Road to adoption: Finishing school [Baxter, the border collie]

Chicago Tribune ^ | 5-2-10 | William Hageman

[mlizzy]

There's an old " Three Stooges" short that features the boys being transformed into gentlemen as part of a bet between two professors.

A similar scenario is being played out at Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society, as the training staff has taken on a challenging fellow named Baxter with the aim of making him adoptable.

The mission of shelters such as Anti-Cruelty is to find homes for as many unwanted animals as possible. Unadoptable dogs don't have much of a future, so these organizations try to make them more desirable.

This brings us to Baxter, a 5-year-old border collie mix who — let's be generous here — needed work. He and his sister were surrendered by their owner Feb.1. Back then, he was a canine trifecta of Larry, Moe and Curly, lacking only a bad haircut and eye-poking skills.

How much of a hellhound was he? One indication was a note on his cage to the staff: "I love to chew apart tennis balls, soft toys and rubber squeaky toys. ..."

But what was worse? His barking.

"We're trying to work on his cage presence," said Karen Okura, the manager of Anti-Cruelty's department of animal behavior and training, her words all but drowned out by Baxter's relentless, ear-piercing yelps.

[emphasis; mine]

[mlizzy]

My husband came home yesterday, and handed me the section of the Chicago Tribune shown above. I said, "Oh, my, a border collie. Is it anything like Addy?" He answered, "It's EXACTLY like Addy." Anyone who has had a border collie or a bc-mix will appreciate or at least wincingly understand this article. Our two dogs are shown at left, and Addy (on the left, a bc-mix) was not a sought after pup. She was supposed to be with us for "only" last summer (she was a University of Illinois dorm dog), but on the day before she was to go back, we got word; she had received her "walking" papers. Well, long story short, after a year, Addy still chews (but usually just rawhide), and we put an end to her incessant barking early on (it's not something you can live with) via training similar to what Baxter receives and also by leaving a Gentle Leader on her face and snout for short (sometimes long!) periods of time (don't know why this worked, but it worked remarkably well). She's extremely bright, athletic (her moves remind us of the late and great Walter Payton, Chicago Bears), loves to be trained for treats, and gets along with outsiders quite well ... This is a busy, active, breed. Only take one on if you've got the time (they recommend 2 hrs. of activity a day) and you enjoy training dogs. That being said, we love our Addy (and Bella!), but Baxter still needs a good home.

[ReneeLynn]

My sis literally picked up a border collie that someone had left to wander on a busy roadway. He was a great dog and had a happy home into his old age. But, he really ‘liked’ those small dogs, as in, they might be dinner.

Hope you find a good home too, Bax.

[libertarian27]

My DH and I will be checking out a 3 week old litter of BC’s today! We lost our 14 yr old Aussie/GSD mix a month ago - what a great dog he was (even though 5-6 left shoes were never recovered from years ago)He is sorely missed.

I had a BC growing up and he was a handful, smart as a whip. Herded farmers cows on instinct, when he got loose he’d round them back 2 fields into their own through narrow openings in stone walls. He would bark at a stranger even before they got into range. Hopefully we’ll have a BC in a month ~ Let the roller coaster ride begin.....the cat will think she’s a cow.

[mlizzy]

Border Collie Facts

[mlizzy]

I had a BC growing up and he was a handful, smart as a whip. Herded farmers cows on instinct, when he got loose he’d round them back 2 fields into their own through narrow openings in stone walls.

Well, you know exactly what you're getting into then; are you still on significant acreage? We take Addy to a softball field that is fenced in (and we also take her to play tennis!). And she runs, and runs. They are such sturdy dogs. My husband gets a kick out of watching her "moves." She knows she can sidestep Bella, but she's smart enough not to be overt about it, so that Bella still keeps chasing her. They're a really fun breed if you've got the time (and don't mind losing some shoes as you say, hats, socks, even my old winter coat is in pieces!).

Good luck on your new potential family member. Post a picture of the lucky pup if you can and ping me. I'd love to see him/her.

[mlizzy]

My sis literally picked up a border collie that someone had left to wander on a busy roadway. He was a great dog and had a happy home into his old age. But, he really ‘liked’ those small dogs, as in, they might be dinner. Hope you find a good home too, Bax.

Your sis is great. There's a dog that probably wouldn't have made it otherwise. Addy sure thinks of the squirrels and rabbits as food; I'm not sure about little dogs, however, one of our previous labradors disliked little dogs with a passion, but when she got hold of one once, it just tore up her nose something fierce. Poor Tilly; she was really humbled that day.

[mbynack]

Our vet contacted my daughter this weekend and asked if she could take care of an abandoned 4 month old lab puppy. The puppy had been hit by a car and had to have his leg amputated. The owners dropped him at the vet and never came back. My wife and I jumped at the opportunity to be his fosters.

