I've had 3 border collies. I once moved from a small northern Quebec town where we were the only english speaking family, I speak french fine, but the ex didn't. I had to live in a camp for 3 months and the ex moved south until I could get us a house, so the dog was a problem. I took her to a friend's dairy farm. This is in the upper clay belt, where summer days start at 5 and end at 11 pm. so they do ok despite being south of James Bay.

I went back a week later and my friend told me when it was milking time he took the dog, walked up an old road, opened the gate, and brought the cows back to milk.

On the 3rd morning just as they were leaving the phone rang, and 20 minutes later Gilles goes outside and the dog has the cows going into the barn, comes over and drops the wire that you put around the 2 posts to keep the gate closed, Gilles said he thought the dog was telling him, ok I can get this off but can't put it back on. Then he told me every farmer on their rang wanted a dog like that and he was offered 500 dollars for her. I told him to get a male and start selling them. He did a good business with that later.

I had one until 2 years ago when he died of old age. Still have the fences cut in the back corners of the yard where I made a hole so the jack rabbits he herded could escape. He'd partly eat them and hide them and they stunk something aweful. I miss him now that the wild turkeys are running amok, they would never have taken a runner at me with him around. I finally cured one of them with a slingshot, he still can drive the neigbours dog nuts though....

If I get another one I have to start cleaning the house, so I'm thinking about getting a slide lap guitar....sigh. Either that or find another woman...hm..dog or woman, dog or woman...hmm.....you can train a dog.....LOL.

John Conley
Musica est vita