SUCCESS STORIES
Pictured below are some of our alumni having fun in their new homes. We love to hear about our rescue dogs once they have been adopted. If you have a success story for your BCRNC adopted dog, please send photos and story to bcrncinc@aol.com.
Success Story of the Month - Izzy
formerly known as Lucy
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I began looking for a new puppy about a year after my last dog died. A couple close friends of mine had adopted a dog from BCRNC, so I started looking there. I really wanted a puppy, but when Izzy (known as Lucy) was posted, I had this feeling she was the one. She was estimated to be about 3 yo, so no puppy. She had been found near Shasta and turned in to Animal Control, who contacted BCRNC. The foster mom, who was in Chico, kindly brought Lucy to Auburn, to another foster family, so I wouldn’t have to travel so far to see her. I took her for a short walk to see how she did with cars (I had a dog once who chased cars…not fun!). She was great, so I took her home.
She adapted pretty quickly, even though it was clear when she walked in my front door she was not familiar with being inside, at least not on hardwood floors. She had a few “accidents” but quickly learned she was supposed to pee and poop outside. Since I love to play, I got her into playing with a ball and then a Frisbee quickly. What also became clear early is she “aimed to please”. It was not long before I could trust her off leash in the parks…she has almost perfect and instant recall. The only time she does not come immediately is when she has a Frisbee in her sight. What is also amazing is she does not chase any animals…very handy when you have skunks that appear out of nowhere on an early morning off-leash walk! She merely glances at them and continues on her way.
Izzy is perfect for me…she sleeps next to me at night and follows me from room to room. However, she does not have separation anxiety and is not destructive. Even though she loves playing Frisbee, she is not possessive of her Frisbee. If, at the park, another dog picks it up, she just gets confused. There are some challenges, of course. She is not very friendly to other dogs. But she can do short encounters...meet and greet…and she has become friends with a couple of small dogs I pet sit occasionally. She has become increasingly anxious about fireworks (not atypical for the breed, I guess) and has difficulty settling down when I have company. Then the Frisbee becomes her pacifier.
All in all, we are very happy! Thanks you, BCRNC, for bringing us together!
She adapted pretty quickly, even though it was clear when she walked in my front door she was not familiar with being inside, at least not on hardwood floors. She had a few “accidents” but quickly learned she was supposed to pee and poop outside. Since I love to play, I got her into playing with a ball and then a Frisbee quickly. What also became clear early is she “aimed to please”. It was not long before I could trust her off leash in the parks…she has almost perfect and instant recall. The only time she does not come immediately is when she has a Frisbee in her sight. What is also amazing is she does not chase any animals…very handy when you have skunks that appear out of nowhere on an early morning off-leash walk! She merely glances at them and continues on her way.
Izzy is perfect for me…she sleeps next to me at night and follows me from room to room. However, she does not have separation anxiety and is not destructive. Even though she loves playing Frisbee, she is not possessive of her Frisbee. If, at the park, another dog picks it up, she just gets confused. There are some challenges, of course. She is not very friendly to other dogs. But she can do short encounters...meet and greet…and she has become friends with a couple of small dogs I pet sit occasionally. She has become increasingly anxious about fireworks (not atypical for the breed, I guess) and has difficulty settling down when I have company. Then the Frisbee becomes her pacifier.
All in all, we are very happy! Thanks you, BCRNC, for bringing us together!
Success Story and tribute to the memory of Panda, formerly known as Maya
04/26/17
The first time Panda set foot in her new home, her squinty eyes clearly revealed her fear and apprehension, but after a lot of reassurance (in between her sharp nips) and more hugs and kisses (and more nips), she realized she was here to stay forever. She undeniably reigned as the princess of her new house. We knew we would always find her in one of the most comfortable spots in the house. One of her favorites was on top of the pillow on our bed or the sofa with her head hanging off of it. Her position at bedtime would always be in between mom and dad sprawled out with her back butted against daddy’s legs. We firmly believe this nightly ritual brought us all many years of tranquil sleep and helped her live to a ripe age of 15 years plus or minus.
She loved camping even when we had to meticulously pluck off ticks from her fur coat on her first venture along the Sonoma coast. Water was not her true love but she still reveled while running freely on the beach zipping in and out of the waves and sniffing the sea life all around her. One time, her back was to an oncoming wave and the look on her face was beyond memorable when it crashed on her. She even jumped on her own free will into a lake – must have been the tadpoles that tempted her – snapping at them continuously.
She accompanied us on many road trips since she adored the car and the great outdoors. Whenever she was in the car, the front passenger seat was claimed by her even when mom was sitting in it – maneuvering herself to mom’s lap was no easy task but her determination and fortitude would eventually bring success. Feeling triumphant, many licks were given to daddy the driver’s right ear on her victory lap.She accompanied us on many road trips since she adored the car and the great outdoors. Whenever she was in the car, the front passenger seat was claimed by her even when mom was sitting in it – maneuvering herself to mom’s lap was no easy task but her determination and fortitude would eventually bring success. Feeling triumphant, many licks were given to daddy the driver’s right ear on her victory lap.
Oh, how she would roll and tumble hard whenever we played Chuckit! At times, she would get up with a slight limp but after a few gaits, she was back to top form. Retrieval of the ball was not always in her repertoire – the start was definitely much better than at the end. Also, stamina was not what she excelled at (an atypical border collie, huh?). She would blast through a few long runs followed by a good restful break, and just maybe go for one more. Still, the tongue would be hanging out big-time and the smile beaming from ear to ear.
Panda was clearly in tune every weekday morning when she sang with mom the “Good Morning” song to stir her big sister out of bed for school. The slurs and intonations of her bark were indicative of a melody and she never missed a beat. Our daughter still holds this memory dear to her heart.
Our sincere gratitude to BCRNC for 14 glorious years with our delightful Panda who quickly transformed from a squinty-eyed canine to a bright-eyed gorgeous girl that unconditionally loved us every day of her life – how super sweet it was!
Oh, how she would roll and tumble hard whenever we played Chuckit! At times, she would get up with a slight limp but after a few gaits, she was back to top form. Retrieval of the ball was not always in her repertoire – the start was definitely much better than at the end. Also, stamina was not what she excelled at (an atypical border collie, huh?). She would blast through a few long runs followed by a good restful break, and just maybe go for one more. Still, the tongue would be hanging out big-time and the smile beaming from ear to ear.
Panda was clearly in tune every weekday morning when she sang with mom the “Good Morning” song to stir her big sister out of bed for school. The slurs and intonations of her bark were indicative of a melody and she never missed a beat. Our daughter still holds this memory dear to her heart.
Our sincere gratitude to BCRNC for 14 glorious years with our delightful Panda who quickly transformed from a squinty-eyed canine to a bright-eyed gorgeous girl that unconditionally loved us every day of her life – how super sweet it was!
FEATURING ANNA one of the puppies known as ANNA & ELSA
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ANNA - 2015 when she was a pup in rescue.
ANNA today --
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ELSA - 2015 when she was a pup in rescue.
2 years old
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I adopted Anna (I kept the name) from BCRescueNC back in August of 2015 when she was less than a year old. I believe her sister Elsa was adopted that same day.
I made up a March 1st birthday for her, so she turns two today and I wanted to share with you how well she is doing! I love her so much! She met so many "friends" at her training class for puppies and young dogs, loves to visit my parents in Hollister and run with the ponies, is my hiking/road trip buddy, and brings so much joy to my life. I'm attaching a few recent photos.
Thank you again for all the wonderful work that you do in finding good homes for these pups!
I made up a March 1st birthday for her, so she turns two today and I wanted to share with you how well she is doing! I love her so much! She met so many "friends" at her training class for puppies and young dogs, loves to visit my parents in Hollister and run with the ponies, is my hiking/road trip buddy, and brings so much joy to my life. I'm attaching a few recent photos.
Thank you again for all the wonderful work that you do in finding good homes for these pups!
Misty
I was looking over some old pics today and realized I haven't updated you on Misty (AKA Bodmin Moor) lately. Her birthday is coming up - 11/11/11. She has turned out to be the best dog ever! She is very active in Lend A Heart and visits different facilities weekly. I think her favorite are the visits with the kids at reading programs and school visits, but also visits senior facilities and goes to work with me sometimes at Eskaton Rehab. She helped with the Red Cross in Jackson during the fire evacuations for Stress Relief, and visits the students at UC Davis and McGeorge Law School during their mid-terms and finals. Next week, we are walking with fellow Lend A Heart members in the Folsom parade for Veteran's Day!
We go out to Folsom Lake several times a week to run and swim, she is FAST! Her recall is great now and we hike off leash and she never gets more than 20 feet from me. Her best friend is our big tuxedo cat - the walk together in the evenings. So, as you can see, she is awesome, and I thank you so much for her.
I'll keep you updated as to her future great accomplishments!
Patti
PS. The pic is taken after digging for her ball at Tahoe
We go out to Folsom Lake several times a week to run and swim, she is FAST! Her recall is great now and we hike off leash and she never gets more than 20 feet from me. Her best friend is our big tuxedo cat - the walk together in the evenings. So, as you can see, she is awesome, and I thank you so much for her.
I'll keep you updated as to her future great accomplishments!
Patti
PS. The pic is taken after digging for her ball at Tahoe
Ranger
Lauren, my flyball teammate, suggested herding to build Ranger's confidence. It was incredible to see the change in Ranger's personality when he is in the ring with the sheep. George Costa, my trainer, was impressed. In May, 2015, Ranger and I competed in our first ASCA Stockdog Trial, "This Jumps for Ewe" in King City. One of the Judges was impressed with Ranger and asked "..and did I hear he was a Rescue?" Ranger and I placed three 1st Places, one 2nd Place, and High Combined Other Breed weekend score in the Started S. We now qualify for the Open S. It was so much FUN! and I am a PROUD Mom! (See video of Ranger's first competition - be sure to turn up your volume).
