I have a Border Collie called Shilo, that’s him in my avatar, and I know everyone says their dog is clever but to this day I do not know how my dog figured out how to do this. We were out playing with the frisbee on a particular windy day. I threw the frisbee into the wind so that the wind would catch it and it wouldn’t get carried away in the wind. Shilo, saw what I did, but instead of following the frisbee he ran a few yards in the same direction as the wind was blowing then just sat down. The frisbee got caught in the wind and was blown back towards him and when it was right over him he just jumped up and caught it. My Border Collie gave me a lesson in work smarter, not harder that day.
On a recent trip to Ireland, we visited a farm. The farmer showed us how the border collie (a young female named Bailey) herded dozens of sheep in just a few minutes. He said she really didn’t even need to be trained. She just did it. Their last collie had passed away at 14. He just whistled and out she ran!
I met Border Collies for the first time when I worked for a vet. Rock walked in and I was in love. Short time later I adopted my first, Skye, from a colleague. I had NO idea what BCs were all about, but it didn’t take long. Skye stayed in the back hall when we were out; room was fitted with a standard door with a standard round handle. Came home one day, door was open, dog was happily in the house. Happened a couple of times, we figured we needed to put a hook-and-eye on the door. Did. Few days later, door is open, Skye was happily in the house. He not only figured out how to turn the knob, but how to jump up and dislodge the hook. Finally we got a hook that had a spring-close on it. THAT did it.
I have a rescue dog that is part Australian Shepherd. She was an absolute mess when I got her at age 1, but on one of our first walks together she saw a herd of feral goats. She looked at me and I gave her a hand signal to move down the road toward the goats, which she did. She flanked them and got behind the herd, then looked at me again. Another improvised hand signal (I had no experience with this, and as far as I know, neither did she) and she was driving the herd up the hill toward me, 30 to 40 feral goats with 5 to 6 foot horns. Did I forget the long horns part earlier? Sorry. We had never practiced this situation either. What was I supposed to do? The only thing I could think of was to point at the woods across the street, and she drove the goats off the road and into the woods. Had anyone been watching, they would have praised us for the calm skillful manner we used, and asked us how much training it took for her to master that task. None, I would say. None at all. It had all been programmed into her brain by her DNA.
amethyst52 Premium Member 5 months ago
One pupmanship? :D
Yakety Sax 5 months ago
Just saw a short video of a border collie getting a flock in a pen with help from a . . . .guinea!
GovernorOfCalisota {LoveBozobyFoxo} Premium Member 5 months ago
Her eyes in the second panel ☺
MY DOG IS MY CO PILOT 5 months ago
I have a Border Collie called Shilo, that’s him in my avatar, and I know everyone says their dog is clever but to this day I do not know how my dog figured out how to do this. We were out playing with the frisbee on a particular windy day. I threw the frisbee into the wind so that the wind would catch it and it wouldn’t get carried away in the wind. Shilo, saw what I did, but instead of following the frisbee he ran a few yards in the same direction as the wind was blowing then just sat down. The frisbee got caught in the wind and was blown back towards him and when it was right over him he just jumped up and caught it. My Border Collie gave me a lesson in work smarter, not harder that day.
bigger Nate 5 months ago
That’s nothing when i do it the sheep close and lock the gate
Gent 5 months ago
Can she steals picanic baskets too?
Medtech4 5 months ago
On a recent trip to Ireland, we visited a farm. The farmer showed us how the border collie (a young female named Bailey) herded dozens of sheep in just a few minutes. He said she really didn’t even need to be trained. She just did it. Their last collie had passed away at 14. He just whistled and out she ran!
mousefumanchu Premium Member 5 months ago
Border Collies are BRILLIANT! Smarter than me anyway.
the lost wizard 5 months ago
Showoff. :)
I AM CARTOON LADY! 5 months ago
Then she balanced my checkbook, and did my taxes!
dogday Premium Member 5 months ago
I met Border Collies for the first time when I worked for a vet. Rock walked in and I was in love. Short time later I adopted my first, Skye, from a colleague. I had NO idea what BCs were all about, but it didn’t take long. Skye stayed in the back hall when we were out; room was fitted with a standard door with a standard round handle. Came home one day, door was open, dog was happily in the house. Happened a couple of times, we figured we needed to put a hook-and-eye on the door. Did. Few days later, door is open, Skye was happily in the house. He not only figured out how to turn the knob, but how to jump up and dislodge the hook. Finally we got a hook that had a spring-close on it. THAT did it.
Impkins Premium Member 5 months ago
You ALL have owned some amazing animals! Fun stuff to read! :)
j.painterjones 5 months ago
Beautiful dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charlie Fogwhistle 5 months ago
I have a rescue dog that is part Australian Shepherd. She was an absolute mess when I got her at age 1, but on one of our first walks together she saw a herd of feral goats. She looked at me and I gave her a hand signal to move down the road toward the goats, which she did. She flanked them and got behind the herd, then looked at me again. Another improvised hand signal (I had no experience with this, and as far as I know, neither did she) and she was driving the herd up the hill toward me, 30 to 40 feral goats with 5 to 6 foot horns. Did I forget the long horns part earlier? Sorry. We had never practiced this situation either. What was I supposed to do? The only thing I could think of was to point at the woods across the street, and she drove the goats off the road and into the woods. Had anyone been watching, they would have praised us for the calm skillful manner we used, and asked us how much training it took for her to master that task. None, I would say. None at all. It had all been programmed into her brain by her DNA.