The most challenging part of training dogs for a living is working with their owners. And, the most challenging part about breeding dogs is trying to accommodate all the potential new puppy owners.
Some people like a unique appearance or markings and, at a week old, they can tell me they want a specific puppy. On the other end of the continuum are folks who cannot seem to make up their mind, even after spending hours with the puppies. And, in between those extremes, I must help everyone find their “perfect” puppy, even though I know there is no such thing – just like there is no perfect puppy owner.
Then, there’s the whole “pick order” thing. I must be fair and I want people to be part of the selection because I think that, psychologically, if a person picked the puppy (rather than having me do it), they are more apt to be wholly devoted to the pup (which, of course, is my main goal in all of this). So, my strategy is to give first pick to the first person to send a deposit, and so on. The problem, there, is that when the person who has first pick cannot make up his mind, I cannot inform anyone else which puppies are still available. For some people, this will make or break whether they choose to send a deposit. They “must” have the tri-colored female, or they will NOT take the tri-colored female or they want a smooth coat and won’t take a rough coated puppy. People want to fall in love with their puppy before they get here to pick it up. They want to show their kids that the third male down the page is THEIR puppy. They want to think about naming it, and most people need to see the puppy before they name it (if even in a photo, only). So, for me, the sooner folks decide on “their” puppy, the easier it is. People tend to believe that they will bond better with an 8 week old puppy and that a 12 week old puppy is “too old”. So, there is this “shelf life” associated with puppies and so, while I don’t mind keeping a puppy for a year if I have to before I find the right home, I also want the puppies to get into their new homes sooner than later.
Curiously, albeit I can fully understand all the various emotions associated with acquiring a new, four legged family member, I have no problem getting a puppy “sight unseen”. In fact, I just did that in mid-August (I also acquired Sage and Yoli without “picking” and I went to pick up Opal having viewed just one photo of her). So long as I know the pedigree (which is a good indicator of work ethic) and I know the parents have their health screens and so long as I know the breeder is competent to raise up a litter of puppies with appropriate stimulation and socialization, I am cool with whatever personality the puppy may present as his authentic self. After all, one cannot choose whether their son will aspire to be a Master Chef and their daughter will choose to play professional sports when their new baby comes into the world. Parents cannot control the innate personality of their child. But, they can raise a well mannered, social, respectful individual, regardless of whether the kid is destined to become an accountant or a nurse or a rodeo clown. For the most part, I think that is what people want of their new dog, as well; a well mannered pet. “Personality” differences (such as Sage is more pensive and Boon is more happy-go-lucky) are what make owning a dog a delightful experience. None is the same as another. But, both can be raised to be very entertaining, engaging, polite and devoted companions.
For me, if the world were a perfect place (and I do not expect it to be so), it would be most simple if I could know what puppy a person desires at around 6 weeks old, so that I could inform the others on the pick list which puppies have been chosen. But, that is not always how it goes down. I recall a visit with a lovely gentleman a few years ago. All the females but two had been chosen before he sent his deposit. So, he was choosing between just two girls. I sat and watched as he engaged one and then the other for over an hour. Then, he asked if he could take each one outside, alone. He carried the puppies outdoors and walked about looking for some sort of characteristic that he felt might provide some sort of insight towards his decision making, I suppose. He left for a moment to go fetch something in his car. He brought back the little collar he had chosen for his new puppy. He finally called one pup to him and with great pomp and circumstance (at least to me, at that time), he ceremoniously donned one pup with the collar. Whew. I thought it was finally over. But, no! Before I could utter, “so, she’s the one”, he took the collar off pup number one and with as much caution and care as he had buckled it to the first pup he strapped it to the other one then sat back and admired his work. By that time, I felt it was better that I not speak rather than interrupt his three hour long process. He took the collar back off puppy number two and dressed his new puppy (number one) with the red collar. She was sound asleep by that time, as eight week old puppies simply cannot remain awake for hours on end. I was feeling a bit exhausted at the time, too, even though I had done nothing but watch the event!