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In October, 2013, I adopted Ranger after losing my beloved flyball border collie, Rambo, to cancer. After months of unsuccessful searches in finding my next border collie, my flyball team captain, Jeanine, forwarded Ranger's BCRNC profile to me. I was very smitten as I wanted a high-drive dog for flyball. Ranger was just as Peggy, his Foster Mom, described in his profile. "Sweet, high energy, needs human socialization, needs confidence building, could possibly be a good herding dog, a work in progress". Peggy told me Ranger was a backyard ranch dog. At 8-9 months of age, his owner gave him to family members who also could not handle the BC energy. Ranger was surrendered due to "allergies". Ranger was curious of me but keep his distance.. I didn't even get to touch him... but he's gorgeous, full of energy.. there was something about him ...so of course I adopted him. Ranger and my BC/Spaniel mix, Zippy, got along fine..though Zippy did not appreciate constantly being stared at, and nipped in the butt. It seemed Ranger was only comfortable outside in the backyard, and with dogs.. not humans. When inside the house he jerked and jumped at every noise, he could barely keep his head still. He was afraid to walk under EZ-up tents or in buildings, every new location was a challenge for him. One week passed... Jeanine met Ranger and assured me he was biddable and to hang in there. He'd be a good flyball dog. Week two and three pass ... while a sweet, sweet boy, I'm embarrassed to say that I had serious concerns of our lack of a connection. Ranger was so fearful it made it difficult for me to get to know him. I had done what I thought best for him.... I gave him his space but let him know that I was receptive to a friendship. FINALLY, after a month, Ranger came up to me on his own. YAY! That was the beginning of our adventure in developing a fantastic relationship. Ranger's first obedience beginner group training class was a bust. He spent 90% of the time under my chair and refused to walk to the center of the room to perform the training exercises. He did graduate :).
Ranger has blossomed and our relationship continues to grow stronger. Ranger is instrumental in teaching my foster dogs proper manners and is the goofy "Fun Uncle" to all of them. After many harrowing hikes, my husband, Doug, says Ranger is the best on-leash hiking partner, with a steady pace, and with no fear of humans. Ranger has brought so much love and fun to our home. Thank you BCRNC! I am so grateful to you for rescuing this wonderful pup and for the network of people who helped Ranger and I become lifelong buddies and a team of two! Sue Crafts
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Desmond
- We met Copper on the Border Collie rescue website. He was recently rescued from a Central Valley farm with his littermates and mother. The farm owners had not provided the pups with shelter and their feed was being scattered in the fields.
With so many interested in the lil guy, we doubted we would be his guardians. Fate brought us together. Copper was renamed Desmond and moved to San Francisco. In return, he promised to give us 1,000 kisses a day. Little did we know Desmond was in need of serious medical care.
Within a month, his cheerful puppy play waned as pain, limping, and high fevers paralyzed his body. Weighing less than 16 pounds, Desmond was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD), an autoimmune disorder attacking his bone growth, a rare diagnosis as it is usually only found in large breed dogs. For months he suffered through weekly vet specialist visits, x-rays and carefully monitored behavior all to avoid painful surgery. In January he celebrated a major milestone: his first birthday. At this point his growth stopped and HOD should have been a thing of the past.
But in March we noticed Desmond's sweet kisses had turned sour. Actually, he could clear a room with a whiff of his breath. The vet said he needed 2 teeth extracted. Perhaps the steroids he was on for HOD affected his teeth? The problem was that we could not get an appointment within the 5 Bay Area counties until mid-April. So we waited and watched Desmond deteriorate. Daily his teeth grew problematic, and bloody drool and other signs of infection made Desmond's situation urgent.
With great luck an appointment became available for Desmond on April 3rd. Unfortunately, his luck ran out in the operating room. Once he was sedated and x-rayed, the vet determined Desmond needed 9 teeth - molars and pre-molars – extracted. And to make matters worse, he may have another autoimmune disease and case of HOD in his jaw! A simple tooth extraction turned into 7+ hours under the knife and a mountain of unexpected expenses!
Thankfully, Desmond made it through the surgery safely. While the swelling has subsided, we still await biopsy results and additional vet visits for his ongoing care. Based on his health history, Desmond is uninsurable and the expenses are mounting. A fundraising campaign has been established on Go Fund Me to help with current and projected expenses for Desmond. Any contributions will be used to ensure his continued care! Please help us get Desmond back to 1,000 kisses a day!
We are approaching May 3rd; our one year anniversary of meeting Desmond. Our wish for him is to have a year of good health! If there is one thing that is for certain it is that Desmond is a fighter! With each obstacle he faced this past year, from HOD to having multiple teeth pulled, he has been an amazing patient. His will to survive is strong and desire to be enjoying life is immeasurable.
The past few weeks have been kind to Desmond. He fully recovered from dental surgery and is slowly learning to have his teeth brushed. Thankfully, the vets did not find anything additional to report from the x-rays and biopsied tissue. For the time being Desmond is in the clear, pain free, and able to resume being a puppy.
Each day Desmond becomes more animated and playful. His favorite word is outside -- he enjoys any outdoor activity from city walks to visits to the beach, from playing on our roof deck to hikes around the Bay Area and trips to Tahoe. He loves to play fetch and is also learning to swim. Desmond enjoys wrestling with his sister Olivia, who is twice his size, and stealing all of her toys and treats.
We thank you for bringing us together, for all of your encouragement over the past year that Desmond would pull through like a champ, and for sharing his story with your followers. If you were in the same room as Desmond he would give you 1000 kisses!
We thank you for bringing us together, for all of your encouragement over the past year that Desmond would pull through like a champ, and for sharing his story with your followers. If you were in the same room as Desmond he would give you 1000 kisses!
Danny Boy
In January 2010, we arranged to pick up a rescue dog named Danny Boy.. Danny Boy was found wandering the country roads of Merced County. He was picked up by animal control and turned over to BCRNC. He had a terrible case of mange. His foster mom took excellent care of him and at one point thought she might keep the big lug. We saw his picture on the BCRNC site and fell in love with his goofy photo and figured he would fit right in with our motley crew of dogs, cats, chickens and the visiting cows. When we arrived at his foster home, we were introduced to Danny and he immediately ran to get his Wubba toy. I thought we were going to play toss and return, but no, he only wanted to play tug of war. Such a strong dog he was and is. Playing fetch is not his thing, but keep away and tug are favorites. When he is tired of this game, or hot, he immediately jumps into the fountain or pond to cool off, regardless of the weather or event going on here.
Danny fit in well with our other dogs. A border collie named Sadie and a beagle named Bagel who walked on to our property and stayed after his ranch family moved and left him. Danny does not enjoy the company of cats but after the barn cat slapped him around a bit, he learned to tolerate them. Sadie is a herding dog and taught Danny how to herd the chickens. Now, the chickens are another story - when we turn the mowing tractor on, Danny would run and grab a chicken like a football and take off running with it. A few of the chickens didn't make the end run, but he loosened his grip over time and now when he drops them they usually just shake it off and hide until Danny would go in for dinner. After these many years of being used like a play toy, the chickens head for the coop as soon as the tractor starts and they see him come running. One of his other oddities is the sight of a turkey vulture flying overhead. There must be a history we don't know about because he will bark at the turkey vultures and chase them until they cross our fence line. He also watches the big hay mowers on the property to the north of us as if he should be in the cab with the driver. We do believe he came from a working farm given that he is not at all bothered by the noise of the tractors or other farm equipment.
Danny is with us no matter where we are working. He has really attached himself to Dad, but hangs with Mom if he is worried about her safety or when Dad is not home. He is a mellow 70 lb big boy and will sometimes decide he needs to sit in your lap. He greets our vineyard guests with a happy smile and if a little child is there he immediately drops down and rolls on his back for a belly rub. In fact, we have gotten letters from parents telling us how their children were so afraid of dogs until they met Danny Boy. After the first meeting with him, they wanted a dog just like him. We have had other people tell us they would like to have a dog, but they want it to be just like Danny Boy!
Danny is famous or infamous. His photo is on our wine labels. All of our dogs end up as our models for our wine labels, and Danny Boy is such a beautiful dog, that he has become a favorite the last few years. He is also a big help in running the vineyard. He and Sadie team up to capture ground squirrels, raccoons, let us know when a snake is in the grass, a skunk is slinking around, when the cows are pressing against the fence or when a predator is about. He has a particular bark for each kind of threat, so we know when it is important to go take a look.
Danny Boy is such a great dog. We have enjoyed him from day one and cannot thank BCRNC enough for doing such a great job with your rescue services.
Danny is famous or infamous. His photo is on our wine labels. All of our dogs end up as our models for our wine labels, and Danny Boy is such a beautiful dog, that he has become a favorite the last few years. He is also a big help in running the vineyard. He and Sadie team up to capture ground squirrels, raccoons, let us know when a snake is in the grass, a skunk is slinking around, when the cows are pressing against the fence or when a predator is about. He has a particular bark for each kind of threat, so we know when it is important to go take a look.
Danny Boy is such a great dog. We have enjoyed him from day one and cannot thank BCRNC enough for doing such a great job with your rescue services.
Bella
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I lost my 17-1/4 yr old Border Collie/Basenji mix on Jan 3, 2014 she was simply amazing, a frisbee star and my best friend. My heart was simply broken, but living alone and remembering all the joy she had given me, I could not imagine my life without another and i searched websites and came across BCRNC...it lightened my heavy heart to see the adopted faces and read the success stories...and then I came across "Bella" a petite young border collie at 28 pds. When I emailed Terri, we had thought she would be adopted that day, but fortunately for me the dog she would be sharing a home with did not get along. Thank goodness Terri thought we would make a perfect fit...that was March 25, 2014 and now almost a year later, I cannot imagine life without her! The name suits her, she is beautiful and has the most unique markings. But it was not an easy beginning, thank you Terri for your guidance and the two extra wks;-)). We didn't know much of her past, but with those BC smarts that heighten sensitivity, I could tell she must have been very traumatized. She drooled a bucket from anxiety, especially a car ride and would get car sick, she terrorized most every dog she met and barked at most people. When I took a good look at her teeth, I noticed one missing and the others in need of a good cleaning, the trust she showed in letting me clean them, was amazing. I actually only felt comfortable introducing her to dogs at dog parks with a muzzle but with the help of kind hearted dog lovers she in no time became socialized in both large and small dog areas, gaining confidence with the large dogs and allowing the small ones to nip at and chase her. From the start, when I took her off leash she stayed close, and when she ventures a bit, she always checks in. She is a fast learner and definitely will try to be the alpha, so I need to keep her In ck., but now she's not afraid of people, there is no more drooling from anxiety and even jumps in the car, knowing it will always take her to some new place and adventure; hiking, going to the beach, visiting her pack friends, stopping at various wide open grassy locations where she can run fast, (and I mean fast) and free after her ball (what would I do without that ball thrower)...we are blessed to have so many people and dog friends in our lives that helped socialize, showed patience and who cared enough and wanted to help to successfully instill in Bella a happy, confident, fun loving, loyal friend and companion. Bless them and Terri for all you do. Denise and Bella
Shelby
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My husband and I adopted Shelby (formerly known as Sandy) in April 2014, and she has been the center of our universe since then.
We had been looking to adopt a Border Collie for over 6 months, but it was hard to find the perfect dog for our family, as we required several criteria that can be hard to find in a Border Collie. We wanted a dog who would get along with our 6 year-old cat (Mei-Mei), my parents’ 2-year old Maltipoo (Boba), as well as our friends’ young children who would often come visit. We wanted a high energy dog who we could run, mountain bike, and hike with on weekends, but who would be mellow enough to stay at home for part of the day while we were at work.
