Des the dog, up to his tricks,...

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
This collie dog called Des came to my father's farm five or so years ago, and had to be rehomed on another farm three years later, (when I vacated the farm unfortunately).

In the time he was my pet, because it would be difficult to describe him as a working dog, as he wouldn't come to you when shouted, was a nightmare anywhere near a road, chased sheep when he wasn't supposed to, (almost causing mayhem, though not quite!), didn't appreciate coming indoors at all, thinking he was being punished, and barking nearly all night for a week hen he first arrived, driving a heavily pregnant neighbour to distraction, (though I moved him to the other side of the farmhouse so this saved the day for everyone, and of course he settled down fine).


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The stories go on and on, especially him at play with his most favourite toy, a strong rubber ball, with another ball inside it making it bounce in all directions, (though thank goodness it had lost its bell, as Des didn't like any toys making a noise, and wouldn't come out of his kennel if one with a squeak in it was outside!

I'll hopefully be able to come back with some video clips to amuse you soon.
 

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Lee said:
Des is a gorgeous looking Border Collie. Known to be a very intelligent breed. At a summer camp I once stayed at Fletcher the park Border Collie was the terror of the geese he would chase off the beach. He earned his keep.
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"Dont mention geese, he was obsessed I'm told with them at the next farm he went to, bad boy"!

Future as a ball player though perhaps, or maybe a therapy doggie.

 

Aunt Marg said:
Would love to see, Des, have a little company by way of another pooch.
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Believe me, no female dog safe within a mile of the bad boy!

On his next farm the German veterinarian had three other dogs, two of them bitches past "the change ", but he never left them alone, and if anyone could have trained him it would have been Dorit, even she struggled, though he honed his ball playing skills, when not chewing said ball into fragments! :)
 
grahamg said:
Believe me, no female dog safe within a mile of the bad boy!

On his next farm the German veterinarian had three other dogs, two of them bitches past "the change ", but he never left them alone, and if anyone could have trained him it would have been Dorit, even she struggled, though he honed his ball playing skills, when not chewing said ball into fragments! :)
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I hope the sweetheart get's lots of attention.

It saddened me to watch him playing by himself and leashed up.
 
Aunt Marg said:
I hope the sweetheart get's lots of attention.
It saddened me to watch him playing by himself and leashed up.
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I thought it might have, though odd as it might seem, stick him in a house and he thought his world had fallen apart!
I once too him "on his holidays", (well, to where I used to live in the South of England), and we stayed in a tent in my friends garden. :)

My friend and her old mum, with very weak skin on her legs decide I should bring Des in the house for a spell, when he'd been waking the neighbourhood up. :(
I managed to stop him jumping up and injuring the old lady, but the funny thing was just how long it took to settle him down!
"Overstimulated in his youth", (or the opposite), being my diagnosis!
 
deesierra said:
Seems you are challenging my opinion. Are you a psychologist? I was simply expressing my love for the border collie breed.
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:unsure: Am are correct in assuming your opinions shouldn't be challenged, whether one agrees with them or not?

I love border collies equally, and a cousin's son, James Gilman is member of the England sheep dog trialing team so I've seen the almost magic understanding that can develop between working dogs and the farmer, (mine was more of a pet, though my father's farm dogs we handy enough around the cattle).

If you do love collies more than I then I'll take your word for it, and not challenge you on that view at all, because it must mean you love them a great deal. o_O(y) .
 
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Farmers country showdown
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2018/01/farmers-country-showdown-tues

"The heart-warming series returns, celebrating inspirational farming families as they showcase their hard work at rural events.

Today, sheepdog trainers and farmers James Read from Lincolnshire and Cheshire-based James Gilman will compete alongside man’s best friend in the Sheep Dog Trials at The Hope Agricultural Show in the Peak District."
 
Butterfly said:
It's called "prey drive." If something runs, most dogs will chase it, whatever it is.
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I think you must be right! :)

One thing that amazes me though with the really well trained working sheep dogs is their total focus upon the commands of the shepherd or shepherdess, rather than become distracted by other things, like my own silly, untrained dog nearby, and when you see a good "brace of sheep dogs" working together, but at times each focussing upon those sheep singled out they are left to guard, whilst the other one works, well "amazing" is the only word to can find to describe it!
 

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