BORDER COLLIE SOLILOQUY
THE THOUGHTS OF A BORDER COLLIE
Welcome I Hope You Enjoy Your Visit
I am in the process of doing an early spring clean of my pages so excuse me if everything looks a little muddled
Click on image to go to the DOGS IN ASIA site. Please be warned that the video clip and some links from the site are distressing in the extreme, but they exist to spread awareness of the grisly fate that can await dogs ( and cats ) in some Asian countries. The site's aim is to educate, and to alert breeders to what is going on and hopefully prevent further exports to such places. Also to raise awareness among the buying public. What price fur or fur trim? By the way, the answer to "How many" question is 42
Here I am with Charlygirl and Trooper, Cathy had to bribe us to sit still while John took the photo. It was worth it though 'cause we got a nice Bonio afterwards. In the next photo we had just been playing frisbee and swimming in the pond.
"Just a word about one of the greatest genetic creations on the face of this earth...the border collie. Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall fences in a single bound. The dog that all sheep talk about but never want to meet. The fur that legends are made of. Makes coyotes cringe, sheep trip the light fantastic and eagles soar somewhere else. Invested with the energy of a litter of puppies, the work ethic of a boat person and the loyalty of Lassie, they ply their trade on sagebrush flats, grassy fields and precipitous peaks from sea to shining sea.
"Away to me!" I command. They streak and sail zipping like pucks on the ice. Black and white hummingbirds, in out, up down, come by sheep. With head up, one eye cocked over their shoulder asking directions. To the gate through the race. Mighty dog moves behind the bunch like a towboat pushing barges around a bend.
And heart? Do they try? "Just let me at'em, Dad!" "Stay? "Cmom, I'm ready!"
"Stay!"
"Can't you feel me hummin'? Listen to my heart, it's purrin' like a cat! I am primed! Aim me, point me, pull the trigger!"
"Away to me!" It makes me feel like Robin Hood. He leaves my side like an arrow.
Workin' dogs is like manipulating a screwdriver with chopsticks. Like doing calligraphy with a plastic whip. Like bobbing for apples. Like threading a needle with no hands. Like playing pool on the kitchen table. There are no straight lines in nature. Only arcs. Great sweeping curves of sight and thought and voice and dog. Always having to lead your command about a dog's length.
Sheep bunched like logs on the river. Dogs paddling in the current, always pushing up stream. A ewe breaks loose. Then another. Another. The log jam breaks. Dogs and sheep tumble about in the white water. Calm again, they start back upstream.
Border collies. Are they truly smarter than a chimpanzee? Cuddlier than a koala? More dedicated than Batman's valet? Can they change course in mid air? Drag Nell from the tracks and locate the missing microfilm? Yes, I believe they can. They are the best of the best, the epitome of "above and beyond the call of duty". Head Dog. Top Gun. I salute you, for man has never had a better friend."-Baxter Black
Click the sheepdog below to visit Baxter Blacks website where you will find a full range of his poetry
