Rough Collies Not Very Popular These Days...? Discussions

And so, not a month later, his older partner, Layla, crossed the bridge to go find him, passing of old age and the attendant complications that it brings, with maybe just a touch of plain loneliness thrown in to seal her fate...
Another splendid dog gone on.
She was smaller, but ruled him with an iron paw...


We made it about two months without a dog, but now have our newest guy, a two and a half year old rescue named Brody;
Dear God, is he a handful compared to those ancient one that preceded him! He can counter surf with all four paws on the floor...

I am so sorry to hear that Layla crossed the Bridge to be with her partner - you must have been devastated to lose them both in such a short time. Such a lovely picture of the two of them together.

Run free both of you, together again now. Run free as fast as you can. xx

But I am very happy that you have now rescued Brody - he may be a handful but he is such a handsome boy and I hope he fills part of the emptiness in your heart left by your loss.

Please give him a cuddle and an ear twiddle from me.

Brody is a handsome chap though. I'm afraid that counter surfing comes as second nature with my breed.

i'm sorry to hear about Layla, it is odd how often one dog follows the other.
In 1995, I had ended up with four oldies. In the August, I lost the youngest of them, a ten year old Löwchen who was on heart medication. The following January I lost Tink, a 14 year old Cavalier, and asked the vet to check for any problems with my Cavalier male, who was a few months younger but still very fit. She said he had a slight heart murmer, and because of his age, prescribed a mild heart tablet. Three or four days later, he was a sick dog, so she tried changing his medication. He didn't improve, and had to be put to sleep with complete kidney failure just two weeks after Tink. I know they all have to go, and 14 was a good age for Cavaliers, but I have never really understood such a rapid decline.

Handsome indeed, probably not in a show dog sort of way, but to me, he's a prince. Actually, around here, the most popular dog is a black lab, chocolate lab or white lab (basically, one kind of lab or another!), so when a "Lassie dog" gets taken for a walk, people stop and take notice. I've actually had folks pull over and park, and ask to pet our old pair. They were such sweet, good natured dogs, they would gladly let anyone play with or pet them, even heavy handed children. They got along with all other dogs, and even most of the neighborhood cats.
Brody? He's another story entirely. Totally goes crazy when he sees a rabbit or squirrel, and (unfortunately), people on bikes, trucks towing loud, clanking trailers and strangely enough, totally silent electric golf carts. I can't wait to get him into obedience school, which the next one near us starts in September. Meanwhile, I walk him and deal with his outbursts as best as I can, by getting in front of him, making him sit and holding his gaze with mine until he calms down. Usually works, mostly.
One Sunday morning, he slipped his chain and proceeded to play "keep away" from me, leading me on a chase through several yards (at about 6:30 am!) I finally tackled him when he stopped to poop, silly dog, shoulda known better...
He chews on things in the house, not when we're gone (thank God!), only when we're here, but not paying him enough attention. He'll wander off, and next we'll see him strolling by, shaking one of my "Crocs" or the wife's sneakers, and plop down in front of us and shake it around in exaggerated moves, slam it down on the floor, stop and cast a sidelong glance to see if he has our attention.
Don't get me wrong, he's not all bad, he's house broken, he does sleep some, and when I get home, if I've been gone too long, he inconsolable, actually crawling up in my lap to be my cuddly 62 lb lap dog. We'll get the rest of it worked out, in time...

lt sounds as if Brody has not been sufficiently socialised, and has probably been doing all this naughty stuff to gain attention. Good luck with his training, I'm sure he will turn out to be a good boy in the end.

Actually, from what I understand, his original owner was an elderly lady, who became ill and was mostly unable to take care of him, so he was crated most of the time, except when her son in law came by and tied him outside. What kind of puppyhood did he have? Not much of one, if that's true. The rescue had him for about three months, until we got him a month ago. The rescue, and specifically the foster home he was in, cared about him, but also cared about the other seventeen dogs she was caring for, so how much time did he get there? Granted, he had other dog pals to play with, but not much individual attention.
So right or wrong, I let him slide on some stuff (for now), let him be the rambunctious puppy that he missed out on getting to be, spend time with him when I should be doing other things. We'll start school in September, I can already tell he's a smart dog, he'll learn (so will I), and he has a sweet, playful disposition underneath all that so in the end he's gonna be a great dog, that we'll have for many a year more...

Take it easy Chris - let Brody learn how to be a puppy before anything else, although do not let him get away with everything! You are both still new to each other so slowly slowly is the way to go.

The one thing I do not understand is when you said "he slipped his chain". Is he chained up outside or on a chain/tether when he goes out?

His leash, the little spring loaded clip popped off while I was walking him. It didn't break, that I could see, it just popped off of his collar. We use a Martingail collar with a D ring on him.

I understand. I have had trigger clips break when Pereg has rushed out but luckily she not only had a wonderful recall but would not go very far from me, either when she was in the yard on her tether or if I was taking her out on my mobility scooter.

Clips [and harnesses] that little Tikva wears have sometimes broken, also when she was in the yard on her tether, but she will not go outside the yard and also has a fabulous recall.

Both of them would not go run-run, unlike my little Lexi [the one before Pereg] who was an escape artist and a right booger to get back.

I replaced that spring clip and added an additional spring clip to the leash end, so now I attach two clips to his collar D ring! If he pops BOTH of those, he's entitled to a run, I suppose...

As long as you can catch him if he does a run-run!

Refer to methodology referenced in post # 84... When he goes to "go", I've got him!

It sounds like Brody is making sure that he is keeping you on your toes - making sure that you know that he is now the be all and end all of your life.

Please give him a cuddle and ear twiddle for me.

Boy is he ever...

I think that Brody is exactly what you needed after your two beloved, calm elderlies followed each other to the Bridge.

MOST times, I think you are right, sometimes, I long for those two laid back old mutts, him at his happiest laying in the back yard, listening to the critters in the bamboo grove, her, snoozing on the bed, top dead center, like a queen on her throne.
The other night we came home at 11pm, from a friends 4th of July celebration. Brody was so happy to see us, he insisted on playing with us until quarter to midnight...

This made me laugh. My two Beagles are still like this - at 10 and 11 years. I think there are some dogs who think growing old is for wimps, - but the plus side is that they make you keep you active too!

Nobody gives greetings like a dog does. Wonderful, make the most of it

Yeah! Well, it always seems "cuter" at 8pm, two days later... LOL! Oh, and he just reminded me of how much he hates the vacuum cleaner!
I do love that knucklehead though, I just like to grouse about him... He'll mellow out in about...two-three more years...

Brody has had his first lesson at obedience school, last Saturday, learning to sit, but much more importantly to FOCUS on his master's eyes when he does so. He learned "Touch" as a form of "come", in that we are training him to come to us and touch our open palm, rewarding him with a "Yes!" and a small treat. We've practiced that throughout the week, and will return tomorrow for his second session. There is only one other dog in "school" with him, a 17 month old German Shepherd girl (who was in heat!). He seemed to like her, gosh, I can't imagine why? He is neutered though. And he is smarter then she is. His intelligence I have never questioned, it's OUR'S that needs improving, so we can engage him properly.

More recent pic of him (beautiful eyes, huh?) and the boss (guess she couldn't wear THAT shirt over across the pond, could she?)