One Saturday, we saw Shelby posted on the website and immediately knew she was the one. We loved her unique look and temperament. She had the body of a Border Collie, the face and coloring of a Sheltie, one straight ear and one floppy ear. She was described as a low to medium energy girl who got along with other dogs and was scared of her foster mom’s cat (literally trembling when the cat rubbed against her). Sounded like the perfect dog for first-time Border Collie owners. We met Shelby a few days later, and fell in love with her right away. She was the one that we had been waiting for, and boy was she worth the wait!
We had been looking to adopt a Border Collie for over 6 months, but it was hard to find the perfect dog for our family, as we required several criteria that can be hard to find in a Border Collie. We wanted a dog who would get along with our 6 year-old cat (Mei-Mei), my parents’ 2-year old Maltipoo (Boba), as well as our friends’ young children who would often come visit. We wanted a high energy dog who we could run, mountain bike, and hike with on weekends, but who would be mellow enough to stay at home for part of the day while we were at work.
One Saturday, we saw Shelby posted on the website and immediately knew she was the one. We loved her unique look and temperament. She had the body of a Border Collie, the face and coloring of a Sheltie, one straight ear and one floppy ear. She was described as a low to medium energy girl who got along with other dogs and was scared of her foster mom’s cat (literally trembling when the cat rubbed against her). Sounded like the perfect dog for first-time Border Collie owners. We met Shelby a few days later, and fell in love with her right away. She was the one that we had been waiting for, and boy was she worth the wait!
We’ve had Shelby for 9 months now, and our love for her grows more and more every day. She has blossomed from a shy little girl who was afraid to go upstairs and didn’t know how to play with toys to a confident, vivacious, frisbee-catching speed racer who steals the hearts of everyone who meets her. She is a gentle soul who loves all people, dogs, and children. She even loves our cat, Mei-Mei, and tries to play with her all the time, although Mei-Mei has no interest in playing with Shelby.
We’ve discovered that Shelby loves the outdoors, especially hiking, mountain biking, and going to the beach. She loves to run off leash, taking in the smells of the world, but always checks in periodically to make sure we aren’t far behind. At the beach, she loves to play in the water and herd other dogs when they become too rambunctious. We even bought Shelby a little backpack so she could carry water for us, giving her a job and sense of purpose. Whenever we go on outings, Shelby smiles and holds her tail high in the sky, letting us know that she’s having the time of her life.
Recently, we adopted a little brother (Jasper) for Shelby, and she loves having a playmate at home. They wrestle and play tug-of-war all day long, then groom each other before snuggling together at night. Jasper now entertains Shelby enough that she no longer tries to play with Mei-Mei, who is more than happy to be left alone.
We feel truly blessed to have Shelby in our lives, and we cannot wait to see what adventures the future has in store for us. The best is yet to come. Thank you, BCRNC, for giving these amazing dogs a second chance at happiness and for giving us the opportunity to adopt this sweet, precious girl. Keep up the great work!
We feel truly blessed to have Shelby in our lives, and we cannot wait to see what adventures the future has in store for us. The best is yet to come. Thank you, BCRNC, for giving these amazing dogs a second chance at happiness and for giving us the opportunity to adopt this sweet, precious girl. Keep up the great work!
Roo
>>"Luck was on our side in bringing Roo into our lives. We had a big trip we'd planned for several years, and we promised ourselves that when we got back home, we'd start looking for a Border Collie, and take our time to find the right dog. I couldn't resist taking a look at the BCRNC website almost as soon as we got home in late May --- and there she was.
>> We wanted a small female border collie, around 35 pounds --- she was 32. We liked her looks and liked the description of her, and liked it that she was young --- just about a year old. When it turned out we were in time to ask for her, and we got to meet her, we were sure. Smitten. Six months later and it's hard to imagine life without her.
>> We wanted an affectionate dog who would be tuned in to us --- she showed bonding early on and it's deepened steadily. We wanted a dog who could be calm in the house after she'd had her action --- she showed that ability (briefly in the first days, and as she's learned that there will always be chances for running, more and more). We wanted a dog who'd be friendly to our friends; she loves to meet new people and is very affectionate. We wanted a bright dog who enjoyed learning; she's definitely that.
>> We'd had a border collie before, so we knew the pluses (affection, intelligence, loyalty, joy in learning) and the potential minuses (need for vigorous activity and structure). Since we live on a large piece of land, meadow and woods, with more woods all around, there was room for her activity. I've trained my own dogs in obedience and simple tricks starting when I was a pre-teen so I knew how to do that as part of our everyday events. Paul didn't have dogs as a child (brother with asthma ruled out furry creatures) but over our decades together he's learned to understand and enjoy dog life.
>> Our first border collie, years ago, wanted to be a one-person dog (though we each had some business trips to make during her first months with us, and after switching her Chosen One several times, she gave up and loved us both equally). Roo didn't seem to find that such a hard decision; since we were both here for her, she's here for us both.
>> We're not interested in dog competitions; just not our style. But basic obedience is important, and learning other commands is fun and increases our bonding. She seemed to already know "sit" and "lie down" --- in our first casual training session she was doing both of those, and within a day or so could do them to either spoken command or hand signal. "Stay" was a little harder; for a long time, she'd do it but clearly felt she was being scolded, showed shame. Eventually, as she learned more tricks she understood that was one of them, and one she performs cheerfully and capably.
>> A neighbor suggested "give me a paw" and Roo didn't know what he meant. She learned in three short sessions; making it the RIGHT paw took a little longer (well, Paul is left-handed, so she doesn't want to discriminate). I taught her to "curtsy" (classic stretch, paws out, rump in air) by rewarding her every time I saw her do it while saying the word --- frequency increased immediately, and within a week she was doing it to spoken command or signal. "Beg" was much harder for her; her balance was no good for sitting up on her rump and she'd just fall over, but by then she understood that it was a Trick, and she kept at it; now she does it sweetly. Recently she's learned that one hand high in the air means drop to the ground and stay; she's pretty much got that now, though we'll work more on doing it at a distance.
>> It hasn't been totally problem-free. She's still puppy enough to love chewing, and she has chewed on a few inappropriate things. Several books (we have so many, and these were on the floor leaning up against a bookcase). Some sticks pulled out of the kindling box next to the fireplace. The box of grout for the tiling of the fireplace surround; what a mess that was! And worst: a bit of one corner of the needlepoint footstool that belonged to Paul's grandparents (that went up to a top shelf in a closet for a few months, and we'll be very careful as we re-introduce it). A variety of chew-toys (Kongs and thick chew-ropes are the best) have helped hugely (bonus: shining white teeth!), though we still occasionally find a piece of kindling out on the floor. It didn't get there by itself. Also, she's still learning not to greet guests by jumping up on them; she's better, but far from perfect. Patience and persistence; she'll get there.
>> Since August we've been casually doing Agility, with so far three jumps, a bench, a tire, and a tunnel. This all came to her very quickly. Tire was the hardest for reasons we don't fully understand, but she's got it now. She's tuned in; we can vary the order and she listens; she can go out ahead of us (we're too slow to keep up) with "Jump -- jump -- bench!" and she sits on the bench panting and happy as we catch up. A treat is very welcome, but that's not what she's doing it for.
>> She's done another thing for us: since walks are a daily pleasure and requirement, all the paths around our place have been renewed, and getting out there has inspired us to do a huge amount of brush-clearing, reducing the fire load for our place. We've each lost weight and added muscle, welcome any time, but even more so now in our 70s.
>> A good dog, Roo. We are blessed to have her in our lives."
>> We wanted a small female border collie, around 35 pounds --- she was 32. We liked her looks and liked the description of her, and liked it that she was young --- just about a year old. When it turned out we were in time to ask for her, and we got to meet her, we were sure. Smitten. Six months later and it's hard to imagine life without her.
>> We wanted an affectionate dog who would be tuned in to us --- she showed bonding early on and it's deepened steadily. We wanted a dog who could be calm in the house after she'd had her action --- she showed that ability (briefly in the first days, and as she's learned that there will always be chances for running, more and more). We wanted a dog who'd be friendly to our friends; she loves to meet new people and is very affectionate. We wanted a bright dog who enjoyed learning; she's definitely that.
>> We'd had a border collie before, so we knew the pluses (affection, intelligence, loyalty, joy in learning) and the potential minuses (need for vigorous activity and structure). Since we live on a large piece of land, meadow and woods, with more woods all around, there was room for her activity. I've trained my own dogs in obedience and simple tricks starting when I was a pre-teen so I knew how to do that as part of our everyday events. Paul didn't have dogs as a child (brother with asthma ruled out furry creatures) but over our decades together he's learned to understand and enjoy dog life.
>> Our first border collie, years ago, wanted to be a one-person dog (though we each had some business trips to make during her first months with us, and after switching her Chosen One several times, she gave up and loved us both equally). Roo didn't seem to find that such a hard decision; since we were both here for her, she's here for us both.
>> We're not interested in dog competitions; just not our style. But basic obedience is important, and learning other commands is fun and increases our bonding. She seemed to already know "sit" and "lie down" --- in our first casual training session she was doing both of those, and within a day or so could do them to either spoken command or hand signal. "Stay" was a little harder; for a long time, she'd do it but clearly felt she was being scolded, showed shame. Eventually, as she learned more tricks she understood that was one of them, and one she performs cheerfully and capably.
>> A neighbor suggested "give me a paw" and Roo didn't know what he meant. She learned in three short sessions; making it the RIGHT paw took a little longer (well, Paul is left-handed, so she doesn't want to discriminate). I taught her to "curtsy" (classic stretch, paws out, rump in air) by rewarding her every time I saw her do it while saying the word --- frequency increased immediately, and within a week she was doing it to spoken command or signal. "Beg" was much harder for her; her balance was no good for sitting up on her rump and she'd just fall over, but by then she understood that it was a Trick, and she kept at it; now she does it sweetly. Recently she's learned that one hand high in the air means drop to the ground and stay; she's pretty much got that now, though we'll work more on doing it at a distance.
>> It hasn't been totally problem-free. She's still puppy enough to love chewing, and she has chewed on a few inappropriate things. Several books (we have so many, and these were on the floor leaning up against a bookcase). Some sticks pulled out of the kindling box next to the fireplace. The box of grout for the tiling of the fireplace surround; what a mess that was! And worst: a bit of one corner of the needlepoint footstool that belonged to Paul's grandparents (that went up to a top shelf in a closet for a few months, and we'll be very careful as we re-introduce it). A variety of chew-toys (Kongs and thick chew-ropes are the best) have helped hugely (bonus: shining white teeth!), though we still occasionally find a piece of kindling out on the floor. It didn't get there by itself. Also, she's still learning not to greet guests by jumping up on them; she's better, but far from perfect. Patience and persistence; she'll get there.