The idea that an 8 week old puppy can be assessed for long term potential as a well mannered pet is simply irrational from the point of view of someone who makes a living rehabilitating unbalanced dogs. No dog is born anti-social. However, humans can push them to become that way. Dogs are born as communal canines and equipped to mesh into a pack (human or dog) via their hardwiring and their capacity to learn and adapt to new situations. So, the breeder’s job to provide a positive first eight weeks is important. But, thereafter, it is critical that the new owner offers the right environment for the puppy to thrive and develop into the companion that he wants. When a prospective puppy buyer places too much emphasis on the puppy’s “personality”, I often become concerned that he does not recognize his responsibility to maintain the puppy’s social etiquette and to manage and train the dog appropriately, for the rest of its life. Boundaries for behavior must be set, communicated and enforced. Dogs ache for discipline so that they can understand what is expected of them. Only then can they actually “please” their owner, which is what a well bred, herding-working dog is designed to do.
Certainly, one does not want to choose a puppy that seems to have social issues at 8 weeks old. That’s not about which I am speaking. But, when the whole litter is gregarious and loving, then, I would suggest that a person go ahead and pick the puppy that has the markings he prefers or that otherwise strikes his fancy for what ever reason. The rest is up to the owner, at that point. That is more likely to be the scenario when a puppy buyer selects a reputable breeder who knows how to raise a litter properly. In essence, the quest to find the perfect puppy becomes the goal to continue raising a socially balanced pup into a well mannered dog.
Photos: Eight day old Border Collie puppies.
Having already posted this on my website - I will simply provide the link:
http://www.darnfar.com/Belle2009/accepting_imperfection.htm
It describes what has wholly consumed me the last few days.
Another phone call: “I’m looking for a red and white male Border Collie and I see you have a litter planned for April 2010. Can I ask you about those dogs?”
I explained Wags’ pedigree and Switch’s temperament and my predication for coat type and color, etc…
“Well, let me tell you a little bit about me. I’m actually a breeder, too, here in Indiana. And, frankly, I’m having the hardest time finding a red and white male. I have five Border Collies, and I breed maybe one or two litters a year. I have a red and white female and breed her to my black and white male and all I get is black and whites.”
So, I took some time to explain color genetics to the guy. After a bit of listening to him go on about his dogs and his endeavors, I asked him if he works his dogs on livestock. He said he did not and that, in his estimation, the closest place to him where one might find livestock is about 100 miles away. I replied that, when I started herding with my first Border Collie I traveled 87 miles (one way) every weekend to take lessons. I don’t think he cared.
I explained that I have a standard that I impose on myself and that there is no point in having such a standard if I were to place a puppy with someone who then did not uphold those standards, too. I informed him that, if he were to acquire a puppy from me that he would sign a contract that stated he would not breed the dog unless its herding ability had been assessed (and that was at a level of understanding higher than a Herding Instinct certificate).
In the ensuing diatribe he explained how much he loves the breed and his rebuttal to my comments were distilled down to this one phrase, “No one owns the breed”.
I told him that I did not think that I owned the breed. I explained that I feel responsible for the puppies that I produce. If, at some point in the future someone claims that it’s hard to find a good working Border Collie I will know that I wasn’t involved in breeding dogs that could not perform the work for which they were bred – that I would not have played a significant role in the demise of this great breed’s herding working capacity. From the long-term health and quality of the breed, it does not matter if I do health screens and assess the herding ability of the dogs I breed, if someone who purchases a puppy from me does not uphold that same expectation.
So, he asked if I placed all my puppies with people who herded with their dogs. I told him that I actually preferred placing my puppies in pet / companion home with active folks who understand the breed and what is required to keep them happy as well as performance homes. I explained that I do not think that everyone who owns a Border Collie needs to herd with their dog and every Border Collie does not need to herd to be happy. However, if someone who acquires a puppy from me plan to breed their dog, they should assess whether it does, in fact, meet the breed standard in that it can herd livestock (among several other important critical attributes). I also explained that just because a dog can herd livestock it shouldn’t necessarily be bred and that if it is, it shouldn’t necessarily be bred to any other dog that can herd. Herding styles, to me, need to be assessed and matched up to the best of the breeder’s ability to produce a dog that is easy to handle, is biddable and that has plenty of natural working ability and work ethic. I think that I have produced some puppies that have too much “eye” and/or intensity, in fact, and that it makes them a challenge to own for some people, even though it makes for some really nice herding dogs for handlers who know how to work with that level of intensity. So, I take that into consideration when I decide which dog to breed to what bitch. Temperament and body style and general disposition are important, not just that it’s a red and white dog and will throw red and white puppies.
