I am looking for a breeder some where near St.Lawrence county N.Y. If anyone knows one let me know .

Ps Renee how is your Gp doing ?

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), September 24, 2000

Answers

hi patty, she is doing better, well maybe... i am just keeping her in a crate and leash walking her. talked hubby into giving her a little bit of time. i have talked to alot of folks about the acl but it does not sound to good. her age is realy not on her side.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), September 25, 2000.

Hi, You should be able to do a web search for ACD and find several breeders near you. Be sure to ask wether they herd or not. There are many breeders interested in conformation only. Also ask if they have any teenage dogs. You can get started herding faster and if it has been a house dog, may have some nice manners you can skip training. Most people who buy the wrong breed realize it at about 8 months and reputable breeders will try to deal with these dogs themselves rather than see them go to the shelters.

Please consider rescue. The herding breeds are all subject to 'wrong home syndrome' and your perfect farm dog may be trying to live in an apartment somewhere, to the dismay of him and his owner. All rescues are not pathetic, beaten waifs, but more often nice dogs bought by the wrong person for the wrong reason. My awesome sheepdog Border Collie use to live in a subdivision with people who wanted a tricky pet who would stay home. Not the right place for this dog! They saw one in the movies. They loved her and she is very social, just needed a job.

Good Luck, Jill

-- Jill Schreiber (schreiber@alaska.com), September 27, 2000.

Haven't had much luck with the web .This breed isn't as popular as others .As far as rescue some of them seem to be a pain in the butt .I found 1 dog I liked but had to travel 8 or more hours , because you had to go to the shelter .

I am also a little leary because I have small children , youngest is 1 .I want to be able to train it from day 1 on what is ok and what is not with the kids .

Jill , do you think your Border collie would move beef cows and large hogs ? I wasn't sure if they would be hard enough for them .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), September 27, 2000.

Patty, My BC has moved hogs (250 lbs, she weighs 40) adequately. We only used her when the pigs escaped and we needed to put them back and when they went into the trailer to go to the butcher. Unlike sheep the dog had to work one at a time, they don't flock nor move easily. It was suggested I train the pigs from when they are small, seemed silly to me. She didn't look like a trial dog on the hogs, but she did get the job done.

She has herded oxen. Granted, these are pretty calm guys, but HUGE! Some individual dogs are better at reading their stock and she is good. On the subject of children, she was raised in a home with 4 kids under 5 and had always been good with them. On top of that the rescue person had small kids and assured me she was kid proof. She is, I have a 4 year old (2 when we got her) and she's wonderful with her. We got her sight unseen on a plane from 500 miles away. Rescue is better at that than a shelter. It's the rescuers judgement, be prepared to give references they can call to check up on your treatment of dogs. I sent my vet and a sheepdog trainer that know me well. Just a neighbor probably wouldn't do.

No, she is not for sale, just a good example of how rewarding rescue can be. We send x-mas cards to the former owners thanking them for the nice dog. They are happy to know she found a place she can fit in. PS. She won hi score in trial tonight at our herding meet! Good Luck! Jill

-- Jill Schreiber (schreiber@alaska.com), September 28, 2000.