Out Around the Barn

We all understand that there are many types/ breeds of dogs.  We enjoy what we call, “Man’s Best Friend.”  Their friendship, company and loyalty is beyond that of any other animal.  We  even have those that we consider part of our family.  We love them, spoil them and even pamper them; they are our babies.

As farmers and ranchers we own dogs; some as pets but, usually, working dogs.  Their purpose on the farm and ranch is to work, they are a part of our livestock equipment.  They love and want to work and look forward to working.

We prefer Border Collies as our dog of choice.  We previously owned three but, lost our two best dogs last year, one to old age and the other to the heat.  We are now at a loss when it comes to working our animals.  It is so different now that we have to go back to walking the pastures or saddling up to check the herd.  We definitely took our dogs for granted.  The saying is true that you don’t miss something until it is gone.  Used to, we just said a command and the job was being taken care of.  Now we really have to work with our young collie to get her to work.   She just doesn’t have the heart to be a working d0g.  She really just wants to play.  It is amazing to realize how much time we saved by allowing our dogs to do just what they loved.

We are now in the process of wanting to find a new Border Collie.  So to try to simplify the search, I decided to do some research.  I read books, looked at magazines, surfed the internet and came up with some good advice on what to look for in a working/herding dog. 

 These are some of the tips that I found:

• Border Collies are structurally balanced and are medium sized
• They need to be strong, fast, light and agile – not large or heavy
• They should have substance and stamina, be balanced – giving the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance
• The best size is between 18′ to 22″ tall and slightly longer than their heighth – their sizes will vary but, this is the suggested size for working dogs
• The head of a Border Collie is pretty distinctive with its strong jaw line, oval eyes and pointy ears.  Their working ability is not affected by the head as much as the rest of their body but, a subtle difference, such as eye color/pigmentation, can certainly bring about a change in its herding advantage.  Example: dark eyes are not as intimidating as lighter eyes ( lighter eyes give off the creepy wolf stare).
• Straight and upright ears are said to be best for a working dog.  They can hear better when commands are given and when predators are lurking.  Also, they are less likely to have problems with infections. 
• Their necks should be flexible so they can lie still yet, move their head to watch the herd
• They should have coats that are smooth because they are easier to maintain and they need to be able to shed well in the summer months
• A shorter coat is preferred because less is more, best for speed and movement.  A long rough coat will hinder their performance.
• One deception is that all Border Collies are only one color but, that just isn’t the case.  There are several colors and markings not just black and white.  To a working farm/ranch it isn’t the color that is important, it is the performance and ability of the dog.
• One thing that needs your attention is the front build of a Border Collie.  The angle of the shoulders is pertinent to their herding abilities.  A sturdy front will hold up well with crouching and jumping, as well as, creeping low to the ground.  They need to work 10 – 12 hours a day, sometimes covering 40 – 50 miles.  They have to be able to move  quickly, make turns and get out of the way.
• Check their pasterns to make sure they are slightly turned outward; this gives them the ability to move and will not break down as quickly.
• A good/great Border Collie is able to curl up in a ball allowing for its flexibility within its torso for quick change moves.   They also use their tails as rudders for turning at high speeds, they carry them low while working allowing for their stealth like movement.

Border Collies have so much heart that they work non-stop, even if injured, through the pain and keep going.  They are efficient workers and have a ton of drive, this is what makes a great working dog.  They have to work; it is what they live for. 

Now that I have done my research, we are going to begin our search for a new working dog for our farm.  I never realized that there was so much to look at and for when trying to find the right dog.  Now the work begins.