My first experience of Border Collie was when, after having a major tidy up some 35 plus years ago (probably the last time I had a major clean-up), I took a car load of books up to the bungalow to Jennie. I never saw any collies!
I have been surrounded by animals all of my life and throughout my adult life normally had at least 2 dogs, 2 cats and a horse.
20 years ago, at Christmas time, six moths after losing our boy Ben, we decided that foreign holidays, days out and a tidy house weren’t for us and, we visited Border Collie. A collie/water spaniel cross named Scamp chose us. He had only recently been fetched from Wales and not much was known about him. Unfortunately, the kennels had kennel cough, so we brought him home. It wasn’t known if he travelled well or if he tolerated cats (we had 2). We arrived home to a power cut (very common) and didn’t know where the cats were. When the power came back one cat and one dog were lying nose to nose.
Charlie – as we had renamed him, became one of the founder dogs of a display team we were members of and, most weekends we were out raising money for charity. He hated training nights and refused to play nicely but came into his own on displays when he played to the audience. He is famous for at one time or another, cocking his leg up every member of the team! Then came Harley, he was left in our back garden! He became the star of the display team and was known to, if he became bored with the obedience section, take himself and do a solo agility display. And finally, our beautiful Boy Sparky. He was a problem boy and was re-homed to us by the breeder. After a couple of “incidents” we sought the help of Border Collie and for several months we worked with the then behaviourist. As with all of them, he was our life, pride and joy. But now, after most of our life we find ourselves without a dog.
Apart from Ben, I probably live the nearest to the Rescue Centre. I became a probationary Trustee prior to Covid and was able to make several visits to our beautiful kennels, before lockdown. I was made a Trustee during covid and I am looking forward to visiting the kennels again on a regular basis.
