Full Stride Farm BorderCollies

06/19/2024

Our 2nd run for the day, this is the Pro-Novice class.
Got a better score than the first time.
Landed 10th out of 25 dogs, so not a terrible first time at a trial results in my opinion.

Score sheet posted in comments.
The “T” at the end of our score means we ran out of the time allowed while trying to “pen” the sheep, in this case, load them into the trailer rahter than push them into a pen.
RT means that person retired from the course.
DQ is a disqualification by the judge.
Each of the scoring areas carries its own value. Some sections are worth 20 points, some are worth 10 points.
In our case, the Outrun, Fetch, and Drive scores were from a total value of 20, and the rest were from a total value of 10.

Now much more work to do at home, and need some more handling experience away from home and on different sheep.
Onward and Upward!

My 2nd time to go to the post in a trial. Once again happy with the run overall, despite my own flaws of beginner handler mistakes! My goal for the trial was...

06/19/2024

Well, I did it.
Finally.
Entered and completed my first big Sheep Dog Trial.

This is Ladd, in the Nursery 2 class. Plenty of beginner handler mistakes/misses from me, but was happy to get a score (albeit a low score) but that was better than getting a DQ or needing to Retire from the run.

Scoresheet posted in the comments.
The “T” at the end of our score means we ran out of the time allowed while trying to “pen” the sheep, in this case, load them into the trailer rather than push them into a pen.
RT means that person retired from the course.
DQ is a disqualification by the judge.
Each of the scoring areas carries its own value. Some sections are worth 20 points, some are worth 10 points.
In our case, the Outrun, Fetch, and Drive scores were from a total value of 20, and the rest were from a total value of 10.

We had not ever practiced loading the sheep into a trailer, instead of putting them into a pen at the end of the course, so that was definitely a challenge. In watching the sheep in the other runs through the day, there was a definite “one or the other” type of occurrence - they either were very easy to walk up towards the trailer and hop in, or they were determined to do all things possible to avoid going in.
The sheep we drew for each run were definitely in the latter category, so we weren’t lucky on that draw, haha.

Was a hot day, 3rd day of this trial, and the sheep were getting tired of playing…either would get some heavy sheep, or sheep ready to just run to the exhaust area to be “done.” So there were some challenges in handling for sure. Overall quite happy with our 2 runs. (This run and a Pro-Novice run, will post that video as well.) Now for me to get better at my timing, and need to get much better at delivering the whistle commands.

https://youtu.be/bO-ktDT_vRU?si=O-qo6mrM8ggUZkq5well,

Ladd - My first run at a herding trial. Nursery 2 class. Plenty of beginner handler mistakes/misses, but was happy to get a score (albeit a low score) but th...

04/23/2024

There were so many cool things going on in this photo from this morning.
It was 31* F, chilly with a good frost, yet leaves on the tree. Can see v***r from Nebraska’s warm breath, and fog rising in the background from the pond down below the hill. The sunrise and the diagonal ray of light was just a fun bonus!
Then we have this evening’s full moon rising while I was way up the hill in the sheep pasture getting them put up for the night. Ladd is outside the fence wishing he was in there helping me, and the Pyrennes pup, Sage, was out having some exercise with me and learning more about her domain, aka the sheep pasture.
Was a beautiful day spent with horses, mules, sheep and dogs!
Anyway, gotta love early morning and late evening beauty & blessings!

04/21/2024

Perfect ending to the day.
Ladd and I had a good day working sheep with Paul Tucker.
Then after we got home, Ladd helped me move our own new sheep and get them put into the barn safely away from coyotes for the night.

04/14/2024

We may not like all the storms, but the wind brings “sticks from heaven” and the doggies love them!

04/03/2024

My daughter’s farm 😢

03/17/2024

Always a fav!
🍀 Happy St Patrick’s Day! 🍀

To help friends get together, GUINNESS® has trained a highly specialised sheepdog to round up mates and ensure they get to the pub on St Patrick's Day.Join t...

03/15/2024

PODCAST ALERT! A fantastically candid interview with top sheepdog handler Faansie Basson about his philosophies of sheepdog training and trialing. Among his many accomplishments, Faansie has won the prestigious Meeker Classic and Bluegrass Classic Sheepdog Trials and made the Double Lift Final at the ISDS World Sheepdog Trial.
(Photo credit DKH Productions, with permission)
https://thekathykeatsshow.com/episode/faansie-basson

02/25/2024

Recently there are many many scammers on social media.