I did not choose Wags (the red and white dog that I plan to breed) because she is a red dog. I actually contacted her breeder, originally, because I wanted to breed Shimmer to one of her male dogs. It turned out that dog was not available because he was in another part of the country with a herding handler. Then, she told me about his sister (Wags) – who was available. I really love Wags’ personality, but her red color is not why I purchased her. She has a great pedigree that I thought would mesh well with my dogs and also she had a couple generations of health screen data behind her that many working Border Collies do not possess.
I told the man on the phone that I might place a pup with someone who plans to train the dog for professional level Agility trials and might even attain the title of Agility Champion of all Champions (if there were such a title). But, that is not a replacement for assessing the herding ability in the dog. I provide my contract to folks who submit applications to me, so that they know my expectations regarding breeding before they place a deposit on a litter.
I worked three Border Collies to trial level work before I bred my first litter (from which I kept Lexie and Breeze in 11/1995 – whose father had earned multiple High In Trial awards by that time). Then, I waited another 8.5 years before I bred my second litter (from which I kept Shimmer in 4/2004) – which was after I had trained and put herding titles on 10 different Border Collies (Sham, Laddie, Ellie, Breeze, Lexie, Jaye, Beebe, Pete, Yoli and Sage). Those trial competitions included earning multiple High In Trial awards across three different venues (AKC, AHBA and ASCA). I also own livestock and use the dogs for “ranch work”, not just trials. So, I had learned about the breed and about what makes a Border Collie a Border Collie before I decided to breed. Still, breeding is a bit of a crap shoot, even with that amount of experience and when I do the health screens and work with the dogs and understand the breed via my own dogs and probably a few hundred herding students’ dogs, too. With the understanding of genetically controlled behavior (like herding ability, general disposition and work ethic), I feel it is important to do what I can to breed puppies that represent the breed type.
I did not tell the guy on the phone all that stuff. I just informed him that he would have to sign a contract, if he were to buy a pup from me (which, I already knew I most probably wouldn’t sell him one, anyway) that he would need to assess the herding ability of the dog as well as the dog to which he bred his dog. He thanked me for my time and hung up. I’m not certain whether he may think about what I said and process it against his endeavors of breeding Border Collies or not. I doubt it. But, at least I took the time to explain my position (time, truly, that I could have spent on more fruitful endeavors). Maybe one day he will actually experience a Border Collie working sheep or goats or ducks or cattle and have a moment that takes his breath away and he will understand why I am the way I am and why I do what I do. That would be nice.
Someone left a message on my machine yesterday morning. Mark wanted information about our Border Collies. He left a telephone number with a local area code (618).
I have learned over the past 8 years of living here in central IL that many folks that reside in my neck of the woods have a vastly different perspective about dogs than do I. In a nutshell, my experience is that people expect a puppy to cost under $100 and there seems to be a general view that dogs are quite disposable. For example, one man called me a couple years ago about dog training. When I told him that an 8 week class cost $120 he replied, “well, I only paid twenty bucks for the dog. I could buy a few new dogs for the cost of fixin’ this one”. Needless to say, he did not attend class. It wouldn’t surprise me if he just took it out back and shot it then acquired a new dog a week later.
I did not feel compelled to immediately return Mark’s call as I had other more pressing things to do and I had a decent idea how the conversation would proceed. A few hours later a call came in. The Caller ID told me that it was Mark. So, I picked up the phone.
“Yeah, I’m wonderin’ about your Border Collies”, he said.
“What would you like to know?” I replied.
“Do you have any puppies?”
“No, not at this time. I have a litter planned and puppies should be available in April. What are you looking for?”, I asked.
“How much do they run?”
I thought about saying that a well bred Border Collie can run all day long, once it was mature, but I knew what he meant. When price is the first concern, which it usually is when folks from 618 call me, I can typically predict how the call will end. But, I replied with a dollar value without feeling any need to explain about health clearances, proper early socialization, etc… I knew it wasn’t important to “educate” the guy. It was fruitless.
“Well, I’m not lookin’ for a pup for me. I ran my dog over yesterday and I already got a new pup picked out for me.” He made the proclamation in the same tone of voice that I might say, “I threw away that bag of potato chips because they were stale. But, I bought a new bag, so we’re gonna be just fine”.