He had a pretty bad day yesterday. He was running a fever and we didn't expect him to make it through the night. This morning he's like a different puppy. He's been playing with our other dogs this morning.

[silverleaf]

I’ve wanted a border collie ever since I saw Gin the dog on Britain’s Got Talent!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0jNC_w1tSw&feature=related

[mlizzy]

Our vet contacted my daughter this weekend and asked if she could take care of an abandoned 4 month old lab puppy. The puppy had been hit by a car and had to have his leg amputated. The owners dropped him at the vet and never came back. My wife and I jumped at the opportunity to be his fosters ...

Wow, great story, and lucky pup (what's his name?). How many foster dogs do you have?

[rintense]

Border Collies are GREAT dogs! I foster them. But they take a savvy owner who is familiar with all the good and bad things about herding dogs.

[mlizzy]

Border Collies are GREAT dogs! I foster them. But they take a savvy owner who is familiar with all the good and bad things about herding dogs.

Once I saw that Addy was a bc-mix, I started looking up information on the breed, and was relieved, because prior to that, I thought, this is just not going to work out, but she is an absolute delight in so many ways and has actually got me back to exercising (to keep up with her!). No one's been able to *that* since prior to my kids being born 20-some years ago.

[mbynack]

His name is “Trooper”. We have six dogs already. Three of them started off as fosters and we adopted them. We have a thing for dogs that are considered “unadoptable”. One kitten we adopted was born blind and one of the dogs is pretty moody and not good with kids. We decided to keep them instead of risking them being put to sleep.

[mlizzy]

His name is “Trooper”. We have six dogs already. Three of them started off as fosters and we adopted them. We have a thing for dogs that are considered “unadoptable”. One kitten we adopted was born blind and one of the dogs is pretty moody and not good with kids. We decided to keep them instead of risking them being put to sleep.

You are good folk. And Trooper is a great name! If we were on land more vast than a postage stamp, I think we would have a few more pets. My husband, not all that much of a pet lover when we married, now has the cats waiting in line-up to sit on his lap, while mine remains empty.:)

[Vigilantcitizen]

Beautiful dogs.

[Vinnie]

We had a BC for a few years. She died of IMHA.

Anyway, they are fantastic dogs if..

You exercise their brains and brawn. They love puzzles, hide and seek etc.
If you don’t they chew.
Love to run, go for walks.
I swear she could read my mind.

Ours loved kids, car rides, TV. (lock out Animal Planet though)

Only downer, they shed.

[goat granny]

Border collies need work....if they have nothing to do, they will herd the neighbors and their kids...

[mlizzy]

You exercise their brains and brawn. They love puzzles, hide and seek etc. If you don’t they chew. Love to run, go for walks. I swear she could read my mind.

Explain "puzzles" to me. Because, while we are exercising Addy pretty well (and I do obedience train her, although it could be heavier), she still does chew. And I love your line about reading your mind. I very much think that myself. I know this isn't proper training protocol, but sometimes I train Bella, our lab, to continue heeling, which she is quite good at (with treats of course), but Addy will be on another leash at the same time and she makes very sure she is not "in the way." It's the most remarkable thing I've ever seen. It's like she's a human that stays out of the teaching process, not to disrupt Bella, and she never does.

[ReneeLynn]

She is. She just adopted an Aussie Sheperd. Our Sadie, I call her that because she was my dog niece and I really loved her, was hit by a schoolbus in front of my house just a week and a half ago. God what an awful thing that was. But sis has gone out and adopted another little Aussie and I’m waiting to see her and ‘babysit”.

Our border Collie, Buddy, was humbled by a Pug. Our Otis. And he became Otis’ protector. It was a hilarious big dog, little dog pal relationship.

[Vinnie]

Explain "puzzles" to me.

Hide objects he/she likes for him/her to find.
I used to sit on the couch, put an object behind my back, stick it down in the cushion, under a pillow. etc, then show her my empty hands. Hide things in the yard for them to find.
Keep their minds busy. Give them a 'job' keeping flies off the patio or something.
They want to please.

We have a poodle now, loving dog , loves to ride in the car.But..
All she does is lay on the back seat. We turn around often to make sure she is still in the car.(not a bad trait, but different)
Our BC was always alert, wanted to see what was going on, what we were passing, etc.
I had a friend that had a BC and a Harley.
He had a flat bed trailer made w/ astroturf and plexiglas windshields. Two leashes to hold the dog in place.
McTavish loved getting towed behind the cycle. It was a sight!
The BC was so excited to get going he howled until they started rolling.

[mlizzy]

Thank you ... your post is wonderful. Funny about your poodle. *Laughing*

If your friend has any McTavish photos online, I'd love to see them. What a hoot! When we bring Addy to play tennis along with our lab, it's Addy that seems to totally understand the game. She even has great "net" play and positions herself.

Thanks for the explanation on puzzles! I appreciate it ...