I got to run a Border Collie tonight

[wildo]

Something's wrong with Pimg. She's limping on her rear leg and yelping every now and again if she moves it wrong. I took her to class anyway since I've already paid for it, but I had no intention of running her (which I didn't). I figured it was a good opportunity to work on some crate games (which we did). One of my classmates has this gorgeous blue merle BC that I personally believe has seriously amazing potential. The classmate fractured her knee cap, but tries (quite unsuccessfully) to her run her dog anyway.

So since she's basically out of commission, and my dog is basically out of commission, she asked me if I wanted to run her dog. YES! That particular BC is one of the few I'd gladly own.

Man- those dogs are crazy fast. It's seriously weird to see them flying around an agility course from the perspective of the handler. They are so LOW like they are constantly running in stalking position. Very weird. But wow- so fast, and it was unreal how he could almost literally turn on a dime... It was a VERY fun experience-- so different from running a GSD.

After class she asked me, "So- do you want a BC now??? <wink wink, nudge nudge>"

"Nope- I'm still in love with my GSD and she will soon be equally as good. And that's something to be proud of."

[wildo]

I will add- when I went to the USDAA Nationals and spoke with a GSD owner who was doing really well, I asked her if she embraces a handling system like Mecklenburg or Derrett. She laughed and said, "Show me a GSD that can turn like a BC. THEN I will think about a handling system created for such dogs."

That comment makes so much more sense now.

[KZoppa]

thats awesome! I'd like to do agility but i'm waiting for my working line to do it or i'll get an aussie to do agility with. Sounds like you had a blast!

[TaraM1285]

What a coincidence! I was just coming to post about running my instructor's BC in class last night because Tara was out of commission.

It was such a rush to run such a fast dog and how freaking fun to handle her?! They definitely don't allow you to make any handling mistakes, do they? I'd love to run Border Collies every so often, but I agree that I'll stick to living with GSDs, thank you very much!

[wildo]

Wow! That is a crazy weird coincidence, Kristin! It was definitely a rush- no question. What a way to build your handling skills!

[Franksmom]

I have to laugh because I started with my Border collie in agility and came home the first night and told my husband I needed a slower dog so I could keep up enough to learn what I needed to do.

[W.Oliver]

My best friend of 35 years has a BC and does herding with him....they are truly amazing dogs....just not amazing enough to turn my eye from GSDs.

I envy your agility training, I hope to get back to it someday.

[Jason L]

I'm so getting a BC someday!!!!

[AgileGSD]

How cool to get to run a dog you have admired! BCs are such interesting and complicated dogs. I have always loved the breed and worked with a lot of them but it never really worked out for me to have one. I thought about getting one this year but I decided on a PyrShep. Now I have a PyrShep and now I'm not sure I'd choose a BC over a PyrShep.

Originally Posted by KZoppa

thats awesome! I'd like to do agility but i'm waiting for my working line to do it or i'll get an aussie to do agility with. Sounds like you had a blast!

Why not start with the dog you have?

[wildo]

Yep- I do admire that dog quite a bit. It could be because in spite of his handler (no offense to her, she's a nice person- she just doesn't take instruction well from our instructor) he is really a phenomenal dog showing tons of potential, or it could be that he's the first blue merle BC I've ever seen- whatever it is, I'd own him in a heartbeat. It was just too cool.

I will be very interested to see your PyrShep run!

Originally Posted by AgileGSD

Why not start with the dog you have?

I have to agree with this. Based on my own research, WL GSDs are not necessarily any faster than any other GSD line. Jump in head first, build up your own foundation of training, and then once you get that WL- you might have the skills needed to bring out all you can in it.