FAQ "BORDER COLLIE" SHEEPDOGS

The Border Collie is just that, a breed only.

They are NOT sheepdogs until they have been trained to WORK sheep or other livestock.

The term Working Sheepdog as used by the United Kingdom Kennel Club is totally incorrect and issues a very misleading message; as as Working sheepdog or sheepdog is one that is trained and usefull to herd livestock.

We are extremely busy people and our own animals must come before our potential customers.

 

We have built up an extensive FAQ which should cover almost all your questions, please take the time to read these pages, before you contact us with your enquiry.

 

These are the most common questions we have recieved over the last ten years, if your question is not listed or we have not answered your question in enough detail please email us with the subject heading "Question".

Can I see the Dog working?

You are welcome to visit by appointment to veiw the dogs working.

A video can often give the wrong impression of the dog and usually shows the dog working at a distance but not how the dog interacts with the stock as a photograph can do.

We are unable at this time to be able to provide video's of the dogs working. Though on occasion we may be able to place content onto YouTube.

We try our best to photograph the dogs in all the work modes so that it appears, on a slideshow, that the dog is moving for you.

We have also built a reputation worldwide for providing dogs which do and act as we say they will.

Check out our Testamonials page

Do you Export Dogs Worldwide?

Yes, we are able to export dogs thoughout the world, though this can be very expensive.

Will the Dog work for someone else?

It is very rare for a sheepdog to refuse to work stock for any person other than the person who trained them, because it is the instinct to work which makes them trainable in the first place. However, very occasionally there will be a dog which is either so well trained or loyal that a new handler will not be able to override the training the dog has recieved and kick the instinct back to work.

The Question should be not if the dog will work but how will the dog work??

Most dogs will if given the chance revert in a split second into the untrained deliquent it was as a pup, and will show all the good and bad habits that may not have been evident when first veiwed.

A trained sheepdog needs to understand, trust and respect any new handler before working proficiently for them.

What Guarantee's are given with the Adult Sheepdogs?

A Sheepdog trained to any standard, may or may not, work in a proficient way for its new handler, there can never be any guarantees on compatibility due to the diversity of human and canine temperaments.

A trained sheepdog needs to understand, trust and respect any new handler before working proficiently for them.

What is your interpretation of Power in a dog?

My interpretation of Power in a dog is very simple.

Power is the confidence inside the dog and its own belief of its ability to move stock.

If the dog is lacking in confidence in either himself or his handler the dog will be what could be considered weak.

A confident and knowledgeable handler can improve a dogs confidence and thereby its Power.

A bad experience with stock can destroy a dogs confidence and subsequently its Power.

Power will also go hand in hand with an invisible (to humans) but (to stock) instantly recognisable aura that the dog IS born with. In my veiw this is a form of animal communication that humans are not a part of.

What are the most common injuries/illnesses to a sheepdog whilst working?

Common injuries/illnesses to a sheepdog whilst working:

in order of commoness some of which lead to death and most can be avoided completely.

    • Heat Stroke. Death is entirely preventable and the ailment can be reduced through feeding and excercise.
    • being run over by a vehicle is entirely preventable and an in-excusable death or injury to the dog if the the vehicle is being used for herding stock.
    • burnt feet pads occur in the hot summer on dry ground or during lots of road work.
    • broken toes, unfortunately very common but unlikely to cause death or severe injury.
    • Spinal injuries are often missed completely in the working dog, often a lameness or refusal to go in one direction can indicate injury to the spine. Dogs turning summersault, caught on a fence, leads incorrectly and cruely used, are just some of the causes,
    • broken leg, various causes, cattle kicks, jumping fences, crushed against walls by charging sheep are just a few of them. Proper training can reduce the incedence.
    • poisoning entirely preventable, remove and protect all rat poison, foot bath treatments, sheep dips, anti-freeze.
    • cruciate ligament injury is unfortuntely an expensive and painful and usually longlasting injury, requires complete rest usually after a major operation.
    • hanging on a chain, results in death, preventable, be aware of the length of chain and the siting to prevent the dog from jumping over an obstacle.

What are the universal Sheepdog Commands?

The following are standard commands developed by the shepherds of old and are traditional to the UK.

 

Lie Down/Stand : asked the dog to stop.

Walk on : asks the dog to move directly to towards the stock.

ComeBye : asks the dog to move in a clockwise direction.

Away (to me) : asks the dog to move in an anticlockwise direction.

That'l do : asks the dog to stop work and return to the handler.

CEA and PRA

CEA (Collie Eye Anomalie) a genetic defect that the puppy is born with, both parents must carry the gene as carriers or affected for CEA. For more information visit www.optigen.com

PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) is, as it states, a progressive disease, in the Border Collie it is not considered to be hereditary but rather an environmental factor that has in the past caused the disease.

    • A DNA test for CEA can be arranged prior to sale - at the purchasers expense
    • All dogs will be certified physically free of CEA and PRA at the time of sale.

HD = Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is becoming a recognised problem within some lines of Border Collies. Iit is not yet common within the ISDS members and handlers to examine and score hips. We appreciate that Hip Scoring is a concern with some customers, but it is not yet our policy to xray dogs for sale en masse, as there are only a small percentage of customers requiring this service. Therefore we offer the following solutions should HD be a concern to you:

  1. If you are in no hurry you may wait for one of my own females or males to complete their training.
    • you can then either purchase the dog (this way you are guaranteed your choice of dog) and leave it with us to continue and complete its training at an agreed training fee, during which time it will be Hip Scored. Dog kept at owners risk.
    • or wait until after it has already been hipscored before making the purchase.
  2. We will however have the dog physically checked and certified by a Vet at no extra charge prior to purchase.
    • There can be no comeback on this if the dog is hip scored in the future and confirmed with severe HD to prevent it from doing the job for which is was purchased.
  3. Once the dog has been purchased by yourself, we are happy to have the dog xrayed on your behalf, as this will involve an aenasthetic any risk must be bourne by you the new owner. The approx. cost of xray, and aenasthetic is. £135.00.
    • A verbal but not certified confirmation given by my veterinary surgeon as to the state of the hips immediately after xray, immediate shipment of the dog may take place. There can be no comeback on this if the dog is hip scored in the future and confirmed with severe HD to prevent it from doing the job for which is was purchased.
  4. 3. Once the dog has been purchased by yourself, we are happy to have the dog xrayed on your behalf, as this will involve an aenasthetic any risk must be bourne by you the new owner. The approx. cost of xray, and aenasthetic is. £135.00.
    • Should official results be required prior to shipment, a period of approximately one month is required by the panel of experts at the BVA as there is an extensive waiting list and the panel only meets twice a month for a few hours.; Unbelieveable but true.
    • Kennel costs will apply to those dogs which require official confirmation of the HD result before the dog is sent to its new owners.
    • The dog is kept at the purchasers risk.

Should the Hip Score be outside your acceptable score, Astra Sheepdogs will be available to carry out your instructions as to what to do with the dog. ie resold to recoup your costs. (there will be a commission charged on this sale)