I have seen too many people fall for these scams and send money to these low life thieves.
Do your due diligence and research, be careful out there!

I want to warn all of you of one that pops up often.
They will post with tags and links to their groups, and will do so from many fake individual pages under various names.
The most recent I have included screenshot of.
Most all the groups are named “ ————- Puppies For Adoption” - you can fill in the blank with any number of breed names.
In this case, they are Bordercollie Puppies For Adoption.
They tend to post as comments on everyone else’s threads with available puppies.
I do my best tomgo and delete the comments and then block the offender.

01/28/2024

Tweed winking at me 😉😉

This is actually a screen grab video I did of a random Live Photo that I had taken of Tweed looking cute. I didn’t even realize he winked until I went into edit mode and looked at the Live Photo frames to find his cutest ear angle in the photo. 🥰🥰

01/27/2024

According to scientists, tilted heads may be your dog's way of saying “I’m all ears!” or “processing relevant, meaningful stimuli”

12/21/2023

‼️***read the last half***‼️
‼️even more important ‼️
Happy Dec 21, the winter solstice, the day that horse/dog people (or other outdoorsy and farmer types) look forward to, marking the shortest day of the year, measured in daylight hours/minutes. Tomorrow we begin to gain daylight minutes again!
‼️‼️ But if I am 100% honest, I look forward to Jan 21 even more. That marks the date that we, as horse/dog folks, have now survived the SHORTEST DAYLIGHT 2 months of the year. That being designated as the ‘months’ prior to, and after, the winter solstice. So, Nov 21-Jan 21.
Being that most of my dog activities happen outdoors, it matters to me!
The rest of the year is brighter and happier, as far as longer daylight minutes/hours!
Yep, That is just my own geeky self that came up with Jan 21 - and the shortest 2 daylight months….but that has been my own “goal” for years now - to get thru Nov 21-Jan 21‼️‼️

11/26/2023

One reason why Border Collies are so awesome!

TODAY OUR BREED EXPERT looks at one of the most special, unique – and yet often less appreciated – features of the Border collie ‘working mind’, for anyone who has not read this before.

BORDER COLLIES AND DUAL SENSORY PROCESSING

There are so many different qualities that make Border collies the most prized sheepdogs in the world (though they will also work other stock). Some are purely physical; i.e. speed, stamina, athleticism and agility. Others are behavioural; intense focus, impulse control and a more obsessive desire to control movement, and repeat the same tasks over and over again. But there is also an extra neurological asset, genetically, which we may often take for granted when training them, or watching them working. And without it these dogs would be something far less special.

The asset in question is dual sensory processing. Or in other words, the ability of the dog to both absorb, and respond to, visual and sound information at the same time (see illustration), as most dogs cannot do this, at least not to such a high and consistent level.

UNDERSTANDING SENSORY PROCESSING IN DOGS
In order to better understand why this ability is so special in collies, we first have to appreciate that different senses - i.e. sight, sound or smell - tend to share the same processing space in a dog's brain. Meaning a dog will typically have to prioritise one particular sense over another, for processing in their brains, at any given time. With many dog breeds this may well be smell (which takes up such vast amounts of processing space in the canine brain), meaning that when a dog is more fully concentrating on a scent, they may appear 'deaf' to any sound going on around them - including an owner's exasperated commands! – because sound processing has now gone on the back burner in their brains. Other dogs, like sight hounds, will prioritise visual fixation on movement over any other competing source of sensory information.

DUAL SENSORY ABILITY
In the Border collie, however, you have a dog who is not only a prime visual fixator - i.e. will readily lock their vision on to moving things - but can also simultaneously take in sound commands from a handler (vocal or whistle) and immediately respond to these with required changes to their behaviour – i.e. stop/start/change direction/lie down. Moreover they can do this without having to watch the handler who is giving these instructions, even if they are some distance away. As said previously, it is a quality in Border collies that is so often taken for granted, but it really is special, and underpins the whole ability of shepherd and dog to work together so effectively as a livestock managing team.

Dual sensory processing will also come to the fore in pursuits like Agility, where the dog needs to constantly remain visually fixated on the obstacles ahead of them, while still taking in their handler's sound cues. Or in Obedience, in exercises like the Sendaway, where you verbally command your dog to drop down while they are still visually fixated on the markers ahead or around them.