>> Since August we've been casually doing Agility, with so far three jumps, a bench, a tire, and a tunnel. This all came to her very quickly. Tire was the hardest for reasons we don't fully understand, but she's got it now. She's tuned in; we can vary the order and she listens; she can go out ahead of us (we're too slow to keep up) with "Jump -- jump -- bench!" and she sits on the bench panting and happy as we catch up. A treat is very welcome, but that's not what she's doing it for.
>> She's done another thing for us: since walks are a daily pleasure and requirement, all the paths around our place have been renewed, and getting out there has inspired us to do a huge amount of brush-clearing, reducing the fire load for our place. We've each lost weight and added muscle, welcome any time, but even more so now in our 70s.
>> A good dog, Roo. We are blessed to have her in our lives."
Bonny
In the last two years, Bonny has changed (for the good), so tremendously! She is a true Frisbee dog, as you will see by the pictures below. She also has play dates with her Belgian Tervuren friends. You will not recognize her. She was 35 pounds, when I became her mom, and now weighs in at 52 pounds (but not overweight). She is a tall girl, and carries her weight well. Her veterinarian has remarked at her good health and temperament. Bonny went to the vet, a couple of weeks ago, for a routine checkup. When the vet was finished, Bonny held out her paw first, and shook her hand! I said to the vet, "Did you see what just happened?" She said, "Yes!" I was so amazed! Bonny is a therapy dog, with two clients who have actual prescriptions for her (for about the last year, or so...Remember, she replaced Coco, my incredible therapy dog). One of these clients was so devastated at Coco's passing, that I had to find an immediate replacement. He still mourns for Coco, as I do. But Bonny has really taken the edge off. Her work is performed at a low-income apartment complex. All of the tenants suffer from mental/physical disabilities. When Bonny comes into the courtyard, all of the clients, sitting there, mentally change from negative to positive behavior. You should see it! Her interaction with them is planned by her; She looks forward to it. We have a routine schedule. She knows when to be visiting people on the Bocce Ball court (a mascot, and therapy dog), then Frisbee time, then therapy dog for her prescription clients, and all others! We are just about to return to the Adult Day Care Center, where Coco went to every Friday. I know the clients (I call them kids) will be elated. The kids would write notes to their teacher, promising to display a good attitude all week, so on Friday they could PLAY WITH COCO!
One comment I would like to add about Bonny, she can be stubborn and willful! This is a trait of many BC's. When she doesn't want to do something, like take a bath, she sits down, like a donkey, locking all of her joints. I can't move her. Her feet dig into the carpet or ground. If she is on a smooth floor, then I pull her across the floor in the donkey position! If she is on carpet, I pick her up, but she remains stiff in the donkey position! Hence, we call her '"Donkey Dog" in these instances. She never wins, but we can't help but laugh at her extreme effort to resist.
Thank you for bringing this amazing dog into our lives,
One comment I would like to add about Bonny, she can be stubborn and willful! This is a trait of many BC's. When she doesn't want to do something, like take a bath, she sits down, like a donkey, locking all of her joints. I can't move her. Her feet dig into the carpet or ground. If she is on a smooth floor, then I pull her across the floor in the donkey position! If she is on carpet, I pick her up, but she remains stiff in the donkey position! Hence, we call her '"Donkey Dog" in these instances. She never wins, but we can't help but laugh at her extreme effort to resist.
Thank you for bringing this amazing dog into our lives,
Flynn
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In 2007, I adopted Flynn, formerly known as “Wasabi” from BC Rescue at 10 weeks old. Flynn was very fearful, particularly of people. Because he was born to ranch dogs, I thought his fear issues largely resulted from lack of socialization. I, therefore, worked diligently to expose him to many people and places in the first few months. His progress was slow – glacial speed – suggesting his fearfulness was genetic, not lack of socialization. In short, in the words of Lady Gaga, he was “born that way”. Fearfulness was not a good trait for a dog I hoped would be my next agility champion.
I consulted knowledgeable doggie friends and a local, respected behaviorist about how to help Flynn. I got good advice to help him with his fearfulness but still, the diagnosis was grim; it was unlikely that he would ever be able to handle competing in agility. I came close to giving up on making him an agility dog but I really, really, really did not want to get another dog. I figured I had 5 years before my other agility dog was 10 and it became critical to have a solid agility prospect. And so, I decided to keep trying.
At 1 year old I started him in private agility classes. While tentative at first in a new place, his confidence grew over time. My wonderful trainer slowly built up his confidence; it took a year of her feeding him treats before she could touch him. As we continued training, Flynn’s abilities started to come through. This dog was brilliant and loved agility where he felt comfortable! If only I could get him to function in public. At 2 years, I put him in his first agility trial. He was terrified but didn’t completely shut down. It was a start. I continued trialing him in just a couple classes a day at local trials. Pole setters, judges, leash runners, flapping canopies – all were scary. Sometimes he would shut down; sometimes he would move slowly through the course. Occasionally he would run the course. Progress was slow and followed that typical pattern of two steps forward one step back.
Then came a break-through. A NADAC judge suggested using a leash buddy. A leash buddy is like a personal leash runner – someone I designate to leash up my dog at the end of the run. Flynn had been slamming on the breaks at the last one or two obstacles of the course and running the other direction. The judge thought a leash buddy could help if he saw someone he knew at the end of the run. I pressed my spouse into service because Flynn loves her. It worked like a charm. Flynn not only started finishing courses but was actually running. Just having her in the ring instantly doubled his confidence. That was the boost we needed.
Progress was steady after that and Flynn started to show his brilliance. Flynn earned his NATCH (NADAC Agility Trial Champion) when he was five years old. Six months later Flynn and I earned our first Bonus run. (A Bonus is earned when the handler stays in a defined area and directs the dog through the entire course. This requires handling the dog at distances of 60 feet or more). This year, Flynn competed in the 2014 NADAC Championships in Salt Lake City. He was one of 17 dogs in the Starter Stakes division which requires at least one Bonus run to qualify. Out of 7 runs, he earned one 6th and one 7th place.
Flynn remains fearful of people but can handle it. He loves agility and is always eager to go and play even if it is a bit scary. At home, he just gets to be a dog. Snuggling on the couch. Running with mom. Playing Frisbee in the backyard. He is a special little boy. The best is yet to come.
I consulted knowledgeable doggie friends and a local, respected behaviorist about how to help Flynn. I got good advice to help him with his fearfulness but still, the diagnosis was grim; it was unlikely that he would ever be able to handle competing in agility. I came close to giving up on making him an agility dog but I really, really, really did not want to get another dog. I figured I had 5 years before my other agility dog was 10 and it became critical to have a solid agility prospect. And so, I decided to keep trying.
At 1 year old I started him in private agility classes. While tentative at first in a new place, his confidence grew over time. My wonderful trainer slowly built up his confidence; it took a year of her feeding him treats before she could touch him. As we continued training, Flynn’s abilities started to come through. This dog was brilliant and loved agility where he felt comfortable! If only I could get him to function in public. At 2 years, I put him in his first agility trial. He was terrified but didn’t completely shut down. It was a start. I continued trialing him in just a couple classes a day at local trials. Pole setters, judges, leash runners, flapping canopies – all were scary. Sometimes he would shut down; sometimes he would move slowly through the course. Occasionally he would run the course. Progress was slow and followed that typical pattern of two steps forward one step back.
Then came a break-through. A NADAC judge suggested using a leash buddy. A leash buddy is like a personal leash runner – someone I designate to leash up my dog at the end of the run. Flynn had been slamming on the breaks at the last one or two obstacles of the course and running the other direction. The judge thought a leash buddy could help if he saw someone he knew at the end of the run. I pressed my spouse into service because Flynn loves her. It worked like a charm. Flynn not only started finishing courses but was actually running. Just having her in the ring instantly doubled his confidence. That was the boost we needed.
Progress was steady after that and Flynn started to show his brilliance. Flynn earned his NATCH (NADAC Agility Trial Champion) when he was five years old. Six months later Flynn and I earned our first Bonus run. (A Bonus is earned when the handler stays in a defined area and directs the dog through the entire course. This requires handling the dog at distances of 60 feet or more). This year, Flynn competed in the 2014 NADAC Championships in Salt Lake City. He was one of 17 dogs in the Starter Stakes division which requires at least one Bonus run to qualify. Out of 7 runs, he earned one 6th and one 7th place.
Flynn remains fearful of people but can handle it. He loves agility and is always eager to go and play even if it is a bit scary. At home, he just gets to be a dog. Snuggling on the couch. Running with mom. Playing Frisbee in the backyard. He is a special little boy. The best is yet to come.
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Here is a Youtube of Flynn's Bonus run!
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Maddie
My journey with Maddie began in May, 2014. I lost my last BCRNC Border Collie at 13 years of age in March of 2013. I began my search for a new partner in June, 2013. Way too soon for me but I thought I would find my forever dog! Some were too big, some were too small, and some were just right, but too young or too old! Frustrating to say the least! I am a member of Lend A Heart Animal Assisted Therapy organization in Sacramento, so I needed to find a Border Collie that would handle therapy work. Not easy to find in this breed!!!
Then about March-April, 2014, I saw a post on Border Collie Rescue of Northern California’s web page about Maddie (her original name), a four year old female that will be available soon! She looked precious! So I immediately wrote BCRNC and asked if I might be considered the minute she became available for adoption. Maddie’s master had passed away and the family was unable to keep her so she came to Border Collie Rescue. On May 9, 2014 I traveled from Sacramento to Gilroy to meet her. I had not a doubt in my mind she was “The One!” When I first saw her, she was very furry, and needed to lose about 10 pounds! Not a concern for me, and Maddie seemed so very friendly, jumped right up in the back seat of my car and rode that way all the way home.
Now the work begins! She was put on a diet. When she first entered Rescue she weighed approximately 51 lbs. When I adopted her she had dropped to about 49 lbs. She has successfully dropped down to 40.5 lbs, which seems like a perfect weight for her. But what a time we had getting there! Each day, I would take her for short walks, just a couple blocks, 3 times a day so she would not stress her legs. Within 3 weeks, I had her walking two miles a day. Our daily walk goes along the American River. Did I mention Maddie probably had never seen a body of water larger than her drinking bowl! So each day, I would throw a stick in the river, only to watch it float down stream. She would drink and get her paws wet, but that was all! Then one hot day, she decided maybe she could put her whole head in the water and see what it was all about! She liked it. So every morning, it was a game to see how far I could get her out in the river! The first day she actually swam she came back to shore and I know in her heart she was giggling! I could see happiness all over her face!
