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Likes: Hangin with Mom, FISHING, Camping, Keeping Cats in their designated part of the house, butt scratches.
Pet-Peeves: Briar getting attention or Anytime he doesn't get his way.
Favorite Toy: His Lady Bug. (Large stuffed toy with squeeker)
Favorite Food: STEAK!! And Cream Puffs.
Favorite Walk: Anywhere in the mountains. Or anywhere with me.
Best Tricks: Very Dramatic "Playing Dead". Says "I love you too!!". Runs through whole routine of tricks in 5 seconds when treat is offered.
Arrival Story: Our son Ryan is now 18 years old. Ryan has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high functioning autism. At Easter time of 2002, Ryan was spending a few days with his grandmother. She had talked him into taking a walk to the park with her. Getting Ryan to leave the house is sometimes a challenge in itself, Ryan starting a conversation with someone he does not know is an even bigger challenge.
While at the park they saw a man playing Frisbee with a dog. My mother said that Ryan watched them and laughed at this little dog’s antics. She said that it went flying through the air to catch the Frisbee and Ryan was so excited. When the man stopped to rest the dog, Ryan asked to go talk to him. My mother was so surprised that Ryan began asking all kinds of questions about the dog! He was very animated, and expressive, which is something that doesn’t happen very often for a person with autism. The man told Ryan that the dog was 10 years old and that when he was younger he had been a Frisbee champion and that he had been an actor in the movie “The Animal”. He let Ryan throw the Frisbee for the dog and mom said it thrilled him to death.
As soon as she came home she called me at work, “You are not going to believe this…” and she told me all about how wonderful Ryan did and how he kept petting and hugging this little border collie. The next thing she said completely shocked me, this from a woman that is afraid of every animal, especially dogs. “You have to get a dog like this, Ryan told me he would love it and finally have a best friend.”
Enter Border Collie Rescue, after much pleading with dad and running to shelters all over the southland, we filled out an application on the internet. BC Rescue was having a herding fun day and we were invited to attend to meet a possible adoptee. We were to meet a few dogs, one was named Robbie. When we arrived, Sandy introduced us to “another” Robbie. The fun day was at a local ranch and all the dogs were tested on sheep by a pro-handler. Rob did great and they said he had good balance.
Ryan took him and walked around with him for awhile, when Ryan sat down on the ground, Rob backed up and sat in his lap. Well that was it, we were his!!
Well, our Rob has stolen our hearts! I love to watch him with Ryan when they are quiet and don’t know I’m watching. He still backs up and sits on Ryan’s lap, and Ryan gently pets him and hugs him. Ryan is learning that he needs to talk to Rob and tell him what he wants. It is not your typical boy and dog relationship, but they are very caring of each other. Rob seems to sense when Ryan needs some tactile comfort or even when it is okay to be rough. Rob has recently learned to play dead and Ryan thinks he’s the smartest dog ever.
We really do not know any of Rob’s history before he came to us. All Sandy could tell us was that he came from a shelter. It took him a couple of months for him to really settle into our home, but now he is truly one of the family AND the center of attention. In August we came home from work and Rob was limping. Off we went to the vet to have him checked. Rob had a broken ankle. The vet said that it was an old break that was never taken care of and that he had probably jumped and came down on it badly. He was in a splint for about 4 weeks and there is nothing so sad as a depressed Border Collie.
No beach, no camping, no fishing, no running…, we are happy to say that as soon as the splint was off we had our happy clown back.
As much as I would love to see my son have that typical boy and dog relationship, Rob has truly become my constant companion. His expressive face makes my heart just melt. He doesn’t have the Frisbee gene, but he does have the fishing gene!! He loves our camping and fishing trips, he will sit right next to me waiting for the trout to bite. If we are fly casting and stop for a moment, he’s sure to speak up and tell me that unless the fly is in the water we won’t catch anything. “So you better hurry and cast the line, MOM!” In October he got to watch them stock the lake. Four hundred pounds of trout pouring out of a truck and wiggling all over, Rob is the greatest trout herding Border Collie ever!
Remember my mom, the woman afraid of ALL animals. Well, she is just as crazy about our Rob as we are. In forty years I have never seen my mother pet a dog, Rob always gets greeted and patted by Grandmother. She even lets him in her house!!! We know he’s not a great animal actor or Frisbee champion, but that doesn’t matter to us. He is an important member of our family and we are so happy that he picked us!!
Bio: Rob is my heart, soul, love and life of the animal world.
We adore our rescued BC's but this is not the Breed for everyone. We thank ABCA and USBCHA for the work they do to ensure that this breed is maintained as a working dog. If you have the time to devote to a very active intelligent companion look into Border Collie rescue. Please do not support breeders not interested in helping keep this breed as it should be, a working dog first!!
Forums Motto: Put the cat away and let's go FISHIN!
The Groups I'm In: Border Collie Mania, For the love of the chase
Found My Forever Home: On April 14, 2002
We Have New Digs: We now live in Northwest Arkansas!
We all went to the Dr. today. Mainly we went because mom suspected I had an ear infection. Yep she was right. Yeastie ears the doc called. Now I have to have this cold slimy stuff put in my ears!
We all got out toes trimmed and a heartworm test. Everything else checked out fine.
Mom went fishing in the pond and I got to torment the gold fish while she cleaned the pond. They were in a bucket so I got to sit and watch them swim around.
It is uncanny how you can read my mind, how you always know my mood and how to best to comfort me. Your devotion makes my life complete and I can not begin to imagine what I would ever do without you.
You are my friend, confidante, clown and comfort.
Thank you for being the constant heart beat at my side.
Mom sent her favorite phot of me to an animal artist to have her draw my portrait. She did a wonderful job.
By the way, Buddy and I have become pals and it is pretty neat having someone to play with. All Briar is interested in is her ball or frisbee.
We love our new house by the lake and I love all the critters there are around to watch. Mom gave me the job of keeping the squirrels off the deck and out of her bird feeders. I like having a job to do and I am really good at it too.
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2005 Valentine's Day Party!