DIFFERING ABILITIES IN DOGS
Of course some collies will always be far better dual sensory processors than others, with regards to how readily they can both process, and respond to, sight and sound information simultaneously. Or switch rapidly from one to the other in their brains. Some dogs are very strong visual fixators, finding it harder to 'unlock' this sensory priority in their minds whenever sound information tries to compete with it. This is sometimes how sheepdogs can seem to get ‘stuck’ with sheep; visually fixating on them so hard, they forget – even if only temporarily - how to move on when the verbal instruction to do so is given.

As ever, a dog’s inherent levels of impulse control, as well as their dual sensory abilities, are also key when it comes to dogs who can make the most rapid adjustments to their actions, or behaviour, in response to a handler’s commands.

TRAINING
Overarching all of these more natural abilities in dogs, however, will always be the quality of training they are given. For both impulse control and dual sensory processing abilities can always be consistently improved and enhanced in any dog with more persistent work put in on a handler’s part.

I begin working on strengthening my dogs' impulse control levels and dual sensory processing abilities from when they are very young, with exercises like down on the move - when they are en route to chasing a toy - or the mid-chase recall, or any number of other distant control exercises that keep the dog's mind constantly anticipating a sound cue from me, before making a next move, even when they are very far away from me, or not even watching me. And it is always so rewarding to see the exceptional minds and abilities of these dogs being stretched to their fullest potential in this way.

Meanwhile, anyone wanting to know far more about the whole working psychology of the Border collie, and how these dogs evolved to be what they are today will find it in BOOK ONE of my BREED APART trilogy (blue cover) SECRETS OF THE WORKING MIND and BOOK TWO in the trilogy – ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS & LEARNING - covers impulse control training and other control exercises like ‘down on the move’ or the ‘mid-chase recall’ in greater detail.
All text © Carol Price 2023
Carol Price collie books: In the UK from: https://performancedog.co.uk/product-category/books-and-dvds/authors/carol-price/ In the USA from: https://www.dogwise.com/ # and https://www.cleanrun.com/product/border_collies_a_breed_apart_book_1_secrets_of_the_working_mind/index.cfm In Canada from https://www.4mymerles.com/product-category/books/ In Australia from: https://gameondogs.com.au/ And in the Netherlands and Belgium from: https://mediaboek.nl/border-collies-a-breed-apart-book-1.html

11/14/2023

Cool!

COLLIE IN THE SKY: An amazing pic of a cloud formation in Leeds, England, and taken by Hannah Goodspeed, which really does look like a Border collie!

11/09/2023

Attention clients and others:
We feed Victor brand dog food and swear by it, but they are currently undergoing a voluntary recall of all their products. They will be shutting down the factory and doing a deep clean/disinfect.
I know many of you also use Victor since you got pups from us and kept feeding their quality food, so just wanted to post this heads up.
We will gladly return to Victor as soon as we are able, still believe in their premium high quality feeds at less than premium prices.
If you’d like to read more:

Keep up with VICTOR company news, formula updates, events and so much more.

10/12/2023

Our Maire’s sire and owner were in the Rodear Finals this week!

They had a tough go at the trailer loading, but still finished 3rd.
Their run starts at about the 2 hour mark, look for Dwayne Hurliman and “Bill.”
Dwayne’s horse was also named the 2023 Rodear Horse of the Year.
Pretty cool sport here, watch!

10/12/2023

All of you with Tweed x Carli pups:
Reg Certificates went out today.
Apologize for the delay, this time it was on me, had several crazy things going on and it did take me extra time to get the papers mailed out, but you should be receiving them soon.
Thanks!
I love seeing all the updates from that lovely litter 🥰❤️😍🥰❤️😍

10/03/2023

Welcome home, Pete and FSF Valkyrie!
Pete and Val came back to us, I picked them up on Sept 18.
Guy that had bought them just decided “we aren’t going to keep doing dogs” 🙄🙄 - no fault of the dogs at all -
I am 100% sure the terrible inflation and economy uncertainty had everything to do with their decision.
The kids couldn’t stop hugging them before I loaded them up in my truck. 😢 That was sad.

They have put some weight back on since returning home, were a little thin when I picked them up.
Poor Pete got seriously cut up, and needed stitches in his paw and paw pads, trying to defend his barn and pasture from 4 random dogs that showed up. Between those dogs, the 7 pigs earlier in the week, and the pair of aggressive dogs from earlier this year, I am really OVER people not being responsible and keeping their animals at their own home! Also have injured horses from the last round of pigs and then the dogs. Ugh.