Along with losing weight, we had a challenge of bicycles whizzing by, runners charging toward us, roller blades and skateboards rattling down the bike trail! All these things were new to Maddie. She would want to lunge and bark at them all. But with time and patience, she has developed perfect manners out on the busy bike trail. I began working with her to get her ready to become a therapy dog. She had all the qualities needed, I just needed to fine tune them. So we would go to Lowe’s Home Store, or Home Depot and roam the isles, letting customers that wanted to stop and visit with her. She did great! In July Maddie took her evaluation with Lend A Heart and she passed with flying colors! She actually performed better than I had dreamed she could! We have been visiting rest homes and libraries and she seems to enjoy it. As time goes on, my hope is Maddie will start visiting U. C. Davis Hospital, but we need a bit more under our belt! I think she will enjoy visiting with children in oncology or awaiting surgery.
Back to her weight and swimming…I tried early on taking her to a park and throwing a ball for her. She would fetch maybe one time and lay down. She needed that weight off her legs! So I stopped that activity. With our increased walking distance of 5 miles in the morning and 1.5 miles at night and she gets to swim for about 15 minutes at the river (and she has become an excellent swimmer) her weight is perfect, and she has a wonderful attitude about playing now. Maddie will begin her first of 3 Dock Jumping classes in mid-September!
With fall, the geese have arrived at our local park. Maddie’s recall is excellent so I thought why not give this a try. So one morning, nobody was around and I got her to sit and focus on the geese. My guess is she had no idea what they were. With one command, off she went like a bullet, running around the whole flock and then barking, getting all of them to fly off! She returns to me immediately without my even calling her. Even if other dogs or people are out in the park, she never fails on her recall. For the last two weeks, we have been doing this activity, but the flock is getting smaller and meeting further and further away from us, so with her diligence, her favorite sport will be eliminated soon!
I never dreamed that such a sweet dog would appear in my life! When I lost Bodie (formerly Glynn), I was completely heart broken. And when I was ready, the right dog came into my life! Maddie has warmed everyone’s heart she has met….except the mailman! She managed to chase him all the way to his truck one day! Other than him, she always stops and puts her nose up for someone to pet. At rest homes, with a command of “Touch” she puts her nose in the clients hand and gives a little lick to encourage a pet. She is always right at my side and the bond the two of us have developed is stronger than I ever imagined! She had developed a trust in me, and she will try just about whatever I ask her to do.
So in 5 months, Maddie has become everything I could dream of her becoming, and she just keeps on blossoming into more each day! Thank You Border Collie Rescue of Northern California for all that you do! Again, you told me exactly what I would be getting in both dogs I adopted from you, and you did not disappoint me!
Then about March-April, 2014, I saw a post on Border Collie Rescue of Northern California’s web page about Maddie (her original name), a four year old female that will be available soon! She looked precious! So I immediately wrote BCRNC and asked if I might be considered the minute she became available for adoption. Maddie’s master had passed away and the family was unable to keep her so she came to Border Collie Rescue. On May 9, 2014 I traveled from Sacramento to Gilroy to meet her. I had not a doubt in my mind she was “The One!” When I first saw her, she was very furry, and needed to lose about 10 pounds! Not a concern for me, and Maddie seemed so very friendly, jumped right up in the back seat of my car and rode that way all the way home.
Now the work begins! She was put on a diet. When she first entered Rescue she weighed approximately 51 lbs. When I adopted her she had dropped to about 49 lbs. She has successfully dropped down to 40.5 lbs, which seems like a perfect weight for her. But what a time we had getting there! Each day, I would take her for short walks, just a couple blocks, 3 times a day so she would not stress her legs. Within 3 weeks, I had her walking two miles a day. Our daily walk goes along the American River. Did I mention Maddie probably had never seen a body of water larger than her drinking bowl! So each day, I would throw a stick in the river, only to watch it float down stream. She would drink and get her paws wet, but that was all! Then one hot day, she decided maybe she could put her whole head in the water and see what it was all about! She liked it. So every morning, it was a game to see how far I could get her out in the river! The first day she actually swam she came back to shore and I know in her heart she was giggling! I could see happiness all over her face!
Along with losing weight, we had a challenge of bicycles whizzing by, runners charging toward us, roller blades and skateboards rattling down the bike trail! All these things were new to Maddie. She would want to lunge and bark at them all. But with time and patience, she has developed perfect manners out on the busy bike trail. I began working with her to get her ready to become a therapy dog. She had all the qualities needed, I just needed to fine tune them. So we would go to Lowe’s Home Store, or Home Depot and roam the isles, letting customers that wanted to stop and visit with her. She did great! In July Maddie took her evaluation with Lend A Heart and she passed with flying colors! She actually performed better than I had dreamed she could! We have been visiting rest homes and libraries and she seems to enjoy it. As time goes on, my hope is Maddie will start visiting U. C. Davis Hospital, but we need a bit more under our belt! I think she will enjoy visiting with children in oncology or awaiting surgery.
Back to her weight and swimming…I tried early on taking her to a park and throwing a ball for her. She would fetch maybe one time and lay down. She needed that weight off her legs! So I stopped that activity. With our increased walking distance of 5 miles in the morning and 1.5 miles at night and she gets to swim for about 15 minutes at the river (and she has become an excellent swimmer) her weight is perfect, and she has a wonderful attitude about playing now. Maddie will begin her first of 3 Dock Jumping classes in mid-September!
With fall, the geese have arrived at our local park. Maddie’s recall is excellent so I thought why not give this a try. So one morning, nobody was around and I got her to sit and focus on the geese. My guess is she had no idea what they were. With one command, off she went like a bullet, running around the whole flock and then barking, getting all of them to fly off! She returns to me immediately without my even calling her. Even if other dogs or people are out in the park, she never fails on her recall. For the last two weeks, we have been doing this activity, but the flock is getting smaller and meeting further and further away from us, so with her diligence, her favorite sport will be eliminated soon!
I never dreamed that such a sweet dog would appear in my life! When I lost Bodie (formerly Glynn), I was completely heart broken. And when I was ready, the right dog came into my life! Maddie has warmed everyone’s heart she has met….except the mailman! She managed to chase him all the way to his truck one day! Other than him, she always stops and puts her nose up for someone to pet. At rest homes, with a command of “Touch” she puts her nose in the clients hand and gives a little lick to encourage a pet. She is always right at my side and the bond the two of us have developed is stronger than I ever imagined! She had developed a trust in me, and she will try just about whatever I ask her to do.
So in 5 months, Maddie has become everything I could dream of her becoming, and she just keeps on blossoming into more each day! Thank You Border Collie Rescue of Northern California for all that you do! Again, you told me exactly what I would be getting in both dogs I adopted from you, and you did not disappoint me!
Anya
Dear Border Collie Rescue of Northern California, and foster Mom Carla and Dad Jack,
How can we ever thank you enough? We can’t, but please know Jacks and I will be forever grateful for your caring, for your loving, for your warmth and generosity, shown in your rescue of Anya; for giving her a second chance to become healthy and loving, and once again full of life, but most of all for teaching her how ‘to be a dog’ again! Anya formerly and still known as Anya, came into our lives one sunny afternoon. After a long drive with foster Mom to meet a prospective new forever Mom and brother Jacks. All met in a park near Jacks home. At first glance, forever Mom was certain she would be bringing Anya to her new home to stay forever. Anya, quite a little lady, pranced about, sniffed Jacks, Jacks sniffed her and off for a walk we went. After a meet and greet, playing with the dogs, the two dogs playing with each other, and the exchange of a host of stories, the deal was set. Anya’s forever home would be with her new Mom and brother Jacks. From the onset, Anya made herself comfortable in her new home. Jacks showed her what was important in the backyard, Mom’s garden, big plants, shade trees, doggie pool, and of course, their beds in what Mom calls the ‘kid’s room (a small add on covered room off the patio arranged just for the four legged kids). Anya ran around checking everything out, Jacks in tow. Once Jacks familiarized himself again with Anya the chase was on.. As border collies do, they ran and ran, chasing each other all over! They romped and rolled and played with each other and every toy they both could find. In and out of the yard and house, they went. New brother and new sister, and new forever Mom, everyone quite pleased with the making of this new family. Hearts were warm, love was in the air, kisses - doggie and Mommy’s - for each and everyone - all over everywhere! And, the love and life, for this newly made family has not stopped since. Each day is a new blessing. Each day, Anya is told and shown by Mom and Jacks, this her new home with her ‘forever’ family where she will be loved and cared for. Each day, we – Anya, Jacks and new Mom, love, play, laugh, they give chase, they run, and they roll. Jacks quickly became quite smitten by Anya, and she of him. They are now inseparable. When either is out of sight from the other, if asked ‘where is your sister’, Jacks goes looking for Anya. ‘Where is your brother’, Anya goes looking for Jacks. And what a pair of ‘watch’ dogs the two make – Anya and Jacks. No stranger passes by without ensuring Mom is aware. And, then there is the BC story telling. Do you know what it is like to experience two border collies talking to you at the same time? Music to a Mom’s ears, it is! Greeting Mom for just being out of their sight for a second, waking Mom for the morning walk or to go out and play, chattering in low groans or grumbles for dinner or a biscuit or the new toy they know you just brought home (still in the bag), telling of the birds feeding on the feeders, squirrels running the fence or the kids passing by on their way home from school, new ducks at the park or of the wakes in the river stream or lakes, noises and grumbles that come from their toes vocalized in their throats between soft barks, the ‘stories’ now being told by both Anya and Jacks. Our lives, Jacks and mine are blessed, with Anya joining our little family! We will be forever grateful to you and we will forever show our gratitude by ‘forever’ caring for and loving Anya – giving her all that she needs and then some, to continue living and enjoying life (once again) as a ‘dog’. Thank you.
