempt to) train him and to give company to our 5 year old Kelpie bitch. I have found your website really interesting, funny and informative. I was seriously considering buying your dvd, and thought I’d read through your blog. Imagine my surprise when I saw that you’re selling a dvd called Rocky Mountain Cowboys, filmed on the Pitchfork Ranch. Of all places, this was our neighbouring ranch! They are very good friends of the family I worked with on and off for two years. Furthermore, two of the boys from the Scott (Pitchfork) Ranch came to help us work cows in the corrals in September, and took back in their saddlebags Murphy’s three remaining brothers for the two hour ride home, which they apparently took right in their 9 week old stride! Considering the size of the US West, I am quite taken aback with this coincidence – I hope you don’t mind me emailing to remark upon it! I will certainly be buying your dvd; and continuing to read your entertaining blog; hopefully I will be able to get enough of a handle on Murphy that he does his parents proud!

I know that when people come here for training days, or for a sheepdog experience day, they often enjoy recognising dogs, or aspects of Kings Green, that they’ve seen in the DVDs. Now I’m waiting to hear from someone who recognises the sheep stations on “Sheep Station New Zealand” – is there anybody out there?

I’ve a few new DVDs to add to the shop in the next week or so, a DVD by Adam Henson that’s really an appreciation of working with sheepdogs, and a new (to me) sheepdog training DVD from a very experienced and well-known handler in South Africa. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been training for, or how many dogs you’ve trained, there’s always something to learn, something just a little different perhaps, from what you usually do that will come in useful when you next get a dog who doesn’t quite fit your usual mould. It’s far too easy to get stuck in your ways with dog training, as with almost anything else.

Cover shot of Richard Curtis' Freestyle training DVD

I wish this DVD had been available when I bought my first puppy - all those years ago

On a different topic, Richard Curtis has very kindly made his puppy and freestyle training DVDs available, plus I’ve been recommended some agility training DVDs (by those who know more about this stuff than I do) and it looks as if I’ll be able to add these too. Watch this space…

The handlers who come to our group training sessions have often trained and competed in other dog training disciplines, and it’s fascinating to discuss the differences and similarities in our various approaches and experiences. I suppose “dogs is dogs” whatever they’re being trained to do, but it’s another opportunity to broaden our (and our dogs’) horizons, and everyone benefits.

Of course, some of our puppies have also gone on to work in areas other than sheep. Several of old Glen’s pups made it to the agility final at Olympia (in one year there were three! How proud were we? You’d think we’d done all the hard work ourselves). We’ve had a Working Trials Champion (Dug), search and rescue dogs, and one of Pearl’s puppies, Bear, actually works on a lifeboat. We’ve even had a puppy who went for training to detect cancer.

The more time you spend around collies, the more you come to appreciate how amazing – and complex – they are, and my ultimate aim for the online shop is to reflect this. So, if you know of a DVD (or if you’re making a DVD) that will appeal to other collie training enthusiasts, please let me know.

Bella, a black and white border collie and much-loved companion of Adam

Former rescue dog, Bella has shown her appreciation for a new chance in life

Just one last note; again it’s an extract from an email received recently, this time from Florida.

2 weeks ago had an accident with agricultural machinery. tore out first 2 fingers of my left hand.
I was alone here, bleeding badly, and in shock. Unable to use my cell phone.
My rescue BC, Bella, ran half a mile to our neighbours and they knew something was wrong here.
They got me to hospital, and after surgery, with more to come, looks like I may keep those fingers.
Dogs are amazing!
Bella came to me as an abused dog. With love and a secure home she has thrived.
After my accident , she is the Hero of the hour! More spoiled than ever.
I am on the road to recovery, latest news from my surgeon is promising. But it will be a slow road, well, could be worse!!

See what I mean? Our best wishes to Bella and her family.

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A welcome touch of frost but we urgently need rain (in England)

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Andy

It’s great to see the landscape covered with frost again, but what we really need is a good steady downpour of rain lasting for several days, if not weeks.

Sheepdogs in the early morning frost

The early morning sun casts long shadows as the dogs explore in the frosted grass. (Click to enlarge).

England is traditionally associated with a high annual rainfall but last summer and autumn were exceptionally dry, especially in the western midlands. I’ve mentioned before that the drought last year was the reason we had to stop filming our new sheepdog training DVD. We’re determined this won’t happen again in 2012 but some of the footage may look a little strange if the grass appears vivid green one moment, and brown the next!

In an effort to compensate for the lack of grass growth during 2011, we reduced the number of sheep from our normal forty, right down to a minimal fifteen. We didn’t want to have to feed more sheep than absolutely necessary throughout the winter.

I hoped for a wet, mild winter. Wet to bring the water table back to normal and mild to enable the grass to grow enough to feed our sheep. Well, it’s certainly been mild, and we have had enough rain to make the surface muddy, but just two or three inches beneath the surface, the ground is dusty-dry.

Sheepdogs and puppies relaxing with a buoy on a rope in the early morning frost

Some of the dogs playing with a buoy on a rope in the early morning frost. (Click to enlarge image).

We have a stream close by, which the dogs love to play in when we take them out, but instead of being a good strong flow, at the moment, it’s merely a trickle. This is because the ground is so dry it’s absorbing all of the below-average rainfall that we’re experiencing at the moment.

It’s very worrying indeed, feed prices are very high and reserves are low. I was talking to a farmer yesterday who told me they’ve been feeding their livestock since August last year. It’s ironic that Queensland and Western Australia, areas which we’re far more likely to associate with drought have recently suffered serious flooding, yet here in the centre of England, farmers are extremely anxious about the severe lack of rainfall.

Meanwhile, we are running just one group sheepdog training course each month until further notice and we have abandoned one-to-one classes for all but the most regular customers. We need to preserve the grass as much as possible, so we don’t train sheepdogs on frosty days unless we have to.

Our sheepdog training classes are fully booked until April the 17th and we anticipate this one will soon be full too, so you’ll need to act quickly if you’d like to book a place on one of our courses.

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Oh BUOY this is fun! – sheepdogs enjoying the mild winter weather

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Andy

Last winter, we were lucky to get some wonderful snow and freezing frost scenes while we were filming our latest Border Collie DVD (Border Collie Sheepdogs and Friends – Still Off Duty) but I much prefer milder weather, so this winter has been something of a relief to me.

Our sheepdogs and puppies enjoy playing with a buoy

Eli shows some of his puppies the correct way to tackle a buoy on a rope. (From Left) Eli, Carew, Badger, Rita and Nina. (Click to enlarge image).

The dogs don’t seem to mind what the weather’s doing – they enjoy themselves to the full anyway. The picture is of our stud dog Eli (pronounced “Eee-lie”) demonstrating his footballing skills with a buoy we keep on a rope out in the field for the dogs to play with.

Little Badger has a firm grip on the rope and is obviously giving Eli all the backup she can while ‘Aunty’ Carew,who is a good eight months older than Badger, looks on from behind.

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