09/09/2023

Have some 8 week old pups ready and looking for 🏠
(Pics were taken at 6 weeks of age)
1 blk/wht male
3 choco/wht females
ABCA
Parents Genetics tested via Wisdom Panel, (including EAOD test)
Sire all clear
Dam ICM carrier, otherwise clear
Working bred, Both parents started on stock, sire has worked both cattle and sheep, dam has worked sheep.
Central KY, PM for details

08/18/2023

Not to mention the other physical damage that can happen when pushing a young dog too hard….
Wise words

When you have a young dog that’s loaded with natural ability, you have to constantly remind yourself not to push your dog too much. Because your dog is making so much progress and learning quickly, it’s easy to fall into the trap of training too much too soon.
Sometimes handlers mistake talent for maturity and continue to ask for improved performance when their young dog isn’t ready for it. This can include working too long, asking for too much pace, too much precision, extending outruns, driving too far, putting your dog in with testing sheep, pushing your dog off, etc.
While it may result in your dog being successful in the nursery, that same dog, because too much pressure was applied too soon, may not be competitive or sometimes even keen, when they’re 7, 8, 9 or 10 years old.
You have to respect your individual dogs maturity and mental fortitude, (irrespective of his ability), or risk ruining him. Being patient and making learning intuitive and fun when your dog is young leads to having a positive, enthusiastic sheepdog when he’s older.
—Patience prolongs performance—
You’ve got the rest of your dogs life to work on the finer points, you’ve got this moment, while he’s young, to foster his initial enthusiasm.
Getting a dog to work the way you’re asking isn’t remarkable. Getting a dog to WANT to work the way you're asking is the key.

Patricia Alasdair MacRae

08/13/2023

The “Breyerfest Batch” litter pups are 4 weeks old!
They were born overnight going into the first day of Breyerfest this year (a big event for me as a collector) so although I had to cut back some of my time at Breyerfest this year, but it was worth it.
Their names are all taken from names of special Breyerfest 2023 models. Scurry, Tilly, Peanut, and Axle.
3 chocolate/white girls and a black/white boy.All available!

08/07/2023

The little black and white female is a new member of the FSF family.
Name still to be determined.
She comes from Karen Thompson of Thompson’s Border Collies (TBH) and Karen Crisp of Lone Hickory, (LH), both located in VA.
Her parents are Imp. Glen x Imp Pink.
Both with all clear and good health testing and X-rays. They are amazing working dogs. I will add some links to a video or two.

My little girl carries some fun cool genetics, even if just black & white herself, her sire is homozygous Tri, and he carries saddle back and some other fun things. Her dam is a lovely LILAC TRI girl - I was instantly in love with her personality, structure, and beautiful eye, coat, and movement! For all those who want to complain “Border Collies with colors cannot be good herding dogs” I dare you to watch the video of Pink! And she’s a young dog in these, and already working astoundingly well!
So the pup will 100% carry tri, dilute, and chocolate, and could have inherited some
Other fun things, time will tell when I test her!
She will hopefully develop into all the other things we strive for when breeding: a biddable willing temperament, sound body, sound and intelligent mind, and a great work ethic. All applies no matter what activity she grows up liking!!
Pink: https://youtu.be/di6Rky40cwo
Glen: https://youtu.be/5D5Yz5p5cFs

08/02/2023

Tex x Dolly pups are 2 1/2 weeks now!
Smooth coat, prick eared parents.
All working lines, cattle and sheep dogs, from out west and Canada.
Proven trial and ranch dogs fill this pedigree. Plenty of drive and biddable.
Would also make excellent sport prospects.
PM for more info!

06/29/2023

This is sweet Mischi.
Like her siblings, very willing to please, loves attention. Super confident, plenty of drive! Lovely brindle girl that should be able to perform well in any disciplines, or work, or be the prettiest companion or farm dog!
Ready to meet her new family, ABCA registration. I love love love this pup, don’t make me decide to keep her!

06/29/2023

Next amazing pup to be featured is Alys!
She is going to make a lovely sport or herding dog! Plenty of drive, and a will to please! Always one of the first to come running when I call the gang to come!
Lovely coloring and markings, brindle tri, (or saddleback brindle) but less stripey than mr Vader. She seems to be developing more brindling though, like her brother Looker has done!
She is ready for her new family, central KY, ABCA reg!