How can we ever thank you enough? We can’t, but please know Jacks and I will be forever grateful for your caring, for your loving, for your warmth and generosity, shown in your rescue of Anya; for giving her a second chance to become healthy and loving, and once again full of life, but most of all for teaching her how ‘to be a dog’ again! Anya formerly and still known as Anya, came into our lives one sunny afternoon. After a long drive with foster Mom to meet a prospective new forever Mom and brother Jacks. All met in a park near Jacks home. At first glance, forever Mom was certain she would be bringing Anya to her new home to stay forever. Anya, quite a little lady, pranced about, sniffed Jacks, Jacks sniffed her and off for a walk we went. After a meet and greet, playing with the dogs, the two dogs playing with each other, and the exchange of a host of stories, the deal was set. Anya’s forever home would be with her new Mom and brother Jacks. From the onset, Anya made herself comfortable in her new home. Jacks showed her what was important in the backyard, Mom’s garden, big plants, shade trees, doggie pool, and of course, their beds in what Mom calls the ‘kid’s room (a small add on covered room off the patio arranged just for the four legged kids). Anya ran around checking everything out, Jacks in tow. Once Jacks familiarized himself again with Anya the chase was on.. As border collies do, they ran and ran, chasing each other all over! They romped and rolled and played with each other and every toy they both could find. In and out of the yard and house, they went. New brother and new sister, and new forever Mom, everyone quite pleased with the making of this new family. Hearts were warm, love was in the air, kisses - doggie and Mommy’s - for each and everyone - all over everywhere! And, the love and life, for this newly made family has not stopped since. Each day is a new blessing. Each day, Anya is told and shown by Mom and Jacks, this her new home with her ‘forever’ family where she will be loved and cared for. Each day, we – Anya, Jacks and new Mom, love, play, laugh, they give chase, they run, and they roll. Jacks quickly became quite smitten by Anya, and she of him. They are now inseparable. When either is out of sight from the other, if asked ‘where is your sister’, Jacks goes looking for Anya. ‘Where is your brother’, Anya goes looking for Jacks. And what a pair of ‘watch’ dogs the two make – Anya and Jacks. No stranger passes by without ensuring Mom is aware. And, then there is the BC story telling. Do you know what it is like to experience two border collies talking to you at the same time? Music to a Mom’s ears, it is! Greeting Mom for just being out of their sight for a second, waking Mom for the morning walk or to go out and play, chattering in low groans or grumbles for dinner or a biscuit or the new toy they know you just brought home (still in the bag), telling of the birds feeding on the feeders, squirrels running the fence or the kids passing by on their way home from school, new ducks at the park or of the wakes in the river stream or lakes, noises and grumbles that come from their toes vocalized in their throats between soft barks, the ‘stories’ now being told by both Anya and Jacks. Our lives, Jacks and mine are blessed, with Anya joining our little family! We will be forever grateful to you and we will forever show our gratitude by ‘forever’ caring for and loving Anya – giving her all that she needs and then some, to continue living and enjoying life (once again) as a ‘dog’. Thank you.
Kaylee
When I lost my Border Collie Harley in September 2012, I swore I would never get another dog. The end just hurts so much. But I still had too much doggy love to give. I went to the rescue website just to "look".
I saw a dog named Poppy, who we now call Kaylee.
She was the first picture on the first page. That beautiful face and big, sad brown eyes got me.
I looked at a lot of other dogs but kept going back to her.
I filled out an application and a few days later, my friend and I drove 3 hours to meet her. It was love at first sight.
She came home with me that day. April 19th 2013, which is now her birthday. We have had a few things to work on. There were a lot of potty accidents but with a lot of patience she learned where to go.
Her biggest test was the grandkids test. My 2 young grandkids (5 and 2) come over to visit a lot. She passed that test with flying colors! She loves those kids and they love her.
She adores her sister Trixie the cat, sometimes she doesn't understand why Trixie doesn't want to wrestle but they are good friends and like to take naps together.
She can't get enough love and attention, if daddy or I are sitting, she thinks it's our job to be petting, scratching, rubbing, hugging and kissing her. We are more than happy to oblige!
She's been such a joy. It's obvious that she wasn't treated well in her former life. When we first adopted her she would cower if anybody tried to pet her, then she would lie down and show her stomach in a submissive pose.
Those days are long gone!
Watching her blossom from a scared, timid little thing into a happy, loving, sweet, confident dog who loves everybody she meets has been one of the best experiences of my life.
From now on, I will only adopt rescue dogs.
Thank you for allowing me to be this beautiful girls mama.
Love from Kaylee and her family.
I saw a dog named Poppy, who we now call Kaylee.
She was the first picture on the first page. That beautiful face and big, sad brown eyes got me.
I looked at a lot of other dogs but kept going back to her.
I filled out an application and a few days later, my friend and I drove 3 hours to meet her. It was love at first sight.
She came home with me that day. April 19th 2013, which is now her birthday. We have had a few things to work on. There were a lot of potty accidents but with a lot of patience she learned where to go.
Her biggest test was the grandkids test. My 2 young grandkids (5 and 2) come over to visit a lot. She passed that test with flying colors! She loves those kids and they love her.
She adores her sister Trixie the cat, sometimes she doesn't understand why Trixie doesn't want to wrestle but they are good friends and like to take naps together.
She can't get enough love and attention, if daddy or I are sitting, she thinks it's our job to be petting, scratching, rubbing, hugging and kissing her. We are more than happy to oblige!
She's been such a joy. It's obvious that she wasn't treated well in her former life. When we first adopted her she would cower if anybody tried to pet her, then she would lie down and show her stomach in a submissive pose.
Those days are long gone!
Watching her blossom from a scared, timid little thing into a happy, loving, sweet, confident dog who loves everybody she meets has been one of the best experiences of my life.
From now on, I will only adopt rescue dogs.
Thank you for allowing me to be this beautiful girls mama.
Love from Kaylee and her family.
Henry
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(Click on Henry's photo to see his puppy photos!)
In 2009 I was looking for a new companion, a new dog to do agility with. I wasn’t having much luck. I tried two dogs that didn’t work out in my household. Dogs I liked in BC Rescue were adopted before I could show interest in them, etc. But then someone suggested a dog that wasn’t on the WEB site, a tri BC who had been returned. A dog with a past. It took a few months to meet him, but I finally made the trip to Gilroy with my old girl Lucy in tow. Lucy get’s final approval. Lucy approved and we ended up taking MacHenry home that day. That was the beginning of six months of negotiations between Henry and I about who was in charge of what. We finally settled on he was allowed to protect me from the Boogey Man and I took care of everything else. Henry is an excellent traveler, he attended the 2011 CPE Nationals in Minnesota but he wasn’t ready to compete yet. Henry started training in agility – he wasn’t thrilled. He wanted to be wherever I was but he didn’t like to work up a sweat by actually working. He thought sheep were Labradoodles and wanted to play with them so no herding for us. Henry has been competing in Agility since 2010. However we learned that shortly after he started that Henry wasn’t built to jump for his measured 20” jump height. He was checked out by the vet, x-rayed, etc and nothing is wrong. Henry is just a big boy with big bones and a big rump to get over a jump. He will refuse jumping after one run, so I take every break I can get to lower his jump height. At the lower jump height, Henry is much faster, loves contacts, hates weaves, and is a great distance dog. He attended the CPE Nationals in Washington in 2012 – not a stellar performance but it was his first time running in a National event. He got his Specialist CATCH (CPE Agility Team Champion) in 2012 and is working on his CPE Specialist CATE - only a few hundred points to go. He is also working on his NADAC Skilled NATCH. Henry also has his CGC and his AKC Community Canine titles. He is so easy going in a crowd he is often used as the distraction dog for CGC testing. Henry loves to go to agility trials because of all the people who will pet and cuddle with him. It’s a safe place where no one will hurt him. Henry is very popular with children in the park as well, many a child has snuggled up to his fluffy black butt to take a nap. As long as he knows where Mom is, life is cool in Henry’s world. And Lucy still approves.
In 2009 I was looking for a new companion, a new dog to do agility with. I wasn’t having much luck. I tried two dogs that didn’t work out in my household. Dogs I liked in BC Rescue were adopted before I could show interest in them, etc. But then someone suggested a dog that wasn’t on the WEB site, a tri BC who had been returned. A dog with a past. It took a few months to meet him, but I finally made the trip to Gilroy with my old girl Lucy in tow. Lucy get’s final approval. Lucy approved and we ended up taking MacHenry home that day. That was the beginning of six months of negotiations between Henry and I about who was in charge of what. We finally settled on he was allowed to protect me from the Boogey Man and I took care of everything else. Henry is an excellent traveler, he attended the 2011 CPE Nationals in Minnesota but he wasn’t ready to compete yet. Henry started training in agility – he wasn’t thrilled. He wanted to be wherever I was but he didn’t like to work up a sweat by actually working. He thought sheep were Labradoodles and wanted to play with them so no herding for us. Henry has been competing in Agility since 2010. However we learned that shortly after he started that Henry wasn’t built to jump for his measured 20” jump height. He was checked out by the vet, x-rayed, etc and nothing is wrong. Henry is just a big boy with big bones and a big rump to get over a jump. He will refuse jumping after one run, so I take every break I can get to lower his jump height. At the lower jump height, Henry is much faster, loves contacts, hates weaves, and is a great distance dog. He attended the CPE Nationals in Washington in 2012 – not a stellar performance but it was his first time running in a National event. He got his Specialist CATCH (CPE Agility Team Champion) in 2012 and is working on his CPE Specialist CATE - only a few hundred points to go. He is also working on his NADAC Skilled NATCH. Henry also has his CGC and his AKC Community Canine titles. He is so easy going in a crowd he is often used as the distraction dog for CGC testing. Henry loves to go to agility trials because of all the people who will pet and cuddle with him. It’s a safe place where no one will hurt him. Henry is very popular with children in the park as well, many a child has snuggled up to his fluffy black butt to take a nap. As long as he knows where Mom is, life is cool in Henry’s world. And Lucy still approves.
Isaiah
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Isaiah remains the life-affirming, exhilarating ball of energy that he arrived to us as, many years ago. He approaches each day with incredible enthusiasm and excitement. He passed the SPCA "Just the Basics" class in June, 2010. Izzy loves to play fetch or run around dogs playing fetch, with his ball in his mouth. He immediately became known at Precita Park and Potrero Del Sol as "the fastest dog at the park." He is banned from Pooches Playtime for injuring an overzealous lap dog over a toy. He does not like to be herded or restricted from running. He is a good boy who requires frequent exercise and attention, and exhibits great focus in his behavior. He loves to be around people, receive and obey commands, and earn praise. He has many human and dog friends. Isaiah is now 5 years old and lives in San Francisco, CA. His favorite outings are to McLaren Park, Muscle Rock Beach, and anywhere he can frolic and sprint without boundaries.
Isaiah is our constant companion and exudes love and warmth towards all humans, and we are blessed to have him in our pack!
Isaiah is our constant companion and exudes love and warmth towards all humans, and we are blessed to have him in our pack!
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Luka
Luka came into my life one year ago. After the death of my Border Collie Maggie in 2012, I thought that I would likely seek the companionship of another BC, but after looking at the beautiful darlings every Saturday at BCRNC's adoptions at Pawformance, I just hadn't felt that zing to my heart that I wanted.....Until Heather Smith brought Luka to meet me. It was an instant connection and love at first sight !!
Luka Bloom is truly the kindest, happiest and most loving dog I have known. He is smart, funny and endearing. Though he has some herding instinct, he is happiest gently playing with Tabby the Cat or being a lap dog. And At 35 pounds, he is just the right size for a lap dog! Playing in the house or fetching a ball, running at the dog park or taking a leisurely stroll, Luka is determined to make the event FUN. He is a joy to spend time with.
