Meg's background
Meg is the first unregistered Border Collie that I have owned in the past 35 years, I think. Her background is from registered dogs, papers not followed up upon, but of lessor known breeding lines. So, why would I spend my time on a dog such as this?
Over the years I have watched the different breeding lines and their genetics. I have seen how so many lines have drifted towards softer dogs, often more suitable for the trial field than for working cattle on a daily basis. I have had my share of dogs who have had a hard time moving cows or large flocks of sheep. In the past few years I have heard about the dogs that the McIntres had been using on their cattle operation and in their feedlot, of several thousand head. I had also heard that they were pushy, no nonsense dogs that handled their job well and had the ability to engage and move the most contankerous stock.
It now seemd a good time to have a look at this and see whether their reputation was worthy. I spoke to Pam McIntre early in the spring and at that time she didn't have any pups on the ground. I put my name in anyway and left the idea go.
In June I had a call from Pam saying that she had a litter that were now 2 months old and ready to go. There were 2 females to choose from and that, if I wanted to, I should go over and have a look. And that's what I did.
The pup I chose was a typical Border Collie looking pup. The other one was as well. Because of Pam's schedule with their busy operation I don't think she had spent much time with the pups and so it was quite timid to begin with. A couple of weeks made all the difference but she still wouldn't come up to us if we were out walking with it. It would come into the barn, after a while, but she was hard to become friends with, for quite a time.
By the time she was 4 or 5 months old she was listenning pretty well but still prefered not to have much to do with us. She was VERY interested in the stock and so we had to be careful not to allow her near the cows or the sheep when we were walking with her. Meg would be the ideal wreck if we did not keep her under control during the day, or in a run. Anywhere but loose in the yard. That would have been a disaster, a mistake that many handlers / owners make with their pups, thinking they can leave them loose in the yard and then be highly "mad" when the pup continually gets into the field or the corral and then works, harrasses the stock. That's why I keep all my dogs, pups and adults, under control. A pen or a kennel can work well aslong as the pups can't see any stock, birds, etc., from their surroundings. That's important!
Meg has always had a mind of her own. That's not a bad thing but different from many of the more subdued trial genetics that we have come across. She has always looked for any "bit of trouble" she could get into and often at the end of the walk, just as I would be putting her away, I would find that she had snuck away and was in with the bulls trying to "do her thing".
In a situation where the pup gets into a pen of stock, cattle or sheep, one must remember that this is completely YOUR fault and so repremanding the pup is exactly the wrong thing to do at this time. Call the pup out, if you can, and just put it away.
So, now that Meg is 9 or 10 months old, it 's time to start her for real. |
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Meg as a pup at 4 monhs old. Shortly after this photo was taken one of her front legs was broken in an avoidable accident. It's completely recovered now although may show up with some issues later in life.
Meg has no lack of confidence and is seldom intimidated by her charges. I am hoping she learns a low and steady heel for the cows.
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