Then, he continued, “ I’m lookin’ for a female for my friend’s daughter. If we can find her a girl we’ll be able to breed mine to hers. I’m getting a male. Do you know somebody who had puppies now?” he inquired.
When I hung up I looked all around my office for a tiny camera. I thought I was being punked. Sadly, deep down, I knew they guy was genuine. It wasn’t a prank. But, I will never truly be able to reconcile in my head and heart how someone can live with a dog and have such a flippant view of its precious lives. Whateva’
I have been waiting for Doozie to plump out in these last few weeks of her pregnancy. But, it wasn’t happening. At the end of last week I realized that I better get an x-ray to confirm whether she was carrying puppies, or not.
This afternoon, the radiograph provided the answer. Doozie is not pregnant.
I have never bred a bitch that didn’t get pregnant. I bred her to Boon five times in six days. Her first due date would have been October 27th (63 days from the first breeding). That is just two weeks from now. But, she has not gained weight.
I have been very fortunate, really. I have heard horror stories of breeders who loose puppies and even their dams. I have produced 12 litters of puppies that resulted in 93 total puppies. That’s an average of 7.75 pups per litter.
I had one puppy die at 6 weeks old. It was the puppy I chose to retain from Lexie’s first litter. I called her ”Stitch” because she required stitches before she was 24 hours old due to a tear at her umbilical cord. I believe the the antibiotics the puppy received at such an early age weakened her, perhaps destroyed her kidneys or liver. She was born the largest puppy, but grew very slowly and at six weeks old was very small compared to her siblings. I had already received deposits on the other two female puppies. Lexie was eight years old and it was her first litter - and perhaps her last. Lexie is Sham’s daughter. Sham was my first Border Collie, and a very special guy. I wanted terribly to “steal back” one of the puppies that I had promised. But, I chose to retain a male, instead. It was a great choice. Boon is a great dog. I was able to breed Lexie one more time, producing Moxie. Lexie turns 14 years old this November!
I also lost two puppies at birth in different litters (both which were the 9th puppies in the litter), and another died at around a week old; a pup that I named “little bit” because she was so very tiny compared to her siblings. But, in that’s just four puppies in almost 100 born, that did not make it. I feel very fortunate. I am even more grateful that I have never had a mother get ill or require a c-section. It’s a healthy breed, in that regard. Border Collies are not extreme in size and are still designed to perform a challenging, athletic job.
So, I guess, the fact that Doozie is not in whelp is certainly not the worst thing that a breeder can encounter on this journey to try to create wonderful puppies and place them in loving homes. But, there is a very nice family in Colorado that is sad to hear the news. Diane contacted me back in March, and while I had Shimmer x Switch puppies available, she wanted to wait until her youngest child attended school in the autumn so that she could dedicate all the time necessary to their new puppy. Doozie was due in season in the summer and pups should have been available in September - perfect timing for them. When I chose (sort of as a last minute decision) to breed Yoli to Switch (as a final litter for her and to figure out where Shimmer acquired her “red” color gene), I let Diane know. But, she wanted to wait for a pup out of Boon that would be born in the fall. Then, Doozie did not come into season as planned (which is not unusual - not every dog is on a perfect six month schedule). Finally, the breeding took place, but the autumn puppy became a Christmas pup. When I saw the x-ray, today, I was not surprised. I have never taken a bitch to get an x-ray before because I have always been able to tell they were pregnant by this time. But, I was very sad for Diane and her family who have been planning for their new puppy for what seems to be forever. I guess this is sort of like those “adoption” shows on TV - where the folks wait and wait for their new baby, then it falls through, but in the end they get their baby.
No Christmas puppies this year - and I love so much to make the puppy videos with a Christmas theme. Here’s one I remember:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOBaTz-B1wY
I have bred Boon to Doozie. The pups are due the last week of October and will be ready to go to their new homes the week of Christmas. I’ll use this blog category, “Puppies” to update on Doozie’s pregnancy, the whelping and of course the rearing of the puppies.
Here’s a link about the litter:
http://darnfar.com/2009BoonDoozie/2009_Boon_Doozie.htm
They should be very handsome puppies with sporty personalities. I cannot wait. I think I will have to come up with “Halloween” puppy names.
Suggestions are welcome!