He is becoming the official "office dog," at work, cheerfully greeting clients. At the end of the workday, though, he is ready to head for home and anxious for playtime.
My life had been graced by the presence of Luka.
Thank you Border Collie Rescue for bringing this precious boy into my life.
Theresa
Luka Bloom is truly the kindest, happiest and most loving dog I have known. He is smart, funny and endearing. Though he has some herding instinct, he is happiest gently playing with Tabby the Cat or being a lap dog. And At 35 pounds, he is just the right size for a lap dog! Playing in the house or fetching a ball, running at the dog park or taking a leisurely stroll, Luka is determined to make the event FUN. He is a joy to spend time with.
He is becoming the official "office dog," at work, cheerfully greeting clients. At the end of the workday, though, he is ready to head for home and anxious for playtime.
My life had been graced by the presence of Luka.
Thank you Border Collie Rescue for bringing this precious boy into my life.
Theresa
Archer formerly known as Cloud
Our Archer (formerly "Cloud) is without a doubt the most intuitive, most genuine hearted, sweetest souled animal I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. We saw all of this in his eyes when we first met him, but the only thing this dog knew about himself back then, now 8 months ago, was that he was aching for somebody to love and he had zero confidence about how to go about it.
The first couple of months we had him home were certainly a challenge. His initial separation anxiety had us fearing that we did not have the resources or adequate time to try to help him out. He hated getting into the car and he would absolutely panic if we left him alone even for 30 seconds. Through a slow process entailing a combination of endless amounts of of love, patience, training, and reassurance, Archer learned he finally wasn't going to get left behind anymore. We would always come home for him.
Through a fabulous positive reinforcement training program in our area, we learned how to implement and reinforce training strategies that boosted his confidence tremendously and allowed him to come out of his shell at his own pace. Within the first three weeks of classes, Archer went from a shy rescue dog, anxious about humans and other dogs, to a total social butterfly. Also by this time his separation anxiety had diminished completely. We graduated from Obedience Basics and enrolled in Agility Foundations and then subsequent Agility Intro classes through our training program and he was just a star the whole way through.
Once he figured out how, he realized how much fun it is to learn and now knows a menagerie of tricks, including "Yoga" (bow), "Spin," "Paw," "Weave" (through legs), and "Tunnel," as well as very solid recall, "Wait," "Bed," "Sit," "Down," "Stay," "Let's go" (jump into the car), and loose leash walking behaviors. You can always tell his doggie brain is thinking, "How can I please my human right now?" He has such a sweet, quiet demeanor and has only barked a handful of times when he has really wanted to alert us of something he has heard outside in the night. When he is happy to see us or generally excited about something, he "happy talks" and does a happy dance by stepping with his front paws and wiggling his whole body. It's a joy. We brought home a Mini American Shepherd puppy ("Finli") a couple of months ago and Archer has been the most stellar, patient, accepting big brother to him. They are a pair of gems together.
Nowadays, Archer's favorite thing is going for car rides. He can't wait to see what adventures await him each time. He does his happy dance and "happy talks" whenever I grab the keys and say, "Let's go!" He can't get enough runs and hikes in the park, can't get enough of pet supply stores, can't get enough of hanging out at the training center, can't get enough of LIFE! It has been such a pleasure to be a part of this dog's journey and to watch him blossom. I have learned so much about myself and dogs through working with him. He has such an appreciative, grateful doggie soul and infectiously happy spirit. I will never know a human/dog bond more rewarding than the one I have with him.
He is my heart dog, and I am eternally grateful to BCRNC for rescuing him and giving us the opportunity to meet and love this very special boy. We are so proud of him. Josie.
The first couple of months we had him home were certainly a challenge. His initial separation anxiety had us fearing that we did not have the resources or adequate time to try to help him out. He hated getting into the car and he would absolutely panic if we left him alone even for 30 seconds. Through a slow process entailing a combination of endless amounts of of love, patience, training, and reassurance, Archer learned he finally wasn't going to get left behind anymore. We would always come home for him.
Through a fabulous positive reinforcement training program in our area, we learned how to implement and reinforce training strategies that boosted his confidence tremendously and allowed him to come out of his shell at his own pace. Within the first three weeks of classes, Archer went from a shy rescue dog, anxious about humans and other dogs, to a total social butterfly. Also by this time his separation anxiety had diminished completely. We graduated from Obedience Basics and enrolled in Agility Foundations and then subsequent Agility Intro classes through our training program and he was just a star the whole way through.
Once he figured out how, he realized how much fun it is to learn and now knows a menagerie of tricks, including "Yoga" (bow), "Spin," "Paw," "Weave" (through legs), and "Tunnel," as well as very solid recall, "Wait," "Bed," "Sit," "Down," "Stay," "Let's go" (jump into the car), and loose leash walking behaviors. You can always tell his doggie brain is thinking, "How can I please my human right now?" He has such a sweet, quiet demeanor and has only barked a handful of times when he has really wanted to alert us of something he has heard outside in the night. When he is happy to see us or generally excited about something, he "happy talks" and does a happy dance by stepping with his front paws and wiggling his whole body. It's a joy. We brought home a Mini American Shepherd puppy ("Finli") a couple of months ago and Archer has been the most stellar, patient, accepting big brother to him. They are a pair of gems together.
Nowadays, Archer's favorite thing is going for car rides. He can't wait to see what adventures await him each time. He does his happy dance and "happy talks" whenever I grab the keys and say, "Let's go!" He can't get enough runs and hikes in the park, can't get enough of pet supply stores, can't get enough of hanging out at the training center, can't get enough of LIFE! It has been such a pleasure to be a part of this dog's journey and to watch him blossom. I have learned so much about myself and dogs through working with him. He has such an appreciative, grateful doggie soul and infectiously happy spirit. I will never know a human/dog bond more rewarding than the one I have with him.
He is my heart dog, and I am eternally grateful to BCRNC for rescuing him and giving us the opportunity to meet and love this very special boy. We are so proud of him. Josie.
McKinley formerly known as Bryte
We wanted to give you an update on McKinley (formerly Bryte), the beautiful red and white border collie we adopted back on October 1, 2013. She was one in a litter of six found in a box along the highway. And, I can’t begin to tell you how much joy she has brought to our home. Yes, she’s now a nine month old puppy, with still a few bad puppy habits, like digging, eating bark, and stealing away shoes, socks, and other laundry pieces. But, those are minor to the laughter and joy she brings us each day. And she does truly make us laugh! No longer is McKinley the scared, shy, and aloof puppy we brought home. She has blossomed into a beautiful, affectionate, and funny dog. Her funniest moments are when she is stalking us! McKinley loves to follow us into the closet, or peer at us around a corner, crouched down, ready to pounce. And when she does, she looks just like a leaping deer. We are convinced she learned this from the deer she often saw running on Sandy’s (her foster mom’s) property! It is the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen.
McKinley has come so far in such a short period of time. When we brought her
home, she was so afraid of EVERYTHING! She wouldn’t come anywhere near any of
us, willingly, and she cowered under the table or anywhere else she could find
to hide. Her beautiful white tail lived tucked under her little pink belly. She was skittish of every noise and ran to the door every time she was outside and heard cars, kids, or general street noise. Now, just five months later, she is a happy, energetic, and playful puppy, who loves people! She is still very submissive when meeting new people, so we greet them outside, for now. And, she is still somewhat skittish around other dogs. But, she loves here play days at the dog park where she can practice getting to know other dogs and continue to gain her confidence. She loves to meet the other dog owners and always finds someone to hide under when she’s escaping the other dogs! She loves her daily walks and loves to ride in the car, where she can be close to our family. We have learned that McKinley loves vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, and lettuce! She loves to watch while I prepare breakfast for our bunny, hoping for a little snack herself. She also loves to be talked too! You can just see her processing every word you say to see if she recognizes one she is familiar with. The little tilts of the head and concentration in her eyes shows her willingness to learn.
McKinley hangs out with mom mostly during the day, finding comfort in the
little nook area under the computer desk, right at mom’s feet. When she gets a
burst of energy, she’ll dig out one of her favorite fetch toys and entice us
into a game of keep-away. She often crawls up on my arm while I’m working at
the computer, and chews her favorite toys right there! Of course, when anyone
gets up, McKinley follows. Must be her herding instinct, making sure she always
knows where everyone is.
For being still very young, McKinley is surprisingly well behaved. She’s a
pretty good listener and generally comes when she’s called. We’re working on
learning some basic commands, and she now knows “sit,” “stay,” “leave it,”
walk,” “ride,” “place,” “kiss,” and “night night.” And we’re working on “down.”
We are so happy that we looked at a rescue adoption and are so glad to have McKinley as part of our family. We look forward to many years with her making us laugh and her continuing to learn!
McKinley has come so far in such a short period of time. When we brought her
home, she was so afraid of EVERYTHING! She wouldn’t come anywhere near any of
us, willingly, and she cowered under the table or anywhere else she could find
to hide. Her beautiful white tail lived tucked under her little pink belly. She was skittish of every noise and ran to the door every time she was outside and heard cars, kids, or general street noise. Now, just five months later, she is a happy, energetic, and playful puppy, who loves people! She is still very submissive when meeting new people, so we greet them outside, for now. And, she is still somewhat skittish around other dogs. But, she loves here play days at the dog park where she can practice getting to know other dogs and continue to gain her confidence. She loves to meet the other dog owners and always finds someone to hide under when she’s escaping the other dogs! She loves her daily walks and loves to ride in the car, where she can be close to our family. We have learned that McKinley loves vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, and lettuce! She loves to watch while I prepare breakfast for our bunny, hoping for a little snack herself. She also loves to be talked too! You can just see her processing every word you say to see if she recognizes one she is familiar with. The little tilts of the head and concentration in her eyes shows her willingness to learn.
McKinley hangs out with mom mostly during the day, finding comfort in the
little nook area under the computer desk, right at mom’s feet. When she gets a
burst of energy, she’ll dig out one of her favorite fetch toys and entice us
into a game of keep-away. She often crawls up on my arm while I’m working at
the computer, and chews her favorite toys right there! Of course, when anyone
gets up, McKinley follows. Must be her herding instinct, making sure she always
knows where everyone is.
For being still very young, McKinley is surprisingly well behaved. She’s a
pretty good listener and generally comes when she’s called. We’re working on
learning some basic commands, and she now knows “sit,” “stay,” “leave it,”
walk,” “ride,” “place,” “kiss,” and “night night.” And we’re working on “down.”
We are so happy that we looked at a rescue adoption and are so glad to have McKinley as part of our family. We look forward to many years with her making us laugh and her continuing to learn!
Lük formerly known as Luca
Hi,
My name is Lük (formerly Luca). BCRNC found me in June 2013. I was very, very sick with pneumonia. Thank goodness I had a wonderful foster Mom who recognized right away how sick I was. She and BCRNC got me the veterinary treatment I needed. When I was well enough my photo was put on the BCRNC website and almost immediately I found my "forever home" (I am very handsome!). WOW --did my life change! Other than the short time I had been at my foster Mom's I had never spent time in a "people house". It took only about 3 days though for me to learn that I didn''t have to "mark" everything in the house as "my own". My new Mom and Dad didn't like it and I really wanted to please them.
My next hurdle was realizing that my new Mom was going to be my #1 Person and not my new Dad. My first home was a ranch (I think--I have forgotten a lot about it--mainly because I want to forget) and there, I was "the man's dog". In fact, the "lady" of the house didn't like me one bit. She always seemed to have a broom in her hands. So, when I came to my forever home I did not trust female humans. And I let them know it. I "warned" them that I did not trust them and wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. But everytime I showed any aggression toward any female person, my new Mom would be disappointed in me. But, in spite of all my "mistakes" my new parents still loved me. They kept showing me ways that I could please them and everytime I did I would get rewarded. I guess you could say, "I finally got it" (we Border Collies are smart, you know). I love my Mom's friends now because I can tell she won't let anybody hurt me or let me come to any harm. I really trust her and love her so much. And I know now she feels the same about me. My favorite times are when we snuggle together on the couch. I even snuggle with her friends on the couch--the female humans love it.
Another thing I learned to accept was being brushed. I had NEVER EVER been groomed. A brush was always something to be afraid of. But after a lot of encouragement and treats I now love it when my Mom grooms me.
I have learned a lot of neat things since I found my "forever home". I know how to "sit", lie down", "stay", "bang" (that means, play dead), "come", "wait", and "that'll do" (that means, "stop whatever you are doing and find something else to do"). I also can count to two to get my paws wiped when they are muddy (I am working on three and four). O course, I know the words "treat" and "vestibule" (that 's where we go to eat). I have also learned not to get into the mule or horse's paddocks and to stay clear of any vehicles driving on the property. I still like to run along inside the fence if a vehicle passes by our property on the easement. I think I am doing really well for being here just a little over 6 months and my Mom and Dad tell me that all the time (did I mention Border Collies are very smart?)
Two of my other positive points are that I am extremely fast and can jump really high. I heard my Mom say she may teach me some agility moves. I really don't know what all that means but it will be fun if it is something we can do together.
I am writing this instead of my Mom because she says that I have the "potential" to realize so much more in my future (I am only about 2 years old). Whatever "potential" is, I am not sure. All I know is, I am the happiest I have ever been in my whole life. As you can tell this is only the beginning of my life in my "forever home".
To be continued........
Lük
My name is Lük (formerly Luca). BCRNC found me in June 2013. I was very, very sick with pneumonia. Thank goodness I had a wonderful foster Mom who recognized right away how sick I was. She and BCRNC got me the veterinary treatment I needed. When I was well enough my photo was put on the BCRNC website and almost immediately I found my "forever home" (I am very handsome!). WOW --did my life change! Other than the short time I had been at my foster Mom's I had never spent time in a "people house". It took only about 3 days though for me to learn that I didn''t have to "mark" everything in the house as "my own". My new Mom and Dad didn't like it and I really wanted to please them.
My next hurdle was realizing that my new Mom was going to be my #1 Person and not my new Dad. My first home was a ranch (I think--I have forgotten a lot about it--mainly because I want to forget) and there, I was "the man's dog". In fact, the "lady" of the house didn't like me one bit. She always seemed to have a broom in her hands. So, when I came to my forever home I did not trust female humans. And I let them know it. I "warned" them that I did not trust them and wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. But everytime I showed any aggression toward any female person, my new Mom would be disappointed in me. But, in spite of all my "mistakes" my new parents still loved me. They kept showing me ways that I could please them and everytime I did I would get rewarded. I guess you could say, "I finally got it" (we Border Collies are smart, you know). I love my Mom's friends now because I can tell she won't let anybody hurt me or let me come to any harm. I really trust her and love her so much. And I know now she feels the same about me. My favorite times are when we snuggle together on the couch. I even snuggle with her friends on the couch--the female humans love it.
Another thing I learned to accept was being brushed. I had NEVER EVER been groomed. A brush was always something to be afraid of. But after a lot of encouragement and treats I now love it when my Mom grooms me.
I have learned a lot of neat things since I found my "forever home". I know how to "sit", lie down", "stay", "bang" (that means, play dead), "come", "wait", and "that'll do" (that means, "stop whatever you are doing and find something else to do"). I also can count to two to get my paws wiped when they are muddy (I am working on three and four). O course, I know the words "treat" and "vestibule" (that 's where we go to eat). I have also learned not to get into the mule or horse's paddocks and to stay clear of any vehicles driving on the property. I still like to run along inside the fence if a vehicle passes by our property on the easement. I think I am doing really well for being here just a little over 6 months and my Mom and Dad tell me that all the time (did I mention Border Collies are very smart?)
Two of my other positive points are that I am extremely fast and can jump really high. I heard my Mom say she may teach me some agility moves. I really don't know what all that means but it will be fun if it is something we can do together.
I am writing this instead of my Mom because she says that I have the "potential" to realize so much more in my future (I am only about 2 years old). Whatever "potential" is, I am not sure. All I know is, I am the happiest I have ever been in my whole life. As you can tell this is only the beginning of my life in my "forever home".
To be continued........
Lük
"Mate" formerly known as Riego"
(When Riego came into rescue, he was very ill. It was discovered he had a skewer in his body. It entered the body through his mouth, punctured a lung and moved forward into the front of his neck. He was scheduled for surgery to have the skewer removed and it came out on it's own. He has only one working lung!)
Dear Border Collie Rescue,
I am please to tell you that my beloved best friend Maté is doing very well. He has a rich home life - with lots of toys (all of which he knows by name), a relatively large yard (by Monterey standards) and many friends. We spend weekends playing frisbee at Carmel Beach, and share many long walks and hike together. Several years ago (when Maté was about 6), we started agility. He was a natural! According to the trainer, he was the first dog at the Zoom Room in Pacific Grove to learn all the obstacles, including the teeter-totter from scratch. He runs the course much faster than I can keep up, so has become very good at reading my cues from a distance.
In spite of his rough start in life - abuse, neglect, abandonment and some health issues, such as a collapsed lung and asthma, Maté is in great health now. He is athletic, lean and enjoys his daily exercise more than treats or toys. He is kind and obedient, and spends his days without incidence at home without being crated. He is my best friend and my constant companion. He has brought countless hours of laughter and many, many hugs to our house. He shows that it’s never to late to find happiness. He’s an amazing spirit.
Dear Border Collie Rescue,
I am please to tell you that my beloved best friend Maté is doing very well. He has a rich home life - with lots of toys (all of which he knows by name), a relatively large yard (by Monterey standards) and many friends. We spend weekends playing frisbee at Carmel Beach, and share many long walks and hike together. Several years ago (when Maté was about 6), we started agility. He was a natural! According to the trainer, he was the first dog at the Zoom Room in Pacific Grove to learn all the obstacles, including the teeter-totter from scratch. He runs the course much faster than I can keep up, so has become very good at reading my cues from a distance.
In spite of his rough start in life - abuse, neglect, abandonment and some health issues, such as a collapsed lung and asthma, Maté is in great health now. He is athletic, lean and enjoys his daily exercise more than treats or toys. He is kind and obedient, and spends his days without incidence at home without being crated. He is my best friend and my constant companion. He has brought countless hours of laughter and many, many hugs to our house. He shows that it’s never to late to find happiness. He’s an amazing spirit.
"Kip" formerly "Dave"
Just wanted to give you an update since it's been over a year since we adopted Kip (briefly named Dave in your foster). Of course we love Kip as much as anyone could. He started off spending a great deal of energy making sure we really, really loved him by testing us. He ate the sofa, only one each of the expensive shoes. He would chew up one shoe then carefully place the other in the front window as a trophy. He has dug some holes, destroyed some toys and pillows and even nipped the neighbor kid, who's parents were very forgiving.
As time went by, Kip became more and more secure with us and his wrath of destruction slowed, then stopped (knock on wood). Our Kippy Doodle enjoys camping, playing tug with our Rat Terrier Pete, going to the dog park and most of all RUNNING! Kip and I go running every other day. Even though he knows the schedule he watches carefully every morning to see which shoes I put on. When he sees the running shoes he leaps straight up and down until I get the leash. If I put on the cross trainers to do the Insanity DVD workout he tries to herd me to the cupboard where I keep his leash. Hint, hint mom, then he sulks on the sofa when I don't give in.
Kip has taken over our front living room as his "Lair". He perches on the back of the chewed up sofa and watches the neighborhood out the window. The window is constantly covered in dog drool. He makes sure our family is safe by keeping guard. At night he comes to bed to snuggle, then moves to the floor until my son falls asleep. Then he goes back downstairs to the "lair" to guard and keep the family safe from any stray cats that might wander by on the sidewalk.
Kip is very polite and tries hard to do exactly what he is asked to do, even in difficult circumstances. The other day when we were running, some approaching dogs (on leashes) went crazy. We simply moved away and I told Kip to "sit" and "leave it". He sat and looked away from the dogs as their owners dragged them past, lunging and barking.
I am so thankful to have Kip in our family and I thank you for everything you do.
"Satch" now "Howdy"
We met in a parking lot in Redding. My first impression was: "that's one nervous Nellie". I'm inclined to the mellow type so I reluctantly agreed when my husband said we should take him home. Besides, he had already picked us and made himself comfortable in the back seat of our car. What could I say? I was outnumbered.
That was in September of 2008 and his name was Satch. Now it's Howdy and what a great dog he's become. Not your typical Border Collie, he'd rather sleep than run. Go for a walk? Maybe later. Agility? Not a chance. We call him our "couch collie". But he has a heart of gold and has made other dogs, including some foster pups from our local humane society, feel right at home in our house.
Last weekend we took him to a large event with hundreds of people, costumes, loud noises, kids, dogs, you name it. Afterward, a woman came up to me and said, "I've been watching your dog. He's so mellow!". I was so proud. He's my baby. Thank you so much for saving him. We love him!
"Lance" still "Lance"
I adopted Lance back in 2008. Back then he was a boundless ball of energy and 5 years later, he's still a boundless ball of energy. Early on, I had him tested for herding and he proved to be a natural at it. Unfortunately I proved to be completely inept, so we focused all of that energy on Agility instead, where we're competing together at the Masters level in USDAA. More importantly, Lance is a sweet and big-hearted dog, who rarely leaves my side!